This zirconia nanohybrid universal composite offers smooth handling, esthetics, and mechanical strength for both anterior and posterior use
"The handling was above average."
Michael Kelly, DMD
Scottsdale, AZ
"It was generally not sticking to the instrument."
Aamna Nayyar, DDS
Santa Fe, NM
"Posterior resins were completed successfully with a good shade match."
Merneatha Bazilio, DDS
Indianapolis, IN
During the DPS product review of Ultradent’s FORMA S, Dr. Nicholas Nicosia came away very impressed with the composite. “This material was extremely easy to place and to finish,” he said, “and it adjusts and polishes like butter.” Following his evaluation period, he admitted, “I was bummed when I ran out of the samples and had to go back to my usual composite.”
Leveraging a proprietary zirconia nanohybrid formulation, FORMA S is a universal composite designed for easy handling and esthetic results across anterior and posterior restorations. For Dr. Nicosia, “large anterior restorations on maxillary central incisors were easy to perform, and the patient was quite pleased with the esthetics.”
When asked whether he would recommend FORMA S to colleagues within the dental profession, Dr. Nicosia said, “I would tell them that this was the best composite I have ever used—for the above reasons. This product exceeded all expectations.”
Handling and Placement
Available in both syringe and capsule delivery, FORMA S has a smooth, sculptable consistency for controlled anatomical contouring without slumping or pullback. The syringe features Ultradent’s QuadraSpense tip for dispensing precise increments of composite material.
“The material is smooth and sculptable,” Dr. Aamna Nayyar assured. She particularly appreciated “the ease of application, placement, and handling,” observing that “it was generally not sticking to the instrument.”
Noting that “composite adhering to placement instruments is a problem,” Dr. Merneatha Bazilio noticed a difference while using FORMA S. “The tested composite did not stick to the placement instruments,” she said.
“This was by far the easiest composite to place,” Dr. Nicosia said, praising “how easy it was to work with.” Dr. Michael Kelly noted, “The handling was above average,” Dr. Jonathan Dubin said, “Sculpting was easy,” and Dr. Julio Marino agreed that it was “easy to mold.” However, Dr. Felipe Falcao believed the handling could be improved.
Highly Esthetic Results
The FORMA S shade system includes Body, Dentin, Enamel, and Effect shades, which are calibrated to the VITA classical shade guide using AI-supported spectrophotometry.
According to Ultradent, a single Body shade allows for highly esthetic restorations in most cases, while the Dentin, Enamel, and Effect shades offer additional options for seamless multishade layering as needed. The composite also fluoresces similarly to natural teeth, helping restorations blend with surrounding dentition.
Previously looking for an “esthetic composite resin I could use universally,” Dr. Kent Jackson said, “FORMA S finishes nicely, and esthetics are good.”
Dr. Nayyar said, “I also liked the shade variety and shade opacities for this product, and the color was great too,” while Dr. Krista Kappus praised the composite’s strength and esthetics.
“The esthetics were excellent since the different opacities of Body, Dentin, and Enamel were available,” Dr. Dubin said. Another dentist lauded the “color match with surrounding tooth structure, especially when using the various opacities to layer the restoration on anterior teeth,” although Dr. Nicosia suggested “perhaps a greater variety of shades.”
Success Across Various Cases
With handling, esthetics, and mechanical strength suited for both anterior and posterior restorations, FORMA S is designed to perform across a range of restorative indications.
For Dr. Bazilio, “Posterior resins were completed successfully with a good shade match,” and Dr. Jackson said, “It was great for cervical lesions in the posterior.” One evaluator used the composite for anterior restorations and found “it blended well with adjacent tooth structure.”
“A large Class IV anterior restoration that ideally would be restored with a crown was restored with FORMA S,” Dr. Dubin recalled. “Utilizing the Body and Dentin shades, I was able to block out the ‘shine through’ and then finish with the Enamel shade for a lifelike matching to the other teeth.” Dr. Robert Martini used the composite for “Nos. 9 and 10 distal-lingual-facial fillings, which polished like enamel.”
Dr. Kelly treated a “Class IV fracture on central incisor,” Dr. Marino used it to “replace a large defective amalgam restoration,” and Dr. Kappus said it was “used on a very large filling that ideally would have been an overlay.”
Overall Satisfaction
Like Dr. Nicosia, the majority of those who evaluated FORMA S said they would recommend it to their colleagues. One evaluator noted, “It was on par with other products or slightly better.”
Comparing FORMA S to his office’s existing composite, Dr. Marino said, “It was a different experience to what I am used to,” specifically highlighting how the working time improved his chairside experience.
"Overall, this product was very acceptable with easy placement and polishability,” Dr. Bazilio said, and Dr. Martini simply summed up his experience as “excellent,” lauding the product’s “handling, anterior esthetics, polishability, and shade.”
Takeaways
- Formulated with a smooth, sculptable consistency to avoid slumping or sticking to instruments
- Intuitive shade system with Body, Dentin, Enamel, and Effect shades for simple single-shade restorations and seamless multi-shade layering as needed
- Allows for highly esthetic results with an ideal balance of translucency and opacity across posterior and anterior restorations
- Available in both syringe and capsule delivery
