A dental matrix band retainer comprising: (i) a retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, with a band engagement portion at the proximal end; (ii) a main body portion having a proximal end and a distal end with a head portion located at the proximal end; and (iii) a bias mechanism coupling the retractor to the main body portion, the bias mechanism having a static position and a fully active position, wherein in the static position the head portion is spaced apart from the band engagement portion a first distance, and in the fully active position the head portion is spaced apart from the band engagement portion a second distance which is greater than the first distance, the bias mechanism including an actuator for urging the bias mechanism from the static position towards the fully active position, - wherein the main body portion and the bias mechanism include a pair of flexible biased bow shaped arms, and said arms each including a first end and a second end, said first ends meet at a generally mid-portion of the main body portion, said second ends meet at a distal location of the main body portion; - wherein the main body portion includes a longitudinally extending portion extending from the first ends of the flexible outer arms to a proximal end of the main body portion, wherein a connector for connecting to the retractor is located at the distal end of the main body portion and the longitudinally extending portion includes a channel, wherein at least a portion of the retractor extends within the channel, so that in the active position when the bows shape arms are squeezed toward one another, the distal end of the retractor is moved distally relative to the head portion, thus moving the band engaging portion in a like distal direction away from the head portion. (i) a retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, with a band engagement portion at the proximal end; (ii) a main body portion having a proximal end and a distal end with a head portion located at the proximal end; and (iii) a bias mechanism coupling the retractor to the main body portion, the bias mechanism having a static position and a fully active position, wherein in the static position the head portion is spaced apart from the band engagement portion a first distance, and in the fully active position the head portion is spaced apart from the band engagement portion a second distance which is greater than the first distance, the bias mechanism including an actuator for urging the bias mechanism from the static position towards the fully active position, - wherein the main body portion and the bias mechanism include a pair of flexible biased bow shaped arms, and said arms each including a first end and a second end, said first ends meet at a generally mid-portion of the main body portion, said second ends meet at a distal location of the main body portion; - wherein the main body portion includes a longitudinally extending portion extending from the first ends of the flexible outer arms to a proximal end of the main body portion, wherein a connector for connecting to the retractor is located at the distal end of the main body portion and the longitudinally extending portion includes a channel, wherein at least a portion of the retractor extends within the channel, so that in the active position when the bows shape arms are squeezed toward one another, the distal end of the retractor is moved distally relative to the head portion, thus moving the band engaging portion in a like distal direction away from the head portion. - wherein the main body portion and the bias mechanism include a pair of flexible biased bow shaped arms, and said arms each including a first end and a second end, said first ends meet at a generally mid-portion of the main body portion, said second ends meet at a distal location of the main body portion; - wherein the main body portion includes a longitudinally extending portion extending from the first ends of the flexible outer arms to a proximal end of the main body portion, wherein a connector for connecting to the retractor is located at the distal end of the main body portion and the longitudinally extending portion includes a channel, wherein at least a portion of the retractor extends within the channel, so that in the active position when the bows shape arms are squeezed toward one another, the distal end of the retractor is moved distally relative to the head portion, thus moving the band engaging portion in a like distal direction away from the head portion.