A behind the scenes look at Kerr's Nexus RMGI

Debuting on the cover of the June issue of Dental Products Report, Kerr Corporation’s Nexus RMGI was launched with a confidence that the material would provide improved durability, enhanced clean-up/handling, esthetics, and delivery vs. currently available RMGI luting cements.

Here, Product Manager Permanent Cements Nicholas Domanico answers questions about the product’s development and its best features.

Q: Where did the idea for Nexus RMGI come from?

A: Resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) luting cements have been a staple for clinicians that complete indirect procedures.  Although RMGIs have a long history of clinical success, there have been key deficiencies cited in literature.

These deficiencies include low durability and less than optimal cleanup and esthetics. The potential clinical impact of these deficiencies was confirmed by surveying more than 100 restorative dentists.

Market review indicated that the RMGI market is one of the largest permanent cement adjacencies globally. This cement category is also highly consolidated, with market share owned by two principle manufacturers.

We were confident there was an opportunity for Kerr to develop an RMGI material that provided improved durability, enhanced clean-up/handling, esthetics, and delivery vs. currently available RMGI luting cements.

We wanted to make this product as easy and straightforward for clinicians as possible. We chose the family name of Nexus, because clinicians associate that name with excellent cleanup, such as with Nexus 3 (NX 3).  Nexus RMGI uses the same cleanup technology as NX 3. 

We also found that clinicians have difficulty determining whether a cement brand refers to an RMGI, Self-Adhesive or Bonded Resin, so we put RMGI in the product name. 

Q: What was the development process like?

A: We have a very rigorous, customer-driven product development process. All features and design components were based on VOC data.

Our challenge was the development of a differentiated product that could penetrate an established market with two leaders who have a history of clinical success.

We believe we’ve more than met that challenge with Nexus RMGI. Our product stands up amazingly well when compared with current RMGIs, largely because of the inclusion of Nexus Technology and our dual-adhesive technology.

The clinicians who evaluated our product in patients were extremely happy with their results. They were surprised by its overall ease of use and amazed by how easy it was to clean up excess cement.

Q: What advancements in adhesive technology influenced RMGI?  In what way or to what end?

A: Current RMGI products rely on one adhesive mechanism whereas Nexus RMGI uses a novel dual-adhesive system coupled with an optimized resin matrix that delivers significantly higher bond strength to tooth structures and common substrates while enhancing the stability and marginal integrity of the restoration.  

Q: What are the key features you are most proud of? 

A: One-Peel™ cleanup-Nexus Technology’s advanced initiator systems (redox and photo) enable an optimal gel state and tack cure capability where One Peel excess cement removal is possible after waiting for gel state or tack-curing.

Outstanding durability-Self-adhesive paste/paste dual adhesive technology delivers significantly higher bond, compressive and flexural strengths, which provide improved durability and marginal integrity.

Improved esthetics-BPO-free and Amine-free chemistry combines for optimum translucency with exceptional color stability.

Q: In what ways will this product make a dentist’s life better?

A:  Our One-Peel cleanup and optional tack cure will speed up the cleanup process and take all the guesswork out of when to start cleaning up excess cement. Improved marginal integrity and durability will provide a longer-lasting restoration. 

The enhanced esthetics will provide superior blending at the margin, which will result in a more natural and esthetically pleasing restoration.  The end result will be happier patients and in turn, happier dentists.