Patent ID: 7549862

Claim:
A process for the retraction of sulcus comprising the steps of: i. applying an elastomeric material, onto the vicinity of the sulcus at the boundary of a tooth and its adjacent gingiva, which elastomeric material expands on its curing reaction; ii. applying a cap onto said tooth, thereby forming a chamber over said elastomeric material, wherein said chamber comprises as its walls the tooth, the cap and an outer section of said gingiva, the cap configured to extend over the gingiva and around a periphery of the tooth to form an enclosed chamber, the chamber being arranged to limit the expansion of the elastomeric material therein; iii. retaining the cap in place sufficiently to permit the volume expansion of the elastomeric material to expand within the chamber, and the further volumetric expansion of the elastomeric material to enter into the sulcus; whereby the sulcus is retracted as a result of the curing process of the elastomeric material rather than by hydrostatic pressure on the material.