Abstract: A dental apparatus adapted to facilitate formation of a filling in an object tooth and to retain the filling within normal boundaries of the object tooth and generally spaced from an adjacent tooth includes a matrix having a resilient wedge member attached thereto. The resilient wedge member is elongated and has enlargements at opposite ends thereof. In use, the resilient wedge member is stretched. While the resilient wedge member is in the stretched state, the matrix and resilient wedge member are placed together between the object tooth and an adjacent tooth. The resilient wedge member is then released and contracts toward its natural unstretched state. As the resilient wedge member contracts, it urges the matrix to surroundingly conform to the object tooth. In this way, a tooth is comfortably and conveniently prepared to receive a filling.

Abstract: A dental apparatus adapted to facilitate formation of a filling in an object tooth and to retain the filling within normal boundaries of the object tooth and generally spaced from an adjacent tooth includes a matrix having a resilient wedge member attached thereto. The resilient wedge member is elongated and has enlargements at opposite ends thereof. In use, the resilient wedge member is stretched. While the resilient wedge member is in the stretched state, the matrix and resilient wedge member are placed together between the object tooth and an adjacent tooth. The resilient wedge member is then released and contracts toward its natural unstretched state. As the resilient wedge member contracts, it urges the matrix to surroundingly conform to the object tooth. In this way, a tooth is comfortably and conveniently prepared to receive a filling.