The ABCs of Cosmetic Dentistry
Jag Kaile, DMD, on Tokuyama’s OMNICHROMA® universal composite
Do you consider yourself to be a modern cosmetic dentist? Do you think that every patient should have 10 upper and 10 lower white porcelain veneers? Nowadays, cosmetic dentistry is delivered by clinicians who perform facially driven rehabilitations and design smiles with multiple tools instead of just overpreparing teeth for porcelain restorations.
Traditionally, undergoing orthodontic treatment was the only noninvasive method that could be employed to help patients achieve their dream smiles. Many finished relatively happy, but some astute patients could tell that something was still off because the colors and shapes of the teeth were not addressed. With composites, we can change the configuration of the teeth via orthodontics and then complete cases in an "additive" manner, where all of the enamel can be conserved while correcting the appearance of the teeth. I refer to my primary tools as the ABCs-Alignment, Bleaching, and Composite bonding, and when it comes to the composite, OMNICHROMA® has become a key player in my toolkit. OMNICHROMA is a single-shade universal composite that uses Smart Chromatic Technology to reflect the color of the surrounding dentition, allowing it to match all 16 shades from the VITA classical A1-D4® shade guide.
In my opinion, OMNICHROMA is one of the most esthetic materials available in that it closely mimics the optical properties of natural enamel. Its ability to match any shade, its translucency, and its polishability ensure that it resembles the underlying tooth structure both in the short and long term. As the color of a patient's natural enamel changes over time, even with annual whitening treatments, OMNICHROMA maintains a consistent, natural appearance, eliminating fears of mismatched restorations or visible transition lines. And for patients with marked color gradients on a single tooth, from the cervical chroma to the incisal translucency, OMNICHROMA will match in every region. Beyond esthetics, OMNICHROMA demonstrates excellent physical properties that impart it with high wear resistance and compressive strength as well as excellent handling.
The most important takeaway is that when OMNICHROMA is used to enhance a smile, patients do not require any removal of enamel, which equates to zero tooth sensitivity, minimal to no anesthesia, single-visit placements, and typically, more cost-effective treatments overall.
Key Takeaways
1. Leverages Smart Chromatic Technology to match all 16 shades from the VITA classical A1-D4 shade guide with a single shade.
2. Maintains a consistent, natural appearance as the color of the natural tooth structure changes over time, even with bleaching, eliminating fears of mismatched restorations or visible transition lines.
3. Demonstrates excellent physical properties that impart it with high wear resistance and compressive strength as well as excellent handling.
4. Enables minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry that conserves natural enamel.
Jag Kaile, DMD
Private Practice
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Manufacturer Information
Tokuyama Dental America
tokuyama-us.com
877-378-3548
