3M Filtek Universal Restorative Evaluation
Several unique features give 3M Filtek Universal exceptional handling, strength, and esthetics, and a new capsule design allows for easy placement
If you’ve experienced sticking or slumping, problematic polishing, esthetics not suitable for the anterior, or suboptimal strength, you’re well aware that restorative materials are not always perfect. Although it’s rare to find a material that excels in all areas, 3M may have hit the jackpot with its newest restorative material, 3M Filtek Universal Restorative, which incorporates several unique features to ensure exceptional delivery, handling, strength, and esthetics.
Hoping for a restorative material “with better handling that polishes well,” Salomon Maya, DMD, was delighted to discover that 3M Filtek Universal exceeded his expectations. “The handling was superb, and the polishing ability is outstanding and deserves praise! It gave me more confidence to use in anterior cases.”
Dispensing & Placement
Although 3M Filtek Universal is available in 4-gram syringes and 0.2-gram unit-dose capsules, the DPS evaluators received the newly redesigned capsules, which feature a longer 8-mm tip, a flexible opening for easier placement, and a design that allows the material to extrude like a flowable but later become more viscous for shaping.
“The tip design really allows for easy placement, and the angle makes it accessible to hard-to-reach spots,” noted Keith Schwartz, DMD, who said the material was very easy to use, especially with a composite warmer. Dr. Joseph Ritz called the capsule “an excellent design improvement” and “a worthy addition to the menu,” and Dr. James Yang said, “The redesigned tip makes it a breeze to access Class IIs and Vs.” Dr. Bruce Weitz suggested that “the writing on the compules should stand out more to see the shade and expiration dates,” and Dr. Kane Fulton said the material’s “ease of placement and great handling made work quicker and easier.”
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"It was very |
"It was very |
"It polished
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| Kane Fulton, DMD Vestavia Hills, AL |
Joshua Haremza, DDS Palmyra, NY |
Salomon Maya, DMD Studio City, CA |
Handling
The highly versatile material is indicated for Class I to V restorations in the anterior and posterior and is suitable for direct and indirect restorations, core buildups, splinting, and other restorative procedures. 3M Filtek Universal “handled far more superior to most other resins,” described Dr. Maya, and Dr. Joshua Haremza said it handles excellently and “has a nice creamy consistency that doesn’t slump when placing anterior composites.” He called it “a very nice composite with a good design.” For large Class IV restorations, Byron Davis, DDS, said, “It stayed in place and had minimal slumping compared to many other composites,” and Dr. Karen Schichtel said she liked the product’s viscosity and handling, explaining that it’s “not too sticky and can condense well.”
Dr. Fulton was happy that 3M Filtek Universal “was very easy to place and handle, with little to no sticking to my composite instruments.” Acknowledging 3M’s reputation and “solid track record,” Dr. Arman Roksar said the material has “great handling and properties” and is “one of the best composites made but still has significant shrinkage.” Dr. Bruce Weitz said he “liked its handling on anterior teeth” but thought it was too creamy to use on posterior teeth. Noting that the material sticks much less than others, which allows for more effective packing, Dr. James Yang concluded, “I finally found a composite that truly does not stick to my instruments. I may have found my new composite. Thank you, 3M.”
Esthetics
Designed to make single-shade restorations easier, 3M Filtek Universal covers all 19 VITA classical and bleach shades with just 8 designer shades (A1, A2, A3, A3.5, A4, B1, B2, D3) plus an XW shade and a pink opaquer that masks metal and dark tooth structure. The material features Natural Match technology that uses nanofillers, low-stress monomers, and pigments to enable one-shade esthetics to blend naturally with dentition. It polishes to a smooth high-gloss finish that lasts long term.
“It polished beautifully,” said Dr. Maya, who said he had excellent results when replacing a patient’s worn, stained resins on the facial surfaces of tooth Nos. 8 and 9. Dr. Haremza said 3M Filtek Universal “was very esthetically pleasing and simplified shade selection,” and Dr. Michael Tarighati reported “excellent esthetic outcomes.” Describing it as “very polishable with great shade matching and less variations of product required,” Dr. Jason Wetmore concluded, “We enjoyed using this product for anterior composites and feel it is an improvement over previous versions.” Compared to other composites, Dr. Davis said it’s more similar to natural tooth color, simplifies shade choices, and reduces placement time.
"The tip design really allows for easy placement; the angle makes it accessible to hard-to-reach spots."
-Keith Schwartz, DMD
Coconut Creek, FL
Overall Satisfaction
Dr. Haremza said he plans to purchase 3M Filtek Universal in the future because “it made the results of my anterior composite placement better.” In his search for “the optimal direct composite placement material,” Dr. Ritz concluded, “It’s a quality product from a leader in the industry.”
Takeaways
• NaturalMatch technology enables one-shade esthetics for natural blending with dentition
• Available in 0.2-gram capsules and 4-gram syringes, material is easy to deliver and place without sticking to instruments
• Newly redesigned capsules feature longer tips with flexible opening for easy placement
• Material is packable and sculptable without slumping
• Polishes to a smooth, high-gloss, long-lasting finish
