News Feature

Universal adhesive in the context of different repair procedures

Article by Dr. Michał Jaczewski

When working with composite, one of the most important aspects is to understand the mechanisms of adhesion. Choosing the right composite is one thing, but choosing a suitable bonding system and using it correctly is an equally important aspect affecting the long-term performance of a direct restoration.

There are many bonding products on the market - two-bottle (primer and bond) but also single-bottle systems. For anyone trying to select an ideal adhesive for a specific clinical case, the sheer number of available products can be challenging. The temptation to use them all, in slightly different ways, has the potential to create errors. In my dental practice, I am committed to simplifying procedures.

This is why I started looking for a bonding system that would offer a sense of security in terms of adhesion, but also ease of use in different clinical situations. I have opted for the 8^th-generation bonding agent with the desired features - CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.). The single-bottle universal adhesive is ideal for a broad variety of bonding procedures carried out in the dental office.

IMPRESSIVE FEATURES

CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick can be used in the total-etch as well as the selective enamel etching technique in combination with an etching gel such as K-ETCHANT Syringe (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.). It is also a self-etching adhesive. Used in combination with the dual-cure build-up material CLEARFIL™ DC CORE PLUS or the dual-cure universal resin cement PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal (both Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.), it is also an ideal choice for cementation in the root canal and for cementing inlays or crowns made of a variety of different restorative materials – from metal to zirconia or lithium disilicate. Efficient clinical procedures are supported by the incorporated Rapid Bond Technology, which eliminates the need for extensive rubbing or waiting for the adhesive to penetrate the substrate and the solvent to evaporate. Among the key components of this technology are hydrophilic amide monomers, which allow the adhesive solution to penetrate moist dentin extraordinarily quickly, while also having a high curing ability. In addition, the original MDP monomer is included in the formulation. Together with the amide monomers, it provides for a high bond strength to enamel and dentin – achievable in a simple procedure of application, air-drying and light-curing.

The described properties turn CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick into one of the most versatile and easy-to-use adhesive bonding solutions in the dental office. Operator sensitivity is low, as is its technique sensitivity, since the three-step procedure is always the same. The following case examples illustrate its use in the context of different repair procedures.

REPAIR OF COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS

One of the major benefits of using composite as a restorative material lies in the fact that it may be modified and repaired at any time. Regardless of whether an air bubble is detected on the surface, the shade needs to be adjusted, a fracture occurs or materials need to be added as a result of wear, modification or repair is easily accomplished without needing to sacrifice additional amounts of healthy tooth structure. Whenever a silicone index has been produced for the initial treatment and is still available, and the user knows which composite has been utilized for the original restoration, the Flowable Injection Technique may be selected as a particularly easy and efficient way of repairing a restoration. However the recommended protocol is slightly different depending on the state of the restoration surface.

CASE EXAMPLE 1: IMMEDIATE REPAIR PROCEDURE

When a restoration has been damaged or an air bubble has appeared during injection of a flowable composite, the procedure is slightly different. In this case, the oxygen inhibition layer is usually still present on the surface of the restoration. Therefore, it is possible to simply apply an additional portion of composite (Figs. 1a to 1d). Even after contamination of the composite surface with water, saliva or blood, this measure is possible. The surface merely needs to be rinsed thoroughly and dried before applying the new portion of composite. For maximum safety, a universal adhesive may be used as well.

Fig. 1a. Repair procedure applicable for defect within a composite restoration whenever the oxygen inhibition layer has not yet been removed: Air bubble detected in the interproximal region.

Fig. 1b. Application of a new portion of composite after rinsing and drying. The adjacent surface is protected with PTFE tape.

Fig. 1c. Repositioned silicone index used to give the restoration the originally planned shape.

Fig. 1d. Final restoration.

CASE EXAMPLE 2: REPAIR PROCEDURE AFTER POLISHING

If a similar defect is detected during finishing and polishing, i.e. when the oxygen inhibition layer has already been removed (Fig. 2), a roughening of the surface is strictly necessary. With a bevelled preparation of the area with the air bubble, optimal conditions are created for another layer of composite that blends in well with the surrounding material (Fig. 3). After bevelling, the surface needs to be sandblasted and cleaned either with KATANA™ Cleaner (Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc.) (Fig. 4a) or with 37 % orthophosphoric acid (Fig. 4b). After thorough rinsing and drying, an additional portion of composite may be applied to the surface (Figs. 5a to 5c). As the defect is small, the composite may be applied instead of injected and the silicone index repositioned afterwards.

Fig. 2. Void on the surface, detected during finishing.

Fig. 3. Removed void and bevelled area around the defect.

Fig. 4a. Option 1: Cleaning of the surface with KATANA™ Cleaner.

Fig. 4b. Option 2: Etching with K-ETCHANT Syringe.

Fig. 5a. Application of composite (CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Low).

Fig. 5b. Repositioning of the original silicone index to obtain the desired shape.

Fig. 5c. Final restoration with a nice blend-in of the different layers of composite.

CASE EXAMPLE 3: REPAIR PROCEDURE AFTER TWO OR MORE WEEKS

For damaged restorations which have been in place for more than two weeks, an ideal composite-composite interface needs to be created by bevelling and roughening of the surface. A perfect example is presented in Figure 6. The most important step influencing the success of the procedure is proper preparation of the composite surface. To lay the foundation for a strong bond between the new and the old composite as well as for aesthetic outcomes, a bevel needs to be created (Figs 7a and 7b) to facilitate a smooth transition between the two layers. Once the bevel is completed, the surface should be sandblasted with alumina particles sized 27 μm (Fig. 8). The following recommended steps are etching of the composite with 37 % orthophosphoric acid (Fig. 9) and finally application of CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick (Fig. 10). As the universal adhesive contains a silane coupling agent, separate silane application is not necessary. Instead, the new layer of composite may be applied immediately e.g. using the flowable injection technique with an existing matrix (Fig. 11).

Fig. 6. Fractured anterior composite restoration benefitting hugely from repair – the remaining composite is in a great state regarding colour and shape.

Fig. 7a. Bevelling with dedicated instruments.

Fig. 7b. Ideal bevel created to provide for a strong bond and great optical blend-in.

Fig. 8. Sandblasting of the surface with alumina particles.

Fig. 9. Phosphoric acid etching.

Fig. 10. Application of the universal adhesive.

Fig. 11. Composite applied using the flowable injection technique.

Fig. 12. Treatment outcome.

CONCLUSION

The three described repair protocols are straightforward and work well – provided that a strong bond is established at the composite-composite interface. The way it is established may be slightly different depending on whether the oxygen inhibition layer is still present or has already been removed. Using a universal adhesive like CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick, the procedure is simplified owing to elimination of steps such as the separate application of silane.

Dentist:

MICHAŁ 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.