As is the case with many restorative materials on the market, it may become difficult to tell what distinguishes one composite from the next—unless that composite has been singled out for earning multiple awards year after year. That has been the case with Tokuyama’s Estelite Sigma Quick, a universal resin composite that continues to be a go-to material nearly a decade after its release. As one Dental Product Shopper evaluator put it, Estelite Sigma Quick is “noticeably better” than similar products.
There are several qualities that have made Estelite Sigma Quick a multiple award-winning universal composite. It has excellent durability and strength because of its supra-nano filled restorative material, which utilizes Tokuyama’s top-rated 100% spherical filler technology. With a filler weight of 82% (71% volume), Estelite Sigma Quick provides low composite wear over time and is gentle on opposing teeth. Spherical fillers provide a uniform diffusion of light, allowing for a more forgiving shade match and excellent blend to surrounding teeth.
Estelite Sigma Quick’s miracle matching ability allows it to invisibly blend within several shades, eliminating the need to stock every shade. Among DPS evaluators, the material’s color stability (after lightcuring) was the highest-rated feature, achieving a score of 4.7 out of 5.0.
Under ambient light, Estelite Sigma Quick offers a 90-second working time and features a proprietary initiator system that allows it to polymerize quickly with minimal shade shift over time, providing superior wear resistance for Class I-V restorations. As one evaluator stated somewhat ironically, the material’s chameleon effect—its ability to blend in—“is where Estelite really stands out.”
Overall, Estelite Sigma Quick has excellent versatility with creamy, non-stick handling and extreme resistance to slump for accurate anatomical creation. “Match to tooth structure” was in a 4-way tie for the second-highest rated feature in the DPS evaluation, along with the chameleon effect, excellent long-term polishability, and margination. The universal composite also has a low 1.3% volumetric shrinkage and low shrinkage stress for decreased postoperative sensitivity and resistance against marginal leakage, allowing for lasting patient comfort.
