Thanks to constant efforts in research and development, leading dental companies have managed to introduce new products that allow for less invasive techniques, standardized or simplified procedures and better outcomes on a regular basis. With so many different materials available on the dental market, however, it seems difficult to decide which products are best suited to fulfill the individual requirements. A direct comparison obtained through testing of all products in the dental office is simply impossible due to the great number of available solutions. Laboratory investigations provide information about specific product properties, but usually cannot create the overall picture. Moreover, the results of different tests are barely comparable due to variations in test conditions. Clinical study results are very useful as they shed light on clinical (long-term) performance of selected materials, but they are usually published years after a product’s launch. Hence, they are not available in the early stages. A great source of information are practice-based evaluations, as they support potential users in identifying high-quality dental materials.

One of the institutions conducting and publishing practice-based clinical evaluations and product performance tests is the US-based DENTAL ADVISOR. Once per year, the dental materials and equipment with the best performance receive a Top Product or Preferred Product Award. The list of winners is published online (www.dentaladvisor.com) and in the January-February issue of the DENTAL ADVISOR. In 2022, numerous products from Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. were among the award winners.

Top Product Awards

Minimum intervention dentistry has gained increasing popularity in recent years. A product that even allows for a non-invasive approach is TEETHMATE™ DESENSITIZER for hypersensitivity treatment. This year, the product won a Top Award from the Dental Advisor for the eighth year in a row.

The material was designed to create hydroxyapatite (HAp), which is able to occlude open dentinal tubules and enamel cracks. This leads to a significant reduction of hypersensitivities when applied to exposed, mechanically treated or freshly prepared dentin. When used in the context of restorative treatment, TEETHMATE™ DESENSITIZER does not have a negative effect on the bond strength of dental adhesives or cements. A six-month clinical evaluation conducted by the DENTAL ADVISOR involving 27 patients with gingival recession-related hypersensitivity revealed that the use of the product is very effective in providing immediate and even long-term (six-months) hypersensitivity relief. This resulted in an excellent rating with a score of 96 percent.

Delivering a strong and durable bond to enamel and dentin is one of the preconditions for minimally invasive direct restoration procedures. A self-etch adhesive that offers more than just a reliable bond is CLEARFIL™ SE Protect. The product received a Top Product Award in the category Direct Restoratives, Bonding Agent: Self-Etch for the fourth time. It is based on the formulation of the gold standard two-step self-etch adhesive CLEARFIL™ SE BOND, but contains an extra MDPB monomer offering an antibacterial cavity-cleansing effect and fluoride for long-term fluoride release. The honoring of the DENTAL ADVISOR is based on a material test carried out by 13 DENTAL ADVISOR consultants and editors in their dental offices for six weeks. Due to its excellent performance, CLEARFIL™ SE Protect received a 98 percent clinical rating.

Great handling and aesthetic outcomes are probably the major benefits CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow has to offer. For the seventh year in a row, the Top Product Award in the category Direct Restoratives, Composite: Highly Filled Flowable went to this material.

The universal flowable composite that also became the Editor’s Choice comes in three different levels of flowability, from high to super low*. This enables the user to choose the right viscosity for every clinical situation – with the high flowability variant being the perfect choice for cavity lining and as a resin coat in IDS (Immediate Dentin Sealing) procedures, and the super low flowability option being specifically suited for direct veneer procedures and even for build-up of posterior cusps etc. The universal flowable composite was tested by 29 consultants of the DENTAL ADVISOR in more than 900 clinical applications. The evaluated properties – placement/handling, aesthetics, viscosity and polishability – were rated “excellent”. This led to a recommendation rate of 100 percent and a 98 percent overall clinical rating.

*DENTAL ADVISOR evaluated only the standard level of flowability (Low), because other two variants are not available in US.

Preferred Products

Among the 2022 Preferred Products are two truly universal solutions: The time-saving CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick and easy-to-use PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal.

CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick became a Preferred Product of the Dental Advisor consultants for the third time. The universal bonding agent may be applied using the self-etch technique or – together with K-ETCHANT syringe – in the selective enamel etch or total-etch technique. Containing our rapid bond technology – a combination of the original MDP monomer with innovative hydrophilic amide monomers – the adhesive works instantly and without the need for extended exposure times, application of multiple layers or extensive rubbing into the tooth structure. The fast and easy application procedure was one of the main reasons for the consultants of the DENTAL ADVISOR to select CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick as a Preferred Product and Editor’s Choice with a 98 percent score in a clinical evaluation.

PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal became a Preferred Product in 2021 and 2022, won a Top Product Award in 2020 and is listed as the Editors’ Choice. The self-adhesive universal resin cement contains the unique LCSi monomer. This monomer is a silane coupling agent, which has a unique long carbon chain in its molecule. LCSi monomer establishes a durable, chemical bond with porcelain, lithium disilicate and composite resin without the need for a separate silane containing primer. The other key technology present in the formulation is the original MDP monomer, which provides for chemical reactiveness with zirconia, dentin and enamel. Together the technologies make it possible, that PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal produces a strong and durable bond with virtually every restorative material without the need for a separate primer. Its handling characteristics, aesthetics and gingival friendliness received very good to excellent ratings from 31 clinical evaluators, who used the cement in 516 applications. The result of the overall clinical rating was 96 percent.

Finally, CLEARFIL™ Ceramic Primer Plus became a Preferred Product in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and received the Editors’ Choice label due to its excellent performance in the clinical evaluation. It contains the original MDP monomer and a silane monomer, which ensure excellent bond strength to all kinds of restorative materials, i.e., to silica-based ceramics, zirconia, composites and even metals. Users benefit from procedural simplicity as the product is just applied and dried to the bonding surface after the recommended pretreatment. In a clinical evaluation, the product received a recommendation rate of 96 percent and a 96 percent overall score from the DENTAL ADVISOR consultants.

Conclusion

Most of the Kuraray Noritake Dental products that received an award this year are based on resin technologies, one of our key competencies. In the 1980s, we developed the original MDP monomer, a functional monomer, which is an essential component of any adhesive product we introduced down to the present day, including the award-winning CLEARFIL™ SE Protect, PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal, CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick and CLEARFIL™ Ceramic Primer Plus. This is only one of our many areas of expertise. We also provide users with preventive products and a whole range of restorative materials – from composite filling materials like CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow to dental ceramics like KATANA™ Zirconia UTML, STML, an updated HTML PLUS and the brand-new KATANA™ Zirconia YML. We see the winning of the awards as a positive proof of a reliable product performance that supports dental practitioners in reaching their own goals.

In 1976, Kuraray introduced its first adhesive monomer—the phosphate monomer Phenyl-P. Over the following years, the company’s commitment to research and development saw continued efforts to improve and refine this monomer’s molecular structure. Kuraray eventually achieved this goal by creating a molecule with greater capability to adhere to the tooth structure, low solubility and effectiveness in bonding to metal: the MDP monomer.

Developed and then patented by Kuraray in 1981, the MDP monomer remains, to this day, the leading functional monomer for reliable adhesion to various substrates including enamel and dentine. Research has repeatedly shown that products that utilise this monomer create long-term, durable and stable bonds to dental tissues, non-noble metals and zirconia ceramic. Simply put, it is hard to know where adhesive dentistry would be without the MDP monomer.

An unmatched level of purity

One of the secrets behind the success of Kuraray Noritake’s MDP monomer is its uniquely high-quality nature. The patent that Kuraray held on the monomer has expired, opening up the market for other manufacturers to synthesise their own MDP. However, a study conducted by Yoshihara et al.¹ found that, of the three adhesive MDP monomers they examined, differences in purity levels were visible and affected the intensity of nano-layering and resultant bond strength. Unsurprisingly, the bond strength displayed by Kuraray Noritake’s original and highly pure MDP was the highest measured.

“It’s very clear that the MDP monomer is one of the most effective monomers available, given its primary chemical binding potential to hydroxyapatite,” Prof. Bart Van Meerbeek, a leading authority on dental bonding agents, said in an interview with Dental Tribune International.

“Essentially, a universal adhesive that contains a high concentration of very pure MDP monomer should perform the best,” he added, when asked about universal bonding systems.

A monomer with many applications

The first Kuraray product to use the MDP monomer was PANAVIA EX resin cement. Introduced in 1983, PANAVIA EX quickly became known as a facilitator of reliable adhesion, and the PANAVIA family of adhesive resin cements, including PANAVIA V5 and PANAVIA SA Cement Universal, still employs the MDP monomer to provide first-class bonding for dental professionals worldwide.

Of course, the MDP monomer forms the backbone of a number of products in Kuraray Noritake Dental’s current CLEARFIL range of bonding systems, such as the gold standard CLEARFIL SE BOND, a mild two-step self-etching, light-cured bonding agent. CLEARFIL Universal Bond Quick, the company’s universal single-step dental bonding agent, utilises rapid bond technology. The synergistic combination of the original MDP monomer and hydrophilic amide monomers works to create a lasting bond faster and more easily than ever.

There have been more than 40 years of evidence, and the conclusion is clear: Kuraray Noritake Dental’s MDP monomer has changed dental bonding for the better.

Learn more about the MDP monomer here.

References

1. Yoshihara K. et al. Functional monomer impurity affects adhesive performance. Dent Mater. 2015 Dec;31(12):1493–1501.

A newcomer in the PANAVIA family – PANAVIA Veneer LC. Cementation of the veneers can be a challenging task, but with this specialist product in house, outstanding results can be achieved with ease.

Check out the video to learn about the features of PANAVIA Veneer LC and the resulting benefits.

Finishing of six anterior elements with gingival flange produced from high-strength KATANA™ Zirconia – from surface morphology adjustments to micro-layering.

FOREWORD

Innovative high-translucency, multi-layered variants of zirconia feature well-balanced optical and outstanding mechanical properties. Their use allows for better outcomes of laboratory-based digital workflows and makes it possible to fulfil the increasing functional demands we are facing in the clinical environment. Depending on individual, case-specific needs, laboratory technicians can select a suitable zirconia and the distinctive technical approach delivering the desired outcomes. For this purpose, it is essential to develop a deep understanding of the available materials, their chromatic adaptability and general aesthetic potential, the design and finishing options and their correct technical implementation as well as the most important case-specific selection criteria. In combination with advanced laboratory-based communication skills, this knowledge will enable us to fulfil or even exceed the patient’s expectations by delivering a highly aesthetic, functional restoration.

Let us assume that a six-unit anterior bridge with gum area on implants is needed. For the ideal prosthetic solution, white aesthetics is fundamental, but a perfect harmony will only be achieved if the gingival texture and colour is reproduced in a natural way, as the gingiva is considered the “aesthetic frame” of the dental restoration. Our solution is a monolithic restoration made of KATANA™ Zirconia YML, finished using a 3D micro-layering technique with CERABIEN™ ZR.

OBJECTIVE

In this Master Course, you will acquire the theoretical knowledge needed to select the appropriate zirconia and finishing technique for every individual case and the practical skills required for the finishing of the six-unit bridge with gum area – from surface texturing to 3D micro-layering on teeth and gums.

YOU WILL LEARN TO:

✔ Select the appropriate type of KATANA™ Zirconia ML
✔ Re-finish pre-sintered zirconia
✔ Optimize the sintering process
✔ Re-finish and prepare the zero cut-back elements
✔ Accomplish micro-layering with CERABIEN™ ZR porcelain
✔ Perform mechanical finishing and polishing

For more information please visit: https://www.danielerondoni.com/courses/

Great solution for challenging task

Veneer treatment can be challenging. The aesthetic expectations of patients opting for veneers are extraordinarily high, handling and seating of the extremely thin restorations is difficult and adhesion needs to be excellent due to their non-retentive design. In order to meet the expectations and to provide for a reliable long-term performance, it is thus essential to select not only an appropriate restorative material, but also an aesthetic, easy-to-handle, high-performance cementation system. The new PANAVIA™ Veneer LC from Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. consisting of PANAVIA™ V5 Tooth Primer, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Paste and CLEARFIL™ CERAMIC PRIMER PLUS offers the required optical, handling and bonding properties.

PANAVIA™ Veneer LC supports highly aesthetic outcomes in many ways. Coming in four different shades with matching try-in pastes, it allows users to take into account the individual shade requirements and to simulate the outcome. The material’s great flowability and minimal film thickness facilitate seating and support highly aesthetic margins. Properties responsible for undetectable margins over time include the great colour stability, polishability and polish retention of PANAVIA™ Veneer LC.

In order to keep the working field clean and dry during veneer cementation and to simplify the procedure, a simultaneous placement technique is recommended. PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is predestined for this technique as it offers a working time of 200 seconds*. Hence, multiple veneers may be placed at once without having to race against the setting reaction. The time and effort involved in veneer placement is further reduced by an ideal consistency of PANAVIA™ Veneer LC that prevents drifting or sagging, its non-stickiness, easy excess removal and great polishing properties.

A high bond strength to tooth structure that is stable over time is obtained due to the integration of Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.’s touch-cure technology, which initiates the polymerization at the adhesive interface as soon as PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Paste is applied to PANAVIA™ V5 Tooth Primer, but does not affect the setting reaction of the cement. In this way, the tooth-adhesive interface is sealed securely without shortening the working time. A high bond strength to restorative materials is obtained by use of the proven CLEARFIL™ CERAMIC PRIMER PLUS.

Equipped with this combination of innovative and proven features, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC leaves nothing to be desired in the context of aesthetic, accurate and efficient veneer placement.

*Working time under ambient light (8000 lux.).

By Dinesh Sinha, BDS, PHD, Senior Technical and Marketing Manager Dental Division, Kuraray America, Inc.

Since the early 2000’s, the global all-ceramic restoration market, including that for zirconia, has been growing rapidly. Increasing market demand resulted in various dental manufacturers marketing different dental zirconia types that can be used in many dental prosthetic applications. Today, dental ceramists play a key role with the latest CAD/CAM technology to provide high performance zirconia prosthetics with more precision and aesthetics for treatment needs.

Zirconia is a polycrystalline ceramic. This means that it is entirely composed of crystals, with no glass phase. The presence of an entirely crystalline microstructure brought strength to zirconia and gave initial formulations an opaque appearance with low translucency. The translucency of zirconia is improved by changing the atomic arrangement within the crystals of zirconia (most commonly known as translucent or aesthetic zirconia). There are several key factors dental ceramists should know when selecting zirconia:

1. Type/brand of zirconia

During the industrial process of making dental zirconia (zirconium dioxide), Yttria (Y₂O₃) is added to make refined zirconia stable at room temperature. Yttria also contributes to increasing the translucency of zirconia, but also conversely reduces its strength. The most common method of classifying zirconia is by Yttria concentration (i.e., 3Y, 4Y & 5Y). Many dental manufacturers use/buy zirconia from one large industrial ceramic manufacturer. This classification helps to understand and describe the properties of zirconia where the primary powder source is the same. 3Y is the strongest and least translucent, whereas 5Y is the highest translucency and lowest strength.

Fig. 1. Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. original KATANA™ Zirconia powder.

Most dental zirconia manufacturers purchase raw zirconia powder from a third party. Only a few manufacturers like Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. use their own proprietary original zirconia powder formulations (Figure 1). The company can thereby more accurately control the chemical and physical make-up, not only with Yttria concentration, but also parameters like grain or particle size, as well as sintering temperature. Kuraray Noritake has KATANA™ as an umbrella brand with three different options of strength and translucency in multi-layered formulations: KATANA™ HTML PLUS, STML and UTML.

2. Strength of dental zirconia

The most common method of measuring ceramic strength is by evaluating its flexural strength. The flexural strength test applies a force on the top of a ceramic specimen, which causes the specimen to bend and fracture. The International Standards Organization (ISO) and the American Dental Association have developed a standard for measuring the flexural strength of dental ceramics. Two methodologies are commonly used today. In the 3-point bend method (Figure 2), a rectangular specimen is used, whereas in the biaxial flexural strength method (Figure 3), a circular specimen is incorporated. Both tests are acceptable, however, ceramics tend to produce higher values when tested with the biaxial method over the 3-point bend method.

Furthermore, even in a 3-point bending test, if the span length (see Figure 2) of the specimen is decreased, it can produce higher values of flexural strength of the same ceramic. It is critical to understand testing parameters when selecting or comparing different ceramic brands. All materials should be tested under the same conditions, and by using the same methodology.

3. Multi-chromatic vs multi-translucent

Kuraray Noritake was the first dental manufacturer to introduce multi-layered zirconia as a commercial product in 2013. Different concentrations of pigment-containing zirconia powder are utilized to make the zirconia discs and blocks multi-chromatic.

Multi-chromatic: KATANA™ Zirconia HTML PLUS/STML/UTML (Figure 4) were developed based on the concept of “lifelike appearance”, accurately and naturally mimicking the color and translucency of natural teeth. It has a top enamel layer, two transition layers, and a base body layer. The unique manufacturing technology from Kuraray Noritake allows each powder layer to seamlessly blend within a gradient profile that eliminates any demarcation lines between the different layers. The Yttria concentration remains similar in all layers; therefore, the strength of the zirconia does not deviate from layer to layer. The pigments (chroma) are adjusted in a way that produces different chroma among the layers, where the translucency stays the same.

Multi-translucent: KATANA™ Zirconia YML (Figure 5) is the latest KATANA™ multi-layered disc, with a well-balanced combination of color translucency and flexural strength gradation. It is also manufactured using multilayer technology, with different Yttria content in each layer.

Strength differs in each layer, providing enamel with 750 MPa, the transition-body with 1000 MPa, and the base layer with 1100 MPa flexural strength. These layers are perfectly harmonized with each other, since all fundamental production steps, including purification, refining of the zirconia raw material and the addition of essential components such as Yttria, are all processed in-house by Kuraray Noritake.

4. Cleaning zirconia

During trial-fitting, the zirconia restoration might become contaminated with salivary proteins, thereby reducing the bond strength. KATANA™ Cleaner (Figure 6) can be used to remove contamination. This can be easily achieved by rubbing KATANA™ Cleaner on the intaglio surface, and subsequently rinsing it with water. KATANA™ Cleaner has a high cleaning effect, due to the surface-active characteristic of MDP Salt.

5. Bonding to zirconia

There are several clinical situations where zirconia restorations benefit from resin bonding: restorations that are less strong or thin, lack retention, or rely on resin bonding, (ex. resin-bonded fixed partial prostheses, onlays, or laminate veneers). Prof. Markus Blatz, DMD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and his group introduced a three-step approach, known as the “APC Zirconia Bonding Technique”.

APC Step A: Air-particle abrasion, then application of P: Primer and finally Step C: Composite resin. MDP-based resin cemented restorations exhibit better margins long term. MDP has shown a very stable chemical bond to zirconia. Kuraray Noritake invented and introduced the Original MDP monomer in 1981. All Kuraray Noritake PANAVIA™ cement (Figure 7) brands contain this original MDP monomer.

Kuraray Noritake is known for its legacy of inventing groundbreaking technologies in both resin and ceramic technologies. The company is committed to inventing the best quality materials that dental ceramists and dentists can use to treat their patients with confidence.

Dentist:

DINESH SINHA, BDS, PHD

First published in: A Journal of Dental Technology | November/December 2021

The KATANA™ Zirconia Multi-Layered series from Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. (Kuraray Noritake Dental) is popular among dental technicians and dentists around the world, as it offers great mechanical and optical properties. The available materials have different levels of translucency and strength, and a multi-layered structure that facilitates the creation of lifelike restorations.

Furthermore, they are very well processable, which results in a high milling accuracy and smooth margins. Together, these properties are highly valuable for every dental office, as they result in precisely fitting, durable and beautiful restorations that help you exceed your patients’ expectations.

Clinical long-term success of these zirconia restorations, however, is not only determined by the material choice and laboratory processing alone. The way clinical procedures such as cementation and intra-oral adjustments are carried out have a decisive impact as well. In order to support you in your striving for a long-lasting bond between the tooth and the restoration, and to facilitate intra-oral polishing, Kuraray Noritake Dental has developed a wide variety of in-office products designed to make your life easier and your practice even more successful.

Remove bond-strength compromising proteins

When proteins present in blood and saliva are deposited on the bonding surfaces of teeth or dental restorations, the bonding performance of dental adhesives and self-adhesive resin cements will be compromised. As it is impossible to keep these surfaces free of oral fluids at try-in, effective cleaning strategies are required. In tests comparing different methods and cleaning agents, sandblasting and the use of KATANA™ Cleaner have been highly successful in removing the proteins from the bonding surfaces¹.

As KATANA™ Cleaner is a biocompatible material (unlike other often strongly alkaline zirconia cleaners), it is suitable for intra- and extra-oral use. Hence, it is the perfect solution for cleaning your KATANA™ Zirconia restorations as well as prepared enamel and dentin before cementation. The product has a high cleaning effect and is easy to use: simply rub it in for ten seconds, rinse and dry.

Obtain a reliable bond with fewer components

Fewer components and fewer procedure steps, this is what an increasing number of dental practitioners strives for when it comes to cementing zirconia restorations. For all of them, PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal is the solution.

The self-adhesive resin cement contains the proprietary long carbon-chain silane coupling agent (LCSi Monomer) developed by Kuraray Noritake Dental that delivers a strong, durable chemical bond to porcelain, lithium disilicate and composite resin without the need for a separate primer. The original MDP monomer, also present in the paste, allows for chemical reactiveness with zirconia, dentin and enamel.

Therefore, the product is indicated for a wide range of indications (including adhesion bridges) without the need for separate priming and bonding. Another important fact is that excess removal requires a significantly lower force compared to other cements. This was already the case for product’s predecessor PANAVIA™ SA Cement Plus, as reported by a researcher from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts². For specifically demanding cases, you may increase the bond strength of PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal to tooth structure with the aid of CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick.

Choose the proven and familiar multi-step system

For all those who would like to stick to multi-step procedures they have trusted for years, PANAVIA™ V5 is the go-to product. It is suitable for all restorations, including those that demand the highest possible bond strength. It is the strongest cement Kuraray Noritake Dental ever developed, and with five shades, it is the most aesthetic one, too. This allows you to cement all tooth-coloured restorations with confidence, no matter whether they have a retentive or non-retentive design. PANAVIA™ V5 is designed to work perfectly with KATANA™ Zirconia, and is indicated for cementing a wide range of indirect restorations, and also for post-and-core procedures and amalgam bonding.

Create antagonist-friendly surfaces

Studies have shown that surface roughness of a restoration has a larger impact on the wear of the antagonist than the hardness of the dental material. This means that for an antagonist-friendly behaviour, the restoration surfaces need to be perfectly polished. This task is easily accomplished with TWIST™ DIA for Zirconia, which may be used after intra-oral adjustments or in the context of maintenance measures.

The flexible polishing spirals with an innovative shape offer you various application benefits for excellent polishing results. TWIST™ DIA for Zirconia is highly suitable for occlusal surface polishing as the shape and contour of the zirconia restoration is maintained. As they are sterilizable, the spirals may be reused.

A winning team for reliable results

By using a restorative material, cleaning solution, cementation system and polishing spirals from Kuraray Noritake Dental, you will benefit from streamlined procedures and reliable results. The products are not only designed to work with each other, but also thoroughly tried and tested for combined use, so that you can carry out your procedures with utmost confidence.

References

1 Data source: Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.
2 A. Roberta et. al., J Dent Res Vol #98 (Spec Iss A), #3624, Determination of Excess Removability of Self-adhesive Resin Cements

Superior bond strength and consistently predictable results from one universal cement – PANAVIA™ V5 is nothing less than astonishing. It’s suitable for all indications, irrespective of restoration type or materials to be bonded. Simply pre-treat the tooth with PANAVIA V5 Tooth Primer, then prime the restoration with CLEARFIL CERAMIC PRIMER PLUS and cement. That’s all there is to it.  

Check out this video demonstrating PANAVIA V5 cementation workflow of zirconia crowns.

Case by Dr. Jusuf Lukarcanin

Restoring posterior cavities is a standard task we perform virtually every day. Yet, it is a challenging procedure as access to the affected teeth is often limited. This fact complicates many steps from working field isolation to material application and sculpting. By streamlining procedures and establishing protocols that are followed every time, it is possible to achieve predictable outcomes even in difficult situations, as shown below.

Fig. 1. Class II cavity in a second molar after caries removal and cavity preparation.

Fig. 2. Working field isolation.

Fig. 3. Application of adhesive (e.g. CLEARFIL S³ BOND PLUS) into the cavity.

Fig. 4. Build-up of the proximal wall with CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Classic (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.) in the shade A2.

Fig. 5. Build-up of the dentin core using the incremental technique with CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Premium in the shade A2D.

Fig. 6. Contouring of the occlusal enamel layer made of CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Premium in the shade A2E.

Fig. 7. Polishing of the restoration with Twist DIA for Composite.

FINAL SITUATION

Fig. 8. Treatment outcome.

Dentist:

DR. JUSUF LUKARCANIN

Dr. Jusuf Lukarcanin is a Certified Dental Technician (DCT) and a Doctor of Dental Science (DDS). He studied dentistry at the Ege University Dental Faculty in Izmir, Turkey, where he obtained a Master‘s degree in 2011. In 2017, he received a Ph.D. degree from the Department of Restorative Dentistry of the same university. Between 2012 and 2019, Dr. Lukarcanin was the head doctor and general manager at a private clinic in Izmir. Between 2019 and 2020, he worked at Tinaztepe GALEN Hospital as a Restorative Dentistry specialist, between 2020-2022 he worked at MEDICANA International Hospital Izmir as a Restorative Dentistry specialist. Currently he is an owner of a private clinic for aesthetics and cosmetics in Izmir.

Kuraray Noritake Dental’s commitment to digital technology goes well beyond the dental practice. We know that our customers are tech-savvy and eager to engage with other dental professionals who use our products. This is why we focus on providing a range of free virtual solutions so that you can stay connected with all of Kuraray Noritake Dental’s activities.

An ultra-convenient app

The official Kuraray Noritake Dental app is designed to inform you about the latest updates and product releases at your own pace and convenience. A range of product brochures is easily accessible, providing the tools for you to obtain the information you need instantly. An automatic push notification function means that you do not need to worry any more about missing out on the latest dental news.

New magazine articles and videos can be quickly viewed in the app, whereas other tools provide support for your daily practice. The KATANA™ Color Simulator allows you to conduct a virtual colour simulation of a prosthesis created with KATANA™ Zirconia, whereas the cementation guide provides step-by-step instructions for the correct use of PANAVIA™ V5 and PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal for a range of indications.

Download the Kuraray Noritake Dental app to your smartphone or tablet, and utilise its benefits anytime, anywhere.

Let’s be social

One of the most common ways in which dentists get new ideas and inspiration these days is through social media. By following our Instagram page, you will have direct access to a continually updated and convenient library of tips, videos and snapshots of Kuraray Noritake Dental products in action.

Over at our Facebook page, we have been developing a space for dental professionals to come together and discuss their experiences and tips for using our solutions. Become part of this community, and engage with what Kuraray Noritake Dental users from around the world are sharing.

A newsroom packed with new information

Webinars, clinical cases, interviews, magazine releases, product news and more—there is only one place where all of these can be found in abundance, and that is the Kuraray Noritake Dental virtual newsroom.