Resin-modified ionomers

Materials also are reaping nano’s benefits, with Ketac Nano Light-Curing Glass  Ionomer Restorative from 3M ESPE (www.3MESPE.com) providing stronger material with greater wear resistance, greater fracture strength and polishability, Theodore P. Croll, DDS, says. It replicates tooth texture and color at a much higher level than other glass ionomer cements and is placed using a click dispenser. 

Why the improvement? The particles are so small that you can load up more filler material and much less resin, which leads to a stronger material.

“A great analogy is a sidewalk in a yard,” says Croll, who has a practice in Pennsylvania. “If the sidewalk is made mostly of water and just a few rocks, you have a weak sidewalk. But if you made it of mostly rock and less water, you have a much stronger walkway. You need a perfect blend of the two components for the ideal material.”

The material looks better, is easier to handle and for the two year’s he’s been using it, hasn’t caused any sensitivity in his patients.

Know the material

Croll was involved in the initial trials for this material in 2005 and says while it works great, clinicians must understand this different type of material to use it properly. It has a few nuances that dentists should be aware of, including it must be mixed for 20 seconds—and that means using absolutely no short cuts.

Once you get to know the material, it’s easy to use and enables dentists to closely mimic the tooth’s form and function—which is always the ultimate goal. 

“We want to reproduce want Mother Nature had there and be imperceptible about it,” Croll says.  “We don’t want people to see that we were there.”

It can be used for typical indications for glass ionomers, 3M Division Scientist Joe D. Oxman, Ph.D, says. But while it’s great for the general population, it also works well for caries prone patients, both pediatric and geriatric.

“What you find with technology in general, that once somebody achieves a certain level of performance, dentists and others generally prefer not to retreat,” Oxman says. “Now that we’re advancing with nano filler technology, I envision that future products will continue to move forward with nano technology. Right now you see it in composites, we’re seeing it in resin modified glass ionomers and it’s certainly likely we’ll see it in other products that may need improved abrasion resistance or improved polish.”

Perfect polish

The recently introduced Lasting Touch Liquid Polish from Dentsply Caulk (www.caulk.com) also benefits from small particles and their ability to enhance wear resistance without showing up as a clump in the material, says Michael T. O'Connor, Ph.D, Manager, Restoratives R&D. 

The particles are so small that they don’t interact with light and don’t have a negative affect on the appearance—something that’s critical when you’re talking about a polish.

“You can toughen the material without introducing appearance issues,” O'Connor says of what nano technology does to the material. “And when you’re talking about a surface polishing agent, you don’t want it to affect the underlying appearance of the restoration.”

Thanks to nano technology, the material’s wear resistance lasts up to a year, says Nikki Berezowski, Associate Brand Manager, Restoratives. The material also has the added benefit of some serious stain resistance. The nano particles are a big factor in keeping mustard and red wine stains from becoming part of your patients’ smiles.

This nano polish is great for temporary restorations or to freshen up older restorations, but it’s not a good idea to use it as an adhesive, Berezowski says.  Like with all unfamiliar materials, take the time to get to know the product before you use it to make sure that when you’re ready to apply, you’ll get the smoothest, most even coverage possible.

The future

Even with all the uses already possible, many believe that what we’re seeing with nano technology—both in and outside the dental industry—is just a small preview of what’s to come. The technology is expected to continue to improve, giving you more nano options.

As nano technology develops, it’s important to educate yourself about its benefits and really know what you’re buying. But once you do, your patients and your practice will experience all the benefits this new technology has to offer. There’s a lot of hype, but there’s a lot of research to back it up as well as clinicians talking about it on the circuit, Berezowski says. It’s something companies are going to keep looking to for improved products, and something that dentists will likely keep asking about.

“It’s better for our patients and better for our practice so every body wins,” Meltzer says, referring to nano technology in implants. “That’s the ultimate goal for every dentist, to find what is better for your patients and better for your practice. What can be better than that?”

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