3M ESPE’s High-Performing Adhesives: Meeting the Wide Array of Dentists’ Needs
According to Dan Krueger, 3M ESPE Scientific Affairs Manager, Restoratives, most dentists still regard the 4th-generation etch-and-rinse systems, like 3M™ ESPE™ Adper™ Scotchbond™ Multi-Purpose Adhesive, as the top performing products in adhesion. However, he says, within the self-etch adhesive category, Clearfil SE would hold that honor. These two “gold-standard materials,” he says, were the models used to develop 3M™ ESPE™ Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive, which he notes is currently achieving high levels of performance to-date.
Commenting on the impact of self-etch adhesives on restorative dentistry, Krueger says the primary driving force behind using a self-etch has been “to simplify the bonding technique and to reduce, if not eliminate, the potential for patient sensitivity that may result from the adhesive application procedure.” Scotchbond Universal adhesive, he says, can be used in either the total-etch (etched dentin) or the self-etch mode to provide consistent results and virtually no patient sensitivity. “This allows dentists to choose the right procedure for the patient, but only requires having one adhesive product in their practice,” he explains.
Krueger traces his company’s “long history of being a technology leader in the adhesive market” to the introduction of the original Scotchbond product in 1983. With new Scotchbond Universal adhesive, 3M ESPE simplified the adhesion process and needs of the dentist with one single adhesive.”
Emphasizing the ability of this single product to simplify dentistry by combining a high-performing total-etch and a high-performing self-etch adhesive, he notes, “In addition to the high bonding performance to tooth structure, Scotchbond Universal adhesive also has priming or bonding capabilities to indirect restorative substrates that can eliminate the need for the dentist to stock additional primer materials that have previously been needed.” In a recap of the product benefits, he says, “Basically, Scotchbond Universal adhesive offers a broad range of versatility and indications that can reduce dentists’ inventory of products and simplify what they do without compromising performance.”
To support clinicians in the use of its products, he says, “3M ESPE has a very extensive package of data to support the claims and clinical use for our adhesive products, particularly for Scotchbond Universal adhesive, including a high number of in-vitro and in-vivo studies conducted by reputable researchers globally, in addition to our own internal research.” To meet clinicians’ educational needs, he says, multiple lectures and presentations by top researchers and technical experts are offered globally to opinion leaders, dental schools, and groups of local and regional dentists. “We want clinicians to understand the mechanisms of bonding to the various substrates (dentin, enamel, and indirect materials) so they understand how to use their adhesive to get top performance.”
He adds that the company particularly wants practitioners to understand how Scotchbond Universal adhesive functions and how it can make a significant difference in their practice. In addition, he describes hands-on restorative programs—also offered internationally—that incorporate the proper use of adhesives in the restorative procedure. This, he says, includes a separate program with adhesives alone, which is known as “Battle of the Bonds.” “We utilize portable test equipment that allows us to go anywhere and have groups of dentists try different adhesives and see the results immediately. This allows us to show the strength and consistency in the performance of Scotchbond Universal adhesive in comparison to other systems,” he says.
Looking towards the future, Krueger says the company expects to build on the strength of Scotchbond Universal adhesive. He notes, too, his expectation that there will be significant activity in the arena of self-adhering composite materials. “With the success of products like 3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™ Unicem Self-Adhesive Resin Cement, companies are looking to see if this type of technology or concept can be successfully incorporated into composite resin materials.”
“For now,” he says, “we have an exciting and new technology in adhesives with Scotchbond Universal adhesive.”
3M ESPE Dental Products
3M Center, 275
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
800-634-2249
dentalaegis.com/go/cced486
