Table 1: Comparison of Dental Wedges by Quantity
| Item Name | Quantity per Package | Material | Compressibility | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palodent® Plus Wedge Refill | 100 | Not specified | Compresses on entry and flares upon exit | Not specified |
| Wizard Wedges® Matrix Wedges | Not specified | Birch Wood | Not specified | Anatomically shaped |
| Sycamore Wood Wedges | 400 | Sycamore Wood | Slightly compressible | Square end, concave sides, and round tip |
| Wizard Wedges® Anatomical Matrix Wedges | Not specified | Birch Wood | Not specified | Anatomical contour |
| Palodent® Plus Wedgeguard Refills | 50 | Not specified | Compresses on entry and flares upon exit | Not specified |
| Wonder Wedges® Interproximal Wooden Wedges | Not specified | Sycamore Wood | Not specified | Anatomically conformed |
| FenderWedge® | 36 | Stainless Steel and Plastic | Not specified | Not specified |
| Uni-Wedge | 250 | Plastic | Not specified | Not specified |
| The Wedge – Transparent | Not specified | Elastomeric thermoplastic polymers | Not specified | Anatomical shape |
| Contact Wedge Refill | 85 | Elastic | Not specified | Not specified |
Table 2: Comparison of Dental Wedges by Features
| Item Name | Features | Advantages | Disadvantages | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palodent® Plus Wedge Refill | Hollow underside for placement of second wedge | Easy placement and seal | Material not specified | Used to separate teeth |
| Wizard Wedges® Matrix Wedges | Crafted from birch wood for greater tooth separation | Better access and stable holding | Not compressible | Used to hold matrix systems during restorative procedures |
| Sycamore Wood Wedges | Square end, concave sides, and round tip; Wedge number designates length of wedge in mm | Easy insertion and removal, conforms the matrix band to the tooth’s anatomy | Not as compressible as other materials | Used to separate teeth and compensate for the thickness of the matrix band |
| Wizard Wedges® Anatomical Matrix Wedges | Exclusive multiplane contour that firmly engages adjoining teeth to hold the matrix in position; Color coded for convenience | Not splintering | Not compressible | Used to hold matrix systems during restorative procedures |
| Palodent® Plus Wedgeguard Refills | Hollow underside for placement of second wedge | Easy placement and seal | Material not specified | Used to separate teeth |
| Wonder Wedges® Interproximal Wooden Wedges | Anatomically conformed interproximal wooden wedges made of sycamore wood; Will not chip or splinter | Keep filling and restorative materials in the matrix, reduce the formation of overhangs, easily removed | Not compressible | Used to hold matrix bands while performing multi-functional procedures |
| FenderWedge® | Combination of a wedge and a protective stainless steel plate; Facilitates easy placement of matrix and establishment of contact points | Accommodates most narrow spaces easily | Material not specified | Used to protect adjacent teeth during Class II preparation |
| Uni-Wedge | Flexible, made of plastic and will not break or splinter; Designed with finger grips to facilitate use | Will not break or splinter | Not compressible | Meant to replace standard wooden wedges |
| The Wedge – Transparent | Anatomical shape and a head that provides for easy insertion with cotton pliers; Structured surface permits optimum reflection |
Top 10 Restorative Dentistry Products
1. Palodent® Plus Wedge Refill – DENTSPLY Caulk
Palodent® Plus Wedges compress on entry and flare upon exit for easy placement and seal. They also have a hollow underside to allow the placement of a second wedge from the opposite side.
2. Wizard Wedges® Matrix Wedges – Water Pik Technologies Inc
Wizard Wedges® Matrix Wedges provide stable holding of matrix systems during critical restorative procedures.
- Better access and stable holding
- Crafted from birch wood for greater tooth separation
- Faster, better tooth position recovery upon removal
3. Sycamore Wood Wedges – Premier Dental Products
Sycamore Wood Wedges are anatomically carved for adaption and used to separate teeth easily to compensate for the thickness of the matrix band. These wedges are slightly compressible yet will not splinter, even in thin sections.
- The square end for easy insertion and removal
- Concave sides conform the matrix band to the tooth’s anatomy, helping to avoid overhangs
- Round tip easily passes over the gingiva
- Wedge number designates the length of the wedge in mm
4. Wizard Wedges® Anatomical Matrix Wedges
Wizard Wedges® Anatomical Matrix Wedges employ an exclusive multiplane contour that firmly engages adjoining teeth to hold the matrix in position.
- Nonsplintering birchwood
- Color-coded for convenience
5. Palodent® Plus Wedgeguard Refills – DENTSPLY Caulk
Palodent® Plus Wedges compress on entry and flare upon exit for easy placement and seal. They also have a hollow underside to allow the placement of a second wedge from the opposite side.
6. Wonder Wedges® Interproximal Wooden Wedges
Wonder Wedges® Interproximal Wooden Wedges are used for holding matrix bands while performing multi-functional procedures.
- Anatomically conformed interproximal wooden wedges made of sycamore wood
- Keep filling and restorative materials in the matrix
- Reduce the formation of overhang, making polishing easier and quicker
- Easily removed
- Will not chip or splinter
7. FenderWedge® – Directa Inc
FenderWedge® from JS Dental is a powerful combination of a wedge and a protective stainless steel plate thin enough to accommodate most narrow spaces easily. When inserted, FenderWedge® pre-separates the teeth by a few tenths of a millimeter, which aids in the final building of the contact point.
- Protects adjacent teeth during Class II preparation
- Facilitates easy placement of matrix and establishment of contact points
- As easy to insert as a wedge
- Jams in and stays in position
8. Uni-Wedge – Hager Worldwide
The Uni-Wedge is a plastic wedge that is meant to replace standard wooden wedges. The Uni-Wedges are flexible, made of plastic, and will not break or splinter. Designed with finder grips to facilitate use.
9. The Wedge – Transparent by Polydentia SA
The Wedge is a transparent interdental wedge that provides elasticity and softness to ensure adaptation of the matrix along the entire cervical margin, including concave zones and in the widening interdental space.
- Made from a special blend of elastomeric thermoplastic polymers
- Anatomical shape and a head that provides for easy insertion with cotton pliers
- Structured surface permits optimum reflection of light and ensures complete polymerization of light-cured filling materials
- Can be used with the Maximat Plus matrix tensioning system
10. Contact Wedge Refill – Danville Materials
The Contact Wedge from Danville Engineering is a unique elastic wedge that provides superior cervical adaption and seal. Fast and easy placement with rubber dam forceps or ring pliers.
