While dentists are more than willing to spend extra time to achieve the best possible outcomes, products that simplify procedures while improving outcomes are considered ideal. Enter SDI’s Stela, a high-performance, self-cure composite that serves as a true amalgam alternative with breakthrough technologies that enable a simplified 2-step process while ensuring the best possible results. More than just a composite, Stela is a complete end-to-end system that delivers strong and esthetic restorations with no etching and no need for a curing light.
Hoping to find a solution to marginal gap issues and postop sensitivity, Dr. Steve Taborda was eager to find “a self-cure material that relies on chemical bonding vs light cure.” Thankfully, he discovered Stela composite, which he praised for its “gap-free interface, great chameleon effect, and significantly less sensitivity” with Class II and V restorations. “The curing time seems shorter than stated, and it was good to know the box was fully cured after setting time,” he added. “I am confident that curing of the material will occur even in deep restorations.”
Simplicity and Ease of Use
Stela’s ease of use and efficacy make it ideal for multiple indications, including for Class I, II, III, and V restorations; for sealing endodontic access cavities; for core buildups; and as a base or liner. Available in a universal shade and in 2 convenient delivery methods —an automix syringe or capsule—Stela has a simple 2-step process with a working time of 1.5 minutes and a 4-minute, self-cure setting time.
While traditional composite systems can take up to 120 seconds to prepare, Stela combines the time-consuming etch, prime, bond, and light-cure steps with a simplified “primer, then composite” process, and restorations are ready for placement in just 15 seconds.
“Stela is very easy to use with its simple prime, then dispense process,” noted Dr. Stephen Rosenberg, who added, “It makes difficult procedures simpler and easier with improved results.” Dr. Dory Stutman “liked the ease of bulk fill for large composite restorations and buildups” and also said it is easy to remove excess material from beyond the matrix and is easy to polish.
Dr. Lawrence Brent found it helpful for distals of the upper first and second molars that are difficult to reach and cure; Dr. Adnan Ahmed appreciated the “simple steps”; and Dr. Hilary Dalton praised its “smooth delivery to eliminate voids.” Calling Stela “easy to use and very quick,” Dr. Hana Rashid said the simple 2-step process is “perfect for pediatric patients who are very wiggly and can’t sit long for traditional composite fillings.”
Handling and Self-Curing
Hoping for a “quick and simple-to-use posterior composite with excellent adaptation to preparation walls and a lack of voids,” Dr. Stutman said, “I liked Stela’s adaptation to cavosurface walls and the radio-graphic absence of voids.” Dr. Hilary Dalton was most impressed with Stela’s “smooth delivery to eliminate voids,” and Dr. Rosenberg was “especially pleased with the adaptation to the deep margin” in a large, deep core buildup. Dr. Taborda suggested improving the “consistency of the material for shaping while setting,” and Dr. Lance Huthwaite said he prefers a material that can be more easily manipulated.
While many of the evaluators shared their appreciation for the clinical benefits of a self-curing composite, some expressed a preference for a light- or dual-cured material. Initially a bit skeptical about using a self-cure material, Dr. Rosenberg discovered Stela’s “advantages in several clinical situations” and said it “simplified my process for bulk-fill applications and core buildups.” Naming ease of use and handling as her favorite features, Dr. Sara Kohen Dean felt the setting/curing time was too long, and Dr. James Cooper said, “Self-cure composites are attractive, but the cure time needs to be faster.”
Restorative Outcomes
Formulated with an optimal balance of high compressive and flexural strengths, Stela produces restorations with superior bond strength, in part because the primer contains a catalyst that starts the curing process without light curing—mitigating stress to enable a gap-free interface for increased longevity and reduced sensitivity. Esthetically, the chameleon effect of the universal shade balances translucency with opacity, and the tertiary amine-free formulation improves long-term color stability.
Restoring large restorations with extremely uneven and deep cavosurfaces and very limited access “would have been impossible with a traditional composite,” shared Dr. Stutman. Using Stela, however, he said his restorations “look excellent with a nice color blend” and that margins appear well adapted. “The final result was beautiful! I have complete confidence that posterior composite will be fully cured.”
Dr. Rosenberg agreed that “Stela seems to do an excellent job of filling large areas and, most importantly, creating well-closed margins.” Dr. Brent found that Stela “worked well for bulk filling and chemical curing of esthetic direct restorations.” Dr. Huthwaite said he liked using it “as a core buildup material” and/or in areas where light curing is difficult or compromised.
