When GingiTrac retraction paste was introduced,
it was the first retraction material that was handsfree,
offered single and multiple preparation applications,
had built-in astringency, and required no packing
cord. According to the manufacturer, GingiTrac
Singles provide the same retraction capabilities in a
single-dose syringe. After placing the GingiTrac
material around and over the prepared tooth, the
GingiCap is filled with material and placed over the
tooth. The patient then bites down for 3 to 5 minutes
to achieve gingival retraction.
Patient Reaction
Centrix says that GingiTrac Singles gently retract
the gingiva, with limited trauma to the tissue and
limited patient discomfort. The 7 dentists who participated
in the evaluation of GingiTrac Singles were
asked to rate the product on patient reaction while
the cap was in the mouth and reaction to postprocedure
pain and discomfort. With regard to the cap, 5
evaluators rated GingiTrac Singles as very good, and
2 rated it as good. With regard to postprocedure
pain and discomfort, 5 evaluators rated the product
as excellent, and 2 rated it as very good to good.
One evaluator said that his patients had a “good
reaction” while the cap was in the mouth. Another
evaluator indicated that he had to “hold [the caps] in
place on anteriors.” A third evaluator said that his
patients experienced “very minimal discomfort
postop.”
Retraction: Amount and Length
According to the manufacturer,
GingiTrac achieves retraction by using
the patient’s bite pressure to push the
material into the sulcus to retract the
material in about 5 minutes.
When the evaluators were asked to
rate GingiTrac Singles on the amount of
retraction achieved, 4 rated the product
as excellent to very good, 2 rated it as
good, and 1 rated it as fair. On length of
retraction, 4 evaluators rated GingiTrac
Singles as very good and 3 rated it as
good. One evaluator described it as the
“same as other systems.”
Bleeding Control
GingiTrac retraction material contains
an astringent (aluminum sulfate) to
control bleeding and oozing. When the
evaluators were asked to rate GingiTrac
Singles on bleeding control, 5 rated it as
excellent to good, 1 rated it as fair, and
1 rated it as poor. One evaluator said
that the material could have “better
hemostatic properties.” Another said,
“As material was removed it seemed to
cause some to tug on small blood clots
and restarted bleeding in a few cases.”
Enclosed Instructions
When asked to rate the instructions
that accompany the GingiTrac Singles,
3 rated them as excellent, 3 rated them
as very good to good, and 1 rated them
as fair. One evaluator described the
instructions as “very easy” to understand.
Another suggested that information
about trimming the caps would be
helpful.
Ease of Removal
Centrix describes GingiTrac Singles
as easy to remove with no messy clean
up. When the evaluators were asked to
rate the product on ease of removal, 4
rated it as excellent, 2 rated it as very
good to good, and 1 rated it as fair. One
evaluator commented that the product
is “very easy to remove.”
Overall Satisfaction
When the evaluators were asked if
they would recommend GingiTrac
Singles to their colleagues in dentistry, 5
of the 7 said definitely or probably.
When asked for their overall satisfaction
rating, 5 evaluators rated
GingiTrac Singles excellent to good, 1
rated the product as fair, and 1 rated it
as poor. One evaluator said that he
found GingiTrac Singles to be “better
for implants than cord.” This same
evaluator also said that his patients
“like it better than cord.”
