The Best of 3M Just Keeps Getting Better
With over a dozen DPS Best Products and counting, 3M shows no signs of slowing down. Here, we explore evaluators' most-loved products for flawless restorative dentistry.
If there were a team of products designed to elevate the quality of your restorations, conquer common procedure challenges, and pave a path toward greater practice profitability, would you want to give it a try? What if your peers did the heavy lifting by carefully testing and evaluating these adhesives, composites, cements, and curing lights in their practices?
While 3M has amassed over 15 DPS Best Products over the years in multiple product categories, it’s no surprise that many of these evaluators' favorites are also members of the 3M Direct Restorative Solution, a complete portfolio of materials and equipment engineered for restorative success.
For example, the portfolio includes a universal adhesive that virtually eliminates postop sensitivity, composites with built-in nanotechnology that makes them strong and wear-resistant, and innovative ingredients like tri-calcium phosphate that help restore and recharge tooth structure. Here, we shine a light on the 3M materials and equipment with a DPS seal of approval that are designed to simplify and speed up your restorations.
“What I like most about 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus is that it is a truly universal adhesive that simplifi es my clinical workflow.”
—Akshay Vij, BDS, ACT, FAGD
3M Scotchbond Universal Plus
Before the recent launch of 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus, many dentists relied on another DPS Best Product for their direct bonding needs—Scotchbond Universal Adhesive. Evaluated by a team of clinicians in 2012, the versatile bonding agent combines moisture tolerance, selfetching properties, and high bond strength to enamel into a one-step, one-coat application.
3M Scotchbond Universal Plus builds on the success of its predecessor in several ways:
• Enhanced bonding to dental and restorative substrates, including glass ceramics
• Ability to bond and seal caries-affected dentin • Dentin-like radiopacity that minimizes the risk of x-ray misdiagnosis
• Full dual- and self-cure compatibility without the need for a dual-cure activator bottle
• Free of BPA derivatives, such as Bis-GMA
Dr. Akshay Vij, Specialty Care Unit Director of Esthetic & Digital Dentistry at Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health as well as a private practitioner, has been using 3M bonding solutions for quite a long time. That includes 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus, which he introduced to his armamentarium last year. "During my postgraduate residency, I did a lot of bond strength tests on commercially available materials," he shared. "3M was always one of the top adhesives when I did these tests. So, I wasn't just reading about the benefits in other articles, I was replicating the science in my own research results. That convinced me and kept me using the product for years."
Today, Dr. Vij uses 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus on virtually all of his direct composites, as well as indirect restorations that need extra retention. "For example, a conventional crown preparation that may not have enough mechanical retention, or partial coverage restorations such as inlays or onlays that usually don't have enough mechanical retention, I'll reach for 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus," he shared.
“Just yesterday I used Scotchbond Universal Plus to repair facial defects and recurrent decay on tooth Nos. 8 and 9 to close the black triangles on both the mesial and distal aspects of these teeth,” said Hegins, PA, clinician Dr. John Horn. “It is an excellent choice for these types of cases as I use a warm composite technique to ensure a complete fill and an excellent bond. It also air dries to a nice shine and is not too filmy, which results in beautiful composite veneers.”
While dentists like Drs. Vij and Horn may have grown accustomed to radiolucency under restorations that makes it difficult to interpret an x-ray, the dentin-like radiopacity of 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus eliminates doubt while viewing radiographs by making it easy to determine the adhesive layer from underlying decay. Additionally, the adhesive forms a void-free hybrid layer that bonds and seals caries-affected dentin—allowing clinicians to preserve more tooth structure and reduce the risk of postop sensitivity.
"What I like most about 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus is that it is a truly universal adhesive—it has MDP for zirconia bonding, silane for ceramic bonding, and it can be applied to both the tooth and restoration using any etching technique. So, it simplifies my clinical workflow and reduces the number of products I need to buy," added Dr. Vij.
3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement
In the 3M RelyX family, RelyX Universal Resin Cement is a powerful selfadhesive cement that delivers excellent bond strength and treats virtually all indications with or without light curing, and without the need for an additional adhesive.
3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement features a newly designed low waste hygienic syringe and easy cleanup. Each 3.4-gram automix syringe produces minimal plastic waste, while a Micro Mixing Tip helps reduce cement waste. After its use, the syringe is self-sealed by a unique valve mechanism for hygienic storage.
The Dynamic Duo
When 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus and RelyX Universal Resin Cement are used together, they eliminate the need for multiple resin cements, primers, and adhesives, while streamlining the restorative workflow and simplifying inventory. "I use these two products together quite often, and routinely on my crown cementations," noted Dr. Vij. "The system handles well, for sure."
“These two products provide a one cement answer,” added Dr. Chester Klos, who used the cement and adhesive as part of the DPS product review of the two materials combined. “The idea that one cement can be modified by procedure is exciting. I believe in 3M, and this is a convenient product.”
3M Filtek Supreme Flowable Restorative
Featuring a new ergonomic syringe design, including a triangle finger plate and plunger that make it easier to hold and inject, 3M Filtek Supreme Flowable Restorative is ideal for Class I, II, III, and V anterior and posterior restorations.
Dr. Irene Renieris, who practices in Chicago, IL, was lucky enough to discover 3M Filtek Supreme Flowable after taking an online course on the Bioclear Method 2 years ago. “It was included in my course materials, and I’ve loved it ever since,” she shared. “I love that the tips are unique because it means my assistant won’t mix them up with tips for other products. This helps me know I’m using the parts that are designed to work with this material. I also don’t get the bubbles I used to get with other flowables, and fewer imperfections are noted on bitewings. I use it as my go-to composite for aligner attachments because the variety of shades helps blend the attachments with almost any patient.”
In addition to easy delivery and fewer bubbles post-placement, 3M Filtek Supreme Flowable has excellent polish retention, thanks to 3M’s proprietary TRUE nanotechnology, along with a wear rate that’s similar to human enamel.
“Color stability and polishability are awesome,” noted Agnes Knobloch, DMD, who has been using 3M Filtek Supreme Flowable for the past 3 years to achieve consistently excellent outcomes for her patients. “When I see my patients on recall appointments, the restorations are always looking great. It is my go-to material for the injection molding technique and Class V composite restorations. I also like to use it for small composite repairs. It is one of those materials that I couldn’t practice without, and I would recommend it to any dentist doing a lot of restorative dentistry.”
“3M Filtek Supreme Flowable is one of those materials that I couldn’t practice without, and I would recommend it to any dentist doing a lot of restorative dentistry.”
—Agnes Knobloch, DMD
3M Filtek Universal Restorative
With eight designer shades and an extra white shade, 3M Filtek Universal Restorative covers all 19 VITA classical shades and bleach shades. NaturalMatch technology combines the use of nanofillers, proprietary low-stress monomers, and pigments to enable oneshade esthetics and a natural blend with dentition.
“My favorite feature of 3M Filtek Universal is how well it blends to the natural dentition,” shared Salomon Maya, DMD, of Studio City, CA, who took part in the DPS product review of the material and has been using it ever since. “There are many shades available, which makes it easy to create a perfect match with natural teeth. Another feature I like is the excellent polishing properties of this resin. The finished product always looks nice and glossy. When I show patients the final product, they are always super happy with what they see.”
A versatile pink opaquer is specifically designed to mask metal and dark tooth structure, while an improved extrawhite shade simplifies the matching process without the need to use another specialty shade. “I recently used the pink opaquer to block out a restoration on a porcelain crown that had been endodontically treated, and it allowed me to restore the access hole with a beautiful restoration,” added Dr. Maya. “The crown looked brand new again and saved us from having to do a new crown for the patient.”
Thanks to proprietary low-stress monomers, 3M Filtek Universal protects restorations from shrinkage and can be used for all restorative classes in both the anterior and posterior. “Recommending this resin to another dentist is a nobrainer. Not only will the restoration look great, but it will also provide superior strength and wear resistance. I use this material with confidence, and I believe every dentist would want the same,” concluded Dr. Maya.
