Matrix Comparison Guide

Being the Matrix Company, one of the most frequent questions we get is “which matrix do I use where?” While personal preference will drive much of the decision process, below is a chart that can provide a good starting point.

Distal of canine, short or malpositioned

Distal of canine, short or malpositioned
Composi-Tight® 3D Fusion™ Sectional Matrix System Kits

BEST - IMPROVED! Most popular choice; Superior contacts with minimal flash.

ReelMatrix™ Kit with Margin Elevation Bands

BETTER - Tofflemire-style with contoured matrix; Easy to apply; Cure through option available.

GOOD - Built-in tensioning device; Requires buccal and lingual wedges to allow placement past contact points.

SlickBands™ Tofflemire-Style Matrices

GOOD - Traditional Tofflemire-style with a new non-stick coating for easy removal.

Conservative Class II

Conservative Class II
Composi-Tight® 3D Fusion™ Sectional Matrix System Kits

BEST - IMPROVED! Most popular choice; Superior contacts with minimal flash.

ReelMatrix™ Kit with Margin Elevation Bands

BETTER - Tofflemire-style with contoured matrix; Easy to apply; Cure through option available.

GOOD - Built-in tensioning device; Requires buccal and lingual wedges to allow placement past contact points.

SlickBands™ Tofflemire-Style Matrices

GOOD - Traditional Tofflemire with a new non-stick coating for easier removal.

Slightly Wide and/or Deep

Slightly Wide and/or Deep
Composi-Tight® 3D Fusion™ Sectional Matrix System Kits

BEST - IMPROVED! Great choice even if the preparation is wide; Use Wide Prep ring with subgingival matrix bands.

ReelMatrix™ Kit with Margin Elevation Bands

BETTER - Handles wider preparations that aren’t too deep; Use with 3D/3D XR ring for improved results.

GOOD - Handles wider preparations that aren’t too deep; Use with 3D/3D XR ring for improved results.

SlickBands™ Tofflemire-Style Matrices

GOOD - #2 Subgingival bands handle both very wide and very deep restorations.

Large Class II

Slightly Wide and/or Deep
Composi-Tight® 3D Fusion™ Sectional Matrix System Kits

BEST - IMPROVED! Great choice even if the preparation is wide; Use Wide Prep ring with subgingival matrix bands.

ReelMatrix™ Kit with Margin Elevation Bands

BETTER - Use clear version to improve visualization of overall restoration.

BETTER - Use Blue View version to improve visulization of overall restoration.

SlickBands™ Tofflemire-Style Matrices

GOOD - Use Right-Curve matrix to improve anatomy of extremely wide preps.

Small to medium size

Small to medium size
Fusion™ Anterior Matrix System

BEST - Metal matrix band and wedge system to help you recreate ideal interproximal anatomy quickly and confidently.

Blue View™ VariStrip™ Anterior Matrices

GOOD - Pre-contoured in three dimensions AND tapered to provide the band height and contour.

Large Class III or Class IV

Large Class III or Class IV
Fusion™ Anterior Matrix System

BEST - Metal matrix band and wedge system to help you recreate ideal interproximal anatomy quickly and confidently.

Blue View™ VariStrip™ Anterior Matrices

GOOD - Pre-contoured in three dimensions AND tapered to provide the band height and contour.

Class V

Class V
BlueView™ Cervical Matrices

BEST - Contours and directly compresses resin while eliminating air-inhibited layer.

Crown Build Up / Post / Core

Crown Buildups
ReelMatrix™ Kit with Margin Elevation Bands

BEST - Best choice if you want a cure-through matrix for a core build-up.

BETTER - Very fast; May not provide as tight a cervical seal as other matrices.

SlickBands™ Tofflemire-Style Matrices

GOOD - A popular choice; Use Right-Curve gray (regular) matrix for the tightest possible cervical seal.