LM-Arte Solo Anterior & Posterior Evaluation
With just two instruments—one for the anterior and one for the posterior—LM-Arte Solo simplifies composite restoration procedures
“When placing direct composite in the anterior and posterior, Dr. Traci Portnoff was hoping to find a way to make that process easier and more efficient, while Dr. Todd Phelan was looking for “a fresh approach to placing and contouring composite restorations.” Both sentiments likely ring true with dentists who have grown weary of composite that’s difficult to contour and instruments that aren’t ergonomic or user-friendly—all while needing multiple instruments to accomplish the full range of restorative tasks.
Aware of the unique set of challenges posed by both anterior and posterior restorations, LM-Dental offers practitioners the luxury of needing only one pair of instruments for most restorations, the LM-Arte Solo Anterior and the LM-Arte Solo Posterior. Designed for clinician comfort, the LM-Arte Solo instruments feature a lightweight, ergonomic handle with a tip on each end that’s uniquely designed for the posterior or anterior. Only one instrument is needed for a procedure, so clinicians can streamline their restorative instrumentation while simplifying the restoration process. Indeed, evaluating the LM-Arte Solo Anterior and LM-Arte Posterior instruments provided that “fresh approach” for both Dr. Portnoff and Dr. Phelan. Calling the anterior instrument “the perfect instrument I didn’t realize I needed,” Dr. Phelan declared, “Both instruments exceeded my expectations.”
Anterior & Posterior Instrument Design
The LM-Arte Solo Anterior instrument features rounded and straight spatulas ideally suited for labial surface modeling. The flat, convex profile helps access difficult-to-reach areas, and a thin, flexible blade with sharp edges facilitates proximal modeling. A sharp tip for precision modeling and a rounded tip for delicate delimitation and cervical contouring ensure esthetic results. Straight edges and an angled edge allow easy scraping and definition.
Dr. Portnoff appreciated the shape, flexibility, and design of the anterior instrument and the design of the paddles, and Dr. Virginia McMillan said, “The metal’s ability to flex ever so slightly and to be sharper in certain areas of the paddle allowed very fine detailing.” For Dr. Todd Ryan, the blade’s thinness made Class Vs easier to finish without causing bleeding, and Steven Berk, DDS, said he was able to completely seal the ginvgival margin with the bladed instrument. While one dentist felt the sculpting end was too small, Dr. Phelan noted, “The anterior instrument worked wonderfully on flat surfaces and large composites.”
“I felt confident that the light was curing at all depths of the restoration, and seating veneers and crowns was consistent and reliable,” reported Dr. Briney’s assistant. When Dr. Briney used the VK-018 Pro during the veneer try-in phase, he said, “The true colors of the Vakker curing light revealed themselves.” Because of the curing light’s ease of use with no interruptions and no lag time, Dr. Briney said, “The assistant performed flawlessly, and the adhesive and bonding stages were seamless. Not a single veneer dislodged because of a questionable cure time or depth.” Calling the tack cure setting “absolutely perfect,” he said, “The light was consistent across the board” during direct restorative cases no matter which material he used. Explaining that the light gives him “peace of mind knowing that the energy from the light is slowly ramped up versus an immediate blast at 100%,” he reported, “I performed over 25 Class V restorations [with the Vakker light] and did not receive one call about sensitivity.”
The LM-Arte Solo Posterior features a sharp end for contouring occlusal surface anatomy and a plugger end for bulk filling and modeling. The flat profile removes excess material, and a tapered profile removes fine excess with angulation access for deep cavities. Semi-rounded edges help form slopes and remove excess material, and a 4- to 5-mm bulk-fill safety area allows probing for bulk-fill materials. Dr. Ryan called the instruments “very good with sculpting, especially in tight areas such as interproximally or at the gumline,” and Dr. Berk noted, “The composite didn’t stick to the instruments’ surfaces, making packing the composite easier.”
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"It was the perfect |
"The ends were easily balanced |
"LM-Arte Solo has become my go-to Class V instrument."
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| Todd Phelan, DDS Rogers, AR |
Virginia McMillan, DDS John Day, OR |
Todd Ryan, DDS Hillsdale, MI |
Ergonomics
Lightweight, ergonomic handles and high-quality tip materials optimize tactile sensitivity and handling. Dr. Portnoff “enjoyed the comfortable, lightweight handles and ergonomic design,” and Dr. McMillan said the working ends were “easily balanced and allow intuitive sculpting, reducing time and increasing beauty.” Pleased to have a better angled instrument to finish lingual surfaces of anterior teeth and proximal next line angles, Trupti Nadkarni, DMD, found the instruments “very ergonomic.” Dr. Berk said they were lightweight and easy to handle but suggested that they be “a little wider for easier grip.”
Time Savings & Procedure Simplification
The LM-Arte Solo Anterior instrument “made contouring the interproximals of anterior resins easier and more efficient,”with less finishing time needed, noted Dr. Portnoff. LM-Arte Solo “shapes composites well without changing instruments,” noted Dr. Steven Dater, and Dr. Jon Lundquist said he had “many cases where the instruments saved time and made it easier to complete restorations.” For Dr. Matthew Hyde, “making a temporary crown on a fractured bicuspid was quick and easy,” and Bennie Clark, DMD, said, “When doing a series of composites, this instrument made the experience less stressful.”
Overall Satisfaction
“I highly recommend this product especially when you need an instrument to apply composite in hard-to-reach preparations,” noted Dr. Clark. Dr. McMillan could not think of any way that the instruments could be improved. In fact, she liked them so much that she purchased a complete set and may purchase more. “They are very versatile for shaping,” concluded Dr. Ryan. “LM-Arte Solo has become my go-to Class V instrument.”
" LM-Arte Solo shapes composites well without changing instruments.”
-Steven Dater, DDS
Rockford, MI
Takeaways
• Only one instrument is needed for a procedure— streamlining restorative instrumentation
• LM-Arte Solo Anterior features a thin, flexible blade and spatulas for labial surface modeling
• LM-Arte Solo Posterior offers a sharp tip for occlusal surface contouring and a plugger end for bulk filling and composite modeling
• Lightweight, ergonomic handles and high-quality tip materials optimize tactile sensitivity and handling
