Creating improved, predictable results with OMNICHROMA

OMNICHROMA, the innovative dental composite from Tokuyama Dental that utilizes color-matching technology via a single shade of composite, has been in the hands of a select few dental practitioners for about a year now. The consensus seems to be that OMNICHROMA is a game-changing, time-saving, consistent and efficient product.

Dr. Howard Jensen is one of the practitioners whose practice partnered with Tokuyama Dental before the official launch of OMNICHROMA in February 2019 to provide initial feedback to the research and development team. Dr. Jensen, who lives in Washington state, has been in practice for almost 38 years and serves as an active member of the American Dental Association, Washington State Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of Osseointegration, Seattle King County Dental Society and Greater Eastside Study Club. Since his career began, Dr. Jensen has worked tirelessly to ensure that he continues his family legacy and has made his practice a well-respected and recognized office.

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Q: How can OMNICHROMA help your practice grow?

A: “It gives improved and predictable results. With composite restorations, especially when you’re talking about composite restorations in the smile zone, we have had a number of different composites in the past that we’d use, and often we’d layer composites. With OMNICHROMA, there is less of that. There’s still a learning curve, but if we have a tooth that we’re basically just building facially, OMNICHROMA provides very predictable results. Even when you’re doing something like a Class IV restoration and there isn’t that supporting structure, there’s still a need for layering with the masking material at times, but it’s less so. It’s far more finite in its predictability because composite looks different on a tooth than it does on the shade guide. We’ve actually made custom shade guides with our different composites to see what the actual color of the composite is rather than what they say it is. But, when you put OMNICHROMA on the tooth, because the characteristics are so different from standard composites, you get a much more predictable aesthetic result. Also, patients like ‘cutting-edge’ technology that works, especially when it’s something they see and can observe because it’s something they know, but at the same time it’s something totally new in scope and how it approaches the color match. Patients can evaluate it themselves and see the difference within the procedure as well as the result.”

Q: How does OMNICHROMA’s shade-matching capabilities make doctors more efficient?

A: “With previous composites, we would evaluate the tooth color characteristics and match that with a color shade or a translucent shade. With OMNICHROMA, the composite draws the color from the tooth, so it’s a totally different approach to shade matching. Minutes saved to a practitioner means more than just time. It’s money going back into your business. Shaving off those minutes to shade match makes for more efficient dentistry.”

Q: Does OMNICHROMA help to relieve mental stress, worry or pressure on the practitioner?

A: “This is what I’ve been saying since we started using OMNICHROMA. I don’t find that I’m stressed because I really enjoy what I do and I enjoy sharing what I do, so when it comes to my stress or worry or pressure, I can’t speak to that. However, it really does just give an enhanced end result, so I end up having more time to talk to my patients and share more with them. Approaching the restoration KNOWING I don’t have to spend time making an educated guess on shade lets me focus on enjoying a more relaxed visit with my patient.”

Q: How can OMNICHROMA reduce overhead costs for a practice?

A: “To put it simply, it reduces and simplifies inventory by being a broad application composite. We don’t need nearly as many different types of composites, and we use OMNICHROMA just completely in the posterior. We do have a few shades on hand that we use to layer with OMNICHROMA to help with shade matching in the case of very difficult shades, and that’s something I’d like to see them continue to refine. Overall, it’s really allowed us to cut down on the amount of composite we have to keep in our inventory.”

Q: How can OMNICHROMA aid in patient satisfaction?

A: “OMNICHROMA provides excellent esthetic results and the patients can see that. Thanks to the predictable outcomes, OMNICHROMA provides a more universal and simplistic application than what we’ve been using previously. In turn, it could definitely allow you to perform procedures more quickly, as there’s less layering needed, and with a broader application composite, it’s faster for everybody because you aren’t looking for your supplies or another composite. We know what’s available and that’s what we use, and that can allow for a faster, more predictable, and easier visit for the patient as well.”

Q: Can OMNICHROMA’s one-shade capabilities enable doctors to focus on other aspects of the procedure that may need more time and attention?

A: “With this composite, you never compromise time and attention because it gives predictable results and is very user-friendly with its handling characteristics. With other composites, their handling characteristics can be very different from product to product or even shade to shade. OMNICHROMA is easy to condense in the posterior, it’s easy to manipulate in the anterior and, if anything, that’s where I’ve really noticed that I like the consistency of the composite also.”

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Q: How would you invest the time saved by using OMNICHROMA to help grow your practice?

A: “I would invest that time in involving the patient in their care; that’s really important to me. I like to keep patients involved and I let them watch in mirrors if they would like. A product like OMNICHROMA gives me more time to explain to them what I am doing and why. I find that patients who are interested in seeing how things are done like to understand better and they’re more motivated to take care of their oral health. They understand more and they can ask questions. I hear all the time from patients that my practice name comes up in conversation because people know that we love what we do and we involve them in what we do. If you’re totally dissociated from that and you’re closing your eyes and checking out, that’s their choice, but I love when I can involve my patients, and products like this help us achieve that.”

Q: Are innovative products like OMNICHROMA moving dentistry in a direction you’d like to see more growth in? If so, how?

A: “Yes, it enables more conservative approaches to restorative care by improving esthetics and enabling conservation of natural tooth structure. We don’t have to cut down as much tooth structure, and with these changes we’ll see improved and more impressive dental consumables being incorporated into our practices. Increased bond strengths alone will enable us to achieve more simplicity in delivering care and to be more proactive in taking care of issues before a tooth is terribly weakened by decay or a restoration.”

Q: How long have you been using OMNICHROMA and do you foresee it becoming your go-to restorative material?

A: “We’ve been using OMNICHROMA for over a year. We evaluated it during a trial period in our office and it quickly became our go-to material. The handling characteristics and shade-matching capabilities have made it a very easy and predictable composite to use. I think Tokuyama is doing a great job on the innovative side and is leading a lot of the technology toward more conservative and complete care.”