Clinical Overview
Ultrapak™ E is a size #0 knitted gingival retraction cord made from 100 % cotton loops impregnated with racemic epinephrine hydrochloride to achieve controlled hemostasis while retracting soft tissue. The unique knitted construction compresses on insertion and gently expands to maintain outward pressure, displacing gingiva efficiently within minutes. Its design supports accurate impression margins, clean access, and efficient restorative workflows.
Key Benefits
- Knitted-loop design: Compresses when packed and then expands to maintain continuous outward force—facilitating optimal gingival displacement in 3–8 minutes.
- Epinephrine‑impregnated (#0): Promotes local hemostasis and sulcular drying—ideal for precision in veneers and Class III–V restorations.
- Superior packing ease: Smooth, flexible cord better conforms to sulcus without entangling in rotary instruments.
- Color-coded size #0: Easily visible and retrievable; recognized as the world’s smallest knitted cord suitable for lower anteriors and delicate tissue cases.
- Clean-cut dispensing bottle: Integrated steel blade and ruler enable precise cutting and measurement control during application.
- Compatible with hemostatic solutions: Ideal for use with ViscoStat or Astringedent systems—except avoid combining with ferric sulfate agents to prevent precipitate formation.
Kit Contents
- 1 × bottle containing ~8 ft (≈2.44 m) of size #0 Ultrapak E knitted cord (approx. 0.6 mm diameter)
- Integrated CleanCut cap with high-carbon steel blade and measurement ruler
Application Protocol & Timing
- Select size #0 cord for delicate or anterior procedures, especially in lower teeth and Class III–V margins.
- Cut cord to desired length using built-in blade and measure via printed ruler on bottle cap.
- Saturate portion of the cord (if desired) with a bonding-compatible hemostatic such as ViscoStat™ or Astringedent™. Do not use ferric sulfate agents with epinephrine cords.
- Packing: gently insert cord into the sulcus using a thin Ultrapak™ packer—compression ensures immediate space creation; cord then expands to maintain pressure.
- Allow 3–8 minutes (typically ~5 minutes) for full tissue displacement.
- At procedure completion, remove cord; proceed with impression, bonding, or final restoration once hemostasis and access are verified.
Indications
- Subgingival margin exposure for crown, veneer, or inlay/onlay impression and cementation procedures
- Class III, IV, V restorations near delicate tissue and subgingival veneer luting
- Lower anterior preparations and cases requiring precise tissue control in narrow sulci
- Two-cord technique: size #0 as inner cord with larger cord (#00–#2) as outer cord where deeper displacement needed.
Instructions for Use
- Choose appropriate cord length and cut using the built-in CleanCut blade.
- Optionally saturate the cord with a chlorhexidine or aluminum chloride–based hemostatic agent—never ferric sulfate when using epinephrine cords.
- Using a slim packing instrument, gently place cord into sulcus ensuring compression.
- Leave in place for 3–8 minutes until tissue visibly retracted and bleeding controlled.
- Remove cord carefully, rinse operative field, and proceed with impression or restoration.
Summary
Ultradent Ultrapak™ E Knitted Retraction Cord size #0 (Ref. 198) delivers refined tissue management for anterior and delicate esthetic procedures. Its knitted-loop cotton construction exerts uniform expansion force, while epinephrine impregnation enhances hemostasis. The CleanCut design ensures seamless dispensing and measurement control. Combined with bonding-compatible hemostatics (not ferric sulfate), it enables precise, efficient sulcus control and margin visibility for reliable impressions and restorations.
