As a dentist it’s important to be able to find products that a) are easy to use b) simplify your daily workflows and c) achieve exceptional outcomes for your patients. As a core innovator in the field, 3M Oral Care has dedicated years of research towards each of its products to ensure that it can offer professionals all these benefits and more.
Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative and the Sof-Lex Diamond Polishing System from 3M are three such solutions that exemplify these advantages, especially when used together. The solutions are perfect for everyday dentistry as well as more complex cases, meaning that clinicians can adapt them to the needs of their patients, whether that involves a simple filling or an intricate aesthetic challenge. It’s likely that many of the restorative procedures you perform will involve direct restorations, so in this article we will explore a fast, simple and effective workflow to ensure that your direct restorations are consistently of a high standard.
An adhesive you can trust
The first step is using a dental adhesive that lends itself to your individ
ual working style but which is adaptable to suit a wide array of indications. Scotchbond Universal Adhesive from 3M Oral Care has a number of benefits that ensures it performs well regardless of the challenges it faces.
One of the most important of these is that the unique formula of the adhesive bonds to a large variety of dental materials. These include dentine, glass ceramics, composites and zirconia, as well as both noble and non-precious alloys, all without the need for any additional primer.[i] Furthermore, Scotchbond universal adhesive from 3M is compatible for use with resin cements, core build-up materials and even self-cure composites.
One of the other key benefits of Scotchbond Universal Adhesive is that it virtually eliminates post-operative sensitivity.[ii] This is true regardless of whether you use a total-etch, self-etch or selective-etch technique, meaning that you can always work how you think is best.[iii]
Application of the adhesive only takes one coat,[iv] and the innovative flip top vial design means that you can dispense Scotchbond Universal Adhesive with no mess.[v] Without the need to remove excess product, this leads to a more streamlined, tidy approach. Plus, as the adhesive is effective on both moist and dry dentine alongside a range of other materials, it eliminates the need for multiple adhesives, meaning you can fulfil all of your bonding needs efficiently.
Carl Fullaway, from Bathampton Dental Practice in Bath comments:
“I love the fact that you can use Scotchbond Universal Adhesive in whichever way suits you best – whether selective-etch or self-etch. It also comes in an easy-to-use bottle, does not evaporate and I don’t have to worry about keeping it in the fridge. Thanks to its incorporated silane coupling agent, it’s also very cost-effective compared to other bonds available, which do not offer all the same properties that Scotchbond Universal Adhesive from 3M Oral Care does.
“I have been using Scotchbond Universal Adhesive since its UK launch and I would highly recommend it to other professionals – and have done so on several occasions.”
A restorative that provides both beauty and strength
Once you have applied Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, it’s time to create the restoration using Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative. The two most important characteristics of a good restorative are that it is strong, but also able to achieve excellent aesthetics. Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative is formulated to provide these benefits in both posterior and anterior locations. Therefore, it once again doesn’t matter whether a patient needs a simple filling or requires more complex, aesthetic work, Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative will be able to meet the demand.
Good aesthetics are made possible thanks to the restorative’s excellent shade selection. For posterior restorations, 17 natural-looking shades cover the whole of the VITA classical shade guide, meaning that you can match your restoration to the surrounding dentition with ease.
For more high-pressure sites in the anterior zone, the shade selection goes one step further. 36 shades with four different levels of opacity are available, which can easily be layered and used together in order to mimic the character of the natural dentition and deliver an aesthetic outcome that is indistinguishable from the existing teeth. The syringes and capsule bottle labels are colour-coded by opacity, meaning you can easily match them at sight to create a winning combination. Another aspect of the restorative that helps to boost its natural-looking aesthetics is the unique nanotechnology. These nanoclusters have a wear rate similar to the surrounding resin matrix, so treated surfaces remain smooth.[vi] The polish retention of Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative is also excellent, meaning you can achieve a stunning, long-lasting finish every time.[vii]
This is further ensured by the restorative material’s ability to withstand significant occlusal forces. Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative not only has a greater flexural strength than other market-leading restoratives,[viii] but it has also been proven to exhibit excellent wear resistance comparable to that of natural enamel, therefore mirroring the wear process experienced by real teeth.[ix]
And, importantly, the easy syringe dispenser and excellent handling of the material[x] aid accurate application and ensure that the material is responsive to your actions, so you can create perfect restorations with little fuss.
Charles Haly, Principal Dentist at Haly Dental Care in Cork, Ireland, says:
“Haly Dental Care has been using Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative for many years and we have placed hundreds of restorations. The handling of all composite materials from 3M Oral Care is excellent. Filtek Supreme XTE offers natural aesthetics and is very durable, plus we have virtually no post-operative sensitivity. It should be the material of choice for all clinicians. I would highly recommend all the 3M Oral Care materials to all my colleagues.”
Polished to perfection
Once you have created the restoration you need to polish it to enhance the life-like aesthetics and to help it blend in with the surrounding natural dentition. However, rubberised and intraoral diamond polishing systems can be time-consuming. Even after this long process the gloss may not last, meaning patients will need to visit you regularly for a re-polish.
The Sof-Lex Diamond Polishing system from 3M Oral Care bypasses this struggle, making excellent polishing a reality. The pre-polishing spiral prepares the restoration for the final gloss, whilst the diamond-impregnated polishing spiral helps to achieve an incandescent paste-like gloss. This way, the system offers the convenience of a rubberised polishing system whilst also being able to adapt to all tooth surfaces due to its unique shape.
These polishing spirals are kind to gingival tissues and maintain the integrity and anatomy of restorations, so you won’t have to worry about morphing or altering of the crown structure. The spirals are also versatile to suit the way that you want to use them. The diamonds are embedded on every available surface of the unique shape, meaning that you can use the side, bottom, top and edge of them at any angle to achieve a great result. These spirals can be used on convex and concave tooth shapes as well as both anterior and posterior teeth, completely eliminating the need for multiple discs, points and brushes, and saving considerable working time.
The Sof-Lex Diamond Polishing system is also the economical choice for your practice – each of the spirals can be autoclaved and reused multiple times!
Dr Billy Chan from The Gloucester Street Dental Practice, Cirencester gives his opinion:
“I find all products from 3M Oral Care to be of a high standard. The restorative products are all easy to use, especially the Sof-Lex Diamond system from 3M with its colour-coded sequence. All products also come with simple-to-follow instructions, which ensures I get the most out of the composites for durable results and excellent aesthetic outcomes.”
As simple as one, two, three
In the end, there’s no reason why your everyday dentistry can’t be exceptional in every way. 3M Oral Care has formulated products that not only deliver exceptional performance individually, but also form a perfect synergy when used together to help you create some truly outstanding restorations.
This is made all the more possible through the support provided by 3M and the company’s dedication to helping every dentist elevate the quality of their treatment.
Natalie Bradley from NorthEast London Community Dental Services says:
“I would definitely recommend 3M Oral Care. I have visited their HQ in Seefeld twice and they treat their guests like dental royalty. They value the opinions of clinicians and try to address any problems we have in their dental materials to make our lives as easy as possible.”
To find out more about these innovative solutions or any of the other state-of-the-art products from 3M Oral Care, contact the team today.
For more information, call 0800 626 578 or visit www.3M.co.uk/Dental
3M, Scotchbond, Sof-Lex and Filtek are trademarks of the 3M Company.
[i] Guggenberger, R., Cerny, B., Thalacker, C., et al. Postoperative Sensitivity with a New Universal Adhesive. Presented at: IADR General Session; June 20, 2012; Iguaçu Falls, Brazil. Abstract 186
[ii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Effective Claim no. 4801
[iii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Effective. Claim No 4827
[iv] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Effective. Claim No 4825
[v] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Effective. Claim No 4802
[vi] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Nanotechnology. Claim 4097
[vii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Unsurpassed polish retention. Claim 4710
[viii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Outstanding strength. Claim 6171
[ix] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Wears similar to enamel. Claim 3939
[x] 3M Oral Care Internal Data. Exceptional clinical handling. Claim 4096
