The Burton Dental Innovations BurtonBands and VursaWedge split-wedge products are designed to surpass the limitations of other available Class II matrix systems.
“One night, after a particularly challenging day in the operatory, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking there has to be a better way to restore Class IIs,” said Dr. Matthew Burton, who designed and developed the products, which are available from Young Specialties.
“I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I went downstairs to the kitchen, sketched some ideas on paper, and headed to my office to begin working on a new wedge design,” said Burton, who said he perfected his design after months and dozens of prototypes.
“I discovered I could simplify the matrix system by attaching a smaller matrix to a modified wedge that was split down the middle,” said Burton.
“The flexible split wedge allows for proper contour and a tight gingival seal, as the two legs of the wedge splay out to effectively hold the matrix in place, creating a system that is fully compatible with all major ring systems,” he continued.
“The unique split-wedge design simplifies ring placement, helps stabilize the ring, and allows the ring to squeeze the gingival margin closed without impacting matrix contour,” he said.
Through the discovery and implementation of what he calls “wedge physics,” the unique split-wedge design of VursaWedge provides several distinct advantages compared to traditional wedges, Burton said.
VursaWedge allows the wedge to be inserted without being influenced by the upward forces of the patient’s papilla, preventing deformation inherent to traditional wedge and band systems such as open contacts and poor gingival margin seals, Burton said.
This eliminates flash, reducing time spent finishing and polishing the restoration, particularly in the hard to reach interproximal area, he continued.
Burton expects to launch additional VursaWedge shapes and sizes, including an anatomical wedge specifically designed for difficult furcation cases, in July 2021.
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