Product Evaluation

They say seeing is believing—especially when it comes to the surplus of single-shade restorative materials on the market. As Dr. Mike Micallef can attest, “Often, you see pictures in company literature and think, ‘There’s no way it works like that.’” However, when he evaluated Transcend Universal composite for Dental Product Shopper, he found that the material performs exactly how Ultradent describes it. With just a single Universal Body shade, it provides high-quality optical and physical properties that deliver beautiful results.

Thanks to Ultradent’s proprietary Resin Particle Match technology, the refraction indices of the resin and particles work together to allow Transcend Universal to blend with the surrounding tooth color. This provides unequaled shade matching while eliminating the need for shade blockers or opaquers to hide darker underlying colors.

“I’ve tried other so-called chameleon resins in the past and this was by far the best,” said Dr. Micallef. “The ability to blend seamlessly was very satisfying.” Even when removing caries that had some residual dentin staining, he discovered that “Transcend Universal blocked it out and the match was awesome.” He also praised the material’s “ease of use due to simplified shade selection.”

Shade Matching and Adaptation

A versatile composite that’s suitable for direct or indirect restorations in both the anterior and poste­rior, Transcend Universal simplifies shade matching while providing excellent esthetic outcomes. For more esthetically demanding anterior cases or when a layering technique is preferred, a simple and complementary shade system with 4 dentin shades (A1, A2, A3, and B1) and 2 enamel shades (Enamel Neutral and Enamel White) is available.

Hoping for “a color adapting composite that doesn’t stick to instruments,” Dr. James Yang discov­ered that Transcend Universal exceeded his expec­tations on both accounts. “Color adaptation was superb. It matches multiple shades and also adapts to Class Vs well. It also sped up composite proce­dures,” he shared.

Dr. Kyle Lisenby “loved the composite on enamel-only restorations” and said it blended very well. For Dr. Charles Elkington, who performs roughly 50 direct restorations per week, “It made shade matching much easier, reduced the number of necessary shades to 1 single shade, and simplified anterior restorations.”

“It really has a chameleon effect,” said Dr. Micallef, who was “pleasantly surprised by how well it blended with the existing tooth shade.” Dr. Kari Bell found that “it matched all shades of teeth that were restored,” and Dr. Dilip Dudhat said, “It was nice to have the option of not buying so many composite shades, as it covers many of the VITA shades and meets the challenges of color matching.” When asked about improvements, Dr. Mary Kim said she’d like the Universal Body shade to be slightly darker.

Handling Properties

The evaluators appreciated Transcend’s easy handling, including a working consistency that makes it easy to sculpt. Appreciating that the material is “easy to dispense and grips into my composite gun nicely,” Dr. Kim was pleased to find that Transcend Universal “has a higher level of slumping due to the lower viscosity, resulting in few voids during placement.”

Dr. R. Glen Willis was glad to find that the material is “highly filled with a firm condensable feel,” Dr. Gary Lucombe said, “It flowed a little too freely,” and Dr. Micallef simply “loved how it handled.”

Reporting that “packing is very good to great, almost amalgam-like,” Dr. Yang said, “It doesn’t stick to specially coated composite instruments.” While Dr. Michael Tarighati called it “nonsticky and highly polishable,” Dr. Bell felt it was “a little too sticky.”

Final Esthetics

Along with phenomenal shade matching, Transcend Universal features high polishability that lasts, high compressive strength, and exceptional wear resistance—all of which lead to esthetic and durable restorations.

“This one-shade composite fulfills most or all shade needs in the posterior,” noted Dr. Willis, who “really liked using it on lower anterior incisal edges” and said, “The shade match and transition were very nice.”

Acknowledging the need “to see long-term esthetics and properties on patients” who were treated with Transcend Universal, Dr. Kim “liked the surface hardness and that it masks darker stains well for teeth that previously had amalgam fillings.”

Finding it especially useful for posterior Class IIs and IIIs, Dr. Dudhat said, “The shade matched so well in almost all cases.” Lauding Transcend Universal’s versatility and wide range of indications, Dr. Micallef said he liked “being able to use it in many different areas in both the anterior and posterior.”

When using it for a restoration on MILF No. 9, Dr. Lisenby’s patient was thrilled with the results and said, “This is why I come to you guys!”

Overall Satisfaction

The evaluators were impressed by Transcend Universal’s remarkable shade matching, simplified restoration process, and exceptional outcomes, along with its ideal working consistency.

“It is a great one-system composite,” declared Dr. Tarighati, who said he would recommend and purchase the material. “The resin was great,” concluded Dr. Micallef. “I will be switching to it immediately. I love Ultradent products, and this one is a home run!”