In the dental sector we find a great variety of composites, luckily 3M has a wide variety of products that adapt to the different needs of your patients. In the following blog article, we not only tell you about the options available at 3M, but we also chat with Dr. Ana Andrés from 3M ESPE, to help us choose the composite we need for each clinical case. Are you ready? Read on!
Source: Dr. Rafael Calixto
3M Filtek Composites
3M has 3 large restorative systems and they belong to the range of Filtek composites, therefore, they have nanofilling technology. But what makes 3M composites different?
The difference between the composites in the Filtek range and other composites on the market is that their entire filler is made up of nanoparticles, thus achieving an excellent polishing and better wear resistance. It also allows it to be more translucent and manageable. These restoration systems are specifically aesthetic, not only for anterior teeth, but also for posterior ones, so that you can achieve aesthetic results.
Filtek One Bulk Fill Composite
The Filtek One Bulk Fill composite is much more aesthetic. Being Bulk fill you can place it in increments of up to 5 mm. It is specially designed for posterior teeth, large cavities and endodontic teeth. Extrusion of the Filtek One Bulk Fill Restorative restorative material, out of its single-dose capsule, creates the necessary conditions for shear thinning. This means that the viscosity of the material temporarily decreases and flows in the cavity preparation, resulting in excellent adaptation as well as fewer voids.
A traditional reconstruction could take a long consultation time. Using this material, you will save steps knowing that you will achieve a perfectly sealed restoration, optimal wear resistance and excellent polish retention.
It is the composite of choice to work on very large cavities as it has unique optical properties and improved opacity without compromising aesthetic results. This has been possible thanks to its nanotechnology that allows increasing opacity without reducing the depth of polymerization. In turn, by manipulating the underlying chemistry that controls these behaviors, we can control the stages at which the material appears opaque and translucent. The end result is a composite with the depth of cure required for mass placement, and a final opacity closer to the natural tooth.
Lastly, it exerts less stress, equivalent to that exerted on a tooth after the incremental placement of a universal composite, because it uses two new resin components:
- Addition-fragmentation monomer (AFM): During polymerization, the core group can fragment to relieve stress so that the fragments can re-polymerize in a less stressed state.
- Aromatic urethane dimethacrylate (AUDMA): Being a larger monomer than traditional dimethacrylates, it limits the number of contraction zones. This helps to reduce the amount of shrinkage and consequently the stress that occurs during polymerization.
Next, you will be able to see the formats that we have available at Dentaltix so that you can start improving your restorations as soon as possible:
Filtek Supreme XTE Composite
It is the most complex composite in the Filtek range, since it has more steps and more materials. Filtek Supreme XTE is used in the stratified technique, that is, you will have different layers of material to aesthetically simulate those characteristics that each tooth possesses. This composite has various masses, with various translucencies:
- Dentin: this composite is much more opaque than other composites, thus allowing you to use it as a base or in very deep cavities.
- Body: its translucency would be between that of dentin and enamel. You will use it in classes III, V and also under enamel in classes IV.
- Enamel: is very translucent, like natural enamel.
By combining these three masses we can make 100% of our aesthetic restorations for our patients, both in anterior and posterior teeth. In the event that you need something more, you have the effects. Filltek Supreme XTE has 4 effects, which are naturally opalescent translucent masses of Grey, Blue, Amber and Clear colours. When will you use this? In a young patient who, for example, has a slightly bluish halo on the incisal edge.
The Filtek Supreme XTE Composite has different presentations so you can choose the format that best suits your clinical cases and preferences. They are available in an introductory and Professional Kit, both in syringe and capsule formats, and you can also purchase refill formats of different masses and colours.
Filtek Restorative Universal Composite
The Filtek Universal Composite, among the other two composites mentioned above, has the nanotechnology of both. It has the monomers of Bulk Fill One, but this does not make it a composite that can be used with the layered technique. As it is aesthetic, it has Natural Match Technology, that is, pigments to improve the integration of natural monocolor aesthetics into the tooth. Why are these resins placed in this composite? In order to eliminate bis-GMA and achieve much easier handling and polishing, which lasts over time.
Unlike the Supreme XTE, it only has one mass, it is a body, an intermediate mass of translucency. You can use it in Class I, II, III and V. Even in Class IV where you do not have that particular characterization of very young teeth. Consequently, it will allow you to use it for 80% of your patients' cases.
To cover all the needs that arise in your dental clinic, it consists of 8 colours, with which 3M has managed to mimic the 19 colours of the Vita Guide, in addition to adding an Extra White for whitened teeth.
Like the Filtek Supreme XTE Composite, it is available in both syringes and replacement capsules and you also have Kits on our website with all the content you need for your restorations.
Another novelty of this product is the Pink Opaquer, many times to cover something very dark, with something very white it will take many layers and you can make the tooth have a lot of volume. This Pink Opaquer, being pink, manages to mask that dark tooth (saturated dentin) by placing a very thin layer and then, you would proceed to cover it with a Filtek Supreme XTE. The Filtek Universal Composite can be used on both anterior and posterior teeth.
3M™ Filtek™ Restorative Universal
Features:
- Simplified color selection: with just 8 shades you can cover most of your cases.
- Universal opacity for a more natural blend.
- Extra white (XW) for your teeth whitening patients.
- Fluorescent pigments to achieve a more natural look.
- Pink Opaquer for easy masking of dark areas such as metal or stained teeth.
- 3M nanotechnology for easy and longer polishing.
- Exclusive low-stress monomers give it high fracture resistance.
- Greater radiopacity to make it easier to identify during follow-up.
- Filtek Universal Restorative capsules can be safely heated.
Filtek Fluid Composite
Both flowable composites, like the rest of Filtek composites, have nanofilling technology.
The main uses of both models are very similar, among them are: minimally invasive dentistry (OMI). Including small cavities without occlusal stress. The possibility of sealing pits and fissures. Treatment of indirect repairs (small defects in enamel, for example), temporary such as acrylic or composite resin, and undercut filling.
You can also block undercutting areas, build a cavity base under restorative materials and liner. The clinical cases that best suit this composite are Class III and IV (Filtek Fluid) and Class III and V (Filtek Bulk Fill Fluid).
Although the two flowable composites of the new Filtek generation share the same applications and maintain their composition, there are characteristics that differentiate them from each other:
3M™ Filtek™ Supreme Fluid
Composite dispensed in an innovative syringe that eliminates bubbles, easy to inject, and covers several different indications and techniques (including injected composite).
Features:
- It has 2 mm depth of polymerization.
- This Filtek produces 12 shades, which have been manufactured to match the Filtek Universal and Filtek Supreme XTE.
- Formed by the resins: bisGMA, TEGDMA, Procrylat.
- The filler in this fluid is made up of 65% by weight and 46% by volume.
- In addition, it is composed of nanospherical particles:
- Silica (20 and 75 nm particles).
- Zirconia (4-11 nm).
- Clusters.
- Ytterbiun Trifluoride (0.1 to 5.0 microns).
3M™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Fluid
Block placement fluid restorative with a dispensing system that eliminates bubbles and excellent behavior.
Features:
- This fluid is injectable in thicknesses up to 4 mm depth of polymerization.
- It is characterized by low polymerization contraction stress.
- Available in 4 shades: A1, A2, A3 and Universal.
- Formed by the resins: bisGMA, TEGDMA, Procrylat.
- Its filling is composed of 64.5% by weight, 42.5% by volume.
- Zirconia or Silica (particle from 0.01 to 3.5 microns)
- Ytterbiun Trifluoride (0.1 to 5.0 microns) for radiopacity.
But what's new about 3M flowable composites? Its dispensing syringe, more ergonomic and aesthetic, which will provide you with very good clinical advantages and which produces improvements to the fluid dispensing system.
These new improvements in the design lead to highlight some features:
- Increased comfort, since it presents a larger area and facilitates adaptation.
- Reduction of the pressure exerted by the hand.
- Elimination of air particles, because the new syringe has air release channels, because when the material is introduced, all the air is expelled through these channels. li>
- It has a visual indicator, since once all the material has been dispensed, the plunger stops, which means that the syringe is empty and the material must be replaced. li>
- Design “anti-twist”. This improvement incorporates a triangular base into the dispenser, which serves as a support once the work is done to place the dispenser on a flat surface.
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