Finish Faster With Filtek

CAPPY SINCLAIR, DDS, AAACD

Dr. Sinclair earned his dental degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he graduated with honors. He has spent additional time in postgraduate training, studying under renowned leaders in functional and esthetic dentistry. He is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and serves in a clinical capacity as product evaluator for Contemporary Product Solutions and 3M Dental. A Virginia Beach native, he is committed to giving back to the community and is passionate about local business and the arts.  

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Finishing Faster With Filtek

 A digitally designed and customized anterior matrix system, 3M Filtek Matrix offers a predictable way to create tooth symmetry while conserving tooth structure

Which is more important in dentistry—art or science? While the jury may still be out, Cappy Sinclair, DDS, AAACD, would lean toward art. That’s because while his future colleagues were finishing dental school and applying to residency programs, he was using his art history degree to restore paintings and sculptures for local museums. It wasn’t until shadowing a family friend, a dentist who enjoyed restoring antiques, that he noticed the similarities between the two professions. Dentistry, however, provided the built-in bonus of working with people, not paintings.

Today, at his sought-after Virginia Beach practice, Dr. Sinclair provides a variety of cosmetic and restorative treatments to his patients, including clear aligners, crowns, implants, dentures, and veneers.

“A less invasive option, an 8-unit composite veneer case being done tooth by tooth could take anywhere from 5 to 7 hours and require multiple appointments,” said Dr. Sinclair, who recently started using the 3M Filtek Matrix to speed up these types of procedures. “Now, these cases can be done in about 2 hours using just a single shade.”

A digitally designed and customized anterior matrix system, the Filtek Matrix fuels an additive procedure that typically requires just 2 appointments. The system offers a streamlined digital workflow—just scan or impress the patient’s teeth, complete a digital prescription, review the treatment design, approve the digitally designed restoration, and then use the 3D-printed Filtek Matrix to transfer the design using 3M dental composites.

“My favorite part of the Filtek Matrix is that it’s designed to restore multiple teeth at the same time, which makes it ideal for multiple-unit veneer cases,” added Dr. Sinclair. “The other great thing about the system is that you can customize it as much or as little as you want. For example, you can keep it simple and just use one shade, or you can use the matrix as your initial shade and shape, and then add custom layers and tints to give the restoration more depth.”

A Conservative Approach

While Dr. Sinclair enjoys using the Filtek Matrix to finish orthodontic cases with spacing, it also is ideal for treating undersized or misaligned teeth, worn dentition, and diastema closures.

“The procedure can be done very efficiently compared with the freehand technique, and in many cases, without removing existing tooth structure,” said Dr. Sinclair. “Patients love this conservative approach of restoring their teeth to proper shape and function.”

A 3M Filtek Matrix Introductory Package gets doctors off to a running start, as it includes a training kit with 2 example cases, CE-accredited courses on matrix technique and case selection, and more