5 Reasons to Try TrollFoil

For Shannon Pace-Brinker, CDA, TrollFoil is the product of choice for occlusal equilibration.

The renowned dental assistant, educator, and entrepreneur hasn’t used anything else since she first tried the articulating foil about 12 years ago. She knows TrollFoil will provide accurate markings every time, while improving practice efficiencies and the patient experience.

“TrollFoil, with its precise markings,” she said, “provides an evidence-based guide to ensure you’re not adjusting too much.”

Here are 5 reasons Pace-Brinker relies on TrollFoil, and why you might consider switching as well.

1. Make Appointments Quicker and Easier for Patients

Before TrollFoil, Pace-Brinker had to ensure a patient’s teeth were dry before obtaining markings. That meant putting 2x2 gauze or a paper towel in a pair of forceps and asking them to bite down—an experience she described as exhausting for patients. TrollFoil provides accurate markings, whether teeth are wet or dry.

“TrollFoil marks through saliva; no other product does that,” she said. “That’s a big deal for doctors who focus on occlusal equilibration.” Available in red and blue, the foil also comes mounted on its own frame, so you don’t need articulating paper forceps. For the patient, that means never accidently biting down on metal—an unpleasant scenario that Pace-Brinker has seen happen in the past.

2. Save Time and Create a More Efficient Workflow

Skipping the cotton balls and paper towels not only improves the patient experience, it also saves about 5 minutes per appointment. And because TrollFoil comes with its own holder, there’s no time wasted trying to insert the paper.

“That makes the process seamless,” Pace-Brinker said, “especially for multiple restorations.”

3. Get More Precise Occlusion Assessments

The original TrollFoil is 8 microns thin, making it easy to obtain and visualize markings, and it's also available in a 4.5-micron version—making it the thinnest articulating product on the market. Clinicians never have to worry about getting falsified markings and adjusting too much when identifying pre-mature contacts, Pace-Brinker said. They can be confident the markings are accurate.

Pace-Brinker remembers a case where a patient was convinced the tooth that needed adjustment was located behind the one that TrollFoil identified as the problem. The doctor trusted the TrollFoil markings, even though the patient insisted it was the wrong tooth. Three days later, the patient apologized and told the doctor she was grateful he stood his ground and didn’t unnecessarily adjust her brand-new porcelain restoration.

4. Leave the Forceps and the Mess Behind

Because TrollFoil comes in its own holder, there’s never a need to open an instrument packet to grab a set of forceps. It also doesn’t stick together like other articulating paper. It's easy to peel apart—you just open the package and put the paper in your drawer. And when you pick it up, the protective grip keeps your gloves clean; there’s no ink left behind.

TrollFoil is also a much better alternative to the sprays used for detecting interproximal contacts, Pace-Brinker said, which are not only messy, but also add thickness that could lead to over-reduction.

“With TrollFoil, we get clear, precise markings interproximaly because it’s thin,” she said. “It gives us the exact place to adjust.”

5. Improve Patient Communication

The TrollFoil markings help clinicians communicate treatment to patients, Pace-Brinker said, which is especially helpful if they’re not feeling minor occlusal discrepancies. “Showing them the markings increases patient confidence in us," she shared.

A Product You Can Rely On

TrollFoil is Pace-Brinker’s go-to articulating paper. It’s easy to use and she knows it will provide precise markings, every time, improving efficiencies and leading to happier patients. “For occlusal equilibrations,” she said, “this is the first and only product we use in my practice.”

For more information on TrollFoil, call Directa USA at 800.537.8765 or visit directausa.com.