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Figure 19: The last step of the preparation sequence is to place
a ROEKO Comprecap anatomic (Coltène/Whaledent; Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio) on the prep. Slightly wet the inside of the Comprecap
before placing it to keep the tooth moist and to prevent the cotton
from sticking to the prep. Comprecap compression caps help keep
the retraction cord in place and prevent the patient’s tongue from
dislodging the cord.
Figure 20: The patient bites down on the ROEKO Comprecap
anatomic for 8–10 minutes. This ensures you have plenty of retraction.
The other day, I pulled the Comprecap after just two minutes
to take the impression. I did not have a wide-open sulcus. It is
important to leave the Comprecap in place for 8–10 minutes.
Figure 21: The result of waiting 8–10 minutes is a sulcus that cannot
be missed with an intraoral tip. I could fling alginate into the
sulcus from the other side of the operatory and still get a good
impression. When your assistant pulls the top cord, look down
from the incisal with a mirror to see what I mean. The impression
material will flow into the sulcus.
Figure 22: Blood or other gingival fluids have not contaminated
the impression because the bottom cord (#00) was left in place.
As a result, you will also get an impression of the 1 mm of tooth
structure apical to the gingival margin. This allows the dental technician
to precisely see the exact gingival margin and enables him
or her to build a proper emergence profile into the restoration —
an important determining characteristic for whether the crown will
have a natural and lifelike appearance.
20 www.chairsidemagazine.com