Information provided by Shofu

	Shofu Dental Corporation, a leading manufacturer of award-winning dental materials and equipment, has unveiled a new finishing system, The Artistic Composite Kit.

	Designed for artisan’s finishing of anterior composite restorations, The Artistic Composite Kit features a selection of 

’s finest diamonds, carbides and stones. The instruments included in this kit reportedly are concomitant with “The Essence of Composite Art,” an artistic restoration concept developed by Frank J. Milnar, DDS, AAACD. Arranged in a sequence of logical steps, these carefully selected abrasives are said to help clinicians create natural-like aesthetics in an efficient manner.

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	The Artistic Composite Kit finishing technique reportedly supports minimally invasive dentistry. The protocol begins with creating a unified surface using fine and super fine Robot Diamonds in various shapes (PN 840F-1, 840V-1, 835F-1), which is said to help effectively prep the surface for further characterization. In the following steps, with a fine-grit T&F Hybrid Point diamond (PN 0933-1) and egg-shaped Robot Carbide Finisher (PN 0718), three facial planes (the emergence profile, face of the tooth and the incisal third) and secondary anatomy reportedly can be achieved. In areas of the restoration where light-diffusing architecture is needed, a flame-shaped Dura-Green Stone (PN 0060) is designed to deliver predictable results. Other components employed for the final finishing step, the creation of macro and micro aesthetics, are the 8-, 16- and 30-fluted Robot Carbide Finishers (PN 0770-3, 0771-3, 0772-3).

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	A finishing system with artisan’s selected abrasives is said to be an indispensable element in achieving natural esthetics. Shofu’s Artistic Composite Kit includes the finest diamonds, carbides and stones designed to help create naturally appearing smile in a swift, predictable manner.

	The Artistic Composite Kit is:
	
	•  A comprehensive finishing system inclusive of the finest diamonds, carbides and stones
	•  Supported by an efficient artisan’s finishing technique
	•  Excellent for anterior composite restorations
	•  Conducive to minimally invasive dentistry
	•  Available through your local dealer

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Articles

Shofu Dental Corporation, a leading manufacturer of award-winning dental materials and equipment, has unveiled a new finishing system, The Artistic Composite Kit.

Shofu unveils new system for finishing of anterior restorations

	Shofu Dental Corporation, a leading manufacturer of award-winning dental materials and equipment, has launched a new system for the removal of orthodontic attachments.

	The Attachment Removal Kit for Clear Aligners is designed to offer proper tools and provide choices for safe and effective removal of orthodontic attachments created with direct composite. Arranged in a sequence of logical steps, the designated tools and removal protocol, included in this kit, reportedly will help dental professionals safely detach the composite resin and restore the tooth to a highly esthetic look without marring the surface.

	The composite attachment removal technique is said to support minimally invasive dentistry. The protocol begins with outlining the composite with a pencil. This step is designed to help dental professionals visually define the canvas for safe and effective detachment. Depending on a patient and location of the attachment, a bulk of the composite can be removed with either a nonmetal flexible Super-Snap black coarse disk (PN 0503), an 8-fluted Robot Carbide CTF Finisher (PN 0770-3) or a combination of both.

	In the next phase, using either OneGloss PS (PN 0176, 0177, 0178), a one-step single-use aluminum oxide finisher and polisher or a flexible Super-Snap violet medium disk (PN 0503), the prominence of composite residual can be safely reduced. In the final step, using a non-metal Super-Snap green fine disk (PN 0503) then a Super-Snap red superfine disk (PN 0503), the tooth surface can be polished and prelustered. Lastly, with a dab of superfine, diamond-impregnated DirectDia Polishing Paste (PN 0558) directly massaged on the tooth surface and using a Super-Snap SuperBuff disk (PN 0536), the tooth can be buffed to create the desired wet, glossy look.

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’s Attachment Removal Kit for Clear Aligners delivers both the finest instruments and proven protocol to help dental professionals safely remove the orthodontic attachment and restore the tooth to a highly esthetic look in an efficient and predictable manner.

	The kit is said to be:
	
	•  A complete system for safe and easy removal of orthodontic attachment
	•  Inclusive of Shofu’s award-winning finishers and polishers
	•  Comprised of selected instruments and a removal technique that support minimally invasive dentistry
	•  Full of bonus products
	•  Available through your local dealer

Shofu Dental Corporation, a leading manufacturer of award-winning dental materials and equipment, has launched a new system for the removal of orthodontic attachments.

Shofu launches new system for the removal of orthodontic attachments

 MP can easily and safely be applied to all PFM alloys within a CTE range of 13.6 to 15.2 x 10-6K-1 and can be effectively used in a simple two-layer dentin-enamel technique (

illustrates its use on palladium alloy, while 

 shows the metal bond porcelain used on Captek).

	Despite today’s high cost of gold alloys and the ever-increasing options in all-ceramic CAD/CAM technology, it is now a good time for ceramists to re-think porcelain-fused-to-metal technology.

	Many labs are either considering or already using frames made from less-expensive palladium-based, non-precious, or titanium alloys, developed either through CAD/CAM technology or through conventional casting techniques.

	Cr-Co alloys (more commonly referred to as base metals or non-precious alloys) can be a very practical core material for restorations on implants and prepared teeth. Selecting a base metal alloy is not strictly economical; it’s also a good choice because of its ability to be as thin as 0.1 mm in the anterior region. The metal at this extreme dimension will not flex and undermine the strength of the veneering porcelain. A frame thickness of only 0.1 mm saves valuable space within a restoration that will later be used for the opaquer and the veneering porcelains.

	Vintage MP from Shofu Dental Corp. has a paste opaque material that will create a final opaque layer of only 0.1 mm and that completely masks the metal substructure. Using an instrument for opaque application ensures a smooth and even thickness. The exceptionally fine initial 0.05 mm Base Opaque layer with its warm orange-colored hue increases the bonding strength. When applied over a 0.1 mm Cr-Co frame, the total final core thickness before layering dentin is then only 0.2 mm. An added benefit to a metal coping is the instant and complete masking of either a discolored prepared tooth, composite buildup or a metal post and core (

	Vintage MP mimics the natural diffused light reflection of dentin and enamel even in areas of limited tooth reduction. It is possible to work within a total prep reduction thickness of 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm.

	Many non-precious alloys that are available with a Vickers hardness below 300 contain nickel, a biocompatibility concern for some dentists and their patients. There are newer Cr-Co alloys below 300 Vickers hardness and without nickel. These alloys are easily cast and finished to the desired thickness. Example: Argen’s Argeloy N.P. Special.

	Furthermore, the oxidation of Cr-Co alloys does not pose esthetic problems with maintaining the value (brightness) of the shade. Oxidation, which is necessary for creating a chemical bond between the alloy and the opaque layer, does not continue past the degassing cycle and continuously darken the frame with each successive firing up to the final glaze and correction firing programs (

). Also, the complete masking layer of Vintage MP opaque material is stable and doesn’t change in value or chroma throughout the subsequent firing cycles (

). The shade is easily maintained and matched to the shade tab without any loss of value (brightness), even with a bleached shade (

	Another added benefit within the Vintage MP system is the margin kit’s properties. The standard margin powders allow for optimal esthetics and fluorescence even in severely limited space near the margin-without any shadowing effect, even with its bleached shade margin powder, W0M. The Shofu Vintage MP kit also offers two masking margin powders, MLM (light) and MDM (dark) as well as several margin effect colors. Labial porcelain margins in the anterior region are a necessity with all PFM alloys to avoid the metal “black line” at the margin. Facial, as well as full-circumference 360º porcelain margins are easily attainable because of the superior handling properties of the margin powders (

	CPM Fine is a dedicated low-fusing correction powder (750ºC - 770ºC) for making minor corrections to porcelain margins after the porcelain is stained and glazed. It is found in the counterpart kits for Vintage Halo

). Two other correction powders that also fuse at the same temperature, Add-On B (body) and Add-On T (translucent), are available. Add-On B is used in the dentin areas and Add-On T for incisal areas. The exceptionally low firing temperatures of these materials are important because the restoration can be repeatedly fired with them after glazing without any change in contour or shade whatsoever (

	Body firings are between 900ºC - 920ºC and self-glazing with Vintage Art® Stains at 880ºC - 900ºC. Vintage MP is a versatile porcelain system that can also be used in the fabrication of porcelain inlays as well as veneers and jacket crowns (on platinum foil or refractory die material).

Joe Weisz, BS, CDT, has been a CDT since 1982 and has a B.S. degree in Dental Laboratory Technology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. For 7 years he was Co-Director and an instructor at the UCLA Master Dental Ceramist Program, a full-time 2-year institute for technicians, directed by Dr. Ed McLaren. He also taught Dental Technology at Los Angeles City College. Drawn from his years as an educator, he established Esthetic Contour, which offers contouring courses to dental professionals, including ceramists and dentists who seek to upgrade their skill levels in creating natural looking 6-unit sets of anterior restorations.

 Shofu Vintage® MP can easily and safely be applied to all PFM alloys within a CTE range of 13.6 to 15.2 x 10-6K-1 and can be effectively used in a simple two-layer dentin-enamel technique (Fig. A illustrates its use on palladium alloy, while Fig.