In dental terminology, which component is used to protect the tooth surface during impression taking?

The use of retraction cord during impression taking serves a crucial role in protecting the tooth surface. This cord is designed to gently retract the gum tissue away from the tooth, allowing for a clear and unobstructed view of the tooth structure. This retraction is essential for obtaining an accurate impression, as it ensures that the impression material can properly capture the details of the tooth and surrounding area without interference from the soft tissues.

In addition to providing clarity, the retraction cord also protects the tooth surface during the procedure by creating a barrier between the impression material and the tooth. This can help prevent any potential damage or irritation to the tooth and gingival margin, facilitating a smoother impression-taking process and improving the quality of the final dental restoration.

Other components listed, such as matrix bands, temporary fillings, and cavity liners, serve different purposes in dentistry and do not specifically relate to the protection of the tooth surfaces during the impression-taking process.