Cord packers are dental instruments used to pack gingival retraction cords into the sulcus. The cord packers with round, nonserrated working ends are used for atraumatic cord placement; serrated cord packers should only be used with braided cord.
Table 1: Comparison of Numeric Data for Top 10 Dental Cord Packers
| Design Number | Number of Ends | Package Quantity | Price (USD) | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taper Straight, Double End – Serrated | Double | 1/Pkg | 40.49 | 4.0 |
| CSI1, Non-Serrated, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 50.99 | 4.7 |
| 113 Yardley, Non-Serrated, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 56.29 | 4.4 |
| Balshi Packer Angled, Smooth, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 27.49 | 4.7 |
| Stark – Posterior/Anterior, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 42.49 | 4.6 |
| PT-55, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 70.99 | 4.3 |
| # 113, Double End, Alabaster Gray – Off Angle | Double | 1/Pkg | 36.49 | 4.5 |
| # N113, Straight Blades, Double End – Plain (Smooth) | Double | 1/Pkg | 42.49 | 4.0 |
| Gingi-Pak® Cord Packer # 1, Steel Handle, Posterior, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 38.49 | 4.3 |
| Vista-Pak™ Standard Packer with Plain Tip, Double End | Double | 1/Pkg | 34.99 | 4.1 |
Note: Prices are from the website pattersondental.com and the average rating is from customer reviews.
Table 2: Comparison of Key Features for Top 10 Dental Cord Packers
| Design Number | Manufacturer Name | Handle Material | Number of Ends | Tip Texture | Tip Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taper Straight, Double End – Serrated | Premier Dental Products | N/A | Double | Serrated | Taper Straight |
| CSI1, Non-Serrated, Double End | Hu-Friedy Mfg Co. Inc. | N/A | Double | Smooth | N/A |
| 113 Yardley, Non-Serrated, Double End | Hu-Friedy Mfg Co. Inc. | N/A | Double | Smooth | Yardley |
| Balshi Packer Angled, Smooth, Double End | Premier Dental Products | N/A | Double | Smooth | Balshi Angled |
| Stark – Posterior/Anterior, Double End | Gingi-Pak, Div. Of Belport | Silicone | Double | N/A | N/A |
| PT-55, Double End | Pascal Company, Inc. | Silicone | Double | Serrated | N/A |
| # 113, Double End, Alabaster Gray – Off Angle | PDT INC | Resin | Double | N/A | N/A |
| # N113, Straight Blades, Double End – Plain (Smooth) | NORDENT MANUFACTURING CO | Stainless Steel | Double | Smooth | N/A |
| Gingi-Pak® Cord Packer # 1, Steel Handle, Posterior, Double End | Gingi-Pak, Div. Of Belport | Stainless Steel | Double | N/A | N/A |
| Vista-Pak™ Standard Packer with Plain Tip, Double End | Vista Dental Products | N/A | Double | Smooth | N/A |
Note: N/A stands for not applicable, as there is no available information or the feature is not present.
Top 10 Gingival Retraction Cords for Crown Prep
1. Taper Straight, Double End – Serrated
Handle Type: Standard
Manufacturer Name: Premier Dental Products
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Serrated
Tip Type: Taper Straight
2. CSI1, Non-Serrated, Double End
Gingival Cord Packers are stainless steel instruments for atraumatic and accurate cord placement.
Design Number: CSI1
Handle Type: 41 Round
Manufacturer Name: Hu-Friedy Mfg Co. Inc.
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Smooth
3. 113 Yardley, Non-Serrated, Double End
Gingival Cord Packers are stainless steel instruments for atraumatic and accurate cord placement.
Design Number: 113
Handle Type: 41 Round
Manufacturer Name: Hu-Friedy Mfg Co. Inc.
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Smooth
Tip Type: Yardley
4. Balshi Packer Angled, Smooth, Double End
Balshi cord packers are used to used to accurately place subgingival cords.
Handle Type: Standard
Manufacturer Name: Premier Dental Products
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Smooth
Tip Type: Balshi Angled
5. Stark – Posterior/Anterior, Double End
May be used in either anterior or posterior cord and braid placement. It allows one to work quickly and efficiently all while maintaining greater comfort and control.
- Stainless steel handle combined with soft silone grip and titanium nitrate head
- GTX nonstick coating helps to avoid sticking to cord and tissue fluids
- Especially useful for packing woven retraction cord
Design Number: GTX
Handle Material: Silicone
Manufacturer Name: Gingi-Pak, Div. Of Belport
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
6. Circlet and Standard Packing Instrument
Circlet and Standard Packing Instrument is a double-ended cord packing instrument with a circlet style on one end and a standard style on the other.
- With silicone grip in serrated circlet style only
- Comfortable grip reduces hand fatigue
- Withstands autoclaving, chemic laving, cold sterilizing, and ultrasonic cleaning for the life of the instrument
Design Number: PT-55
Handle Material: Silicone
Manufacturer Name: Pascal Company, Inc.
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Material: Stainless Steel
Tip Texture: Serrated
7. Alabaster Gray – Off Angle
Cord Packer is used to placing and pack dental cord in the gingival sulcus.
Design Number: 113
Handle Material: Resin
Manufacturer Name: PDT INC
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Material: Stainless Steel
8. Straight Blades, Double End – Plain (Smooth)
Gingival Cord Packing Instrument has long (12 mm), straight blades that easily adapt around any tooth. The thin tips are able to access even the tightest sulcus.
- Tips will not catch the cord
- Mirror image blades are offset at 45°
- Stainless steel handle is easy to sterilize by any method
Design Number: N113
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Type: Standard
Manufacturer Name: NORDENT MANUFACTURING CO
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Smooth
9. Gingi-Pak® Cord Packer # 1, Steel Handle
Available for anterior or posterior packing, Gingi-Pak stainless steel cord packers are designed to prevent packing through a twisted cord.
- Interproximal packing
- Placing gingival retraction material
Design Number: 1
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Manufacturer Name: Gingi-Pak, Div. Of Belport
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Material: Stainless Steel
10. Vista-Pak™ Standard Packer with Plain Tip
Vista-Pak™ Packers have a thin design that is ideal for placing knitted retraction cords.
- Plain tips: for placing and compressing cords
Manufacturer Name: Vista Dental Products
Number of Ends: Double
Package Quantity: 1/Pkg
Tip Texture: Smooth
