A Jokstad1. 1. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A wide spectrum of different gingival retraction cords is used, while the relative clinical efficacy of these cords remains undocumented. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether clinicians were able to identify differences in clinical performance among 3 types of gingival retraction cords. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Dental students and faculty members ranked pairs or series of cords according to 6 criteria for clinical performance, with a blind experimental study design. Cords differed in consistency (knitted or twined) and impregnation (8% dl-epinephrine HCl, 0.5 mg/in or 25% aluminum sulfate, 0.5 mg/in). RESULTS: Knitted cords were ranked better than twined cords (P =.03). Cords containing epinephrine performed no better clinically than aluminum sulfate cords (P >.05). CONCLUSION: Clinicians were unable to detect any clinical advantages of using epinephrine impregnated gingival retraction cords compared with aluminum sulfate cords.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A wide spectrum of different gingival retraction cords is used, while the relative clinical efficacy of these cords remains undocumented. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether clinicians were able to identify differences in clinical performance among 3 types of gingival retraction cords. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Dental students and faculty members ranked pairs or series of cords according to 6 criteria for clinical performance, with a blind experimental study design. Cords differed in consistency (knitted or twined) and impregnation (8% dl-epinephrine HCl, 0.5 mg/in or 25% aluminum sulfate, 0.5 mg/in). RESULTS: Knitted cords were ranked better than twined cords (P =.03). Cords containing epinephrine performed no better clinically than aluminum sulfate cords (P >.05). CONCLUSION: Clinicians were unable to detect any clinical advantages of using epinephrine impregnated gingival retraction cords compared with aluminum sulfate cords.