Using Articulating Paper to Determine Needed Texture on Your Composite Restoration

The texture is a huge part of making composite restorations look esthetic and natural. Dr. Arthur Volker offers this tip to help determine texture with articulating paper.

Dr. Volker rubs the articulating paper on the teeth to find the smooth and rougher areas. He is also able to ascertain the line angles with articulating paper because that area is raised where the facial and distal come. This helps quickly determine primary anatomy and how much texture you need to add to ensure the restoration blends in with the other teeth.

Next, Dr. Volker points out the light-reflective and light-deflective zones to determine the excess composite that needs to be removed.

Dr. Volker ends the tip with a recent case, showing how articulating paper helped him determine the texture needed for a recent composite restoration case. His final results were achieved with Renamel® NANO™ Plus and polished with Enamelize™ Polishing Paste.

About the AuthorDr. Arthur Volker

Dr. Volker graduated from the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. He is the Chairman of the New Dentist Committee and a member of the Continuing Education Committee for the New York State Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Volker is a Diplomate of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists. He was a clinical attending at the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility on Roosevelt Island, and is in private practice in New York, with an emphasis on cosmetic and minimally invasive dentistry. Dr. Volker has published articles and lectures nationally and internationally on such topics as cosmetic dentistry, minimally invasive dentistry, dental materials, and dental implants.