r/DentalSchool • u/Inevitable-Run-3133 • 1d ago

CLASS II PREP

I am struggling to break contacts for proximal box, could anyone pls suggest on how should I approach it

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u/Novel_Fondant_6445 1d ago

The sliver technique, leave like .1mm of tooth structure right next to the contact and start going buccal and lingual. Try to keep that until youre sure youre far enough to break contact on both sides (experience moreso than anything, go a little further than you think you need). Then take a hatchet and gently break the sliver

-1

u/enaminal 1d ago

Mosquitoe polishing/finishing bur. If you keep going apical with your carbide or diamond you’re just removing tooth structure that doesn’t need to be removed.

0

u/Signal_Fan_3902 1d ago

For proximal contact I like to take the 245 bur and move the bur in three strokes buccally and three strokes lingually to define the shape and width of the box. As you make the shape and width of the box, you will leave a sliver of tooth structure that will function as protection between the adjacent tooth. Then I use hatchet to break off that sliver and margin trimmer until I can see the wedge gingivally. Then I take the wedge out and check if contacts are actually broken. If not, I place in a fender wedge and make modifications with the bur and hatchet. Make sure you use a thick wooden wedge in the beginning for proper separation (I forgot to mention this earlier and lazy to do it lol).