Minimize Chair Time, Maximize Satisfaction
For indirect restorations, choose reliable products backed by decades of clinically proven technology
Dr. John F. Weston can remember a time when indirect restorations required more of just about everything—more time, more steps, and of course, way more products. Today, the San Diego-based practitioner and Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry enjoys the simplicity of all-in-one adhesive products that greatly reduce the effort needed to cement prostheses while increasing predictability.
“Not only do I know their cements work, but they are also easy to use.”
—John F. Weston, DDS, FAACD
“We have more simplified systems now—there aren’t as many steps and bottles and different components that we have to keep track of. Before, a lot of it was self-cure and there was an 'A' and 'B' component that you had to hand mix. Today, we have light- and dual-cure materials in self-mixing syringes that allow greater control over the outcome.”
Cement Choice Is Key
Despite the simplification of modern adhesives, there is still some complexity to the question of which to use for each indirect procedure—a choice that is critical to long-term restorative success. Cement selection depends on several factors, including the restorative material, substrate, indication, and more. And because there are so many options available, it can be hard to know what to use to achieve the best, most predictable result. As a result, some dentists wind up stocking a large collection of cements with overlapping indications and looming expiration dates.
“People have too many different options in the office and it can be confusing for the staff—your assistants are constantly guessing what to set up. Also, they expire, so you’re frequently having to restock,” Dr. Weston said. Over the years, he’s learned that it’s best to keep it simple with just a few cements on hand that cover a wide range of indications from a company he’s learned to trust. “For me, it’s all 3M, because not only do I know their cements work, but they are also easy to use.”
3M cements are formulated to provide strong bonds that are esthetic and offer virtually no postop sensitivity for indirect restorative procedures.
Truly Universal
3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement works both as a standalone, self-adhesive cement and as an adhesive cement when combined with 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive. The automix cement is ideal for virtually all resin cement indications, from glass ceramic veneers to zirconia crowns and endodontic posts. The chemistry ensures excess outflow stays put at the restoration margins and can be easily removed after 1-second tack curing.
“RelyX Universal Resin Cement features an improved delivery system,” Dr. Weston noted. “It's easier to place the cement, and the new micro mixing tip results in very little waste.”
Dr. Weston appreciates the maximum adhesion that results from pairing 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement with 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive. He has found the combination to be ideal for his partial-coverage restorations, such as inlays and onlays.
Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive serves as a universal primer for all materials, including glass ceramics, and further boosts the cement’s self-adhesive bond to materials such as zirconia. Together, they are a fully aligned system—the adhesive is cured by the cement, so no light-cure is needed.
“These products are designed to work together and they pair really well,” Dr. Weston said. “It's a great system to use for maximum adhesion.”
Proven Reliability
3M RelyX Unicem 2 Self-Adhesive Resin Cement is designed to deliver high adhesion and long-term stability while resisting discoloration and virtually eliminating postop sensitivity. Engineered to save time by eliminating etching, priming, and bonding steps, the cement is ideal for zirconia restorations and endodontic posts.
“It gives good adhesion with a really long-term survival rate and it’s easy to manage chairside—you can do a 1-second tack cure and clean it off very easily,” Dr. Weston said. “I use it for all full-coverage crowns. It works very well with zirconia, gold, PFMs, and lithium disilicate.”
The Choice for Veneers
3M RelyX Veneer Cement combines ease of use with outstanding esthetic results, bonding to a variety of materials for veneer restorations. 3M RelyX Try-In Pastes enable an excellent color match, while the light-cure-only system provides extended working time and excellent color stability for reliable results from start to finish.
“For our multi-unit anterior veneer cases, we like to go with a light-cure scenario, and that’s always going be 3M RelyX Veneer Cement. It’s easy to use and clean up, and we get a very esthetic result,” said Dr. Weston.
Simplicity & Predictability
Reliability is the ultimate goal for a cement. “We want the best possible seal and adhesion from our cement, and one that’s going to give you a really long survival rate,” Dr. Weston said. “For me, if I want to keep it simple and predictable, I’m going to go with a cement from a company like 3M, who you can trust.”
