Biodentine XP can be used for a variety of indications, fully replacing dentin and healing the pulp for improved patient outcomes
When they were first introduced to dentistry, bioactive materials were primarily reserved for surgical repairs. That shifted when Septodont released Biodentine, a calcium silicate-based material that can be used as a permanent dentin substitute for restorative procedures.
As a restorative dentist, Dr. Jeff Brucia was very interested in these new indications. He knew he had to give the material a try, especially after learning about the science supporting bioactivity’s pulpal healing benefits. With this material, he could preserve natural tooth structure and keep patients from having to go through root canals.
“The material itself is a first-of-its-kind, true bioactive restorative application material,” Dr. Brucia said, noting he began using the original Biodentine about 10 years ago. “Because of the value of what it does for the tooth, I had to look for ways to incorporate Biodentine into a busy day of clinical dentistry.”
Biodentine XP, launched in 2022, features the science of the original product in an upgraded system. This version comes in a ready-to-use capsule that contains both the powder and liquid. Each capsule is easily mixed by the proprietary XP mixer, and the material is applied directly to the tooth with the included applicator gun for a simple workflow.
A Restorative Staple
Dr. Brucia, an educator, lecturer, and practitioner in San Francisco, CA, reaches for Biodentine XP any time he’s working on a patient who has a deep carious lesion on a vital tooth. He leaves a small area of affected dentin on the tooth and places the material over it to potentially remineralize the surrounding tooth structure and arrest the affected dentin.
“There’s no material that could work better in dentistry as a caries arrestor and a potential jump-start on remineralization,” he said. “It’s a unique material that can stimulate the tooth to remineralize.”
Dr. Brucia also uses Biodentine XP as a pulp-capping material, replacing the remaining missing tooth structure with a temporary restoration. He brings patients back several months after the procedure to confirm the tooth has repaired itself before placing the final restoration.
Fewer Root Canals, Happier Patients
When using Biodentine XP, it’s rare for the high-risk teeth Dr. Brucia treats to become irreversible, he said. The product has eliminated the need for root canals on many of his patients, which he noted is also well supported in the literature.
“There is incredible science that supports the benefits of bioactivity, and my own clinical findings have matched the science very closely,” Dr. Brucia said. “I love this material.”
