This is the first article I am writing during the COVID-19 quarantine. The past two weeks have seen a seismic shift in the dental industry. At some point, we will be back in our offices. When we are, we will have a mass of patients to see and dentistry to do. If we are ever to catch up and make up for our deficits, we will have to work smartly and efficiently. One smart and simple way to do this is with our direct restorations. Using a single-shade, omnichromatic restorative material that can be placed in 4 mm increments is a great first step in honing our efficiency.
Admira Fusion x-tra is the newest direct restorative material from Voco, one of my favorite dental companies. The Admira Fusion line has been around for a few years and is composed of nano-ORMOCER material. ORMOCER is an acronym for “organically modified ceramic” and replaces the traditional resin-based composite material with all ceramic-based fillers and matrix. The large, precondensed molecules of the inorganic matrix have a large degree of cross-linking, which results in a highly biocompatible, BPA-free material with a very low polymerization shrinkage rate. At 1.25% shrinkage by volume, Admira Fusion x-tra features one of the lowest shrinkage rates,1 which allows us to cure it in 4 mm increments and reduce the number of increments needed to perform most direct restorations. Fewer increments mean less time and higher efficiency.
We’ve discussed the ORMOCER part of Admira Fusion x-tra and why it is important. Now let’s look at the “nano” part and why that matters to us. Its particularly small nanoparticle fillers give Admira Fusion x-tra its strength, longevity, and esthetics, including its chameleon effect. The 20 to 40 nanometer designer particles do not diffract or refract light. Instead, light passes through them, hits the surrounding tooth structure, and returns to our eyes in the same shade as the surrounding tooth structure. This allows the Admira Fusion x-tra to match the wide range of human dentition with a single shade. From a bleach shade all the way to D4, Admira Fusion x-tra can match it with a single product. From a stock management and procedural efficiency perspective, this is really helpful. In addition to the great chameleon effect, the spherical nanofillers also offer great stain resistance, so the shade doesn’t change over time.
When you factor in 4 mm increment placement along with not having to choose a shade, as well as the blister packaging, we can really increase our efficiency. Being more efficient with our direct restorations will allow us to be more profitable in our practices and help us clear the backlog of patients who need our treatment. Triple into the gap for Voco!
Reference
1. Nano-hybrid ORMOCER restorative material, 4 mm. Voco. https://www.voco.dental/en/products/direct-restoration/ormocer/admira-fusion-x-tra.aspx
Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD, writes the Pearls for Your Practice column in Dental Economics. After graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, Dr. Austin associated for several years. In October of 2009, he opened a solo general practice in a suburban area of San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Austin is involved in all levels of organized dentistry and can be reached at [email protected].
