GC America’s G-aenial™ A’Chord: A “Truly” Universal Composite

As a dental educator and clinician, Daniel H. Ward, DDS, has learned that ideal esthetics require a combination of high-quality materials and skillful dentistry. "Teaching at Ohio State University and giving hundreds of presentations throughout the world helped me to better understand the latest trends in dentistry."

Ward, who has been in private practice in Columbus, Ohio, for more than 40 years, has been involved with key esthetic and cosmetic dental organizations and is presently the conference chair for the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. He has seen firsthand how the introduction of new materials over the years has dramatically improved his own treatment workflow for restorations.

"Newer, reduced shade composites have simplified the placement of invisible restorations," he says, noting that they speed up the entire restoration process, increase efficiency, and alleviate the uncertainty of proper layering thicknesses. "Also, inventory is reduced, decreasing expenses and waste."

For Ward, GC America's G-aenial^™ A'Chord is his "go-to" material in Class V restorations primarily over dentin, he says. "It blends in nicely any way you look at it and polishes beautifully. It also works well on thin Class I restorations of bruxers, blocking out the yellow color without unnecessary removal of sound dentin."

G-aenial A'Chord is a light-cured radiopaque composite material for anterior and posterior restorations. Its simplified unishade system, according to the manufacturer, achieves the esthetics of 16 Classic Vita^® shades with only five core shades. Ward refers to G-aenial A'Chord as a "truly universal composite."

"As an evaluator of dental products, I have the opportunity to use many of the composites available," he says. "In my opinion, you cannot effectively use a composite that only comes in one shade for every restoration. Single universal shade materials are very translucent and can make the tooth look gray, especially in larger restorations. A material that blends in well with the tooth needs more opacity and, therefore, a few more shades."

Ward continues: "When observed from the front, maxillary canines and bicuspids are seen at an angle, resulting in ‘through and through' views. You often see only composite, which is not influenced by the underlying tooth color. If the composite is too translucent, the tooth will look gray. G-aenial A'Chord solves this problem. It looks natural in Class V restorations."

Ward explains that G-aenial A'Chord's full-coverage silane coating technology, combined with its patented Cerasmart^® fillers, provides high strength, excellent gloss retention, and optimal stain and wear resistance. "Its natural fluorescence creates a beautiful and invisible result that looks natural in any light."

Patients who had been embarrassed to smile are often amazed at their improved smile after just one visit, Ward says. "After using G-aenial A'Chord, a common response I hear from patients when I hand them a mirror is, ‘You're a magician!'"

Daniel H. Ward, DDS
Private Practice, Columbus, Ohio; Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry

GC America
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