Flowable composites are more than just low-viscosity dental composites, they are incredibly versatile materials that offer many restorative opportunities.
We've compiled a list of success tips to help you get the most out of your flowable composite restorations. You want to see? Let's go!
Use the correct protocol for your restoration.
Always make sure that the application method is effective. One of the biggest complaints clinicians have about flowable composites is the bubbles that appear during dispensing. These small gaps can be difficult to see and difficult to remove once in the preparation, which can cause:
- Stains.
- Optical defects.
- Microfiltration.
- Limit the useful life of the restoration.
There are ways to reduce bubbles such as re-etching, incremental placement, and filling gaps with additional composite. But each of them requires additional, time-consuming steps. A better solution may be a different application method.
The innovative syringe designed for the Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative.
It is designed to eliminate bubbles and overflow, while improving handling. The new flexible cannula, now available in three diameters, provides better access in those hard-to-reach places for easier injection. When your material and your application method work together in this way, you can get closer to a bubble-free restoration. Pay attention to aesthetics, in addition to durability, the ideal flowable composite should provide aesthetic and natural results. But there are many factors that influence whether it matches your natural teeth, including:
- Color.
- Translucency.
- Fluorescence.
- Radiopacity.
- Polish retention.
Not all flowable composites offer the same level of aesthetics. While flowable composites are available in many shades, they are often more translucent, less radiopaque, and less fluorescent than their universal counterparts, due to their lower filler content. This limits its usefulness in certain situations. However, 3M's unique nanotechnology allows for refined properties at the nanometer level, resulting in versatile flowable composites with:
- Improved wear resistance than some universal composite materials.
- Strength.
- Optical properties.
- Reduction of polymerization shrinkage.
Know the composition of your fluid composite.
The first generation flowable composites owed their low viscosity to a lower filler content. However, reducing the filler content can affect the physical and mechanical properties and especially the wear properties. This compromise is why many clinicians are still wary of flowable composites in load-bearing areas. But flowable composites have evolved significantly. Newer materials use different particle sizes, shapes, and filler concentrations to improve mechanical properties while maintaining desirable flow characteristics. Other fluid composites with nano technology to highlight: Filtek One Bulk Fill and Filtek Supreme Flow.
Consider fillers when selecting your restorative material.
With the increase in demand for minimally invasive treatments, new methods appear that preserve healthy oral tissue. Flowable composites lend themselves to this philosophy, as their low viscosity allows them to flow into all the nooks and crannies of small, complex cavity preparations without sacrificing healthy tissue. By making use of flowable composites, you can open the door to a new avenue of treatment.
Use as a liner on the base of restorations: Since flowable composites have shown better adaptation to the cavity, they are often used under restorations to seal the margin, which Helps prevent sensitivity and secondary cavities. In fact, studies have shown that using a flowable composite as a liner can result in less microleakage, regardless of whether a conventional composite or nanofiller is used.
Source: Holbrook illustration
NOTE: Resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGI) are a strong alternative to flowable composites: both can be used successfully to veneer a restoration.
Choose the appropriate viscosity.
Fluid composites are defined by their low viscosity, which can provide:
- Simpler flow.
- Faster filling.
- Improvement in syringe delivery and better adaptation to the cavity.
You can trust that flowable composites will be less viscous than your traditional dental composite in paste form, but not all flow or behave in the same way. Different clinical situations may require different flowable composite viscosities. It is not enough to simply select the most fluid option.
If its viscosity is too low, it can result in:
- Increased shrinkage stress.
- Reduction of mechanical and physical properties.
- Overflow or subsidence.
Make sure you use the correct viscosity for each case. For example, some materials flow well during extrusion and thicken within the cavity preparation, while others "self-level."
Explore new ways to use flowable composite.
Fluidable composites are recommended for many indications, including some that you may not have known about. Spend time researching new ways to leverage its benefits and open doors to improved results.
Here are some ideas: Adhesion of brackets and retainers, adhesion of accessories in treatments with aligners, abfraction lesions and erosive lesions, repair of small defects.
On the other hand, make sure you are not taking advantage of all the benefits of current flowable composites, due to the limitations of first generation products. Modern flowable composites have come a long way and can be more versatile than what you think.So always check the capabilities of your material before choosing or discarding a flowable composite.
More Filtek features you should know.
To close, we leave you more characteristics of this type of composite:
- High aesthetics.
- Features true 3M nanotechnology, ideal for Class III and V restorations
- Excellent adaptation, low shrinkage, polish retention and wear resistance.
- Ideal as a coating, loading base, sealer and base for direct Class I and II restorations.
- Features a unique syringe design that virtually eliminates bubbles and "overflow" of material.
That's all for today, we hope this article is useful for your dental restorations. Remember that we are available for any questions or queries. Follow us on our social networks to stay up to date with our latest news. Until next time!
