Gingival Retraction Essay

Introduction This literature review has examined the importance of gingival retraction in dental &
Surgical procedures. Today, gingival retraction is the most widely used technique in the construction of dental prosthetics (Abadzhiev, 2009). There are various materials that can be used for retracting gingiva, however, it is important to select the material considering its effect on periodontium. For a prosthetic restoration to be functional and to be successful in long term, it should be properly adapted to the finish line of the preparation. Therefore, marginal integrity becomes an important factor for the success of the prosthetic restoration. For complete recording of the margins of the preparation during impression making and adaptation

Academy of Prosthodontics (2005) has defined gingival retraction as the “deflection of the marginal gingiva away from a tooth” (The Academy Of Prosthodontics, 2005, pp. 41). The procedure is performed to provide sufficient vertical & lateral space for the facilitation of adequate flow of the impression materials beyond the finish lines so that the accurate impressions are replicated. Which is considered as the most crucial step in delivering the exact prosthesis. According to Albaker (2010), retraction of gingival tissue is the most common technique for prosthetic dental impressions. In recent times, use of retraction cord for gingival deflection has gained wide application. According to a survey in 1985, 95% of dentists in North America routinely used retraction cordsGingival retraction can be used for the completion of tooth preparation or cementing of laboratory prepared prosthetic. The author has established that irrespective of the few negative effects of the gingival retraction, it is the most widely used technique by the dentists.

In past retraction was carried out with the help of various techniques like application of (cuprum ferrule). Later in subsequent years retraction cords started gaining popularity. Harrison (1961) experimented with different cords. He used a plain cord, cord impregnated with concentrations of zinc chloride and epinephrine and a cord soaked in 100% alum. Cords that contained zinc chloride at 8% and 40% concentrations lead to extreme tissue destruction, while the other materials caused only reversible