Along with serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Amey G. Patil, BDS, MSD, is a double board-certified esthetic dentist and orofacial pain specialist with diplomate status from the American Board of Orofacial Pain and American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry and numerous prestigious fellowships. When it comes to dental composite materials, the accomplished educator and practitioner is bullish about the superior qualities of Tokuyama Dental's Estelite Omega® and OMNICHROMA composites, particularly for anterior restorations.
Patil considers Estelite Omega a top choice for anterior restorations due to its superb optical properties. He emphasizes that the material's ultra-fine spherical fillers mimic the subtle nuances of natural tooth structure, especially the translucency and fluorescence found in enamel. "Estelite Omega excels in mimicking natural enamel and dentin, thanks to its controlled particle size and spherical fillers," he explains. He especially favors it for complex restorations like diastema closures, Class IV restorations, and smile makeovers, where achieving a seamless, natural look is essential.
For Patil, the ability to layer Estelite Omega precisely to replicate natural tooth shades is crucial. His approach to layering involves starting with a dentin shade to form the core and building up enamel shades to achieve the desired translucency and surface luster. "Sculpting composite layers with a brush can help create a seamless transition between shades," he advises. He also highlights the importance of silicone indexing for contouring and careful polishing to ensure that the restoration reflects light as naturally as possible.
Patil also speaks highly of OMNICHROMA, Tokuyama's innovative "single-shade" composite with Smart Chromatic Technology. "OMNICHROMA adapts to the surrounding tooth shade, eliminating the need for multiple shades," he says. This versatile, "game-changing" product has been transformative in Patil's experience, particularly in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
Patil recounts a memorable experience at a volunteer dental camp where OMNICHROMA's unique ability to match a wide range of shades was invaluable. "During the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, OMNICHROMA allowed me to efficiently match composites with varying shades, saving time and reducing the need to carry multiple carpules of composite material."
When instructing students and newer practitioners, Patil emphasizes the importance of proper isolation and incremental layering to optimize the performance of OMNICHROMA. Also, even with the material's extraordinary color-matching ability, users need to consider translucency, especially in larger restorations. Combining OMNICHROMA with opaquer layers (OMNICHROMA BLOCKERs) or layering techniques can help achieve predictable results in more complex cases, he suggests.
"Both Estelite Omega and OMNICHROMA have redefined the standards for composite restora-tions, enabling clinicians to deliver esthetic and functional results with confidence," Patil says. "The future of esthetic and cosmetic dentistry lies in materials that simplify workflows without compro-mising quality, and these products exemplify that philosophy."
Amey G. Patil, BDS, MSD
Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Director, General Dentistry Concepts, Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, New Jersey
Tokuyama Dental
877-378-3548
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