ACTIVA Presto
Indicated for all classes of cavities, ACTIVA Presto is a light-cured, stackable, universal composite designed to mimic the properties of natural teeth
Abracadabra, hocus-pocus, presto chango— those are just a few of the words that a magician might use to captivate the audience at a magic show. But—although dentistry often involves a wondrous transformation of a patient’s smile—you don’t often hear those magic words in a dental practice. Unless, of course, you’re trying out the newest member of the ACTIVA family of dynamic materials, ACTIVA Presto, a stackable, light-cured, universal composite that Pulpdent calls “nature’s magic in a dental composite.”
After learning that ACTIVA Presto mimics the properties of natural teeth, Dr. David Fang—a longtime fan of ACTIVA BioACTIVE RESTORATIVE—was inspired to try ACTIVA Presto to see if it possessed the magical qualities touted by the manufacturer. What he discovered was a unique dentin and enamel replacement material that seemingly has it all— easy dispensing and handling; supreme esthetics; moisture-friendly and shock-absorbing properties; strength, durability, and fracture-resistance; and biomimicking properties that release and recharge calcium, phosphate, and fluoride.
Presto Chango, a Long-Term Solution
Suitable for all restorative procedures and loadbearing applications, ACTIVA Presto is a versatile, universal composite that Dr. Fang successfully used “as a base on very deep restorations.” He praised the easy syringe delivery and said the material “holds its position well but can be easily spread with the explorer to cover more area, if necessary.” The hydrophilic resin penetrates and integrates with tooth structure for margin-free adaptation.
Reporting success using ACTIVA Presto “even on teeth with some equivocal symptoms,” Dr. Fang said he has “seen positive results" and has received "no callbacks from patients reporting postop sensitivity.”
Especially intrigued by ACTIVA Presto’s properties being described as rubberized, Dr. Fang is optimistic that a rubber-like stress tolerance will help keep large incisal buildouts intact, avoiding the frustrating complication of a small incisal corner chip. Describing how he used ACTIVA Presto “with a MIFL buildup of tooth #9, where I built up the restoration incrementally,” Dr. Fang is hopeful that the patented rubberized resin will deter any future small-angle fractures of the incisal.
Nature’s Magic
ACTIVA Presto is a moisture-friendly composite that releases and recharges calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions. “The dynamic mix of these biomimicking properties is important to my restorations as they can both strengthen weakened tooth structure and help neutralize acids,” shared Dr. Fang, who said ACTIVA Presto's mineral-enriched properties are “especially beneficial for patients with a high chronic acidic oral environment” and possibly for patients with “diminished salivary flow and weakened tooth structure, such as an elderly patient or one who has undergone head/neck radiation.”
Delivered in 1.2-mL syringes with prebent applicator tips, ACTIVA Presto comes in 8 shades (A1, A2, A3, A3.5, A4, A6, B1, BW) and is free of bis-GMA, bisphenol A, and BPA derivatives. The composite is highly polishable for esthetic restorations, even in the smile zone. “I’ve been using ACTIVA Presto with great success,” concluded Dr. Fang, who affirmed that ACTIVA Presto is a wonderful addition to his dental armamentarium.
