VOCO’s Clip provisional material combines strength with optimal ease of placement and removal.
More often than not, the need for a provisional material indicates an urgent or emergency situation in which time and efficiency are of the essence. Key to successful treatment is use of a material that is easy to place and remove, and that will stay put until the final restoration.
VOCO’s light-cured temporary filling and sealing material, Clip, is indicated for all types of temporary fillings—especially for inlays and onlays. The material is easy to place and remove, and extremely durable, according to the manufacturer.
We asked a team of dentists to share their views on the product as part of this Dental Product Shopper evaluation. One of those dentists, Dr. Craig Vinkovich, said he found Clip to be much easier for temporizing inlays and onlays than any of the bisacryls. “It’s easy to place, cure, and remove,” he said. “What else would you want?”
Dispensing and Handling
Formulated for optimal convenience, Clip comes in syringes and in prefilled caps of 0.25 g for direct application. According to VOCO, handling is both easy and simple. The single-component material eliminates the need for hand-mixing. It doesn’t stick to instruments, and it remains flexible even after curing.
Dr. Craig Ratner noted that the individual compules make it easier to direct the material where he wants it to go. “The product’s handling characteristics were excellent; [it was] non-sticky and didn’t slump,” he said. Dr. Andre Kanarki described it as a “nice clean temp [that enabled] easier placement faster.” Dr. Carrie Niemann said Clip blended with the surrounding tooth and implant-supported prostheses.
Ease of Removal
Clip’s elastic consistency ensures easy 1-piece removal, even in cases of undercuts, without the need to treat the cavity and with no burs to damage the prep.
Dr. Niemann described Clip as a material that worked well and was easy to place and remove without falling out. When asked to share any benefits to his practice from using the product, Dr. Kanarki pointed to the material’s clean removal and time savings. Dr. Christina Do told DPS, “It’s much easier to remove than other products we have in our office.”
Strength, Efficiency, Comfort
Clip is bulk-cured to a depth of 11 mm in only 20 to 40 seconds. According to VOCO, the material is durable and tight, providing excellent sealing and protecting the cavity while keeping medications safely enclosed. Procedures are more efficient because no hand mixing is needed, the material is easy to remove, and Clip’s translucency eliminates discoloration.
Describing Clip as quick, easy, and effective, Dr. Bruce Nelson noted, “It did its job as claimed and stayed in well.” Dr. Kanarki remarked that the material sticks and holds better on less retentive areas.
Several evaluators weighed in on procedure time and efficiency. “It was very easy to fabricate a provisional onlay, saving valuable chair time,” Dr. Niemann told DPS. “The translucency made it very useful.” Dr. Arthur Volker said Clip provided an easy way to provisionalize with increased efficiency. For Dr. Do, the material was easier to use, resulting in reduced chair time, easier appointments, and less frustration.
According to Dr. Ratner, the product makes for an easier and more efficient process of sealing teeth after root canal. He added that Clip worked extremely well in a recent all-on-4 case to close over screw holes. Dr. Vinkovich agreed and said, “[Clip is] easier and faster to use than a bisacryl temporary material.”
Many evaluators also commented on patient comfort and reduced sensitivity. Dr. Niemann used Clip as access closure for a patient with an all-on-4 appliance. “[The patient] said it felt better than any other material he has had for that purpose,” she told DPS. Dr. Volker reported less concern regarding postoperative sensitivity, as opposed to provisionalizing with a PMMA or PEMA. Dr. Christopher Esposito said a patient with a broken tooth was able to leave with a temporary filling and no sensitivity until returning for definitive treatment.
Overall Satisfaction
All of the evaluators said they would recommend Clip to colleagues, and all would definitely or probably purchase it. Dr. Vinkovich tested Clip in the hope of finding an effective way to temporize inlays on occasions when he can’t do immediate milling. “This is a niche product that solves a specific problem in my practice,” he said. Citing quick and easy temporary restorations as the feature he liked most, Dr. Esposito described Clip as a great temporary restorative and time-saving intermediate restoration for emergencies.
When asked what he’d like to see improved, Dr. Vinkovich responded, “I love it the way it is. For any practice using a CAD/CAM milling system where, on the rare occasion, an inlay/ onlay prep needs temporizing, this product is perfect!”
