CASE PRESENTATION,
As dental clinicians, we can count on at least 1 or 2 challenges at the onset of every restorative treatment. First is the likelihood of a lengthy, multivisit treatment process, while the second is the possibility that a patient’s limited financial means might hinder the treatment progression. In my office, a recent patient case hit on both of these challenges.
The patient presented with multiple anterior and posterior carious lesions in various stages of advanced decay. She described a hectic work schedule with little time off, as well as a lengthy commute to the dental practice, so I immediately registered that her appointments would need to be time-efficient.
Generally, complex treatments that involve indirect fixed restorations are expensive and far from the economic reach of many patients, similar to this case. As an alternative, I decided to approach this case with a direct composite restoration as it was more affordable and also can achieve great esthetic results. Due to the patient’s financial constraints, treatment had to be spaced out appropriately over the next several months, and the patient had 5 visits.
An End to Shade-Matching
Tokuyama Dental’s family of OMNICHROMA composites was instrumental in this case. This innovative, universal composite represents the first use of structural color in composite dentistry. The structural color combines with the reflected color of surrounding teeth for beautifully matched esthetics—putting an end to the time-consuming shade-matching procedure.
Because of her economic situation, I could do only 2 composites at a time. With OMNICHROMA, matching shades from visit to visit wasn’t a concern, and the restorations were very esthetic.
With large Class III or IV carious lesions or stained dentin, I typically apply OMNICHROMA BLOCKER to mask the dark dentin or dark background of the mouth. Then I reach for OMNICHROMA to build up and shape the final restoration. In some cases, I use OMNICHROMA Flow to achieve sealed margins around the gumline.
Stress-Free Restorations
With other composite systems, I had to consider opacities and translucencies, and keep track of what I used so I could blend shades from one appointment to another. But with OMNICHROMA, I eliminate that worry because I’m using the same material in every tooth, and I know it’s going to match the previous work—it’s stress-free! My first appointment matches my last appointment.
OMNICHROMA restoratives initially present as white opaque, which serves as a visual aid. This color discrepancy helps me identify and eliminate the excess of composite on unwanted areas before the material is cured, reducing the finishing time.
Today, I am using OMNICHROMA for 90% of my cases, both simple and complex. It handles beautifully, stays put, and you can shape it easily.
OMNICHROMA
Using Tokuyama Dental’s spherical fillers and Smart Chromatic Technology, OMNICHROMA is a single-shade universal composite that matches all 16 VITA shades with 1 shade and represents the first use of structural color in composite dentistry
OMNICHROMA FLOW
A 1-shade flowable composite suitable for cavity lining, direct anterior and posterior restorations, and repair of porcelain and composite restorations.
Dr. Uribe was Efficient Restorations an international exchange student in high school and received a professional degree in Doctoral Dental Surgery in 1992 from the El Bosque University in Colombia. There, he was a professor for the following 8 years, obtaining a university teacher specialist degree. Dr. Uribe continued his postgraduate education in dental prosthetics at the National University of Colombia Dental School in 1994. After his arrival in the United States in 2000, he worked as vice president of laboratory technology and training at Prodenco Group Inc. In 2006, he was accepted into an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. There, he gained advanced training in a wide range of treatments. Today, he lectures to dentists and study clubs and is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, Iowa Dental Association, and Northwestern District Dental Society
