Cement removal made easy When inserting large temporary or permanent bridges with multiple adjoining abutments, (fig 1) interproximals cement removal can be challenging. In order to make cement removal easier and faster, the following technique comes in real handy. Cut off the long tails on supper floss strands. Place some Vaseline on a mixing pad and have the assistant rub the Vaseline into the thick part of the supper floss strand. The Vaseline incorporated into the floss. Remove any gross excess by pulling the strand between you fingers. When the floss has been coated with Vaseline, tie it with a knot between the units being cemented (fig 2, 3). Continue doing this until all the embrasures have a super floss knot in place. Take a brush or a Q-tip and wipe off any excess Vaseline or material that has landed on the margins or inside the crown. Follow your routine cementation procedure and seat the bridge appropriately. When the cement has set up, take an explorer and tease the knot open. Then take some forceps and pull the super floss from in between the units. The embrasure is now much easier to complete cement removal with your explorer. Remaining cement can be removed with a q-tip and orange solvent. Aside from making the cement removal more efficient, it is also much more comfortable for the patient. Another trick is to lightly coat the interproximals with Vaseline with a small brush. (Fig 4)

Fig 1 Fig 2

Fig 3 Fig 4 PAUL BINON DDS MSD