Dr Tirumalasetty is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She completed a general practice residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital. She is a master of the Academy of General Dentistry, an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and Kois Center graduate.

Priya Tirumalasetty, DDS, MAGD, AAACD

Solve Restorative Woes With Time- and Money-Saving Composites. Image: © Priya Tirumalasetty, DDS, FAGD, AAACD


Released by Tokuyama Dental America Inc in early 2023, OMNICHROMA Flow BULK is an addition to the OMNICHROMA line of restorative products that are designed to blend and match the shade of any surrounding tooth structure in the A1 through D4 range. OMNICHROMA Flow BULK uses Smart Chromatic Technology that gives the product what the company calls a “chameleon effect.” This means that while traditional composites rely on added dyes and pigments, OMNICHROMA products use the structure of the surrounding tooth to generate color without any added dyes or pigments. The fillers in OMNICHROMA Flow BULK, which are 260-nm spherical fillers of the exact shape and size, blend in invisibly.

Tokuyama Dental America has expanded its OMNICHROMA family by launching OMNICHROMA Flow BULK. The new bulk fill composite complements the company’s OMNICHROMA composite portfolio, offering dentists the same outstanding shade-matching abilities as previous products, and its strong physical and mechanical properties meet all restorative needs. OMNICHROMA Flow BULK is a 1-shade bulk fill composite, capable of shade matching any tooth color from A1 to D4, and is designed to streamline clinician workflows, saving time and money. It is a low-viscosity, light-cured material that can be placed in 3.5-mm increments.

Smart Chromatic Technology is very useful in cases when patients have shades that don’t seem to fit a specific shade on a shade guide, or when the clinician does not have their specific shade in stock. Stocking shades that are not used very often can become wasteful, as many expire before the syringe has been completely used. These rare shades include A4, B3, B4, C3, C4, and most D shades. Thanks to OMNICHROMA’s technology, even if a patient’s tooth color changes from bleaching, this product will continue to match the surrounding tooth.

OMNICHROMA Flow BULK has a wide range of indications, including use in both anterior and posterior restorations. Boasting low polymerization shrinkage, high compressive (414 MPa) and flexural strength (120 MPa), and high polishability, OMNICHROMA Flow BULK is useful for many clinical scenarios. It may be placed in 3.5-mm increments as a standalone bulk fill resin. If the clinician prefers to layer direct composite, the product is versatile to use as a first layer beneath traditional composites in the base of a box preparation in a class II composite to seal margins prior to placing a second layer of traditional composite. It is also useful for composite or porcelain repairs in areas where clinicians may hesitate to use a traditional flowable composite.

Before OMNICHROMA Flow Bulk was used. Image courtesy of Dr Tirumalasetty. 

After OMNICHROMA Flow Bulk was used. Image courtesy of Dr Tirumalasetty. 

The product can also be used as an intermediate layer between composites placed in direct composite veneers. Another use would be as a filler material for implant provisionals. Due to its high polishability and stain resistance, OMNICHROMA Flow BULK is useful to support or alter gingival tissue with a temporary abutment that has been formed with acrylic. Additionally, immediately following extraction of a tooth in the esthetic zone, the material can be used to secure a fiber-reinforced splint.

With the use of OMNICHROMA BLOCKER Flow, the bulk-fill resin can be used in situations where teeth are stained, discolored, or opaque. Undercuts in inlays, onlays, or crown preparations can be blocked out with the material prior to scanning or impression taking. Bonded lingual wires can be secured with OMNICHROMA Flow BULK after completion of orthodontics. Other indications include porcelain and composite repairs, and use in endodontic access openings in ceramic restorations. In these situations, a layer of OMNICHROMA BLOCKER Flow would be placed first and cured, followed by the bulk-fill resin to yield the best esthetics.

Articles

OMNICHROMA Flow BULK saves time and money by utilizing Smart Chromatic Technology to match any shade in the surrounding dentition. 