3M
Filtek Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative
Filtek Supreme Ultra combines exceptional esthetics with excellent strength and wear-resistance for outstanding anterior and posterior restorations
Filtek Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative from 3M is a universal restorative that features an expanded range of body shades for natural-looking, single-shade restorations with the versatility needed for dual- or multi-layering techniques.
As the only composite system that incorporates true nanotechnology, the Filtek Supreme line offers the polish and polish retention of a microfill and the strength and wear properties of a modern hybrid.
Handling (Viscosity and Tackiness)
The 14 dentists who evaluated Filtek Supreme Ultra rated its viscosity/ability to hold its shape (11 as excellent, 2 as very good, and 1 as good) and its tackiness or stickiness to hand instruments (10 as excellent and 4 as very good to good). Of the 7 evaluators who cited handling as the feature they liked most, 1 said the “consistency was outstanding, making it easy to place and contour,” and another called it “the best handling composite I’ve ever used.”
Ease of Use
Filtek Supreme Ultra’s ease of use is enhanced by a range of features, from the expanded selection of body shades (color-coded by opacity) and easy-to- read labels, to improved handling of translucent shades.
Ease of polishing was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators, as very good by 5, and as good by 2. Nine evaluators (capsule users) rated ease of use of the composite gun—5 as excellent, 1 as very good, 2 as good, and 1 as poor. When asked what they’d like to see improved, 1 evaluator suggested “a slightly longer working time.” A dentist who said he would definitely recommend and purchase the product noted, “If I must say something negative, I don’t love the dispenser. Too much material comes out and continues to ooze out after you stop twisting.” The dentist who cited “condensability and ease of use” as the features he liked most said, “The product and delivery gun were very easy to use but the compule was a little loose in the gun.”
Esthetics
Filtek Supreme Ultra is formulated for excellent polish and better polish retention than that achieved with a microfill. Esthetics are optimized by the wide range of available shades and opacities and improved fluorescence. The newly expanded body shade selection now includes A6B, B5B, and D3B.
Shade match to the Vita shade guide was rated as excellent by 7 evaluators, as very good by 6, and as good by 2. When asked about the final esthetics achieved with Filtek Supreme Ultra, 9 dentists rated it as excellent, 3 rated it as very good, and 2 rated it as good. One evaluator noted that “shade matching could be a little easier.” A dentist who gave all features a rating of excellent was “extremely pleased with the shade match and final esthetics.” “The final surface polishes beautifully,” said a dentist who gave it an overall rating of excellent.
Overall Satisfaction
When asked about overall satisfaction with 3M’s Filtek Supreme Ultra, which was rated as excellent by 8 evaluators and as very good to good by 6, 1 evaluator said, “I’ll be changing brands based on this study. I feel this material is of better quality than the one I’m currently using and the many I’ve tried over 11 years of practice.” All 14 dentists said they would definitely or probably recommend Filtek Supreme Ultra to colleagues and 13 said they would definitely or probably purchase it. One evaluator called it “a straight-forward product made well with the eye of the dental practitioner in mind.” Another said, “In my hands, this is 1 of the top 3 products on the market…great material, a great company, great support from opinion leaders and evaluation groups.” The evaluator who described it as “the best composite I’ve ever used,” noted that “it exceeded my expectations by a mile. The only way it could have been easier is if someone else had been doing the work for me. Major kudos to 3M.”
