Consultants’ Comments

• “A great alternative to retraction cord in select cases.”
• “Ideal for use in cases where the preparation margin is at or slightly below the gingival margin.”
• “Very easy to extrude and saves time compared to cord.”
• “If the material set firmer it might achieve more retraction.”
• “Does not always retract enough for a well-detailed impression.”
• “I wish it had a hemostatic agent in it.”

Description

Magic FoamCord is an expanding addition silicone designed for retraction of the gingival sulcus without trauma to the gingival tissue. Magic FoamCord is placed in the gingival sulcus around a prepared tooth. Then the patient closes on an anatomically-shaped cotton Comprecap that fits over the preparation. Over the course of five minutes, the silicone expands, gently pushing the gingival tissue away from the preparation. Upon removal, it peels cleanly off of the preparation. Each kit comes with two, 50-ml cartridges, 30 mixing tips, 30 intraoral tips, and one box of Comprecap anatomic compressors. Twenty-four consultants evaluated Magic FoamCord in over 280 uses. This product received an 88% clinical rating.

Product Features

Consultants rated the ease of extrusion and ease of removal from preparations as excellent. The lack of residual material and the instructions were rated good. Some consultants noted that the Comprecaps found in the kits did not fit all preparations and sometimes needed to be modified. Several consultants noted that they wished that the material had a hemostatic agent in it. Many emphasized the benefit of patient comfort when using Magic FoamCord. When used on teeth with deep margins, multiple consultants found that more retraction was necessary than provided by Magic FoamCord and found the need to retake some impressions due to lack of detail. Most consultants found that Magic FoamCord would be useful in certain, but not all, situations. Fifty-eight percent of consultants would recommend the Magic FoamCord system while 54% would switch.

Clinical Tips

• Good to use around teeth that have recently had crown lengthening, because it is so atraumatic to the newly forming periodontal apparatus but still allows for good impression detail.
• In situations where the Comprecaps are too large, trim the cap so that the patient can bite down at a right angle to the preparation. This technique allows more consistent pressure while the material expands.