Product Evaluation

It’s hard to argue with Dr. Varo Boyer’s contention that “we all want quick dentistry.” It’s even harder to deny that “composite that sticks to instruments and requires a lot of time spent packing and con­touring can waste time and create voids.” Fortunate­ly for Dr. Boyer, “that wasn’t an issue” with Dentsply Sirona’s TPH Spectra ST universal composite.

Thanks to its innovative SphereTEC filler technol­ogy, TPH Spectra ST offers optimal adaptation and handling in 2 viscosities, HV (high viscosity) and LV (low viscosity), to meet any clinician’s preference and technique. “The composite has amazing handling properties. It saves time because it adapts well, and it is easy to place, contour, pack and cure, and polish,” said Dr. Boyer. “The handling ability is the best of all composites I’ve used,” he added.

A versatile composite for Classes I-V and many other direct and indirect restorative procedures, TPH Spectra ST features enhanced chameleon blending properties to simplify shade matching. “It took much less time to find the correct shade match,” shared Dr. Clyde Ono. “TPH Spectra ST is best in class for shad­ing with fewer choices, and polishability and finishing were excellent as well.”

Shade Matching

With just 5 universal CLOUD shades (A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4) that cover the full VITA range, TPH Spectra ST simplifies shade selection while saving time and reducing inventory. “The ability to match a wide variety of teeth with 1 shade is impressive, and its shade-matching ability allows me to reduce my composite inventory,” said Dr. Eric Van Zytveld. “The shade-matching/layering protocol that’s consolidat­ed into fewer shades allows for a more streamlined workflow,” Dr. Marc Malatesta reported. Dr. Ono found the shade matches “very accurate,” and “the color blend was very natural” for Dr. Richard Win­ter, who “needed less inventory to achieve a nice blending.” TPH Spectra ST “likely reduced chair time” for Dr. Todd Sarubin because he “didn’t have to use more than one manufacturer’s composite.”

Handling Properties

Dentsply Sirona’s SphereTEC filler technology offers exceptional handling characteristics in both HV and LV formulations, allowing clinicians to select according to preference and technique. “I absolute­ly love the high-viscosity version,” said Dr. Carolyn Shreck. “In my hands, it has the perfect balance of flow and rigidity for fast and stable sculpting without sticking to instruments.” For Dr. Dustin Mc­Cammon, the lack of stickiness and high viscosity enabled “faster placement, adaptation and pre-cure shaping,” and Dr. Van Zytveld said, “The higher viscosity allowed for easy sculpting and blending.”

Praising TPH Spectra ST’s “multiple viscosities, great cure, good stability upon packing, and great margination with little shrinkage,” Dr. Sarubin achieved “tight margins” and contacts that were “right on target” using LV but suggested a little more packability for very large, deep fillings. Dr. Malatesta noted “increased efficiency with ease of placement,” Dr. Brad Walden liked LV’s “great handling and sculptability,” and Dr. Winter said, “HV is very nice for compacting in boxes.” It was “quick and simple to work with and flowed into the prep so nicely” for Dr. Elizabeth Spindel, who “loved the consistency.”

Restorative Outcomes

“The esthetics of this newest TPH Spec­tra composite are fantastic; the color blend and chameleon effect are fabulous,” said Dr. Shreck. Calling TPH Spectra ST “a prac­tice builder as it’s easy to polish and very esthetic,” Dr. Boyer used LV for minimally invasive bonding for a large, very notice­able concave defect on tooth No. 6 from orthodontic buccal surface recontouring. “It was really easy to apply and contour, was already shining with just one polishing level, and the shade match was amazing,” he said. “We couldn’t tell composite from tooth, and the patient was amazed.”

Calling the shade matching, finishing, and polishability superior to his current material, Dr. Ono would recommend TPH Spectra ST for highly cosmetic anterior cases. Dr. Marshall Dicker reported “beau­tiful esthetic results,” and Dr. Winter said, “It blended beautifully for Class V anterior restorations, was much prettier than [our current composite], and has the desired chameleon effect.” For Dr. Anthony Carroc­cia, “It handles and blends very well in the posterior with a bit more translucency in the anterior.” With “perfect shade match­ing,” it was ideal for repairing a fractured front tooth on a patient who “walked out very happy,” said Dr. Eric Leibowitz. “Thanks to TPH Spectra ST, we made a tre­mendous difference in that patient’s life.”