THE CLOSURE OF THE GINGIVAL CREVICE FOLLOWING GINGIVAL RETRACTION FORIMPRESSION MAKING

Scant attention has been paid to the effectiveness of chemomechanical displacement of the gingiva prior to impression making for fixed parti al dentures. The closure of the gingival crevice following removal of medicated retraction cord was observed using a miniature video camera. Sulcular widths were measured at time intervals at the midbuccal and transitional line angle areas. The closure rate of the transitional li ne angle area was significantly faster than that of the mid-buccal are a during the first 90 s. An average sulcular width of 0.2 mm was reach ed at the transitional line angle after less than 30 s.