Matrix Bands
25 products
About matrix bands
A matrix band is the thin strip placed around the tooth; its job is to replace the missing wall, hold the restorative material in and make it simpler to rebuild the contact area. Bands come in metal and in clear plastic, and a systematic review found no significant difference between metal and polyester matrix systems. Clear acetate strips are described as typical interproximal matrices, useful because the resin can be cured through the transparent matrix. One band is formed into its own loop: the short arm is bent to take the long arm according to the circumference of the tooth, the band is burnished to the contours of the tooth, and a wedge secures it.
The strip itself, metal or clear, that stands in for the missing wall. A study reports that the thickness and shape of the band may influence how tight the contact comes out.
Sources: Alqahtani et al. 2025, The Effectiveness of Circumferential and Sectional Matrix Systems in Obtaining Optimum Proximal Contact in Class II Composite Restorations (Cureus) · Alqarni et al. 2023, Evaluation of Matrix Systems on the Proximal Contact of Class II Composite Restorations: A Systematic Review (Cureus) · Anterior Matrix Systems for Composite Restorations: A Review, 2023 (Cureus) · Venkataraman et al. 2026, Assessment of Matrix Band Systems in Restoring Proximal Caries of Primary Molars (Int J Clin Pediatr Dent)