Today's post is short, but that's because the majority of what you need to know will be in the link at the bottom.
Anyone who performs dentistry in the anterior knows that retraction is critically important. Over the years, there have been several products released that can help solve that problem, but the one that everyone knows is Ivoclar's OptraGate. It was the first thin and flexible lip retraction device that I ever worked with... and I loved it. Now the company has announced the new and improved OptraGate 2.
The Optragate 2 is a non-latex lip and cheek retractor that, as you can see in the image above, provides a clear view for treatment in the anterior segment of the mouth. There are flexible rings in the material that allow the device to be incredibly flexible. Basically it is folded almost in half, then the interior ring is placed under the lip and as the device unfolds, it expands and retracts the lips.
The biggest difference in the new design is the addition of a third flexible ring located midway between the inner and outer rings. Ivoclar says the addition of this third ring "reduces compressive strength on the jawbone".
From that description, I'm guessing that what they mean is that it helps keep the inner ring from pressing against the facial aspect of the alveolar ridge as it holds the lip back. I haven't had a chance to to try the product yet, so that is speculation. However, as a patient I did have the original OptraGate used on me by a friend and I did notice some tenderness along the labial plate due to the pressure of the internal ring. To be clear, it was not bad and certainly hasn't ever kept me from using one when needed. I applaud Ivoclar for continuing to innovate on a product that is a simple design. Everything can be improved and it shows how the company is always looking to make things better.
Ivoclar has set up a nice page with all of the product info and details, including videos. You can find that page here.
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