Save Time With Glass Ionomer Placement with 3M
Products that save time mean that, in theory, we can see more patients in a day. Glass Ionomers fit nicely into this space as an adhesive isn’t required, and the ability to bulk place to any depth due to the chemical cure makes these ideal time saving products.
Ketac Universal glass ionomer restorative does not require the use of a glaze or conditioner and is engineered to be non-sticky! With only 4-steps required, it should save you lots of time. A laboratory test was performed where a metal ball plunger was dipped into the mixed paste of each glass ionomer restorative material and withdrawn immediately. Test photos prove that Ketac Universal did not stick to the metal ball, while other glass ionomer materials on the market displayed a clear ‘pull back’ (or stickiness) when the ball plunger was lifted.
Ketac Universal Glass Ionomer restorative is the latest development in a long history of proven glass ionomer technology. It’s designed to save steps for a faster procedure, so it’s ideal for treating paediatric, geriatric, and teenage patients—who can be the most caries-prone and the most restless. Ketac Universal Glass Ionomer restorative offers low stickiness for easy handling AND reduces chair time with a simple 1-step placement so you can finish faster. Ketac Universal can be used without preconditioning the cavity and without a coating, so it eliminates steps—yet still delivers compressive strength and surface hardness that are higher than several clinically proven glass ionomers which require a coating.
Most dental professionals utilise both a glass ionomer and a resin modified glass ionomer in their day-to-day work. Resin modified glass ionomers offer all the advantages of a conventional glass ionomer - plus important advances like dual curing, immediate finishing, and improved aesthetics. These also tend to offer a high degree of hydrophilicity, making them ideal for situations where moisture control is difficult. As mentioned, Ketac Universal has been designed to operated without the need for a conditioner and glaze. Photac Fil is 3M’s resin modified glass ionomer restorative which also has been designed to work without the need for a conditioner and glaze, again saving you time and making placement quicker.
As well as being a great direct restorative, resin modified glass ionomers have a long history as a lining material. Giving a good bond to dentine and providing fluoride release, they offer an ideal solution to that cavity floor before being finished with a composite restoration. Resin modified glass ionomers also have a better modulus of elasticity over composite materials. Studies have shown that resin modified glass ionomer liners can absorb the stresses caused by shrinking composite materials and therefore reduce post operative sensitivity and decrease the risk of marginal leakage.
Vitrebond Plus Light Cure Glass Ionomer Liner/Base is the ideal choice of liner due to its award-winning delivery system. The highly innovative clicker system allows the dental professional to dispense as much or as little as they need from a controlled paste / liquid delivery system. Vitrebond Plus is more than a foundation for restorations: it also helps prevent micro-leakage, reduces the risk of post-op sensitivity, and supplies sustained fluoride release to the tooth.
This streamlined system of Vitrebond Plus Clicker delivers the level of performance and protection you’ve come to expect from a 3M glass ionomer liner – without the mess of measuring. Get a powerful combination of excellent adhesion to dentine with 3M adhesives, reduced shrinkage stress caused by polymerisation shrinkage, and sustained fluoride release – all in one simple click.
It’s generally thought that mixing is important key step when it comes to preparing a glass ionomer for use. The clicker delivery system certainly makes dispensing and mixing easy, but when it comes to capsulated glass ionomers, we have always been reliant on our amalgamator to generate the optimal mix. Although the trusty amalgamators are good, the capsule contents are only mixed at the end of each swing as the glass ionomer components collide with the internal surface of the capsule.
Rotary mixing is a much more efficient and timesaving way of mixing and is offered by the 3M Rotomix capsule mixing unit. Utilising a rotating platform with simultaneously counterrotating capsule holder produces the most complete mix finishing off with an automatic centrifugal cycle which produces a denser mix and virtually void-free material. The Rotomix has been shown to reduce mixing time by up to 30% compared to other mixing machines.
So if time is your enemy with Glass Ionomers, or you’d simply prefer a product which does not stick, Ketac Universal and Photac Quick Fil – combined with a Rotomix mixing unit – will definitely offer you a complete solution to your everyday needs.
View the full range of 3M products here.
