Versatile IPR Strips Enable Minimally Invasive Dentistry

A sought-after cosmetic dentist who has treated celebrities, professional athletes, and Miss USA pageant contestants, Dr. Anthony Vocaturo is known for his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to the highest possible esthetics. At his New Jersey dental practice, NJ Smile Center, he prioritizes precision in every procedure, and the NeoDiamond IPR Strips are one solution that help him do just that. With these single-use strips—which use the same quality diamond grit as Microcopy's best-selling NeoDiamond burs—Dr. Vocaturo can open contacts with ease, which means he hardly ever touches adjacent teeth during a procedure.

Like many dentists, Dr. Vocaturo has used interproximal strips for years, even before IPR in clear aligner cases became common. He turns to the NeoDiamond IPR Strips for crown and veneer cases, as well as Class IIs. “They’re on my tray all the time,” he said, and he keeps finding new ways to use the strips.

“I use them to break contacts in preparations before I put a bur there, to clean out interproximal margins, or for IPR if I’m doing an Invisalign case,” he said. “Sometimes, I use them for recontouring. I basically use them any time I need to get in a tight space to clean or open up a margin.”

Diamond Strips Won't Clog

The 10 stainless-steel strips come in a variety of grits, solid or perforated, and coated with diamonds on one or both sides. Dr. Vocaturo switched to using NeoDiamond IPR Strips about a year and a half ago, he said, and one feature he really likes is that the strips come perforated.

“I just feel like I can get through the contacts easier—without the strip clogging up,” he said. “With other strips, the diamonds clog and they don’t cut as efficiently.”

The NeoDiamond IPR Strips also last longer than other diamond strips he’s used in the past.

“Some dull out after you go through the margin once or twice,” he said. “The NeoDiamond strips are durable and last throughout the procedure. Even if I’m doing multiple units, sometimes the strips will last on a few different teeth before I have to switch out to another one.”

When Dr. Vocaturo first used the NeoDiamond IPR Strips, he noticed the different feel of the metal. They’re stainless steel, he said, and aren’t as stiff as other options. They’re also more durable. With other strips, he’s had the metal break in tight contacts. This hasn’t happened with his NeoDiamond strips.

Designed for Efficiency

The fact the NeoDiamond strips come one-sided is a huge advantage, said Dr. Vocaturo, adding that double-sided strips can be more difficult to get through a tight area.

“The way it’s designed just works better in my hands,” he said. “A lot of strips are double-sided only and there’s no way to go through the middle. With these, I can go through the middle single-sided, and then flip the strip around."

A Whole Lot to Love

The NeoDiamond IPR strips, of course, work great for IPR, but Dr. Vocaturo has found so many other uses. They have become part of the armamentarium on his tray, and he expects he’ll keep finding other ways to leverage them.

“There are hundreds of uses for these strips that we may not even know about. Depending on the type of dentistry you provide, you’ll find more and more reasons to use them,” he said. “They’re like having a little stainless-steel strip drill in my office. I love everything about them.”