Product Evaluation

CARGUS INTERNATIONAL

MARK3 Temporary Crown & Bridge Evaluation

With excellent esthetics, handling, and mechanical properties, MARK3 produces exceptionally durable and long-lasting provisionals

The word “crown” is most likely heard several times a day in a busy dental practice—and not in reference to an ornamental headdress worn by royalty. Although the royal family probably isn’t a topic of daily conversation in a dental practice, there is a king of temporary crown and bridge materials, and, according to Dr. Tiffany Lee, it may have just been dethroned. After creating several successful provisionals with MARK3 Temporary Crown and Bridge Material from Cargus International, Dr. Lee announced, “I always thought the gold standard was [a brand name product], but this might unseat it as king.”

Dr. Lee and several other dentists agree that the self-curing MARK3 Temporary Crown and Bridge Material offers exceptional handling, with mechanical and esthetic properties that produce strong, abrasion-resistant, highly esthetic short- and long-term provisionals. “MARK3 performed how I wanted it to,” shared Dr. Lee. “It set up quickly, flowed into and sealed all the margins, and was easy to trim and polish,” all the qualities that she would expect from a temporary material.

Dispensing, Handling, & Setting

Quick and easy to deliver with a 10:1 dispensing gun and disposable tips, MARK3 is a flowable material with a nonsticky consistency that sets quickly in 2-3 minutes. A defined elastic phase makes it easy to remove excess material, which was confirmed by Dr. Mariano Polack, who said, “Excess cleanup is easier than with other products I have used.”

With other provisional materials, Dr. Varo Boyer experienced “time consuming adjustments, expansion, and poor fit and polishability,” but that was not the case with MARK3 Temporary Crown and Bridge. “MARK3 is precise, not messy, polishable, and requires minimal adjustments,” said Dr. Boyer. “It’s the correct consistency; it flows and stays where it’s put with just the right amount of sag,” stated Dr. Lee, who said the material sets up nicely in 2 to 3 minutes without getting stuck in undercuts or sticking to adjacent freshly placed composite. Dr. Todd Sarubin said he would “like a quicker setting time and fewer voids,” and Dr. Jerry Popeck said it took too long to set.

Dr. Stuart Zaller liked its “easy trimming and smoothness,” and Dr. Marc Levin said it handles well and has good esthetics. Comparing MARK3 to his previous provisional materials that were slimy and sticky, H.E. Henry, DDS, said MARK3 Temporary Crown and Bridge “has about the same set time but no slime layer; it’s neat, clean, and non-tacky, and there’s no odor or offensive taste.” Marianne Baran, DDS, “loved the consistency,” explaining, “It’s not too sticky when set [and provided a] good fit with minimal adjusting.”

Polishability & Esthetics

MARK3 polishes easily to a lasting luster, with true color stable VITA shades A1, A2, and A3 that provide natural fluorescence. “The margins trimmed crisply without shearing off. It polished beautifully, and there were zero occlusal or proximal contact adjustments needed,” noted Dr. Lee, who added, “It has a slight translucency and may be more esthetic than some zirconium crowns.” Maria Guevarra, DMD, said he likes how it finishes clean and smooth and is esthetically pleasing, while Dr. Polack said, “It seems to remain in a ‘rubbery’ state for longer than the material that I normally use,” which affected the ease of finishing and polishing.

“I am very impressed with this product,” declared Dr. Baran, who explained that her temporaries fit well with minimal adjustments needed and added, “It really polished and finished so easily and shortened polishing time.” Calling it reliable and esthetic, Dr. Marc Gainor said MARK3 was “strong and polished well.”

Strength & Durability

Identifying “strong margin integrity and less chance for fracture” as his favorite features, Dr. Sarubin said, “It does a nice job recreating the shape, size, and topography of the tooth. The material is strong, the margins hold up well, and the color was stable.” He used MARK3 for a 3-unit temporary bridge spanning tooth Nos. 12 through 14 and reported, “It did a fine job at the connectors, margins, and pontic, and lasted for the 2 months needed for healing after an extraction.” While Dr. Mark Hildahl found it “a bit brittle; some temporaries chipped during patient usage,” a dental assistant reported, “Since using MARK3 our patients haven’t been returning with broken temporary crowns.” After using MARK3 for a clinically short crown on a terminal abutment in a patient who said her temporaries had never stayed in place, Dr. Lee told DPS that this patient’s temporary stayed in place the entire time, even with the patient flossing daily.

"The material is strong, the margins hold up well, and the color was stable."
-Todd Sarubin, DDS
Pikesville, MD

Overall Satisfaction

Thankful to discover this product, Dr. Guevarra said he was pleasantly surprised with how well MARK3 Temporary Crown and Bridge performed. Dr. Baran called it “one of the better products I’ve used,” and Dr. Boyer concluded, “It makes quick and great temporaries, saves time and money, and patients appreciate a shorter visit.”

Takeaways

• Produces strong, abrasion-resistant, highly esthetic short- and long[1]term provisionals
• Quick and easy delivery with 10:1 dispensing gun and disposable tips
• Nonsticky, flowable material stays in place and sets quickly
• Polishes easily to a lasting luster; true color stable shades provide natural fluorescence
• A defined elastic phase makes it easy to remove excess material