Making the Case for BISCO’s Thera

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Making the Case for BISCO’s Thera Family

By: Dental Product Shopper

8/12/2025

Four clinicians describe how BISCO’s Thera Family of calcium-releasing materials occupies a primary place in their armamentarium, and why they believe these products have played a starring role in treatment success

It's a common thread from practice to practice that no 2 days are ever alike, and rarely does a day fall under the heading of being "typical." In fact, typical is 1 word that’s seldom part of the dental vernacular. But for many general practices, daily workflows do tend to run the gamut from common restorative procedures to routine check-ups, with a healthy mix of whitening, implants, extractions, and the occasional clear aligner.

And then there are root canals. Always a source of stress for patients, as well as a complex procedure for clinicians, endo treatment is nobody’s favorite but nonetheless a fixture in many practices.

And that was the case in the Ossining, NY, practice of Etta Lobel, DMD. But things changed for Dr. Lobel and her patients about a year ago, which is when she introduced TheraCal LC into her workflow.

“Before I began using TheraCal LC, I did a lot more root canals,” she shared. “But now, my workflow is much less stressful, because the result has been that we’re doing fewer of them. In fact, using TheraCal LC has given me more peace of mind. I know I am able to do something for my patients that may prevent them from needing a root canal on a deep filling close to the pulp. In some cases, the tooth may never need one.”

A Winner 6 Years in a Row: TheraCal LC

Dr. Lobel is not alone in her assessment of TheraCal LC. Introduced in 2011 and the inaugural member of the Thera Family, TheraCal LC is not only a DPS Recommended Product, but also has been voted in as a DPS Readers’ Choice award winner 6 years in a row.

A calcium-releasing,^*1 light-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate liner, TheraCal LC can be used for both direct and indirect pulp-capping procedures, which can prevent patients from needing to have root canal treatments or extractions. It also can be used as a protective liner under composites, amalgams, cements, and other base materials.

Calcium-releasing products create an alkaline pH, which can deter bacterial growth,^2,3 and are popular with clinicians like Dr. Lobel for their ability to protect the dental pulp^4,5and stimulate hydroxyapatite formation.^6,7

'Saves the Tooth!'

“I really like this product—it saves the tooth, and it’s something that I really don’t want to do without in my practice,” Dr. Lobel added. “I use TheraCal LC when it’s a very, very deep cavity, “ she continued. “I don’t have to apply very much; I put it down as a liner and it acts as a kind of buffer. It’s very easy to use, and the tip allows me to place it right where it needs to go. I’ve found that it’s actually doing a bit of repair, and many times, patients who initially might have needed a root canal end up not needing that treatment."

It's a point echoed by Abraham Jaskiel, DMD, who uses TheraCal LC and finds that, along with being easy to use, the restorative also saves time in his busy Miami, FL, practice.

“There's no waiting time to place the material,” he shared. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve removed a failing composite filling, only to find that under the filling is a calcium hydroxide that was not made to go under a light-cured composite. This scenario ultimately leads to debonding of the composite and failure of the filling," he continued.

"I was so happy years ago to discover TheraCal LC, which is not only made to go under composite, but is also light-cured," he said. "It releases calcium ions without compromising the composite above, and it also creates an alkaline environment, which can is great because bacteria thrive in acidic environments. I also like that X-rays.”

TheraCal PT

Sharing part of the same name, but designed for a slightly different treatment, TheraCal PT is a biocompatible, dual-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate material primarily suited for pulpotomy treatments. It maintains pulp vitality⁸ and also serves as a barrier, protecting the pulpal complex. It can be placed on pulp exposures after hemostasis is obtained.

Especially well-suited for younger patients, TheraCal PT has a minimum working time of 45 seconds and a maximum setting time of 5 minutes at 35º C for faster chair times.

“I use TheraCal PT for direct pulp capping in primary teeth for small exposures,” shared Ross Isbell, DMD, MBA, who practices in Gadsden, AL. “I also use it in indirect pulp caps when I think I am directly over the pulp or when I haven’t seen blood but I am radiographically a ‘gnat’s eyelash’ away from exposure. When it is a less severe depth, I also use TheraBase,” he added.

TheraBase

A recent addition to BISCO’s Thera Family, TheraBase is a dual-cured, calcium- and fluoride-releasing, self-adhesive base/liner that chemically bonds to tooth structure. With a high compressive strength, it absorbs occlusal forces without fracturing and contains the MDP monomer for a reliable bond to dentin.

“I use TheraBase for indirect pulp capping in large restorations,” Dr. Isbell shared. “To me, it’s better suited as a large and thick restoration than TheraCal PT. In fact, I use it as more of a bulk fill as my floor layer prior to adding a conventional composite on the occlusal or exterior surface for better bonding and higher strength."

TheraCem

TheraCem is a dual-cured, self-adhesive resin cement. Launched in 2017, it offers continuous calcium and fluoride release and transitions from acidic to alkaline pH in just minutes.* It's indicated for luting crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and prefabricated metal, nonmetal, or fiber posts.

An early adopter of zirconia, Dr. Jaskiel recalls the difficulties dentists once faced when cementing to the material, and how TheraCem has brought much-needed “peace of mind” to his workflow.

“I use TheraCem, but I do have other cements in my practice," Dr. Jaskiel said. "My assistant usually applies a zirconia bonding agent before cementation. In one particular case, with a patient who needed 4 zirconia crowns, I was at first unsure if the assistant had done this or not. I would have panicked were it not for the fact that I saw we used TheraCem. I then felt at ease because there is no need for zirconia bonding agents when using TheraCem—it’s already built in and self-adhesive. That is definitely peace of mind! It’s also 1 less step when cementing zirconia crowns, inlays or onlays, and bridges,” he added.

In addition to easy cleanup, TheraCem offers a high radiopacity, durability, and overall strength.

“As a biological dentist, I love the fact that it has a calcium release,” Dr. Jaskiel said. “I also see patient sensitivity go away pretty quickly because it goes from an acidic to an alkaline environment quickly.”

“I appreciate TheraCem for its easy cleanup,” Dr. Isbell said. “I also use it for dry-mouth or high-caries-risk patients.”

References:

_{*Data on file.}

_{1. Gandolfi MG, Siboni F, Prati C. Chemical-physical properties of TheraCal, a novel light-curable MTA-like material for pulp capping. Int Endod J. 2012 Jun;45(6):571–9.}

_{2. ElReash AA, Hamama H, Eldars W, et al. Antimicrobial activity and pH measurement of calcium silicate cements versus new bioactive resin composite restorative material. BMC Oral Health. 2019;19:235. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903–019- 0933-z.}

_{3. Kim RJY, et al. An in vitro evaluation of the antibacterial properties of three Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) against five oral bacteria. Arch Oral Biol. 2015;60(10):1497-1502.}

_{4. Sangwan P, Sangwan A, Duhan J, Rohilla A. Tertiary dentinogenesis with calcium hydroxide: A review of proposed mechanisms. Int Endod J. 2013; 46(1):3–19.}

_{5. Savas S, Botsali MS, Kucukyilmaz E, Sari T. Evaluation of temperature changes in the pulp chamber during polymerization of light-cured pulp-capping materials by using a VALO LED light curing unit at different curing distances. Dent Mater J. 2014;33(6):764–9.}

_{6. ADA definitions for direct and indirect pulp capping at http://www.ada.org/en/publications/cdt/glossary- of-dental-clinical-and-administrative-ter.}

_{7. Gandolfi MG, Siboni F, Taddei P, Modena E, Prati C. Apatite-forming ability of TheraCal pulp-capping material. J Dent Res. 2011; 90(Spec Iss A):abstract number 2520. www.dentalresearch.org.}

_{8. Okabe T, Sakamoto M, Takeuchi H, Matsushima K. Effects of pH on mineralization ability of}