First marketed in 1986,
Ultra-Etch remains the only self-limiting phosphoric
acid etchant on the market.
Indications
Ultra-Etch is used to condition the tooth structure
before bonding composites, sealants, or bonding
adhesives. When combined with Ultradent’s
Inspiral Brush tip or Blue Micro tip, Ultra-Etch’s
perfect viscosity allows placement of the etchant in
any location, including lingual approaches to Class
III restorations.
Unique Features Set Ultra-Etch Apart
Ultra-Etch provides users with unique features
that make it easy for dentists to use and provide the
best treatment for their patients.
Viscosity
Ultra-Etch is a semi-viscous 35% phosphoric
acid solution. Its favorable level of viscosity, along
with the use of Ultradent’s Blue Micro or Inspiral
Brush tip, allows precise placement and superior
control. According to Ultradent, the Inspiral brush
tip “thins as it flows the row,” meaning that as the
material flows through this tip, it thins out, allowing for greater control, maximum surface
wetting, and easier placement of
the solution. Most competing products
use gel etchants that are difficult to
spread, while Ultra-Etch’s thixotropic
solution thins and spreads and paints on
easily, according to Dr. Phil Brown, a
member of Ultradent’s R&D Clinical
Team. “Its unique rheological properties
allow it to flow when you want it to, yet
not slump on preparation walls.”
No Over-Etching
Ultra-Etch is self-limiting. “Other
products are more aggressive and can
cause over-etching, which can lead to
sensitivity problems,” Dr. Brown notes.
Ultra-Etch has been shown to be selflimiting
in its depth of etch, with an
average depth of 1.9 μm using a 15-second
etch. Acids with a greater depth of
etching go beyond the optimum level
and increase the potential for incomplete
resin impregnation.1-4 According
to Ultradent, liquid phosphoric acid
(37%) typically has an average depth of
5.0 μm at 15 seconds.
Capillary Action and Thick Layer
Ultra-Etch is viscous enough to prevent
migration on a vertical surface but
can still penetrate into the smallest fissures
on occlusal surfaces because of its
physical and chemical properties, which
promote capillary action. Ultra-Etch’s
optimal viscosity also allows it to maintain
a thick enough layer to prevent premature
drying and inadequate etching.
Easy Visualization
Ultra-Etch’s dark blue pigment makes
it easy to see where the product has been
applied. “You don’t overdispense it, you
don’t waste it because you place just
the right amount, and it’s easy to know
when it’s rinsed off completely,” notes
Ultradent’s Dr. Brown. Ultra-Etch contains
no glycerin and is designed to rinse
off rapidly and completely.
Uncut Enamel
Self-etching products do not work
on uncut enamel in procedures such as
pit-and-fissure sealant application and
placement of orthodontic brackets, Dr.
Brown points out. Ultra-Etch is an
excellent choice for these procedures,
he says. Most competitors’ products
remove the smear layer 4 μm to 5 μm,
whereas Ultra-Etch goes less than 2 μm
into the dentin. Thus, these other products
have more than double the de -
mineralization levels of Ultra-Etch.
How Supplied
Ultra-Etch is available in preloaded
1.2-mL syringes (sold in 4-, 20-, and
50-packs). Dentists need only place the
Ultradent Inspiral Brush tip or Blue
Micro tip on the syringes before use.
The disposable tips help to prevent
cross-contamination.
A cost-saving alternative to pre-filled
syringes is the Ultra-Etch IndiSpense economy-
size syringe (30 mL). To use it, simply
attach an empty syringe to the
IndiSpense syringe via the Leur locking
device, fill the syringe, remove, and an
Inspiral tip is ready for intraoral use.
Ultra-Etch is also available in the following
kits: Ultra-Etch Kit (four 1.2-mL
syringes and 20 Blue Micro tips); the
Ultra-Etch Econo Kit (twenty 1.2-mL
syringes and 40 Micro Blue tips); and the
Ultra-Etch IndiSpense Kit, which is perfect
for unit dose tray set up (one 30-mL
IndiSpense syringe, 20 Blue Micro tips,
twenty 1.2-mL syringes).
Can’t Live Without It
After more than 20 years on the
market, many dentists still say that they
can’t live without Ultra-Etch. It consistently
provides dentists with the attributes
they require when an etchant is
needed to successfully complete a procedure.
—Jackie Syrop
References
1. Perdigao J, Lambrechts P, Van Meerbeek B, et
al. A field emission SEM study of dentin etched
with different phosphoric acid compositions
and/or concentrations. Leuven, Belgium.
Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven, 1994.
2. Perdigao J, Lambrechts P, Van Meerbeek B, et al.
A study of the ultra-morphology of etched dentin
(Abstract 2982). J Dent Res. 1996; 75:390.
3. Brännstrom M. Dentin and Pulp in Restorative
Dentistry. London: Wolfe Medical Publications
Ltd, 1982:22.
4. Myers ML, Dickinson GL, Hoyle ST. Effect of
a silica-containing etchant on shear bond
strength to dentin. Pract Periodontics Aesthet
Dent. 1994;6:45-48.
