Product Evaluation

After more than 35 years in practice, Dr. Robert Mokbel knows that restoring missing tooth structure after root canal therapy is rarely straightforward. And among the many factors that can lead to failure, he considers a core buildup material’s cohesive strength—or lack thereof—to be one of the most critical.

CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS has put Dr. Mokbel’s concerns to rest. This dual-cure, radiopaque, 2-component core buildup material is 74% fi lled, which affords it superior compressive and flexural strength for exceptionally durable core buildups.

“I have used many core buildup materials…but this is by far the most user-friendly,” Dr. Mokbel said. “It has a simple delivery system, is dual curing, sets in seconds, and feels very hard, which means tooth prepping can be done immediately.”

Dispensing and Handling

CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS features a user-friendly automix system that ensures quick, easy delivery with no bubbles or voids, while a specially designed guide tip facilitates placement into deep root canals.

“Ease of application into the preparation expedited the buildup process,” Dr. Jackie Cheng said. “The applicator allows for void-free, seamless core build-up placement, and the tip provided a convenient delivery of buildup material into a very small, conservative access without having to use an instrument to spread it into the base of the chamber.”

Dr. Manny Chopra said it was a well-designed dispensing system, adding that it was easy to use in upper posterior buildups. “The length of the mixing tip was appropriate for my needs, and we liked the consistency of the final set.”

Dr. Nadim Baba described CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS as “easy to use, dispense, and prepare,” and Dr. Michelle Na agreed, sharing, “This material demonstrated an ideal balance of consistency and flowability, delivering a smooth, void-free surface with excellent adaptation to prepared walls. Optimized handling allows it to flow precisely where needed while remaining sufficiently stackable, ensuring predictable placement and outstanding clinical results.”

Dr. Kelly Betts was pleased that “all our dentists appreciated the consistency and could use the material comfortably. It’s more viscous and stays in place better than our current buildup material.” When faced with a challenging buildup on tooth No. 16, Dr. Betts said, “It dispensed well, flowed into the prepared box, and stayed in place.”

Cutting and Shaping

CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS provides a controlled flow during placement, reducing or eliminating the need for a matrix band. It also cuts like dentin for precise preparation and takes on a paste consistency during buildup.

Dr. Jodi Lampert described the material as having “great flow with no bubbles,” Dr. Mariano Polack said it “fills in crevices and small spaces very well,” and Dr. Irving Lebovics appreciated the lack of slumping, gaps, and bubbles. “It is very easy to work with, and the handling is very good,” said Dr. Byron Davis, who found the material especially helpful in deep margins. “It was definitely harder and easier to see than my current material. It cut very smoothly and provided an easier way to place and shape a core for an eventual crown,” he added.

Dr. Chopra was able to work faster, explaining that “the material is ready for use and sets up completely in a short time.” Dr. Na found that “the material cuts and feels very similar to natural dentin during prepa-ration, providing excellent tactile feedback,” while Dr. Derek Vinkovich said it “cut and finished much better when compared to other core materials and did not have bubbles when placed.”

Dual-Cure Efficiency and Reliability

Dual-cure technology allows CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS to set quickly and reliably in any scenario, while its high filler loading ensures exceptional strength.

Dr. Polack found the material particularly beneficial when performing multiple buildups in full-mouth reconstructions, where he noted: “speed and efficiency are key.” He also suggested “a different consistency option for very large buildups, so it is more stackable.” For Dr. Cheng, “Buildups for endo access were completed more quickly without the need for extensive restoration of preparation walls.”

“It is easy to use and features a reliable dual-cure system, giving confidence that the material will fully polymerize even in the deepest areas of the preparation where curing light cannot reach,” Dr. Na said, adding that the availability of both dentin and white shades is a significant advantage. “For teeth with low esthetic demands, the white shade is particularly beneficial, as it allows clear visualization of where the core buildup material begins.”

Overall Satisfaction

Dr. Vinkovich felt CLEARFIL DC CORE PLUS “did a good job of checking every box you would want in a core material,” and Dr. Davis said it “has a lot of great properties that make it an ideal core buildup material. It is a very easy material to use on a daily basis due to the ease of shaping and placement.”

“A product like this gives the user great confidence in their ability to save teeth,” Dr. Mokbel said, and Dr. Chopra decided, “This will be my go-to core material.”