Expanded clinical uses of a novel tissue-retraction material.

Impression making for all fixed prostheses requires access to the prosthetic margin while minimally traumatizing the tissue, so that clinicians can provide as much clinical information as possible to the laboratory technician. This information allows the technician to design the prosthesis to meet the criteria of the periodontium and allow the gingival tissues to recover to their original state. Until now, there have been three traditional options in the armamentarium for retraction procedures: packing cord, electrosurgery, and laser surgery. These procedures all have degrees of trauma that vary based on the experience of the clinician. The gingival tissue may be very delicate and susceptible to recession if too much trauma occurs. This article describes an expanded use of Expa-syl, a newly introduced tissue retraction material, as it relates to minimally invasive tissue management, while still providing an ideal gingival tissue environment for long-term health.