Achieve a New Level of Confidence and Consistency
Phillip Talley, DDS, on Kulzer’s Venus® family of composites
Philip Talley, DDS
Year after year, composite resins continue to evolve and improve. Improved physical properties, such as handling and color adaptation, are among the top features desired in an acceptable composite. Material chemistry also plays a part in our understanding of how a composite will handle, look, and ultimately behave in a patient's mouth.
Traditionally, composites have been formulated with a bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) chemical makeup, which often resulted in materials that exhibited higher shrinkage and shrinkage stress, contributing to restorative failures. To address this challenge, the scientists at Kulzer developed a completely new formula that replaced Bis-GMA with tricyclodecane (TCD). By replacing Bis-GMA with the newly patented TCD-urethane monomer matrix and combining it with a newly developed nanohybrid filler system, Kulzer significantly improved upon the key properties that clinicians expect from a perfect composite (eg, minimal shrinkage, low shrinkage stress, high flexural strength), optimizing the efficacy and longevity of restorations.
The Venus® family of composites is based on this unique and innovative urethane monomer chemistry and truly stands apart with its physical properties and esthetic qualities. Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Venus® Diamond is a universal nanohybrid composite with a firm, packable consistency. It is an industry leader in color adaptability and provides an outstanding lifelike look that replicates and mimics natural tooth anatomy. Its sister composite, Venus® Pearl, offers the same esthetic results but with a softer, creamier consistency.
Having a set of composites that provides solutions for every restorative procedure can simplify even the busiest of offices, and using the same two composites for all direct procedures on a day-to-day basis allows us to develop a deeper knowledge and greater level of experience, which results in increased confidence in the results that we are going to achieve.
One of my favorite features of both Venus Diamond and Venus Pearl is their handling. You can pack Venus Diamond into a preparation and know with certainty that it will stay where you placed it. The Venus Pearl is soft and adapts so well under manipulation with a composite instrument that in the anterior, it will form whatever shape you desire for that Class III or Class IV restoration. In addition, the Venus Pearl and Diamond Layering Guides really help in the creation of multilayered anterior restorations.
Using Venus Diamond and Venus Pearl exclusively has led me to a level of confidence and consistency that cannot be matched by any other composite system that I have used. And this level of consistency has led to a greater level of excellence in the quality of service that we provide to our patients.
Key Takeaways
1. Outstanding esthetics: Venus composites can be used in single- or multilayer techniques to create an exceptionally natural look
2. Easy handling: Venus composites are highly stable, offer a long working time, and have a very low-stick consistency
3. Unique and innovative chemistry: a patented matrix and newly developed nanohybrid filler system lend to improvements in esthetics, durability, and handling
4. Three levels of translucency: a wide variety of shades to match any patient's natural dentition
About the Author
Philip Talley, DDS
Private Practice
Peachtree Corners, Georgia
Manufacturer Information
Kulzer, LLC
kulzerUS.com
800-431-1785
