Which item is used to smooth and refine margins of a restoration?

• A. Finishing strip
• B. Resin bond
• C. Articulating paper
• D. Barbed broach

Answer: (A)

Finishing strips are flexible abrasive strips used to smooth and refine the margins of a restoration, especially along proximal surfaces. They let you remove marginal flash and contour the junction between tooth and restoration without scratching or damaging adjacent enamel, giving a seamless, well-adapted margin and a better contact. The other items have different roles: a resin bond is the adhesive layer between composite and tooth, articulating paper checks where the bite contacts, and a barbed broach is used in endodontics to remove tissue from the root canal. So the tool specifically for smoothing and refining restoration margins is the finishing strip.