Prior to that moment, the office is at DENTCON 1. (DENTCON — Dentistry Condition — numbers are related to DEFCON — Defense Condition — numbers used by the U.S. Defense Department. DEFCON 5 is defined as normal peacetime readiness and DEFCON 1 connotes maximum force readiness for a nuclear event.)
Placement of ceramics, especially anterior partial coverage ceramics, is so technique-sensitive that for most of us these procedures can be counted on to create DENTCON 1 stress. Until recently, one of the most stressful parts of this process for me was the cleanup of the excess material around the margins. Bonding is what makes ceramic veneers possible, and we always want excess resin to be expressed as we seat. I try to remove most of the excess prior to covering with glycerin and curing, but there is always plenty left in places where I do not want it. I hate that part.
During a recent visit to Ivoclar’s headquarters, I had an opportunity to see the effect of silane and silane type materials on the bond between ceramic and resins.
In the exercise we performed, it became very clear to me that 1) silane increases the bond strength between these two materials when the ceramic is etched, and 2) silane creates a connection with any ceramic, etched or not. I thought back to the last anterior partial coverage case I had seated — to the pulling, the pushing, the picking, and the work to remove those bits of excess material at the margin. I realized I was fighting with a silanated surface, trying to hold on to that resin.
In the past, I had always handled silane application with care but had not considered where the silane was going. I often filled the restoration and then blew air to dry it, coating not only the intaglio surface but also portions of the glazed or polished areas at the margins. I confirmed this effect upon my return by filling some crowns and drying them with air. I knew I wanted to seat my next case differently.
