Shofu Composites: Bioactive Benefits, Protection Against Recurrent Decay

Neville Hatfield, DMD, MBS, says two things he appreciates when performing composite restorative/esthetic procedures in his Mahwah, New Jersey, office is the ability to work within an ecosystem and the ability to utilize materials with beneficial properties.

"Dental companies have developed current composite resin technology that performs very well clinically," he says. "Ecosystems of materials tend to simplify workflow and ensure compatibility between materials. I find this especially important with composite restorations as they are one of the most common and most technique-sensitive procedures that we as dentists perform. Predictability in the outcome of our composite restorations and the ability to prevent their failure is paramount to achieving clinical success."

A good example of this product development and advancement, Hatfield says, is the composite materials line from Shofu Dental Corp.

"Shofu recognized the need for composite resins that innately prevent the most common reason for restorative failure-recurrent decay. Their proprietary filler particle technology, Giomer Technology, is able to prevent active bacterial colonization," Hatfield explains. "Subsequently, this neutralizes acids secreted by oral biofilms and therefore prevents recurrent decay at the tooth/restorative interface."

Shofu's Giomer Technology contains six different ions that it can release and recharge within the oral environment: fluoride, strontium, aluminum, silicate, sodium, and borate. "The bioactive component of Giomer Technology is continuous in its effectiveness and will last the lifespan of the restoration," Hatfield says.

The clinician points to a recent case as an ideal example: A Class II (No. 15 MO) and a Class I (No. 14 O) lesion were noted during a periodic examination of an 18-year-old male patient. The patient had good oral hygiene but unfortunately fell victim to new interproximal and pit-and-fissure decay, which Hatfield says is commonly seen with individuals who have highly developed primary and secondary occlusal anatomy of their posterior occlusion. All areas of decay and infected dentin were removed to optimize the outcome of the restorations.

"I think the shade (A3) for this case was excellent. I believe one can appreciate the esthetic outcome on both teeth Nos. 14 and 15," Hatfield comments. "For this case, I used Shofu's Beautifil Flow Plus X all-indications flowable composite and Shofu's Beautifil II packable composite. This case was finished and polished using Shofu's One Gloss and Direct Dia Polishing Paste."

Hatfield says he goes into his patient rooms with confidence in the outcome and durability of his restorations thanks to his reliance on the Shofu ecosystem. "I am confident in the quality and excellent clinical results I achieve with all variations of Shofu composite resin materials."

Neville Hatfield, DMD
Private Practice, Mahwah, New Jersey

Shofu Dental
800-827-4638
shofu.com