Easy Match: 3 Shades for the Win

While direct restorations are the backbone of nearly every general dental practice, shade matching to patients' exact hue, chroma, and value doesn't seem to get any easier. And that's where 3M Filtek Easy Match Universal Restorative Material comes in.

Featuring the same proven TRUE nanotechnology behind all Filtek restorative materials, Filtek Easy Match uses only 3 shades—Bright, Natural, and Warm—to span the entire VITA classical shade guide with no blocker needed. The material’s naturally adaptive opacity blends seamlessly with surrounding tooth structure to deliver natural-looking results.

“Nowadays, there is a trend of simplification in dentistry, and Filtek Easy Match offers clinicians simplified steps for shade selection—all without compromising the esthetics of patients’ restorations,” said Dr. Rafael Rocha Pacheco. “This system is phenomenal for eliminating the uncertainty when detecting hue, chroma, and value."

Fewer Shades, Maximum Versatility

A former graphic designer, Dr. Pacheco noted that color is a sensation that's dependent on the observer, the subject, and the light displayed on it. “Because of that, it can be complicated for clinicians to look at a patient, detect all the nuances of color in their teeth, and then select a shade from such a wide variety of options," he said. “That's one of the key benefits of Filtek Easy Match—it has an opacity to it, so you don’t have to worry about reaching for a blocker. And it works well in both anterior and posterior regions.”

It's an experience that Dr. Cappy Sinclair, a general and cosmetic dentist in Virginia Beach, VA, can easily relate to. “With some of the other single-shade composites, there are challenges for teeth with very high value and/or chroma,” said Dr. Sinclair. “The 3 shades help eliminate this issue because they match on both ends of the spectrum.”

Dr. Sinclair added that Filtek Easy Match performs well for access fills after endodontic treatment and with Class II, III, and IV restorations. The composite is also indicated for core buildup procedures.

“I don’t think Filtek Easy Match is limited to any specific clinical scenario,” said Dr. Pacheco, who is an associate professor and section director of dental materials at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University. “Rather, it is an excellent choice across restorations, from Class Is to Vs.”

Reduce Your Inventory

By streamlining shade-matching procedures with 3 intuitive shades, Filtek Easy Match also reduces material inventory.

“The Natural shade should match most of the patient population, but if the clinician sees that the Natural shade is too bright for the tooth, they can use the Warm shade. If it is too dark, they can use the Bright shade,” Dr. Pacheco assured. “It’s no longer necessary to keep stock of all these different shades to accommodate each patient case; Filtek Easy Match narrows it down tremendously and removes those extra variables from the equation.”

In addition to its easy shade matching, Filtek Easy Match maintains the exceptional handling properties, strength, polish retention, and wear resistance that are expected from Filtek restorative materials.

“The Filtek composites’ finishing and handling properties really set them apart from other restorative materials on the market,” Dr. Sinclair said. “They can be polished predictably in just a few steps.”

Easy—Enough Said!

Color-coded composite capsules and syringes allow for quick and easy identification, and clinicians have the option to warm capsules—up to 70ºC/158ºF for up to 1 hour—to facilitate material placement or for use with the injection molding technique.

“The Filtek Easy Match system is so simple that it speaks for itself,” Dr. Pacheco decided. “Especially for busier dental practices, or for any clinician who typically struggles with shade selection, it is a great tool to significantly simplify the shade-matching step of restorative procedures.”

He concluded, “Its name already says it all, but if I had to sum up Filtek Easy Match in one word, it would be ‘easy.’”