Kerr’s NX3 Nexus Third Generation and OptiBond XTR: A Ceramic Restoration Bonding Solution
System offers ease of use and easy cleanup as well as exceptional bond strength and color stability without postoperative sensitivity.
For bonding ceramic restorations, an ideal solution would offer bond strength, color stability, lack of postoperative sensitivity, ease of use, and easy cleanup. In these areas, Kerr’s Optibond XTR bonding agent and NX3 Nexus resin cement offer distinct advantages over other bonding systems in their class.
Bond Strength
Optibond XTR leverages the proven clinical performance of the OptiBond line of bonding agents with unique chemistry that allows for high bonding efficacy to tooth structure and virtually every dental substrate in addition to excellent compatibility with all resin cements (self-, light-, and dual-cure), resin composites, and core build-up materials. Compatibility between the bonding agent and dual-curing cement is critical to support the crown’s retention to the preparation.
Color Stability
Cements that use benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/tertiary amines to initiate the curing process have two drawbacks. First, the catalyst paste can discolor and take on a yellowish tint during storage. Second, the self-cured or dual-cured cement will progressively discolor over time, compromising long-term esthetics. Because NX3 Nexus does not use BPO or tertiary amines, the cement will not discolor. This can be important when luting veneers or crowns with supragingival margins. RelyX Ultimate and Multilink use tertiary amines as part of their redox initiator systems, which can result in marginal color change.
Postoperative Sensitivity
While desensitizers are required with other cements, the combination of NX3 and XTR eliminates this step. OptiBond XTR employs Kerr’s proprietary Ternary Solvent System (TSS) and glycerol phosphate dimethacrylate (GPDM) adhesive technology. This unique system—comprising water, acetone, and ethyl alcohol—advances the OptiBond XTR Primer’s mechanism of action to dramatically improve enamel etching. Moreover, its hydrophilic nature allows efficient penetration into intertubular dentin as well as dentinal tubules, completely sealing the dentin surface and minimizing postoperative sensitivity. At the same time, because the etching primer is not rinsed away and penetrates areas where etching stops, the collagen fiber network remains fully supported instead of collapsing, thereby eliminating technique sensitivity.
Ease of Use and Cleanup
Optibond XTR adhesive chemically bonds to porcelain/ceramic substrate through hydrogen bonding and ionic bonding mechanisms. This process greatly simplifies the cementation process. First, it eliminates the task of mixing equal portions of liquids; it entails brushing on two parts sequentially and air-drying between steps. In addition, none of the steps using OptiBond XTR require light-curing; only after the placement of the cement is light-curing necessary. Also, whereas some resin cements have an extremely limited working time after placement, the gel phase with NX3 provides adequate time to easily remove excess cement before it can adhere to adjacent teeth or the restoration, thus eliminating a common problem with other cements that adds frustration to the seating process.
These benefits have been consistently realized in the author’s practice through more than 3,000 ceramic restorations in the last 3 years. Optibond XTR and Nexus NX3 have supplanted all other bonding systems. From a clinical perspective, lack of sensitivity after cementation and ease of cement removal give this combination clear advantages over the competition.
This article was written by Michael J. Scoles, DMD, a private practitioner in Renton, Washington.
For more information, contact:
Kerr Dental
Phone: 800-KERR-123
Web: Kerr Dental Products
Disclaimer
The preceding material was provided by the manufacturer. The statements and opinions contained therein are solely those of the manufacturer and not of the editors, publisher, or the Editorial Board of Inside Dentistry.
