As a young dentist, I went to a hands-on course on bonding. The instructor started with a little exercise that I found curious. They asked us to perform a direct composite restoration exactly as we would do in our practice. We didn’t realize they were monitoring everything very closely and timing every step. After the procedure was done on the extracted tooth in the typodont, the instructor asked us a few questions.
One thing that became apparent during this exercise is that most dentists think they are adhering to the instructions of their materials, but they’re actually not. For me, it was time that I scrubbed in the adhesive. The instructions on the bonding agent I was using at the time said that adhesive should be scrubbed into the preparation for 20 seconds. I thought I was doing that. Turns out that in my head, 20 seconds ended up being around 6.5 seconds. Even though I was trying to follow the directions, I wasn’t.
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We can’t always accurately estimate time in the busyness of a dental operatory. One way to manage this is to use an adhesive that predicts our shortcomings and makes up for it. Clearfil Universal Bond Quick does just that.
Every dentist knows the name Clearfil; it’s been a flagship name in dental bonding since the invention of the MDP monomer back in the early 1980s. They continue their fine work in adhesive dentistry with their newest product. What sets Clearfil Universal Bond Quick apart is its “Rapid Bond Technology” fueled by a new amide monomer that rapidly permeates dentin and enamel. This eliminates the waiting time after applying the adhesive and reduces water absorption. This reduces technique sensitivity and application time without compromising on bond strength or post-op sensitivity.
The bonding process with Clearfil Universal Bond Quick could not be easier. It is a universal bonding agent, so it can be used with your preferred etch technique (self-etch, selective-etch, or total-etch). Once it’s isolated and properly etched (or not if you’re doing self-etch), simply apply the adhesive with a rubbing motion and coat all the surfaces of your preparation. Dry for five seconds and cure—no more scrubbing adhesive into the dentin for 20 to 30 seconds. The chemistry of the amide monomer handles that for you. This cuts time off our procedures as well as makes the technique easier.
Clearfil Universal Bond Quick can be used for direct or indirect restorations because of its low film thickness. It is crafted to work perfectly with Panavia SA cement. With bond strengths of over 30 MPs when used with no etch and no waiting for adhesive, it offers technique flexibility that most other adhesive systems don’t have. If you’re looking for a bonding system that gives you peace of mind, ease of use, and flexibility, look no further than Clearfil Universal Bond Quick.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the March 2023 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.