With 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive, an already proven adhesive has been made even better, with more radiopacity and no need for dual-cure activators,Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman now uses 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive as his universal adhesive of choice, recently making the switch from the original 
Scotchbond Universal. He was impressed when he heard about the enhancements made to the updated version, which include increased radiopacity and eliminating the need for dual-cure activators.,As an academician and researcher—Dr. Sulaiman is an assistant professor in the Division of Comprehensive Oral Health at UNC Adams School of Dentistry—he holds clinical-based evidence in high regard. While it’s still early for this new product, there’s plenty of independent research on the original Scotchbond Universal. Five-year reports show very promising results, making Dr. Sulaiman comfortable using both products.,“What 3M did nicely was realize how they could improve an already good adhesive material,” he said. “The features they’ve added to it are very exciting. I now use it routinely in my practice.”,3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive boasts enhanced radiopacity, which Dr. Sulaiman describes as an important update. Most adhesives aren’t radiopaque and end up looking like concentrated secondary decay or a gap on an x-ray—leading to misdiagnosis, he said. The increased radiopacity found in 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive helps prevent that from happening, making it clear what’s adhesive and what’s actually a problem that needs addressed.,“That is crucially important for the clinical outcome,” Dr. Sulaiman said.,With the previous generation, Dr. Sulaiman needed a dual-cure activator when curing the adhesive in deeper areas. Otherwise, he couldn’t be certain there was enough penetration of light to spark the curing process. That activator was added to the formula and is now part of 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive, making it a true one-bottle solution—simplifying the process and reducing inventory.,
, ,“This is the way modern-day materials are headed” – Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman,3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement, an enhanced version of the already proven RelyX Ultimate cement, can be used in conjunction with 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive when bonding ceramics. This pairing virtually eliminates the need for multiple resin cements, primers, and adhesives, simplifying the workflow.
“After the ceramic surface and tooth surface are prepared and ready to receive the cement, I apply Scotchbond Universal Plus on the ceramic, let it sit for a minute or two, then I apply it on the tooth structure, air thin, then use RelyX Universal Cement,” Dr. Sulaiman said. “I can place the restoration in clean margins and cure everything at once. This creates a stronger bond to the tooth structure and further enhances radiopacity.”,Because it’s more hydrophilic, 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive can be placed on defective dentin to conceal caries, Dr. Sulaiman said.
“This allows you to be more conservative in your prep,” he said. “With a lot of the minimally invasive restorative procedures, we’re leaving affected dentin in our preps. You can seal it with this adhesive and it remains sealed, which means any caries or bacteria will die because there’s no source of nutrition.”,The adhesive doesn’t have any BPA derivatives, Dr. Sulaiman said, making it better for patients and the environment. “This is the way modern-day materials are headed,” he said. “They’re as efficient as previous versions but are more friendly to the environment and human beings.” Patients also experience less post-op sensitivity with this adhesive. “It’s kind to the dentin and has a durable chemical bond,” Dr. Sulaiman said. “The MDP monomer in the formula creates that durable chemical bond to the tooth structure.”,3M doesn’t just make claims about its products—the company does the independent research to back them up. And the fact that 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive is based on a proven adhesive formula with just a few yet critical enhancements allows Dr. Sulaiman to use it with confidence.,“3M is at the forefront of investing in research,” he said. “They have a strong reputation among researchers and academicians for backing their products with literature and independent research.”
