Tips For Simplifying Glass Ionomer Fillings
Glass ionomer’s rise in popularity is largely down to its fluoride release, aesthetics and chemical bond to dentine and enamel.
The ability to bulk place to any depth has also made it ideal for reducing chair time and seeing more patients.
But there’s always room for improvement when it comes to speed and efficiency of placement.
The 3M range is designed to make glass ionomer fillings and other procedures quicker, easier and less messy.
3M Ketac Universal Aplicap Glass Ionomer Restorative
Ketac Universal does not require the use of a glaze or conditioner and is engineered to be non-sticky.
A test was performed where a metal ball plunger was dipped into the mixed paste of four different glass ionomer restorative materials and withdrawn immediately.
Photos from the test showed that Ketac Universal did not stick to the metal ball, while other glass ionomer materials on the market displayed a clear ‘pull back’ (or stickiness) when the ball plunger was lifted.
Ketac Universal is designed to save steps and speed up procedures, making it ideal for paediatric, geriatric, and teenage patients who can be the most caries-prone and most restless.
It can be used without preconditioning the cavity and without a coating yet delivers compressive strength and surface hardness higher than several clinically proven glass ionomers which do require a coating.
3M Photac Fil Quick Aplicap Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Restorative
Resin modified glass ionomers (RMGIs) offer all the advantages of a conventional glass ionomer plus important advances like dual curing, immediate finishing and improved aesthetics.
RMGIs also tend to offer a high degree of hydrophilicity, making them ideal for situations where moisture control is difficult.
Photac Fil has been designed to work without the need for a conditioner and glaze to save time and make placement quicker.
RMGIs have a long history as a lining material. Giving a good bond to dentine and providing fluoride release, they offer an excellent solution to the cavity floor before being finished with a composite restoration.
RMGIs also have a better modulus of elasticity over composite materials. Studies have shown that RMGI liners can absorb the stresses caused by shrinking composite materials and therefore reduce post-operative sensitivity and decrease the risk of marginal leakage.
3M Vitrebond Plus Clicker Light Cure Glass Ionomer Liner/Base
The award-winning Vitrebond Plus is 3M's recommended choice of liner.
The innovative clicker system allows you to dispense as much or as little as needed from a controlled paste / liquid delivery system.
It also helps prevent micro-leakage, reduces the risk of post-op sensitivity, and supplies sustained fluoride release to the tooth.
This streamlined system delivers the same level of performance and protection of other 3M glass ionomers, but without the mess of measuring.
3M Rotomix Capsule Mixing Unit
When it comes to capsulated glass ionomers, many dentists still rely on amalgamators to generate the optimal mix.
However, one drawback of conventional amalgamators is that they only mix the capsule contents at the end of each swing as the glass ionomer components collide with the internal surface of the capsule.
Rotary mixing is a more efficient and time saving way of mixing and is offered by the 3M Rotomix capsule mixing unit.
Utilising a rotating platform with simultaneously counterrotating capsule holder produces the most complete mix finishing off with an automatic centrifugal cycle which produces a denser mix and virtually void-free material.
The Rotomix has been shown to reduce mixing time by up to 30% compared to other mixing machines.