Universal products: Getting a grip on costs in the dental of

Kuraray Noritake

Tue. 7. November 2023

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Editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry and a pioneer of digital dental photography, Dr Alessandro Devigus uses universal products widely in his dental practice in Bülach in Switzerland. At the 2023 International Dental Show in Cologne in Germany, Dr Devigus shared his thoughts about his favourite products from Kuraray Noritake Dental and the concept of universal excellence.

Dr Devigus, why did universal products attract your attention?
We all would like to reduce the number of products and components used in our dental offices in order to make our lives easier and more predictable. Several years ago, when the first universal products started entering the dental market, I realised that these products and the concept behind them could help me achieve this goal.

For what kinds of treatments do you currently use universal products?
The main field of application is restorative dentistry, in indirect and direct restorative workflows, which often go hand in hand. Whenever possible and in accordance with the needs and desires of the patient, I opt for minimally invasive direct composite restorations, often realised using universal products. For example, cosmetic corrections or tooth wear treatments in the lower jaw are often carried out in a prepless procedure with resin composite applied with a single-shade technique. For anterior restorations in the upper jaw of the same patient, however, I might opt for ceramic restorations luted with a universal resin cement.

What are your favourite indirect restorative materials, for which indications do you use them and when do universal products come into play?
I produce most of my single-tooth restorations chairside with CEREC. In the anterior region, the choice is usually between different types of glass-ceramic materials. For some indications, such as when two central incisors or all four maxillary incisors need to be restored, zirconia is also a suitable option. In these cases and for indirect restorations in the posterior region, KATANA Zirconia Block from Kuraray Noritake Dental is my preferred material. Having tested many different types of chairside zirconia, I can say that this product simply offers the most natural colour gradation and the desired vitality. Hence, finishing is quick and easy. At the same time, the high flexural strength of the material supports me in my striving for minimally invasive preparations.

For definitive placement of the overlays and crowns produced, PANAVIA SA Cement Universal from Kuraray Noritake Dental is my dual-curing resin cement of choice. It bonds to virtually every surface, including lithium disilicate, without a separate primer and offers good flowability that facilitates restoration placement. An additional feature contributing to a quick and stress-free clinical procedure is the ability to remove excess cement easily and in a gingiva-friendly way after tack curing.

What about direct restorations?
One of my favourite resin composites is CLEARFIL MAJESTY ES-2 Universal from Kuraray Noritake Dental. Its single shade for the posterior and two shades for the anterior region offer just the right combination of translucency and intrinsic colour to imitate a large number of tooth shades. The effect is a nice blending in with the surrounding tooth structure without appearing greyish. In the posterior region, I have observed a certain masking potential so that discoloured abutment teeth do not cause any problems. With this material, the shade determination step is eliminated. Clinical workflows are also simplified through the use of CLEARFIL Universal Bond Quick. Being suitable for many indications and all etching techniques, this universal adhesive is not only versatile but also extraordinarily quick in its application, as there is no need for extensive rubbing into the tooth structure. In this way, it is possible to streamline direct restorative procedures.

“Using fewer products and components and ones that are easy and quick in their application allows me to get a grip on costs.”

Why do you use so many products from Kuraray Noritake Dental?
I simply like products from Japanese companies. They stand for quality, integrity and clinical relevance. Japanese people seem to be deeply committed to the company they work for and to their work, and they seem to pay attention to every detail and try to deliver the best outcomes possible. This attitude is reflected in Kuraray’s mission “For people and the planet—to achieve what no one else can”, and it is reflected in the company’s products. It offers products with the properties I need to deliver high-quality dental treatments.

You said that making your life easier and more predictable is the main reason you opt for universal materials. Would you please explain?
In the first place, using fewer products and components and ones that are easy and quick in their application allows me to get a grip on costs. With fewer steps and fewer bottles, shortened application times and standardised workflows, the chair time for the patient is reduced, allowing me to save the most valuable factor in the office: my time. Additionally, material storage and order management are streamlined, making it much easier to keep track of expiry dates, hence saving material costs as well. And the best thing about it is that all these savings are possible without compromising treatment quality. Provided that the user is able to handle the materials properly—which is facilitated by the minimal number of steps and ease of use—the quality of the outcomes is extremely high!