REALITY S CHOICES Metal 1a. NTI Serrated Diamond Axis 1b. Visionflex Diamond Strips 2a. Compo-Strips Premier 2b. FlexiDiamond 2c. Gateway Diamond. Metal Strips Plastic 1. Epitex 2. FlexiStrip. Sof-Lex Finishing and Polishing Strips M ESPE a. Bisco b. Super-Snap Polystrips Shofu The Ratings 1
Metal Cost/Strip Grits (µ) (mm) NTI Serrated Diamond Axis $6.00 Diamonds 20, 15 1:.75 5.8in/1.7cm, with serrated saw edge Visionflex Diamond Strips $.50 Diamonds : 5, 0, 15 2.5,.75 5.8in/1.7cm Compo-Strips Premier $.08 Diamonds : 60, 5, 20 2.5,.0 5.9in/1.9cm FlexiDiamond $.75 Diamonds : 5, 0, 15 2.5,.75 5.9in/15.0cm Gateway Diamond $.75 Diamonds : 5, 0, 15 2.5,.75 5.8in/1.7cm Metal Strips $5.09 Aluminum Oxide : 2.6,.,.0 5.2in/1.5cm No Plastic Epitex $0.5 Silicon Carbide 1: 5.0 Variable No FlexiStrip $0.19 Aluminum Oxide 2.0,.0 7.in/18.6cm Sof-Lex Finishing and Polishing Strips M ESPE $0.21 $0.2 Aluminum Oxide 2.0,.0 7.0in/17.8cm Bisco $0.18 Aluminum Oxide 1:.0 7.in/18.6cm Super-Snap Polystrips Shofu $0.20 Aluminum Oxide/ Silicon Carbide 1:.0 7.in/18.5cm 2 The Ratings
While burs, diamonds, and discs can be used on accessible surfaces such as facial, lingual, incisal, and occlusal, strips are needed to smooth and polish the proximal surfaces of all bonded restorations, direct and indirect. They are available with a metal or plastic backing and with different abrasives. The metal strips are more effective when contacts are very tight, but you must use them with much care they can easily lacerate your patients lips, tongue, and/or gingivae. The metal strips are typically used for smoothing porcelain, but can also be used for orthodontic stripping, while the plastic strips are primarily used for composites, resin ionomers, and resin cements. Be careful not to overuse metal strips as they can open contacts. All the metal strips are autoclavable and can be reused. We recommend purchasing at least one type of metal strip and one type of plastic strip. Metal NTI Serrated Diamond Axis www.axisdental.com (.5) REALITY S CHOICES 1a Cost: $59.95/10 ($6.00/ea) 10 strips of one grit Diamond Sterilization Tube Cost: $.95 SAMPLING Two functions a great convenience Less expensive than two strips if you need both functions Too wide to finish apical to contact More expensive if you only need one function 2 Fine (20µ) Red. Superfine (15µ) Yellow. Diamonds. Width 1.75mm with serrated edge. Clear plastic tube with plastic color-coded caps on the ends, some of which are difficult to remove. There is also black, anodized aluminum tube for autoclaving the strips. Features a screw-type attachment and flattened side to prevent rolling off cabinets. 5.8in/1.9cm The Ratings
1b REALITY S CHOICES Visionflex Diamond Strips www.brasselerusa.com (.5) Assorted Strips Cost: $67.50/15 ($.50 ea) 5 strips each (medium, fine, extra-fine) Anodized aluminum autoclave tube Cost: $9.50 Great flexibility Holes seem to make cutting more effective Most expensive in category Still curl up after autoclaving Medium (5µ) Blue. Fine (0µ) Red. Extra-Fine (15µ) Yellow. Diamonds. 2 2.5mm and.75mm. 5.8in/1.7cm. Basic package is a non-resealable clear plastic envelope with a paper card for identification. Obviously not designed for storing after sterilizing. There is also an a la carte blue anodized aluminum autoclave tube that is very handy for sterilizing and storing the strips. 2a Compo-Strips Premier (.2) ENCORE Cost: $2.50/6 ($.08 ea) 1 strip each of 2 assorted widths, grits Typical high quality of Premier grits and 2 widths No autoclave tube Coarse is very aggressive Coarse (60µ) Blue. Medium (5µ) Red. Fine (20µ) Yellow. The Ratings Diamonds. 2 2.5mm and.0mm. 5.9in/1.9cm.. Clear plastic tray with foil top.
(.2) FlexiDiamond Strips 2b Cost: $5.00/12 ($.75/ea) Sampler Assortment 2 strips in each width and grit Narrow Assortment narrow strips/ grits Wide Assortment wide strips/ grits Individual Refill 12 strips, same grit, same width Nice progression of grits Ultra Thin modification makes them easier to use Could use a coarser grit Can t sterilize in plastic tubes Coarse (5µ) Medium (0µ) Superfine (15µ) Diamonds. White. Blue. Pink. 2 2.5mm and.75mm. 5.9in/15.0cm.. Clear plastic tubes. (.2) Gateway Diamond 2c Medium (5µ) Blue. Fine (0µ) Red. ExtraFine (15µ) Yellow. Diamonds. Assorted Strips Cost: $56.25/15 ($.75/ea) 5 strips each (medium, fine, and extra fine) 2 2.5mm and.75mm. 5.8in/1.7cm. Anodized aluminum autoclave tube Cost: $9.50. Nice progression of grits Two sizes With Visionflex, these may be history Why is the name not on the package? Basic package is a clear plastic, non-resealable envelope with a paper card for identification, although the name Gateway is nowhere to be found. There is also an a la carte blue anodized aluminum autoclave tube that is very handy for sterilizing and storing the strips. The Ratings 5
Metal Strips www.gcamerica.com (.7) Cost: $61.10/12 strips ($5.09 ea) Package A includes: strips each of assorted widths, same grit Package B includes: 12 strips (1 of each width and grit) Aluminum oxide on metal backing Only type with three widths No center gap More expensive than diamonds? Extra Coarse (200) Red. Coarse (00) Blue. Medium (600) Green. Fine (1000) Yellow. Alundum (aluminum oxide µ). 2.6mm,.mm, and.0mm. 5.25in/1.5cm Thicknesses Extra Coarse Coarse Medium Fine No. 0.16mm 0.11mm 0.09mm 0.07mm White plastic tray with clear plastic cover. 6 The Ratings
PLASTIC (.) Epitex www.gcamerica.com 1 Starter Kit Cost: $122.00 ($0.5/7in. strip) reels of finishing strips (2.8ft/10m ea) 1 reel of Mylar matrix strip Refills: $25.5/reel ($0.5/7in. strip) Thinnest strip available Can cut off any length you want No center gap Asepsis an issue Coarse Medium Fine Superfine Blue. Green. White. Orange. Silicon carbide, 0.µ particle size, on polyester backing. 1 5mm 2.8ft/10.0m No. Each grit comes in a tape-like dispenser, all five of which are inserted into a plastic base. This is an easy to use dispensing system, which lets you decide how long a strip you need, but requires two hands. This means you will contaminate it with your gloves every time you need a strip. The dispenser also contains a roll of clear Mylar. If you wanted strips in the same length as FlexiStrip, each reel would give you 56 strips. (.1) FlexiStrip 2 Cost: $18.95/box of 100 ($0.19 ea) Coarse Gray. Medium Blue. Fine Yellow-green. Superfine Rose. Only brand with two grits in both widths Ultra Thin modification makes them easier to use Still not quite as thin as Epitex Could use a coarser grit Aluminum oxide on Mylar backing. The Ratings 7
2 2mm and mm 7.in/18.6cm. Cardboard tray in cardboard box. Sof-Lex Finishing and Polishing Strips M ESPE (.9) Coarse works well Started this category More expensive than FlexiStrips Why no polishing grit in narrow? Fine-Superfine (Wide only) Cost: $1.90/120 ($0.27 ea) Coarse-Medium (Wide) Cost: $1.90/150 ($0.21ea) 2 2mm and mm. Coarse-Medium (Narrow) Cost: $1.90/100 ($0.2 ea) Coarse Beige. Medium White. Fine Dark Gray. Superfine Blue. Aluminum oxide. 7.0in/17.8cm. Plastic tray in cardboard box. There is a small clear plastic window in the top of the box for viewing the strips, just in case you wanted to pick one based on its appearance rather than bothering to read the box. a Bisco (.5) NEW Fine/Ultrafine Cost: $18.00/100 ($0.18ea) Coarse/Medium Cost: $18.00/100 ($0.18ea) Least expensive Matches FlexiStrip wide size Only one width Can t polish apical to contact with wide strip Coarse Medium Fine Superfine Brown. Green. Blue. Tan. Aluminum oxide. 1 mm 7.in/18.6cm. Cardboard tray in cardboard box. 8 The Ratings
(.5) Super-Snap Polystrips Shofu b Fine/Superfine Cost: $19.95/100 ($0.20ea) Coarse/Medium Cost: $19.95/100 ($0.20ea) ENCORE Coarse Black. Medium Violet. Fine Aqua green. Superfine Pink. and particle size Coarse Silicon carbide 60µ. Medium Silicon carbide 0µ. Fine Aluminum oxide 20µ. Superfine Aluminum oxide 7µ. mm. Least expensive Matches FlexiStrip wide size Only one width Can t polish apical to contact with wide strip Cardboard tray in cardboard box or merely loose in a cardboard box (without the tray). 7.in/18.5cm REALITY METAL STRIPS NTI Serrated Diamond are the only strips that combine finishing and polishing (same as the other strips) with a center gap section that incorporates an interproximal saw. This is both good and bad. It s good because it s one less product you need to buy, sterilize, and distinguish from other strips. Since diamond strips are used many times to finish, smooth, and polish indirect restorations that have been bonded, having the saw and strip together is very convenient, since their individual functions frequently are accomplished sequentially by opening an clogged interproximal space with the saw and then smoothing it with the diamond strip portion. However, due to their dual function, they are more expensive then the other strips. If you don t need the saw capability, you would be spending extra for no apparent reason. In addition, they are only available in one width that is too wide if you just want to finish and polish apical to the contact area. With strips this wide, opening a contact is a very real possibility. And they are only available in two grits. Visionflex strips give you most of the attributes of other diamond strips (durable, thin, more aggressive than aluminum oxide strips), but also add flexibility to the mix. With the perforated design, you can contour more precisely by being able to see through them during use and by giving the strips a more dead-soft quality than the typical springy feel of a conventional diamond strip (although Visionflex also tends to get curly after the first use). But they can be too aggressive on composite, while one evaluator felt they were too easy to tear compared to more conventional diamond strips. Nevertheless, with their fast cutting, flexibility, and resistance to clogging, Visionflex strips can definitely replace more conventional diamond strips in your finishing armamentarium. The Ratings 9
Compo-Strips has three grits and two sizes, but the coarse can be very aggressive and open a contact quickly before you recognize it. FlexiDiamond strips give you excellent performance, come in three grits and two sizes, and are ultra-thin to increase their flexibility. Gateway strips are virtual clones of FlexiDiamond, sharing its advantages and disadvantages. Metal Strips are available in four grits, are the only aluminum oxide strip with a metal backing, and come in three widths, but do not have quite the effectiveness compared to the diamond strips. In addition, the diamond-coated types have a center gap while Metal Strips do not. Therefore, you have to be careful when using them since they have an increased potential to open a contact. PLASTIC STRIPS Epitex was favored over the other brands, mainly due to its thinness. These are, by far, the thinnest strips we have ever tested. This thinness (0.05mm) is achieved by eliminating the thick plastic backing that is characteristic of most conventional finishing strips. It is this thick plastic backing that prevents conventional strips from going through tight contacts without all the abrasive coming off. It can go through contacts that would be impossible for conventional strips. It also conforms to the tooth very well and minimizes possible soft tissue injury that can occur with the thicker strips. However, not all is perfect since its thinness makes Epitex more susceptible to tearing and the silicon carbide particles tend to leave a slight residue on the restoration, which must be removed with floss. Our clinical impression is that the surface finish achieved with Epitex is close but not quite equal to that produced with the other strips. We also found its width to be too wide for finishing only below the contact area. Finally, if you create strips based on the length of most of the other strips, the cost of each Epitex strip would be significantly more expensive. To bring its cost down, only use a length you really need. FlexiStrips are the only brand in this group with the narrow width in both finishing and polishing grits. That s a great advantage when you want to smooth and polish apical to the contact. They are available in an ultra-thin version to increase their flexibility and help in going through contacts without the abrasive dislodging. Sof-Lex is the classic strip in this category and matches FlexiStrips in effectiveness, but the narrow width of Sof-Lex is only available in the coarse-medium grit, but not in the fine/superfine grit. They are also more expensive. are very similar to Super-Snap in that they have the wide, which won t fit apical to the contact in most teeth. Super-Snap has good polishing efficacy, but suffer from only having one width, which is too wide to fit apical to the contact in many instances. However, the colors are real cool. OTHER PRODUCTS IN THIS CATEGORY Deliver-Eze Axis Magnum Strips E.C. Moore Micro-Fill Composite E. C. Moore Moore-Flex Polishing and E. C. Moore Spectra-A and Spectra-F Moyco 0 The Ratings