Palodent Plus Sectional Matrix System
DENTSPLY Caulk
Easy-to-use Palodent Plus creates consistently accurate and tight contacts.
Building on the technology and decades of experience behind the original Palodent matrix system, DENTSPLY Caulk developed Palodent Plus, which the manufacturer describes as 1 of the simplest and most accurate matrix systems available. According to DENTSPLY Caulk, Palodent Plus provides consistently accurate and tight contacts, can be used in a variety of applications, and minimizes flash and finishing.
The Palodent Plus system includes a universal ring, narrow ring, matrix band, wedge, wedgeguard, forceps, and pin tweezers.
Fifteen dentists with a combined 312 years of experience participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation of Palodent Plus. They rated and commented on several features of the system, including accuracy and tightness of contacts, ring stability, and ease of creating a marginal edge.
Accuracy and Tightness of Contacts
The universal and narrow rings included with the Palodent Plus system are made of nickel-titanium to create a consistent force that separates teeth. According to the manufacturer, the rings return to their original shape after use, which allows them to provide a consistently tight gingival seal and anatomically shaped restoration.
The evaluators were asked to rate both the accuracy and tightness of the contacts they achieved with Palodent Plus. Seven evaluators rated contact accuracy as excellent, 4 rated it as very good, and 4 rated it as good. When asked about contact tightness, 10 evaluators rated Palodent Plus as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good.
An evaluator with 21 years of experience noted the "ease of use and great contacts" as features he liked about Palodent Plus. An evaluator from Mitchville, MD, with 17 years of experience said that Palodent Plus "creates consistently tight contact." This evaluator went on to say that he would definitely recommend the matrix system to colleagues and purchase it in the future.
Ring Stability
According to DENTSPLY Caulk, the design of the Palodent Plus ring tines helps the system to remain stable, even on significantly damaged teeth. The rings are stackable so they can be used for multiple restorations at once, help to prevent the matrix from collapsing into wide cavities, and can be used when a cusp is missing.
Eleven evaluators rated ring stability on the tooth as excellent, and 3 rated it as very good. An evaluator from Los Angeles, CA, with 8 years of experience said, "The ring grip on the tooth is great. It feels really stable." This evaluator gave Palodent Plus an overall satisfaction rating of excellent.
Ease of Creating Marginal Edge
The Palodent Plus matrix design includes a pronounced marginal ridge to aid in achieving proper contour. DENTSPLY Caulk offers 5 Palodent Plus matrix sizes to accommodate a range of tooth heights and prep sizes, each with significant horizontal and vertical curvature for accurate anatomy.
When asked to rate the ease of creating a marginal edge with Palodent Plus, 6 evaluators rated the system as excellent, 7 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good. An evaluator from Baltimore, MD, said, "The ring design was intuitive and simplified placing a wedge."
Another evaluator said, "I love the contacts, minimal flash, and contour. The rings are great."
Overall Satisfaction
Fourteen evaluators said they would definitely or probably recommend Palodent Plus to their colleagues, and 13 said they would definitely or probably purchase the matrix system in the future. At the end of the evaluation, the evaluators were asked to give their overall satisfaction rating for Palodent Plus; 8 rated it as excellent, 5 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good.
An evaluator from Fort Washington, PA, with 35 years of experience, said, "I think it is an excellent product." Another evaluator said, "Now that I have used this product, I will buy it and continue to use it." This same evaluator gave Palodent Plus and overall satisfaction rating of excellent and said he would definitely recommend it to colleagues.
