Occlusion is a fundamental factor in virtually every dental procedure, which makes identifying occlusal contacts and interferences essential to ensuring the adequate fit, function, and comfort of patients’ restorations and appliances. Striving to improve pretreatment diagnostics in his Ahwatukee, AZ, dental practice, Dr. John Toccafondi sought to upgrade his existing articulating paper. “We were looking for clear, distinct marks where teeth were in contact,” he explained.
Enter Bausch’s PROGRESS 100µ articulating paper. With high coloring capacity and progressive color transfer, the smooth, fiber-reinforced paper precisely marks occlusal and centric contacts, while effortlessly adapting to occlusal surfaces.
“Using PROGRESS 100µ articulating paper makes it easier for me to find contacts,” Dr. Toccafondi said. “I saw no smudges, and the marks it left were sharp and clear. This paper is as good as it gets.”
Accurate, Distinctive Markings
PROGRESS 100µ articulating paper features a unique combination of hydrophilic waxes, pharmaceutical oils, and Bausch’s proprietary Transculase bonding agent, which effectively enhance detection of high spots—particularly on difficult-to-locate surfaces such as high-polished metals or ceramics.
Dr. Jeffrey Sachs said the paper “leaves a clear and easy-to-see mark on polished zirconia,” with darker and lighter spots being easily discernible. Tony Wu, DDS, FAGD, noted, “It allowed accurate occlusal adjustments on crowns and fillings,” while Dr. Byron Davis added, “It saves time, is accurate for denture adjustments, and is an excellent product for marking discrete occlusal interferences when placing restorations.”
Mariano Polack, DDS, MS, also pointed out, “The markings were instantaneous.” Additionally, Dr. Brandon Stapleton appreciated that he “can mark the whole mouth at once.”
“It leaves very distinctive marks,” Gary Berman DDS, DABFO, said. Dr. Randy Raetz assured, “The color of marking is good,” and Dr. Wayne Berman said, “It didn’t smear and is accurate.”
Convenient, Precut Shapes and Sizes
“Whether assessing single teeth or full arches, the variety of shapes and sizes accommodates diverse clinical scenarios, ensuring thorough and predictable occlusal analysis,” observed Lucynda Raben, DDS. PROGRESS 100µ is available in both red and blue, as well as in precut strips and horseshoe shapes. “This makes it not only economical but cleanup and setup are much more efficient,” she noted.
Dr. Janice Pliszczak’s favorite feature was the precut paper. While Dr. Polack expressed that having “additional thicknesses would allow for greater distinction of occlusal levels,” he also said, “Multiple precut shapes speed up procedures and add versatility. The full-arch, horseshoe-shaped paper helps locate bilateral occlusal contacts efficiently and effectively, decreasing chair time and increasing productivity.”
Versatility on Wet and Dry Surfaces
PROGRESS 100µ has hydrophilic properties that make it suitable for use on both wet and dry occlusal surfaces. “I really liked the thinness of the paper, and the fact that the wet surface did not cause it to fall apart,” Dr. Gary Berman explained. “When doing multiple composite restorations, my [existing] articulating paper often got wet, and I needed to replace it a few times. This product held up extremely well in the moist environment.”
Dr. Pliszczak suggested to “make it thinner and easier to use in a moist field,” but Dr. Polack thought that PROGRESS 100µ “didn’t require careful drying of surfaces.” Dr. Sachs also mentioned that the paper was “durable for repeated use,” and Dr. Mark Cohen said that he was “able to use it for multiple bites during procedures.” Dr. Toccafondi echoed these comments, adding, “I was able to quickly find contacts by occlusion, wet or dry.” Recognizing versatility as one of the standout features of PROGRESS 100µ articulating paper, Dr. Raben remarked, “Its high-quality construction ensures consistent performance, allowing for reliable interpretation of occlusal contacts.”
Overall Satisfaction
“Bausch always makes the best articulating paper, and this product is no exception,” Dr. Wu said. “The paper is not too thick or too thin, and it provides very accurate occlusal marks.” Describing PROGRESS 100µ as a “much better product for highly polished restorations,” Dr. Sachs said, “It made occlusal adjusting of zirconia crowns much easier and more precise.”
“I highly recommend PROGRESS 100µ articulating paper for its reliability, cleanliness, and versatility,” said Dr. Raben. “It meets all my needs,” Dr. Gary Berman affirmed, calling it an “excellent product.” Praising its “good quality and superior durability while checking bite during procedures,” Dr. Cohen summed up his experience by saying, “I’m happy with the new product.”
