A Truly Universal Bonding Agent for All Procedures
With a new proprietary formulation and ergonomic bottle design, Kerr Dental’s OptiBond™ Universal 360 streamlines workflows
Matthew R. Miller, DDS, a general dentist who offers a broad range of services and procedures for patients of all ages, from children to senior citizens, prides himself on being a life-long learner who prioritizes education and research. In addition to self-directed study that includes reading journal articles, completing continuing education courses, and exchanging ideas with his fellow clinicians and specialists, Miller is also an active member and advisor in his local chapter of the Seattle Study Club, a clinical ambassador for the Dental Advisor, and a board member on both the Endodontic Advisory Board and the Restorative Advisory Board for Kerr Dental. "I love being able to offer a comprehensive approach to dental care instead of just one-dimensional treatment plans," he says. "Continuing my education and getting involved in clinical research is what expanded my expertise. I have had the opportunity to test all kinds of different dental products and materials from many different companies and have been involved in journal studies, clinical trials, case reports, and even product development."
One material that Miller played a role in developing through his work with Kerr's restorative advisory board is OptiBond™ Universal 360, the next generation of the company's best-selling OptiBond Universal bonding agent. "In my dental office, one of my priorities is to find materials that allow for consolidation with other materials in order to reduce the steps involved in various techniques and workflows," Miller says. "We want to create processes that are as streamlined as they can be without compromising our results."
OptiBond Universal 360 is specifically formulated to provide reliable bond strength to all surfaces and substrates, including zirconia, lithium disilicate, gold, base metal alloys, alumina, titanium, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), and porcelain-fused-to-zirconia (PFZ). Furthermore, unlike similar products on the market, it does not require a separate ceramic or metal primer. "When we started talking about the next generation of OptiBond, we started talking about what being a ‘true universal' actually means," Miller says. "A lot of companies will brand something as universal, but it is not necessarily truly universal for all approaches and techniques. We wanted OptiBond Universal 360 to be a universal for all indications and to be universally compatible with other resins, including cements, core buildup materials, and composites."
A one-bottle solution, OptiBond Universal 360 can be used in self-etch, selective-etch, and total-etch protocols for both direct and indirect restorations. Kerr's patented GPDM, MDP, and proprietary ternary solvent system with water, acetone, and ethanol enables dental practices to reduce technique sensitivity and application time without compromising bond strength. "Some universal bonding agents are acidic, which can interfere with the bonding of another resin, such as a buildup material, so in many situations, you have to light cure your bond first," Miller says. "One of the great things about OptiBond Universal 360 is that it will self-cure with any dual-cure resin, so if you're using a buildup material or cement, and your curing light won't reach the bonding agent, you don't have to worry about that. Furthermore, OptiBond Universal 360 is not a closed system. It will play well with whatever your other preferred products are, which can make a big difference in day-to-day dentistry. This is also the first Kerr bonding agent that includes MDP. The company has offered separate primers in the past for bonding to metal and ceramic, but OptiBond Universal 360 includes MDP in its formulation, eliminating the need for a dedicated primer when bonding to metal and zirconia."
In addition to the advantages of its true universal functionality, OptiBond Universal 360 also features an all-new ergonomic bottle design that significantly improves ease of use. With an auto-open button, the bottle ensures that dental professionals need only one hand for opening, dispensing, and closing, and the dropper delivers a precise drop size at every application, minimizing waste and increasing efficiency. "This has actually become my favorite bottle dispensing system because of the ergonomic ease of opening," says Miller. "We did a mini focus group with one of my hands-on courses to help dial in the bottle technology, and it has turned out so well. The sophisticated design opens the cap with the push of a button, so you don't have to flip it open. You wouldn't necessarily think that a manual flip cap would be a big deal, but when you are holding a few things and actively working on teeth, it can be cumbersome, so the auto-open feature is really neat to have."
Miller also notes the improved film thickness of OptiBond Universal 360 and the fact that it is slightly thicker than previous generations, which means that a little bonding agent goes a long way and that less is needed to cover teeth. Because OptiBond Universal 360 combines etching, priming, and bonding and works well with as little as one coat without auxiliary products, it can also help dental practices save on inventory costs. In addition, the material doesn't need to be refrigerated, so the bottle may be stored at ambient temperature.
Regarding flexibility, Miller also appreciates OptiBond Universal 360's ability to bond in both wet and dry conditions. "The material's moisture tolerance is very helpful," he says. "Obviously, you wouldn't want something completely soaking wet, but it is nice that you can bond to the tooth in dry, moist, or wet conditions, including to wet dentin. This is all due to the fact that the material is hydrophilic in its application, but then as it dries and cures, it becomes hydrophobic to receive the resin. This allows OptiBond Universal 360 to penetrate the tooth optimally, reducing the risk of postoperative sensitivity and increasing patient satisfaction.
With seven full-time dentists and an orthodontist in their office, it is important to Miller and his partners that everyone is all on the same page in terms of their approach to materials and workflow, and as such, they use just one bonding agent for everything in the practice. Previously, that bonding agent was OptiBond Universal, but now that Miller has tested this newest generation, his office will upgrade to OptiBond Universal 360 as soon as it is being fully mass marketed.
Key Points
• Specifically formulated to provide reliable bond strength to all surfaces and substrates, including zirconia, lithium disilicate, gold, base metal alloys, alumina, titanium, PFM, and PFZ without a separate primer.
• A one-bottle solution that can be used in self-etch, selective-etch, and total-etch protocols for both direct and indirect restorations.
• Features an all-new ergonomic bottle design with an auto-open button that ensures that dental professionals need only one hand for opening, dispensing, and closing and a precise dropper that minimizes waste and increases efficiency.
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