Bifix Temp combines ease of use and outstanding esthetics in a single product.
A highly esthetic temporary restoration isn’t easy to achieve, but that’s what patients want and expect. They also want a restoration that isn’t going to fall out unexpectedly, so the temporary cement has to be retentive. For the clinician, this high-quality temporary luting material should be easy to mix and handle, allow enough time to manipulate the material before it starts to cure, and be quick and easy to clean up.
Because the temporary cement used in a temporary restoration procedure is a crucial choice for a dentist, we asked a team of Dental Product Shopper evaluators to use VOCO’s Bifix Temp in their practice over a 4-week period.
“This material is esthetic and clinically friendly,” shared Dr. Michael LaMarche, one of the dentists who evaluated Bifix Temp. “Cleanup is quick, great retention, and [the material] removes completely from the preparation.” Dr. LaMarche rated all features of Bifix Temp as excellent. In general, our team of evaluators found that the dual-curing, composite-based temporary luting material successfully combines all of the important characteristics in one material.
Handling and Working/Setting Time
VOCO’s convenient QuickMix syringe automatically mixes the material to avoid errors and save time. Bifix Temp works well and is easy to use, according to Dr. Byron Davis, a prosthodontist who called it an “all-around great product.” When asked what they liked best about the material, Dr. Tanya Brown pointed to the automix syringes, while Dr. Stuart Zaller said he appreciated its ease of use. Dr. Eyad Haidar liked the ease of trimming and non-clogging of burs. VOCO designed the short mixing tip to minimize wasted material, but Dr. LaMarche said he would like to see an even shorter mixing tip.
The Bifix Temp material ensures a working time of approximately 90 seconds and self-cures within 4 minutes, but it can be light-cured to speed the setting time, according to VOCO. The dual-curing option was well-liked by the DPS evaluators, including prosthodontist Dr. Mariano Polack, who said the light-cure option to speed up the gel state was his favorite feature. “In some situations when we were pressed for time, the ability to speed up the setting of the material through light-curing came in very handy,” Dr. Polack shared. Dr. Oleg Amayev agreed and appreciated that the product is a dual-cure. “I was using a curing light to make it set and [it] saved me a lot of time,” Dr. Amayev said. Dr. LaMarche recommended that dentists use caution not to over-cure the excess cement, as it would then be a challenge to remove from the surface of the restoration.
Ease of Removal/Cleanup
The “tack cure” technique can be used to remove excess material. Briefly exposing any surplus material to a curing light causes the material to become elastic, which makes it simple to remove in one piece. In addition, the universal shade allows a dentist to easily see any excess material against the gingiva.
“[I] love the ability to tack, clean, and final cure,” said Dr. W. Kane Fulton, an Alabama dentist. Dr. LaMarche noted that cleanup is easily accomplished with a 4- to 5-second cure. “The material easily peels away from the margins and surface of the provisional restoration,” Dr. LaMarche added. While one dentist said the ease of removal could be improved, several evaluators, including Dr. Davis and Dr. Terry Kristallis, said the ease of cleanup was their favorite feature. “The cleanup of the product is extremely easy after a short initial light-cure,” Dr. Polack said.
Retention and Esthetics
Bifix Temp’s strong adhesive properties ensure that long-term temporaries will remain secure. Four of the evaluators said the material’s retention was their favorite feature, with comments that its strong retention results in fewer post-op visits for re-cementation. During the evaluation period, Dr. Davis said he had a full-arch case with heavy-wear temps that never came loose, and that one of his patients said it was the first time she had not had a temporary come loose.
Because of its translucent, tooth-like universal shade, Bifix Temp is invisible below the restoration, and this makes the material ideal for highly esthetic or very thin temporary restorations, VOCO reports. Dr. Polack said Bifix Temp offers good esthetics for anterior cases with thin preparations where the shade of other cements would show through. Dr. Amayev reported excellent esthetic results, while a couple of evaluators said they would like more shade options. “Its translucent character makes provisional restorations appear almost as natural as the final restoration,” Dr. LaMarche concluded.
Overall Satisfaction
Overall, the evaluators found Bifix Temp to combine all the important characteristics of a temporary cement. Evaluators reported that the product is easy to mix and handle, and excess material is effortlessly removed. The temporary restoration is highly esthetic and remains firmly cemented, and it’s easy to remove at the time of final placement.
“I’m so glad to have been introduced to Bifix temporary cement via Dental Product Shopper. We now order it exclusively,” Dr. LaMarche said.
