Indications for Dental Finishing Strips
A Clinical Selection Guide

Finishing strips are clinically indicated over rotary burs for interproximal finishing primarily to prevent iatrogenic damage to adjacent tooth structure and to create anatomically correct contact points. The manual control and tactile feedback offered by a strip is superior to a high-speed bur in the tight confines of the interproximal space, minimizing the risk of inadvertently ditching the neighbouring tooth or flattening the contact area.

While a fine-grit flame-shaped finishing bur running at low RPM (under 10,000 RPM) can be used to remove gross overhangs, the final contouring should be delegated to a strip. This ensures the restoration's proximal surface is convex and smoothly transitions into the tooth's natural contour, which is essential for gingival health and patient hygiene. Complete finishing and polishing kits often include both burs and strips for a comprehensive workflow.

• Proximal Overhang Removal: For small to moderate composite overhangs that are inaccessible to burs without damaging the adjacent tooth.
• Contact Point Refinement: To adjust the tightness and position of a Class II composite contact point after curing.
• Recontouring Axial Surfaces: For creating proper embrasures and ensuring the restoration's emergence profile is physiologic.
• Final Polishing: To achieve a high-lustre, stain-resistant surface on the interproximal aspect of composite, glass ionomer, or compomer restorations.

The choice between metal (stainless steel) and plastic (polyester) finishing strips hinges on the clinical task: metal strips are for initial contouring and gross reduction, while plastic strips are for final smoothing and polishing. Metal strips are more rigid and aggressive, making them effective for breaking through a tight contact or removing a definite overhang. However, their stiffness can make them difficult to adapt to curved surfaces.

Conversely, polyester strips are highly flexible, allowing them to wrap around the tooth and adapt closely to the restoration's contours. They are available in a wider range of fine and extra-fine grits, making them the standard choice for the final polishing stages. A typical clinical sequence involves using a medium-grit metal strip to establish the contour, followed by a series of fine and superfine plastic strips to achieve a high-gloss finish.

• Metal (Stainless Steel): Best for initial recontouring, breaking fused contacts, and removing noticeable overhangs. Generally available in medium to coarse grits.
• Plastic (Polyester/Mylar): The standard for smoothing and polishing. Their flexibility allows for superior adaptation to tooth anatomy.
• Gapped vs. Ungapped: Strips with a non-abrasive central gap allow for safe initial placement through the contact point before the abrasive sections are engaged.

Selecting the correct grit and width for dental finishing strips requires a sequential, systematic approach. Always progress from coarse to fine grit to incrementally remove scratches and achieve a smooth surface. Starting with a fine grit on a rough surface is ineffective and time-consuming. Most systems use a color code: darker colors like blue or green indicate coarse grits for contouring, while lighter colors like yellow or white indicate superfine grits for polishing.

The strip's width should correspond to the gingivo-occlusal height of the contact area. A narrow strip (e.g., 2.5 mm) is ideal for anterior teeth or small posterior restorations, preventing damage to soft tissues. A wider strip (e.g., 4 mm) provides better purchase and control for larger Class II restorations. After the final strip, using high-shine polishing pastes with a cup or disc can further enhance the lustre of the accessible facial and lingual embrasures.

• Start Coarse: Begin with a medium/coarse grit to remove overhangs and establish the primary contour.
• Progress Sequentially: Move to a fine grit to smooth the surface and remove scratches left by the previous strip.
• Finish Superfine: Use an extra-fine or superfine grit to achieve the final high-gloss polish.
• Match Width to Contact: Use narrow strips for anterior teeth and wider strips for broad posterior contacts.

Finishing strips are precision tools, not universal solutions, and should be avoided in specific clinical scenarios where they can cause more harm than good. Their primary contraindication is for removing large, bulky overhangs where a bur is more efficient and effective. Attempting to reduce significant excess material with a strip is time-consuming and can lead to shredding of the strip and operator fatigue.

Furthermore, they are contraindicated for restorations with deep subgingival margins, as the strip can lacerate the gingival attachment and sulcular epithelium, causing bleeding and post-operative discomfort. They are also not the tool of choice for closing an open contact; their abrasive action will remove more tooth structure, potentially worsening the gap. Proper matrix selection and wedging is the correct approach to establish a tight contact initially.

• Large Overhangs: Require initial reduction with a finishing bur or scaler for efficiency.
• Deep Subgingival Margins: High risk of traumatizing the periodontal attachment.
• Open Contacts: Strips will remove tooth structure, further opening the contact.
• Porcelain Restorations: Specialized diamond strips and polishing systems are required for ceramics to avoid causing micro-fractures.