Colton Faull

	STELLAR DC Acrylic, a dual-cure resin developed by TAUB Products, hasn’t been on the market that long, but Dr. Zachary Sonkin has used it in his office, Sonkin Dental in Elmont, New York, on a daily basis for more than six months. Dr. Sonkin has incorporated it into his armamentarium for implant work, along with GoCHx™ Gel, Liquid Magic™ Resin Barrier, and Zero-G™ Bio-Implant Cement, three other products manufactured by TAUB Products.

 procedural time per application when creating copings, implant verification jigs, implant seating jigs, indexes, soldering and many other procedures,” says Jordan Taub, vice president of TAUB Products. “This will give billable hours back to the doctor or CDT. Depending on the procedure, one application could pay for STELLAR just by the time saved during that procedure."

	The dual-cure acrylic resin gives instant mixing and use, can tack cure in five seconds, and fully light cure within 20 seconds using LED curing lights. It will also cure on its own after one minute.

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	“There is no manual mixing and waiting for the material to thicken before use, unlike a cold cure acrylic liquid/powder mix,” Taub explains. “Just express the resin out of the syringe and through a special automix tip, tack cure and build. The acrylic will be set in 60 seconds or less.”

 uses specific set times for light cure and dual cure, offering speed without compromising accuracy or integrity.

	“There is no polymerization heat, no shrinkage, and it burns out clean and completely,” he says.  “Apply heat via hot water for a few minutes and STELLAR becomes extremely durable.”

“It’s not exothermic. It’s a dual-cure material that allows for easy buildup when addition is needed,” Dr. Sonkin says. “It cuts and trims very easily and polishes very well. My laboratory has been very pleased with the clean way that it burns out during fabrication.”

	Other benefits include using the material for the fabrication of solder indexes.

	“In this application, the material works very well, as it easily flows into the small spaces between a sectioned metal framework,” Dr. Sonkin explains. “The material allows for it to be added to itself, when you need to increase the amount of the material.”

	Dr. Sonkin says he also uses the resin to quickly fabricate pick-up impression copings for crown and bridge work, which is an example of how he saves time using the product.

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	“Certain procedures may take 15 minutes or more to build and layer with traditional materials, and there was always a lot of acrylic waste,” Taub says. “With our chemistry, we knew that a 15-minute procedure could take three minutes or less.”

	While STELLAR DC Acrylic has been useful in Dr. Sonkin’s dental practice, there’s still the matter of patient acceptance. Because there’s no polymerization heat, it’s better for 

 and it provides less chance of heat trauma to the pulp and surrounding gingival tissue. It also cuts down the patient’s chair time.

	“My patients have reacted to STELLAR in a very positive way,” Dr. Sonkin says. “In those cases where I need to make an impromptu seating jig, the wait time for fabrication in-house is significantly less than with other products that I have used in the past. In addition, I would usually fabricate my verification jig prior to the patient’s appointment to allow for polymerization shrinkage, but with STELLAR, this wait time is no longer necessary.

	“By instituting STELLAR’s use, it has not only saved me and my patients time, but it has provided a financial savings.”

Articles

Why this dual-cure resin is a great choice for clinicians.

How dentists can save time with STELLAR DC Acrylic

	3DISC aims to make dentists’ offices more efficient and more enjoyable for the patient with their new intraoral 3D scanner, the Heron™ IOS. Its goal is to provide great image quality for dentists while saving them time and money. The Heron completes a full arch scan in a couple of minutes, eliminating the traditional system of taking a mold.

 lightweight design and ability to update in real-time makes it an essential part of the modern-day dentist practice. We talked to 3DISC’s CEO and Executive Chairman 

 about its two-year process and to find out why this new tool is the first step in making digital impressions the new standard.

	What influenced the development of the Heron™?

	We looked at the landscape that was out there. We felt like there was product falling into two different groups. We had some products out there where the image quality wasn’t what it needed to be, so that’s something we put a lot of work into.

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	Then, we looked at some of the products that were out there that did produce some pretty good images, but that were ergonomically- and design-wise not super great. Those handsets were very large, heavy and cumbersome to use. We set out to create something that was much more lightweight and would fit your hand as a dentist much more easily. We went through a pretty rigorous industrial design process; we did several focus groups and worked with dentists to discover what their preferences were to wrap that great image quality with something that would work well for dentists.

	We ended up with a design that dentists could instinctively pick the device up either backward or in a pen grip.

	How long has the Heron been in development?

	It falls into different phases. The first part, which is developing the actual technology you’re going to use - cameras, mirrors, electronics, all of that - has been going on for almost two years. The industrial design process, where you take that technology and wrap it in a shell, was a six-month process. You kind of have to develop the insides before you can wrap it.

	Why should practitioners invest in the Heron?

	The Heron is designed to be the ‘smart choice’ for the modern dental practice new to digital dentistry - a turnkey scan and digital design solution with an open format for the widest integration possibilities. For the practitioner who mainly does basic restorations and a limited amount of impressions per month, with an equal basic need, we’ve created a scanner that fully covers all the necessary features and restorations. It’s reliable, covering all basic needs in digital dentistry. And the customer can rely on the fact that 3DISC, with our expertise and continuous product development, will work to secure their investments through a product philosophy based on reliability and flexibility.

	What can the Heron offer practitioners that other intraoral 3D scanners cannot?

	This handheld scanner is challenging the market with its simplicity and ease of use, a small, lightweight hand and mouth piece, and rotatable tip. It’s a small, lightweight intraoral scanner combined with our Quantor™ software packages that supports all stages of the dental restoration workflow, including order management, scanning, validation, commenting and order submission. It’s an all-in-one application accessible from one interface - a truly open solution with the market’s best optioned CAD integration.

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	Where do you see digital impressions going in the future?

	I think they’ll become the standard. Ten years from now we’ll look back and say, ‘I can’t believe we ever did the mold thing, that’s crazy.’

	When do you think digital impressions will be able to be used for every case?

	That’s difficult to say. There’s a learning curve for dentists and dental hygienists to get on board and become proficient with these devices to the point where it is faster and easier for them than it would be to do a mold, which is something they’ve been doing all of their lives.

	Definitely there’s a way to go before we’re all digital. But I think it is a transition that is happening. I would think by 10 years from now everyone will be doing digital.

A look at the technology behind this intraoral scanner and how it’s enabling practices to be more efficient.  

Using the Heron IOS to improve the patient experience

 from Tokuyama is a universal, supra-nano filled dental composite that makes use of 100 percent spherical fillers, which aid in retaining a long-term polish and reduce the polishing time.

, who has a general dentistry practice in Mitchellville, Maryland, on why he has continued to use 

 since 2011 and why he recommends it to others.

	What made you decide to start using Tokuyama’s Estelite Sigma Quick?

	I started using Estelite Sigma Quick (ESQ) in 2011 when I received a sample of it from Tokuyama. At that time, I liked ESQ better than what I was using. Dental materials are always changing, and I keep an open mind about new products and how they can benefit our patients and how they stack up against what I’m currently using.

	Consequently, I try new resins all the time, and nothing since 2011 has gotten me away from using ESQ as my main, everyday resin composite material.

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	Estelite Sigma Quick has been around for quite a while now. Why do you continue to use it when other products are being released to market?

	First, I like the delivery system (syringe or capsule). Second, I like the placement of the material into the cavity prep. Third, the material looks good as it is being positioned to be light-cured. No other resin out there is better than ESQ in that scenario.

	ESQ looks good over time, especially in visible anterior areas. It is very durable with no sensitivity.
	In your opinion, what does the “spherical filler technology” provide to Estelite Sigma Quick that isn’t provided by other composite solutions?

	Spherical filler technology provides the consistency of being creamy with some stiffness, which allows for better and quicker placement of ESQ. The consistency of ESQ is the main characteristic that gets providers hooked on it because it falls right where the users want it (it’s soft but not too soft, it’s stiff but not too stiff, and moves smoothly when moving and positioning it).

	How are repairs done with Estelite Sigma Quick wearing in patients you see on return visits?

	In regard to repairs, ESQ is no different from most good composites, which means it does a great job fixing chipped, fractured or worn composites. Because ESQ is very durable, I don’t see a lot of badly wornout areas of ESQ, and that’s something that I look for on returning patients.

	How do the esthetics of the product hold up?

	As I mentioned before, ESQ goes on smoothly, and it looks pretty once it is light-cured and polished. It’s very easy to shape and polish, giving patients a good feeling of ‘the Dr. knows what he/she is doing.’ This happens because patients that have had a lot of fillings done in the past can tell that this material is different in a good way, and we get those comments all the time from patients. ... I can’t give you any reasons why I would use anything else.

Read more: Tokuyama's Estelite Sigma Quick is strong, esthetic

	If another dentist asked for a composite recommendation, would you suggest using Estelite Sigma Quick?

	I lecture and give dental courses, and this is a product I always mention to providers to try. This is why: ESQ makes doing dentistry for the dentist/EFDA easier, and it gives confidence to patients because it looks and feels like it belongs in their mouth. It’s that simple

One dentist explains why he’s been recommending this dental composite from Tokuyama for years.