The New Universal Composite: One Shade
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SPONSORED BY: The New Universal Composite: One shade for every BY TERRI LIVELY patient The New Universal Composite: One shade for every patient omposites are a vital and useful outcomes with new technology for shade match- tool in the dental practice. Not ing. OMNICHROMA is a single-shade, struc- only do they facilitate excellent turally-colored universal composite designed to restorations, but they also look match every tooth shade with a single shade of just like the natural tooth when composite. OMNICHROMA is the first and only the final restoration is complete. composite to use one shade to match the entire That is, composite restorations look natural VITA Classical Shade Guide, from A1 to D4. Cafter a concentrated effort to match the pa- In this eBook, you’ll learn more about this tient’s natural teeth to one of the shades in the revolutionary product. We’ll share how OMNI- guide, in the optimal environmental lighting CHROMA’s unique design and features allow and interior design. Plus, you must have the it to match the 16 VITA classical shades with right shade of the proper category of the com- only one shade of composite. You’ll also learn posite in inventory — that hasn’t expired. Or how it eliminates the need for shade select- maybe the composite restoration looks natural because of your finesse, time and care with ing. Furthermore, you’ll see how it reduces shade blending to get that unique hue your the composite inventory needed, so you have patient presents. fewer wasted materials that expire before they In other words, composite restorations look can be used. Finally, we had 25 doctors rate fantastic, but shade matching is a time-con- OMNICHROMA’s performance on nearly 1,000 suming process. restorative cases and we’ll share what they had Or, rather, it was a time-consuming process. to say about its performance. Tokuyama Dental’s OMNICHROMA can But first, let’s take a closer look at composites improve your practice efficiencies and clinical in general. 2 SPONSORED BY: TheThe NewNew UniversalUniversal Composite:Composite: OneOne shadeshade forfor everyevery patientpatient A QUICK OVERVIEW OF COMPOSITES suited to posterior restorations. Microfills are Composite resins were designed for esthetics. still in use for certain restorations today. Tooth-colored by design, they replace healthy • Hybrids: When you combine the strength of a tooth structure for restorations and serve all the macrofill with the esthetics of a microfill, you same biological and functional jobs as a natural get the hybrid composites. The sizes of the tooth would. Many times, after the composite particles are different as a result of the com- resin restoration is complete, one can’t tell the bination of macrofills and microfills. Many of tooth ever had a cavity — if it’s done well. But the composites clinicians use today are in this at the same time, it can be difficult and time- category. consuming to attain a perfect esthetic match. • Nanocomposites: The latest composites are called nanocomposites. The particle size is Many times, after the as small as 20nm. However, the small par- composite resin restoration ticles form nanoclusters, which are groupings of smaller particles that function as a larger is complete, one can’t tell the particle. The nanoclusters allow the nanocom- tooth ever had a cavity — if posites to enjoy more strength and durability but still look great. There are also nanofilled it’s done well. But at the same resins and nanohybrids. There are a few of time, it can be difficult and these products available today. Composites also have different product cat- time-consuming to attain a egories, which include: perfect esthetic match • Universals: As the name implies, universal composites are designed to be used any- where in the mouth and produce long-lasting Composites have been around since the 1960s. and natural-looking dental restorations. However, the first materials weren’t durable enough for the work surfaces of the posterior teeth. • Flowables: Flowables have more fluidity to Today’s composites have addressed the strength their composition and are mostly used for and durability issues of the early materials. smaller restorations and as liners and bases. There are a few different types of composites, • Bulk fills: Unlike the other two product cate- including: gories of composites, bulk fills can be layered • Macrofills: Macrofills were the first compos- thicker in preparations with less curing. Many ites. They had large particles, from 10-15 mi- times, bulk fills are used for posterior restora- crometers, and were strong but not esthetic. tions, but the use of bulk fills is always evolv- The large size of the fillers made them difficult ing as materials improve. to finish and polish. For all of these reasons, Universals are the most versatile of the three they’re no longer commonly used. product categories. When it comes to universal • Microfills: Following the macrofills were the mi- composite performance, there are a few char- crofills. They had smaller particles, in the range acteristics clinicians should consider. of 0.03 to 0.05 micrometers. They looked bet- • Strength: How will it hold up when the patient ter than macrofills, but they were weak and not is using compressive force? 3 SPONSORED BY: The New Universal Composite: One shade for every patient • Esthetics: Will the composite match the pa- luster. It takes time to analyze all these factors. tient’s other teeth? Let’s look at some of the challenges with get- ting the shade right. • Shrinkage: Will it shrink during polymerization and create problems for the patient long- OPERATORY FACTORS term? • Lighting: Poor quality lighting will make a sig- • Polishability: Will the restoration maintain its nificant difference in the perception of tooth luster and have a life-like appearance? shade. • Handling: Do you like how it feels to work with • Interior design: The colors of the walls, cabi- and can you produce the results you want netry, and furniture items, like the dental chair with the material? upholstery, influence what you see for the shade of the teeth. Composites aren’t perfect, however. Some composite types lack durability and have low • Lack of proper tools: Technology like Opto- flexural strength. Others have poor wear resis- electronics that detect and control light in its tance. Some clinicians think composite materi- visible and invisible forms can enhance the als systems could be simpler to use. Others feel shade-matching process; however, not every like the esthetics could still be improved more, office has invested in this technology. including the shades of composite available. SHADE GUIDE FACTORS Materials are constantly improving. Further- • Comparing the tooth with a classic shade more, not all composites are created equal — guide: Classic shade guides have subjectiv- and we mean that in the literal sense. Knowing ity to them. Experts say that digital guides are your product, what its strengths and limitations more objective than traditional shade guides. are, and which type of cases you have the most success with that product is key to avoiding • Using an old shade guide: Over time, the clean- some of these challenges. ing products we use will change the colors on However, there’s an area of opportunity. Most the shade guide. Not replacing shade guides composites have tried tackling or have tackled means that the colors will fade in time and cre- this opportunity by having good shade match- ate problems with accurate shade matching. ing abilities (i.e., chameleon effects, etc.), but • Not comparing and contrasting: If you only use none so far have perfected it to result in a one- one type of shade matching, you have only one shade composite that works for every shade of resulting match. When you use more than one tooth. Let’s take a closer look at shade match- way to shade match, whether that is a different ing in more detail. manufacturer’s shade guide or an electronic THE CHALLENGES OF SHADE MATCHING version, like a colorimeter or spectrophotom- Many challenges exist with shade match- eter, you have confirmation, or at the very least, ing teeth. Some difficulties arise based on the more information about the shade. operatory, while others happen as a result of the materials. Still others stem from the processes PROCESS FACTORS: clinicians use — or don’t use. • Skipping the picture: If you don’t take pictures Also, dentists must consider many things (which takes time), you could be missing es- when matching materials to a patient’s natural sential tools for patient education. Moreover, teeth, including shape, contour, texture and pictures help you communicate and collaborate 4 SPONSORED BY: TheThe NewNew UniversalUniversal Composite:Composite: OneOne shadeshade forfor everyevery patientpatient with the lab, where your technician can help Structural color doesn’t rely on added pigments or create a better match than the clinician alone. dyes to color match but instead uses a combina- tion of the visible light and how it interacts with a • Shade matching at the wrong time: If you’re physical object to create the color you see. Struc- tired, your eyes don’t catch the same amount tural color is expressed by the physical properties of detail. If your patient has been in the chair of light working together with nanostructures. for a while, his or her teeth are drier than usual. Shade matching at the beginning of Nanostructures are tiny objects that range in the appointment can be more successful than size between microscopic and molecular-sized. shade matching at the end. Nanostructures improve reactivity, meaning • Eyesight problems: Perception depends on optical health; if the viewer has deficiencies, it OMNICHROMA is a new can affect the shade matching.