In light of the European Parliament’s vote to phase down amalgam, has it become more important than ever for dentists to find trustworthy alternatives. This means you need new restorative materials you can trust to deliver the same easy handling, durability and effectiveness, without any of the negative side effects. 3M Oral Care offers several products that are more than capable of rising to this challenge.
Among these is the Filtek One bulk fill restorative (Figure 1), which enables clinicians to create excellent restorations[i]with speed and simplicity ii]It allows for easy sculpting and shaping,[iii]with good adaptability to the cavity and margins,[iv]low shrinkage when cured[v]and slump resistance for simple placement.[vi]Improving the professional workflow, one-step placement of the bulk fill material saves precious time[vii]compared to traditional composite procedures.
In terms of aesthetics, the Filtek One material is available in shades that match the demands for posterior restorations,[viii]enabling the fabrication of natural-looking outcomes.[ix]What’s more, Filtek One bulk fill restorative features higher wear resistance,[x]compressive[xi]and flexural strength,[xii]polish retention[xiii]and fracture toughness[xiv]than other leading brands.
Sharon Caro, Principal of St Annes Private Dental Centre in Lancashire, said:
“Filtek One’s handling properties are excellent; it doesn’t stick and it’s very easy to manipulate. The aesthetics are absolutely fantastic; the colours are very good and the translucency is very similar to the tooth tissue, providing highly natural-looking restorations, as can be seen in the photographs.
“The material also doesn’t require layering for beautiful aesthetics, therefore there is no need to use clear or enamel coloured surface product and it is incredibly easy to finish – polishing is quick and easy with the Sof Lex discs. This saves a huge amount of time.
“I would definitely recommend Filtek One to other practitioners.”
Ketac Universal glass ionomer restorative is another effective alternative to amalgam (Figure 2). With an ideal viscosity[xv]and a less sticky consistency in comparison to other glass ionomer solutions,[xvi]it allows for easy application. In fact, 78% of dentists who trialled the product reported excellent overall handling (n=51).[xvii]To complement this and further encourage a simple treatment procedure,[xviii]Ketac Universal requires no layering,[xix]conditioner or coating.[xx]The fewer steps afford a smoother workflow and reduced chair time[xxi]for increased patient comfort.
Compared to other glass ionomer materials on the market, Ketac Universal delivers higher compressive strength[xxii]and surface hardness.[xxiii]It also features high wear resistance[xxiv]for both stress bearing and non-stress bearing restorations,[xxv]giving you and your patients confidence that long-lasting results will be achieved.[xxvi]
An additional benefit of Ketac Universal glass ionomer restorative is that it continuously releases more fluoride than competitive products[xxvii]for at least 12 months post placement.[xxviii]As fluoride has been shown to aid in caries prevention,[xxix],[xxx]this is a great advantage for any patients who experience recurrent caries.
Kunal Shah, Principal of LeoDental in London, commented:
“I think Ketac Universal is a fantastic product – it does everything I need it to do. It doesn’t stick and is one of the easiest products on the market to place. It’s strong, quick and easy to use, with a simple workflow that promotes patient comfort. The steady release of fluoride is also a benefit for maintaining patients’ general oral health.
“Although I would rarely give a product 10 out of 10, I think Ketac Universal deserves it! I love it – it’s my go-to product for core build ups.”
If you’re looking for materials to replace amalgam, you need look no further than the clinically proven portfolio from 3M Oral Care.
For more information, call 0800 626 578 or visit www.3M.co.uk/Dental
