Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of orthodontic elastic separators on early interproximal caries restorated by composite resin. Methods Total 120 teeth with interproximal caries from 76 patients were included and were randomly divided into orthodontic separator techniques group or routine repair group. The teeth in routine repair group were prepared and filled by traditional approach, and those in orthodontic group were prepared and filled by traditional approach but following used separators to divide teeth for 3 days. The types of cavity were compared after treatment. The clinical evaluation was performed according to modified United States Public Health Service criteria at one week and one year after treatment. Results Fifty-eight cavities including 50 simple cavity and 8 double-faced cavity were filled in orthodontic group, and 62 teeth including 14 single cavity and 48 double-faced cavity were filled in routine group, the ratio of simple cavity in orthodontic group are significantly higher than that in routine group(P<0.05). After one year, there are no significant difference of integrity of the restorations in orthodontic and routine groups, which success rate were 100% and 96.61% respectively(P>0.05), and the success rate without secondary caries in orthodontic group was 94.64%, higher than that of routine group(84.75%), without statistical difference(P>0.05). But the success rate of marginal discoloration, food impaction and gingivitis evaluation indicators in orthodontic group were higher than routine group(P<0.05). Conclusion Using orthodontic elastic separators was conducive to accurate preparation, retained more tooth tissues, and available fine polishing, which could improve the clinical curative effect.

Key words: interproximal caries, orthodontic separa-tors, composite resin, proximal contact