By Dr. Michał Jaczewski

The durability of a composite restoration depends on many factors. Some are outside the practitioner's sphere of influence and are strongly patient-related. For example toothbrush and toothpaste type, brushing technique, diet, stimulants and hygiene habits all have an impact on the restoration. Following the best finishing and polishing protocol, however, is fully up to the dentist.

Correct polishing aims to remove the oxygen inhibition layer and produce a smooth restoration surface. A properly polished restoration will not absorb staining agents from food, drink or stimulants that lead to discoloration of the composite, ensuring a long-lasting aesthetic result of the restoration.

Polishing the composite is a process to which special attention should be paid. It consists of several steps and principles:

• The use of finishing discs allows for a smooth restoration surface , excess composite to be removed and the final shape to be given to the restoration. It is important to remember to work on a moistened surface with a maximum speed of 5,000-10,000 rpm on a 1:1 dental handpiece.

• Polishing rubbers, there are many types and shapes on the market. One of the most universal designed specifically for composite is TWIST™ DIA for Composite. This is a set consisting of two rubbers with different levels of abrasion. The first (dark blue) is used for preliminary rough polishing, the second (light-blue) for final gloss and smoothness. It should be remembered that working with these tools should be carried out on a dry surface without water cooling. Dry working carries the risk of irritating the dental pulp, so the working speed should be limited to between 5000 and 10000 rpm and excessive pressure must be avoided.

• The next step is to use a diamond polishing paste with a gradient of 1 to 5 microns. The use of a polishing goat wheel brush is recommended to use with this paste. The type of brush is not important, however, don’t use rigid bristles that could scratch the composite. Using the polishing brush and polishing paste make it possible to reach places which are difficult to access, such as the cervical area and proximal surfaces. In addition to this step, a celluloid diamond containing abrasive strip is used to polish the proximal surfaces more precisely. In order not to alter the contact points, low abrasive (Super Fine) strips should be used.

• A further step to increase the gloss of the restoration and to protect it against discoloration is an aluminum oxide paste with a cotton polishing brush. The use of such paste, originally dedicated to ceramics, results in an exceptionally smooth surface and a high gloss of the restoration surface. This step is carried out in a dry environment at a maximum speed of 5,000-10,000 rpm.

In all techniques, thus also the Flowable Injection Technique, the level of polishing influences the durability and the optical and aesthetic properties of the restoration. This key step in tooth restoration should therefore devoted sufficient time. Composites are characterized by different compositions and amounts of fillers which not only influence their properties, but also the ease with which they can be polished. In some cases, the procedure has to be repeated several times to achieve a "mirror effect". CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow is a composite which is very easy to polish to a high shine level, despite its high filler content. Specially adapted rubbers, brushers and pastes enable easy creation of a smooth surface thereby contributing to a lasting result.

BEFORE

AFTER

3-YEARS RECALL

MAKE THEM SHINE, MAKE THEM SMILE!

Would you like to know more about Flowable Injection Technique? Read the insightful and inspirational interview with Dr. Michał Jaczewski.

Dentist:

MICHAL JACZEWSKI

Michał Jaczewski graduated from Wroclaw Medical University in 2006 and today runs his private practice in the city of Legnica, Poland. He specializes in minimally invasive dentistry and digital dentistry and is the founder of the Biofunctional School of Occlusion. Here he lectures and runs workshops with focus on full comprehensive patient treatments.

AWARD WINNING PRODUCT

DENTAL ADVISOR has once again recognized PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal as a Top Product in the category of Indirect Restoratives. This dual-cure, fluoride-releasing, radiopaque self-adhesive resin cement adheres to virtually all substrates — including lithium disilicate — in a single-step procedure without the need for a separate primer or silane. It also offers easy, gingival-friendly removal of excess cement and requires no refrigeration.

SCIENCE BEHIND THE PRODUCT

It is because PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal combines two innovative technologies in a single product that a strong and durable bond can be achieved in a single step. The silane-coupling agent, LCSi monomer, establishes a durable, chemical bond with porcelain, lithium disilicate, and composite resin; and the original MDP monomer provides for chemical reactiveness with zirconia, dentin and enamel.

WIDE INDICATION RANGE

Due to its unique chemistry PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal represents a convenient, versatile, and efficacious single solution to practitioners’ everyday cementation needs for a wide variety of indications, including cementation of crowns/bridges, inlays/onlays, posts, splints, and even adhesion bridges.

EVALUATION

In its commendation, DENTAL ADVISOR stated, “As tested in DENTAL ADVISOR Laboratories, PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal with an incorporated silane primer had exceptional initial bond strength to dentin, lithium disilicate, and zirconia.”

The benefits and quality of PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal were further reflected in the findings and feedback of the 31 clinical evaluators who tested the cement during 516 applications. They praised its ease of use, handling characteristics, and aesthetics, and gave it an overall clinical rating of 96 percent. Among their comments: "Has an ideal film thickness and flows well.”,  "You can use this in a moist environment with no issues.” , and “Excess cement peels right away from the margin.”

ABOUT DENTAL ADVISOR

The Top Product and Preferred Product Awards conferred by US-based DENTAL ADVISOR were initially introduced to help busy practitioners make sense of the numerous new solutions indicated for less invasive techniques and standardised or simplified procedures, ultimately, to achieve better outcomes regularly.

DENTAL ADVISOR conducts its practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests shortly after product launch. It publishes results annually online in its January/February issue to help potential users identify high-quality new dental materials and determine which among them are best suited to fulfil their individual requirements.

AWARD WINNING PRODUCT

CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick has again been named a 2024 Preferred Product in the bonding agent category by DENTAL ADVISOR, which also recognized this universal bonding agent as an Editor’s Choice bonding agent. DENTAL ADVISOR’S roster of award-winning dental materials and equipment found by its evaluators to deliver the best practice-based performance was announced in its JAN/FEB 2024 issue.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick is a single-bottle, fluoride-releasing universal adhesive suitable for all direct and indirect restorations using a quick and simple technique. The material utilizes Rapid Bond Technology, merger of MDP monomer with new hydrophilic amide monomers, which creates a strong chemical bond to hydroxyapatite. Thanks to the amide monomer, which is highly hydrophilic, the adhesive quickly penetrates dental tissue to create a fast chemical bond to dentin and enamel, eliminating the need for prolonged scrubbing application of the adhesive into the dentin and long waiting times. After curing, the innovative amide monomer forms a moisture-resistant cross-linked polymer network.

APPLY AND PROCEED

Despite its ease of use and reduced application and wait times, there is no tradeoff in terms of bond strength: CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick delivers a bond that is moisture-resistant, stable, and durable.

VERSATILITY OF APPLICATION

This fast and versatile agent bonds directly to dentin, enamel, metals, zirconia and lithium disilicate restorative materials, and is appropriate for bonding direct and indirect restorations; it can also be used for total-etch, selective-etch, or self-etch methods.

CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick is also an excellent choice when doing post cementation and core build-up procedures with CLEARFIL™ DC CORE PLUS . It can be used for treatment of the post surface, be it fiber or metal, but also for the tooth surface preparation before cementing with PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal, for example. Universal excellence at its best!

REMARKS FROM EVALUATORS

practitioners evaluating the CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick commented on its ease in dispensing and placement, viscosity, suitability for all bonding procedures, and convenience. Among their remarks were: "Quick application and cure time is ideal for situations where isolation is difficult, especially in a high moisture area.", "Loved that it is compatible with dual/self-cured resins and that it can be used in self-cure mode with CLEARFIL™ DC Activator”. and “It is compatible with virtually any bonding procedure."

ABOUT DENTAL ADVISOR

Honors such as Editor’s Choice and Preferred Product that are conferred by US-based DENTAL ADVISOR were introduced to help busy practitioners make sense of the numerous new solutions indicated for less invasive techniques and standardised or simplified procedures, ultimately to achieve better outcomes regularly.

DENTAL ADVISOR conducts its practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests shortly after product launch, and publishes results annually online to help potential users identify high-quality new dental materials and determine which among them are best suited to fulfill their individual requirements.

Selective Adhesive Luting (SAL) is a hybrid technique for universal resin cements. It entails the application of a universal adhesive system only on easily accessible abutment surfaces, enabling simultaneous adhesive and self-adhesive luting in different portions of the abutment. A description of this novel technique and scientific evidence for the achieved effects is provided in this article authored by Prof. Breschi and colleagues from the University of Bologna. Its title:“Selective adhesive luting: A novel technique for improving adhesion achieved by universal resin cements”.

A VERSATILE RESIN CEMENT

PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal is a universal resin cement that may be applied in the self-adhesive mode – without any additional components – in many clinical situations. It even offers great bonding performance to lithium disilicate without the need for a separate bottle of silane. In-vitro studies have shown that the resin cement is moisture tolerant and versatile, establishing a strong and durable bond to virtually all kinds of restorative materials as well as to enamel and dentin.

ENHANCING THE BONDING PERFORMANCE

On the side of the tooth, however, the best possible bonding performance is obtained by applying CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick as a separate tooth primer. Hence, you may want to settle for this two-component adhesive luting technique in particularly challenging situations. It is still less complex than traditional adhesive luting and produces excellent outcomes.

MOISTURE SENSITIVITY AND WORKING FIELD CONSIDERATIONS

To function properly, however, universal adhesives need a completely dry working field, while self-adhesive resin cements are less sensitive to moisture. Thus, you might wonder which technique is best suited if you need the strongest possible chemical bond to enamel and dentin, but proper isolation with rubber dam is challenging or impossible – for example, because the abutment is short or the preparation margin is in a subgingival position. The solution in this case is termed Selective Adhesive Luting.

Selective application of a universal adhesive to those areas of etched enamel that are not at risk of being contaminated by moisture.

Article by Dr. Michał Jaczewski

COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS IN DENTISTRY

Composite restoration is the most common procedure performed by the dentist. There are many restorative techniques and a variety of restorative materials used in dentistry. Regardless of the type of material, the method of restoration and where it is applied, common issue is air bubbles in or at the surface of the composite layers. The composite restoration should be homogeneous to ensure the tightness of the filling and its durability. Repairing bubble defects is tedious and sometimes requires the replacement of the filling or part of it. Depending on the type of composite (flowable or paste composite) and/or the placement technique, the amount of defects may vary, but there are several causing factors.

MATERIAL CHOICE

In the Flowable Injection Technique, we use flowable composites, which obviously flow easily but are also sensitive to incorrect application. The first cause of forming air bubbles is the homogeneity of the material itself. Bubbles can be incorporated in the syringe at the manufacturing stage or during use. By using premium products, we can be sure that the highest quality material is supplied, and that the structure and design of the syringe allows for proper operation to reduce the formation of air bubbles within the material.

IMPORTANCE OF SYRINGE DESIGN 

CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow composite is designed to prevent the formation of air bubbles during dispensing. The special design of the syringe and plunger limit the possibility of dripping as well as backflow of the material during or after dispensing.

A unique safety feature inside the syringe is the special O-ring construction which prevents the material from flowing after pressure is released and at the same takes care for minimal retraction but avoiding the plunger from retracting too much.

RETRACTION OF PLUNGER

Another cause of air bubble formation is the incorporation of air into the syringe by deliberate retraction of the plunger. If the practitioner or ancillary staff have a habit of retracting the plunger after administering the composite, they may cause air to enter the syringe. During a following use the air will more than likely show up in the restoration as an air void.

IMPORTANCE OF PRESSURE ON THE INDEX

In the Flowable Injection Technique, we use a silicone index in which we apply the material to build up the tooth. The index should fit tightly to the tooth and should not move or being moved during injection. If it does air bubbles may show up. Pressing and then releasing the index will cause a suctioning effect and pull the composite away from the tooth as well as from the index. To avoid defects, constant pressure on the index should be maintained from the moment the material is injected until polymerisation.

Various modifications of the silicone index can be used to limit its mobility and reduce the risk of uncontrolled pressure on the tooth. Such an example is the index made on the interlip ("one yes one no") model, which provides a very high degree of stability as well as working safety.

WIDTH OF THE INJECTION HOLE

Another cause for getting air in the restoration is the width of the injection hole. If the hole is too tight, the index can be moved by the application tip during insertion or application. To avoid this problem, the hole could be widened to allow free insertion as well as manipulation of the tip during injection. A wider opening also allows any air to escape during dispensing. Most important , however, is to apply the material at continuous pressure and avoiding pulling out and reinserting the tip into the index. This may result in a non-uniform composite layer.

Would you like to know more about Flowable Injection Technique? Read the insightful and inspirational interview with Dr. Michal Jachzewski.

Dentist:

MICHAL JACZEWSKI

Michał Jaczewski graduated from Wroclaw Medical University in 2006 and today runs his private practice in the city of Legnica, Poland. He specializes in minimally invasive dentistry and digital dentistry and is the founder of the Biofunctional School of Occlusion. Here he lectures and runs workshops with focus on full comprehensive patient treatments.

AWARD WINNING PRODUCT

For the 9^th year in a row, CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow (Low) has been named a Top Product by Dental Advisor, which announced in its JAN/FEB 2024 issue its choices for dental materials and equipment found to deliver the best practice-based performance based on the publication’s annual review of such products.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow, which is available in three different levels of flowability, was the Top Product honoree in the Direct Restorative Category and was also given Editor’s Choice award for its medium viscosity version - Low.

Rather than limit practitioners to a single viscosity that might not be ideal for all flowable composite indications, CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow comes in one version firm enough to stay in place when applied, another malleable enough to fashion a specific shape, and a third runny enough to flow into every corner or undercut. The practitioner would thus be able to select the best version for the job at hand—choosing the high flowability variant for cavity linings and as a resin coat in immediate dentin sealing (IDS) procedures, but instead, the super low flowability option for direct veneer procedures and for the build-up of cusps, etc.

Beyond its handling advantages, this universal flowable composite, which incorporates Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.’s Light Diffusion Technology, is highly esthetic, with optical properties that enable the practitioner to fashion lifelike restorations that integrate seamlessly with the surrounding tooth structure.

EVALUATION

The flowable composite tested by the 29 DENTAL ADVISOR consultants in 909 uses in their dental practices was the medium flowability variant CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow (Low). Their evaluations focused on properties including placement/handling, esthetics, viscosity, and polishability, and they rated all these key features to be “excellent”. This led to a recommendation rate of 100% and a 98% overall clinical rating.

REMARKS FROM EVALUATORS

Among their comments were: “The material blended so well with the tooth structure that you had to really look to find the interface.”. “Readily apparent on radiographs.” and “One of the best flowable composites I have used.”.

ABOUT DENTAL ADVISOR

The Top Product and Preferred Product Awards conferred by US-based DENTAL ADVISOR were initially introduced to help busy practitioners make sense of the numerous new solutions indicated for less invasive techniques and standardised or simplified procedures, ultimately, to achieve better outcomes regularly.

DENTAL ADVISOR conducts its practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests shortly after product launch. It publishes results annually online in its January/February issue to help potential users identify high-quality new dental materials and determine which among them are best suited to fulfil their individual requirements.

We are proud and delighted to announce that Kuraray Noritake Dental has been honored as the INNOVATIVE COMPANY OF THE YEAR by DENTAL ADVISOR.

DENTAL ADVISOR conducts annual practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests. The results are published online in the January/February issue, aiding potential users in identifying high-quality new dental materials and selecting those best suited to their individual requirements.

Quoting DENTAL ADVISOR: “Kuraray Noritake was chosen as innovative company of the year because of their constant ability to adapt to market needs and change. Their products are universally accepted by dental professionals as market leaders due to their ease of use and consistently high laboratory performance, making them ideal choices for long-term clinical results.”

In addition to being recognized as an innovative company, our products underwent testing and received prestigious DENTAL ADVISOR medals:

• CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow (Low) received the Top Product Award for the 9th consecutive year in the Highly-Filled Flowable Composites category.
• CLEARFIL™ SE Protect, a Top Product Award winner in the Self Etch Bonding Agent category, has held this honor for the 10th consecutive year.
• Our very own PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal secured the Self-Adhesive Cement category win.
• CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick was honored with the Preferred Product Award in the Universal Bonding Agents category.
• Lastly, our most recent cement, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC, received the Research Award.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated practitioners worldwide who have placed their trust in Kuraray Noritake Dental products. Your unwavering commitment to excellence fuels our ongoing pursuit of innovation and quality. We are honored to stand alongside you in advancing dental care, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Thank you for choosing Kuraray Noritake Dental – where innovation meets trust, and quality meets precision.

By Dr. Aleksandra Łyżwińska, Warsaw, Poland.

Every dentist aims to polish to a high gloss without damaging the freshly modeled occlusal surface. Firstly, use high-quality polishing rubbers. The plural form is not accidental (Fig. 1). In my opinion, a single rubber systems are not capable of achieving an impeccable gloss in a safe manner. Be patient and gentle. Polishing requires time and a delicate touch.

Fig. 1.

Immediately after polymerization the composite is covered with an oxygen inhibition layer (Fig. 2). It is imperative to remove it by a brush and any polishing paste or a prophylactic sandblaster. The next step is to remove excess composite using abrasive discs, burs and firm polishing rubber points.

Fig. 2.

During polishing without water cooling, the rubber leaves crumbling on the composite surface (Fig. 3). These fragments can be spread across the restoration surface using a fine nylon brush. This allows for the polishing of each fissure and pit (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

The key to long lasting shine is polishing with gradation. Time to change a rubber point to the dark blue TWIST DIA for Composite rubber, which is more abrasive than light blue one (Fig. 5). Remember to apply gentle pressure and maintain a maximum speed of 8000 revolutions per minute. This way, you will achieve fine particles without the risk of overheating the pulp. The particles were once again spread over the entire surface. The thinner the bristle, the better the polishing effect in the grooves (Fig. 6).

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Third round: use the light blue TWIST DIA for Composite rubber for a mirror-like gloss (Fig. 7). A beautiful gloss emerges beneath the particles. An alternative to thin nylon brushes is brushes made from natural goat hair (Fig. 8).

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Polishing is not only a matter of aesthetics but, above all, function. The adherence of bacterial biofilm to a polished composite is significantly lower than to a rough surface (Fig. 9). My recipe for achieving a mirror-like gloss polish: high-quality diamond rubber points with gradation, used with sensitivity over an extended period (Fig. 10).

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Dentist:

DR. ALEKSANDRA ŁYŻWIŃSKA
Warsaw, Poland

Dr. Aleksandra Łyżwińska is a restorative dentist. She graduated from the Warsaw Medical University in 2017, where she was an assistant professor at the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. Her focus lies in modern adhesive techniques, resin composites and biomaterials.

We are proud and delighted to announce that Kuraray Noritake Dental has been honored as the INNOVATIVE COMPANY OF THE YEAR by DENTAL ADVISOR.

DENTAL ADVISOR conducts annual practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests. The results are published online in the January/February issue, aiding potential users in identifying high-quality new dental materials and selecting those best suited to their individual requirements.

Quoting DENTAL ADVISOR: “Kuraray Noritake was chosen as innovative company of the year because of their constant ability to adapt to market needs and change. Their products are universally accepted by dental professionals as market leaders due to their ease of use and consistently high laboratory performance, making them ideal choices for long-term clinical results.”

In addition to being recognized as an innovative company, our products underwent testing and received prestigious DENTAL ADVISOR medals:

• CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow (Low) received the Top Product Award for the 9th consecutive year in the Highly-Filled Flowable Composites category.
• CLEARFIL™ SE Protect, a Top Product Award winner in the Self Etch Bonding Agent category, has held this honor for the 10th consecutive year.
• Our very own PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal secured the Self-Adhesive Cement category win.
• CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick was honored with the Preferred Product Award in the Universal Bonding Agents category.
• Lastly, our most recent cement, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC, received the Research Award.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated practitioners worldwide who have placed their trust in Kuraray Noritake Dental products. Your unwavering commitment to excellence fuels our ongoing pursuit of innovation and quality. We are honored to stand alongside you in advancing dental care, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Thank you for choosing Kuraray Noritake Dental – where innovation meets trust, and quality meets precision.

2024 MARKS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

• Dragons, those mythical beings, embody innate courage, unyielding tenacity, and boundless intelligence. They fearlessly embrace challenges and eagerly venture into uncharted territories.
• The Year of the Dragon is hailed as a time of great power, auspicious beginnings, and transformative possibilities.
• This image, inspired by the traditional Japanese art of kirigami, combines age-old craftsmanship with cutting-edge AI technology. Just like the dragon, it represents a harmonious blend of ancient wisdom and modern innovation.

EMBRACE 2024 WITH OPEN ARMS –
IT BRINGS FORTH A YEAR OF NEW POSSIBILITIES