Super-Thin Occlusal Film Leaves No Detail Behind

Fine tuning. Finishing touches. Crossing Ts. Dotting Is. Checking your work. All of these describe what dentists do when they assess the occlusion of restorations they’ve placed. “After any restorative procedure, any prematurity in occlusion, if not fully addressed at that visit, could result in a return appointment for further adjustments, leading to a nonproductive session and an unhappy patient,” said David Fang, DMD, a general dentist in Salem, MA.

To ensure he doesn’t overlook any detail, no matter how small, Dr. Fang uses Parkell’s AccuFilm II precut strips. “Standard articulating paper is significantly thicker than AccuFilm, which leads to more possible false heavy occlusions. That's because when the patient closes down, the paper may hold its form rather than bend down with the biting forces,” he explained. “The thinness of AccuFilm gives much more precise markings.”

AccuFilm II (available in red/black booklets and strips, as well as red/red and black/black strips) is just one member of Parkell's AccuFilm family, which also includes AccuFilm I (available in red and black strips) and AccuFilm FastCheck pre-mounted articulating film.

In addition, AccuFilm IV Brush-On Marking Liquid is recommended for use on crowns and proximal contacts with high spots. It helps clinicians achieve clear and precise markings when checking the occlusion on glazed porcelain or polished metal restorations. The liquid dries quickly in wet or dry environments, and it comes with solvent to aid cleanup.

Thinness Is the Key

Biting down on articulating film that’s too thick triggers a mandibular reflex in patients, which can potentially distort their bite. What you end up with are the false prematurities, Dr. Fang noted.

AccuFilm is so thin that patients don’t sense anything between their teeth when their dentist asks them to bite down. This allows the clinician to capture consistently sharp markings, which they can easily interpret. “Accuracy is very important as you need to know where to adjust if needed,” said Dr. Lance Teramoto, who also uses AccuFilm II pre-cut strips. “You need confidence that the strip isn’t giving you false markings. I trust the markings to be true with AccuFilm.”

Years of Reliability

Both Dr. Teramoto and Dr. Fang have been using AccuFilm to assess the occlusion of their restorations for many years. “I have used this product for as long as I can remember,” said Dr. Fang.

When Dr. Fang has a case with a long-span prosthesis, he begins the occlusal check with “normal articulating paper” to identify heavy permaturities. “I then switch to AccuFilm for fine adjustments and finish with no articulating film in the mouth,” he explained. “I have the patient go through the full range of excursive movements, and I always check occlusion with the black side facing the restored surface. If I see the red from the opposing teeth imprinted on the restored surface afterward, I know there are premature contacts."

Dr. Teramato has used AccuFilm for over 20 years—and typically 4 to 5 times per day. “AccuFilm’s accuracy contributes greatly to the long-term success of my restorations,” he said. “It is so important for the occlusion to be spot on in order to give teeth and the restorations placed on them the best chance to survive.”