By Ross Isbell, DMD, MBA

A Clear Choice for Matrix Systems

Bioclear Matrix HD Anterior Kit

Bioclear

bioclearmatrix.com

One of my least favorite things to hear from a new patient with a broken tooth is, “Can’t you just throw some bondo on there?” They want a quick fix with a high esthetic demand. I pride myself on being a pretty good freehand composite sculptor, but not every situation is simple, and it’s always nice to have a guide. For Class IV restorations, composite veneers and space closures, a quick-and-easy way to build an idealized contact, contour and emergence profile with minimal effort is the Bioclear Matrix system. As the only fully clear sectional matrix system, it makes it simple to cure while creating an interproximal restructuring result that doesn’t require a lot of cleanup. There are a variety of matrices available in Bioclear’s catalog, so it makes sense to get a sampler kit and enable selection of the perfect fit for the spaces you are presented with. I primarily use the heavy duty (HD) anterior set, but the diastema set is also nice to have on hand because it has more curvature and is better for filling large spaces. The HD line utilizes a thicker mylar than the original line for a more rigid shell and easier placement. Bioclear Matrices are tooth- and spacespecific; while you can buy individual refill sets of 25 for about $50, I would recommend buying the entire kit for $329 from the start. After you have chosen the matrix that fits your space needs best, take time to customize the matrices to fit the shape and depth of the papilla and bone in the interproximal zones you plan to restore. Bioclear recommends using scissors, but I typically prefer using a fine diamond bur and a brownie because I can round and polish more quickly. Once the tissue region of the matrices is correct, they can be inserted firmly into the sulcus, which will stabilize them and hold them in place for you through the rest of the procedure while also creating a smooth marginal seal without needing a wedge in most situations. If you are having trouble sliding the matrix through a contact, you can either wedge the teeth temporarily to open and pass the contact, or you can use an interproximal reduction or polishing system to open the contact slightly. When you are filling spaces like black triangles, where the contact is small and does not need to be broken, the contact is a great additional stabilizer. Once the matrix is in place, follow your typical etch, bonding and injection of composite process to build out your edge. On average, these matrices will cost you a little less than $2 each but will save you a tremendous amount of time for a really nice finish with anterior composite rebuilds.

I Spy the EyeSpecial

EyeSpecial C-V

Shofu

shofu.com

Clinical photography is continuing to become more and more important in dentistry as the public expects us to be able to create and market a digital portfolio of our work. I do not claim to be a photographer, but I do want my team to be able to quickly take appropriate and beautiful pictures. Enter the EyeSpecial C-V from Shofu. This camera has been refined over five generations to become the perfect dental camera. With 10 light sources from multiple angles and an easily adapted focal range based on which mode you choose, this is a point-and-shoot success story that anyone can use to take the right shot. My team almost exclusively uses Face and Standard modes, but, for smaller sites, I like how the Surgery mode zooms in and captures quadrantsized spaces. In this model, Shofu also upgraded the hardware and software to make it WiFi capable, so you can send your images directly to your local cloud storage folder. We operate the camera almost entirely through the large rear touchscreen, though there are physical buttons as well. The screen is crucial because, in the age of smartphones, everyone needs the ability to instantly review their results. The chassis is smooth and designed to be wiped between cases, so this can be used with gloves midcase if needed. At 12 megapixels with a 49-millimeter lens, the camera will provide effortless high-quality photos, making it a worthwhile upgrade over any smartphone.

Cement This Cement’s Spot in Your Delivery Process

GC FujiCEM® Evolve

GC

gc.dental

When choosing cements for fixed restorations, I usually prefer a true resin for flexural and bond strength reasons. However, in some oral environments it is just as important, or more so, to promote bioactivity. With GC FujiCEM® Evolve, I feel like I have found something that can do both. This material is a resin-reinforced glass ionomer (GI) cement, so it has many of the properties and handling characteristics of a resin cement, such as light-curing capabilities and bond strength, while maintaining the fluoride-releasing properties of a standard glass ionomer. Resin-reinforced (compared with resin-modified) means that enough of the material is resin that its structural properties have been altered. It functions well with a variety of substrates, though I primarily use it for zirconia in the posterior. This is a great medium for higher caries-risk patients. Unlike many glass ionomer luting cements that are chemically set, FujiCEM Evolve can be tack-cured and cleaned up significantly quicker. If you choose not to tack-cure and immediately begin cleaning up, it will reach a gel-like state that peels off margins easily in about three minutes. As a GI-type cement with strontium glass filler particles, it is more moisture-tolerant than a true resin and is effective at recharging with alkaline ions such as fluoride when it is bioavailable. The material comes in a seemingly traditional FujiCEM wide double-barrel configuration to still allow an easy option for self-mixing, but it also includes a proprietary automix tip that accompanies the syringe. This tip is not a standard universal twist type, but instead has a clip-lock mechanism. While I personally don’t choose to self-mix and prefer the automix, it is nice that the delivery system allows for user choice. This modern version of a classic deserves a spot in your delivery process.

Ross Isbell, DMD, MBA, currently practices in Gadsden, Alabama, with his father, Gordon Isbell, DMD, MAGD. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry and completed a general practice residency at UAB Hospital. Isbell has confirmed to AGD that he has not received any remuneration from the manufacturers of the products reviewed or their affiliates for the past three years. All reviews are the opinions of the author and are not shared or endorsed by AGD Impact or AGD. To comment on this article, email impact@agd.org.