MARK3 combines ease of delivery with exceptional dimensional stability.
The precision was outstanding; great detail, [which was] easy to read…,” said a dentist who reported that he would definitely purchase MARK3 and recommend it to his colleagues.
Fifteen dentists evaluated this VPS impression material from Cargus International, rating such features as impression detail and precision, ease of use/delivery, and flow characteristics.
Impression Detail and Precision
Manufacturer Description:MARK3 is formulated to provide excellent dimensional stability while decreasing distortions.
Evaluator Feedback:“Great product...gave nice detail in our crown and bridge impressions,” said a dentist who rated all features as excellent. One evaluator noted that it “sets up well and gave us a good impression.” Another said it was “good [at] capturing detail,” and a third remarked that “it was easy to read the detail in the impression.” “The material performed as well or better than other similar materials,” said a dentist who rated the material as excellent. The same evaluator added, “[It] captured accurate detail and was easy to use.” When asked about potential improvements, one dentist noted that “margins were not present or [were] hard to read,” and another said impression detail “looked a bit chalky.” A third evaluator commented that “the light body gave me a lot of trouble getting an accurate impression.” Twelve evaluators rated detail and precision of impressions as excellent, very good, or good.
Ease of Use/Delivery
Manufacturer Description:MARK3 optimizes ease of use/delivery with a high-performance cartridge system, which makes the material exceptionally easy to extrude.
Evaluator Feedback:Both ease of use and the delivery method were rated as excellent or very good by 13 evaluators. “The ease of use was the most outstanding [feature]to me!” said an evaluator who reported that she would definitely purchase and recommend the material. Other comments included, “The delivery method is easy.” A few dentists suggested improvements in labeling, with one noting that “consistency should be marked with bold letters on the cartridge.” Another said, “The cap on the light body should be yellow to correspond with the size of the mixing tip.”
Flow Characteristics
Manufacturer Description:MARK3 is available in fast and regular set working times, and is formulated for ease of flow/ handling.
Evaluator Feedback:With comments such as, “good viscosity with a quick set time,” 12 evaluators rated flow characteristics as excellent, very good, or good. A dentist who tested the regular set light and heavy body noted, “The consistency of both the light body and heavy body was very good,” and added that “tear resistance was quite good.” Another evaluator, who rated all features as excellent and called MARK3 an “amazing product,” went on to say, “[It had a] fast setting time, good color contrast and, best of all, the consistency is amazing.” “Great product. In a quadrant impression, the heavy body provided great displacement of the light body into the sulcus,” said a dentist who tested the light and heavy body fast set. When asked what he’d like to see improved, the same evaluator said, “[It was] great with quadrants but became a little too stiff in filling a full arch.” Referring to the light body fast set, one dentist said, “I believe the light body is slightly too light.” An evaluator who tested the medium body fast set said, “[I would have liked it to be] less hydrophobic.”
Overall Satisfaction
Twelve evaluators rated their overall satisfaction with MARK3 as excellent, very good or good, with comments such as, “Overall it looks like a great product,” and, “I can’t think of anything that would make it better.” Nine evaluators reported that they would definitely or probably purchase the material, and 10 said they would definitely or probably recommend it to their colleagues.
