3M Oral Care

	For busy dental professionals, a variety of responsibilities and tasks make staying on schedule a challenge. Implementing time-saving products and procedures is crucial to meeting these daily demands and even simple changes can make a significant difference. In order to help dentists increase efficiencies, 3M introduces 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative, a new universal composite that's said to offer a modernized approach to anterior and posterior restorations with a simplified shading process and advanced composite technology to provide strong and esthetic results.

	On average, dentists choose to use a single-shade restoration for roughly 80 percent of the cases they perform.* Knowing efficiency is key, 3M simplified the overall shade selection process. Using NaturalMatch technology, 3M developed eight designer shades, plus an Extra White (XW) that cover the 19 VITA classical and bleach shades.

 A pink opaquer was also created to mask metal and stained dentition. In addition, the shades have one universal opacity to meet most clinical needs.

	Filtek Universal Restorative utilizes NaturalMatch technology, a blend of 3M’s composite technologies for durability and esthetics. Propriety low-stress monomers are said to reduce shrinkage stress, while the use of nanofillers reportedly creates a TRUE nanocomposite that provides high strength and excellent wear resistance.

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	“Dentists are pulled in many different directions every day, with countless to-dos that stack up while they serve their 

patients. That’s why 3M wanted to create a solution that helped them cut down on steps and removed some of that stress,” says Sebastian Arana, president and general manager, oral dolutions division of 3M. “The new Filtek Universal Restorative combines a unique shading system in an innovative material that not only provides efficiency but also a highly esthetic and long-lasting result.”

	Filtek Universal Restorative also features capsules that can be warmed

 and an improved tip design that's engineered to allow the material to extrude like a flowable composite and then become more viscous for shaping. At 8 mm, the tip is longer than 3M's previous universal capsules, which reportedly enables good adaptation even in hard-to-reach areas.

	To learn more about the new 3M Filtek Universal Restorative, visit 

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The new material is designed to ensure strong and esthetic restorations while simplifying the shading process to improve productivity.


3M introduces new universal restorative

	3M Oral Care and Bioclear have announced a new partnership to bring state-of-the-art procedures to dentists. 

	“As part of the partnership, 3M will host hands-on training courses across the country, featuring Bioclear approved specialists, in order to amplify education of the Bioclear Method," states 3M in a press release. “Kits containing all of the required Bioclear tools, along with 3M’s direct restorative products, will be available to dentists who are implementing the method into their practice.”

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“It’s our mission to provide dentists and dental schools with the techniques, tools and equipment to allow for longer lasting, stronger, and aesthetically superior composites,” says Dr. David Clark, founder of Bioclear, in a press release. “I’ve honed the techniques and I’ve tested the products so I know, without a doubt, what works best in the mouth, and that’s why I’m excited to partner with 3M to further the education of dentists in modern restorative techniques.”

	According to 3M, the Bioclear Method is a minimally-invasive procedure that offers longer lasting and esthetic anterior and posterior composite results. The procedure is an apparent universal pathway for clinicians, as true engineering and new standardized cavity preparations are combined with 3M materials and Bioclear instruments.

The collaboration will further advance modern restorative technique education.

3M Oral Care and Bioclear partner to bring dentists updated procedures

	Anyone who has experienced xerostomia knows that it is frustrating, especially when relief products wear off quickly or are inconvenient to use. In addition to discomfort, the absence of saliva can lead to the development and progression of tooth decay. 3M™ Xerostomia Relief Spray is a new clinically-proven solution that reportedly provides prescription-strength relief of xerostomia symptoms - for up to four hours per use.

	As a lipid-based spray, 3M Xerostomia Relief Spray is designed to achieve relief by moistening and lubricating mucosa, and it reportedly showed an improvement in dry mouth symptoms in 92 percent of clinical study participants. Available only by prescription from a dental professional, the spray is conveniently portable and ready to use without any pre-mixing or preparation requirements.

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For some, xerostomia is a minor inconvenience. For others, it's a debilitating symptom that can make it difficult to speak, eat and swallow as well as result in increased dental caries. Since xerostomia is a common side effect of many medications and a symptom of certain illnesses, it’s crucial for dental professionals to know when their patients may be experiencing xerostomia, and to have a plan in place to prevent the risk of dentition breakdown.

	For example, when prescribing 3M Xerostomia Relief Spray, clinicians should also consider offering in-office fluoride treatments like 3M™Vanish™5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish with Tri-Calcium Phosphate and homecare treatments like 3M™ Clinpro™ 5000 1.1% Sodium Fluoride Anti-Cavity Toothpaste and 3M™ TheraMints™ Xylitol Mints, which stimulate the flow of saliva.

	“Oral health is a critical part of overall health, so people struggling with xerostomia should feel comfortable asking their hygienist or dentist for recommendations,” says Jennifer Post, RDH, MDH, senior technical service engineer at 3M. "Sometimes the over-the-counter option from the drugstore just doesn’t cut it - that’s when a prescription solution like 3M Xerostomia Relief Spray is actually what is best for patients.”

	For more information on 3M Xerostomia Relief Spray, visit 

Offer this portable relief spray to patients to prevent dentition breakdown.

3M announces new clinical-grade xerostomia relief spray

Whether for dentures, crowns, clear aligners or custom trays, taking impressions is a necessary procedure in most dental practices. Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that work against the accuracy of an impression, and retaking an impression is a hassle for everyone involved.

Recently, 3M talked with a number of dental offices and laboratories about some typical challenges associated with dental impressions. Most agreed that while some impressioning best practices can be taught, a lot of the best techniques are learned over time through trial and error. Take it from these seasoned dental and lab professionals who suggested these 10 tips to improve the chance of getting a perfect impression the first time.

Keeping the margins free of blood and saliva is key for an accurate impression. If a patient is bleeding a lot, dentists could consider using hemostasis agents, mechanical retraction with cords or retraction paste, or a combination of any of those to ensure that the margins remain visible and dry.

To counteract any unavoidable blood or saliva that does occur near the margins, impressioning with a hydrophilic impression material like 3M™ Impregum™ Soft Polyether Impression Material or 3M™ Imprint 4™ VPS Impression Material becomes more critical for success.

- Luke Presley, DDS, Kimche & Presley Cosmetic & Sports Dentistry

Trying the tray inside a patient’s mouth prior to adding impression material makes the impression easy and predictable. It also gives the patient a practice round so that he or she knows what to expect when the actual impression is taken.

For a full arch, I typically make sure the tray fits over the bite registration. This trick ensures you’re using the right size tray before dispensing any impression material.

For sizing a triple tray, check the opposite side of the arch while the patient bites down on an empty tray. This provides a mental image of what the occlusion should look like, gives the patient a feel for what he or she needs to do, and gives you an opportunity to ensure the patient is biting down correctly when the actual impression is taken.

- Geetha J. Damodaran, DDS, Birch Lake Dental

For patients who are more susceptible to gagging, try using the least amount of material possible. Usually, an excess of heavy body material is what triggers the gag reflex. Also, it can help to have patients sit up straight, and sometimes even put their legs on the ground so that they are sitting sideways in the chair. This way, they can lean forward to lessen the feeling that the material is going down their throats. In more severe cases, we may have the patient focus on breathing through his or her nose or may try some distraction techniques like lifting a leg during the impression.

One method to ensure the margins are visible is to syringe around the prepared tooth once with the material, lightly blowing air all around the preparation, and then continuing to syringe the remaining material.

A warped impression is occasionally a result of expired materials or improper mixing. To overcome this, it’s important to consult the Instructions for Use included with the material and make sure to keep track of the material expiration date.

An impression can become distorted if a patient gags and moves too much. Even if a patient has been given instructions, he or she might move on accident, so it’s helpful to have an assistant chat with the patient during the procedure. The conversation serves as a diversion that takes the patient’s mind off of any discomfort or gagging sensations. Reminding the patient to take deep breaths through his or her nose or wiggle his or her toes helps distract the patient from the process. Giving the patient verbal updates as to the time remaining is also very helpful.

Take your time on parts that are most critical like packing the retraction cord. Make sure the cord is packed in well and has enough time to push the tissue. If the cord doesn’t have enough time to sit before taking the impression, then the cord does little other than to traumatize the area around the sulcus. Allowing the cord to do its job and maximize the periodontal space makes it much easier for labs in the long run.

The best way to make sure you’re giving the impression enough time to set is to follow the material instructions every single time. Especially since materials handle differently in varying temperatures, the manufacturer’s directions are your best bet to ensure perfect timing. If you’re not sure, talk to your manufacturer’s representative. He or she will be able to help you make sure your product is functioning to its optimal ability.

Once you know the instructions by heart, be consistent. In my practice, we have physical timers that we use to keep track of our mixing time and set time. This has allowed me to achieve incredibly accurate impressions and minimize my chair-side time at cementation.

Many labs would say that they appreciate all the information that full-arch impressions give them, and many dentists who are concerned about occlusion will often do full-arch impressions. A quadrant impression will allow the opposing arches to rock buccal and lingual.

With a full-arch impression, the opposite side of the arch stabilizes the occlusion and will also give more accurate excursive movements to better control occlusal interferences. To confirm that a full-arch impression is preferred, a dentist should have a conversation with his or her lab and come to a mutual decision.



- Mark Ferguson, Vulcan Custom Dental Laboratory


Following these tips can help to ensure that you take a perfect impression every time. 
