Clinical Case: 21st Century Class III
March 11, 2024 | 3m
About the Case
Patient presented with a classic incipient lesion on the mesial-facial aspect of tooth #7 that was visible on the X-ray. The challenge was to maintain the contour of the tooth’s natural structure and match the dentition.| Learn more about the products used in this clinical case |
A radiograph revealed an incipient Class III lesion on tooth #7.
A saw was used to clear the contact of tartar buildup. This made it easier to place a rubber dam to help control moisture, in turn making the bonding procedure easier.
Decay was removed with caries indicator and a round carbide bur. A radius bevel was created using a fine diamond needle bur.
The teeth were cleaned, and the biofilm removed, using a prophy-blasting using aluminum trihydroxide powder (Bioclear® Blaster from Bioclear®).
A one-sided sanding strip was used to lighten the contact to aid in placing the matrix.
The finished, cleaned prep showed the radius bevel leading out to an infinity margin.
A Bioclear® anterior matrix was selected, A103HD, small incisor universal, .5 mm curve. The .5 mm curved portion of the matrix was cut away as it wasn’t needed in this case.
Total-etch technique (3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Etchant) was used for the bonding procedure. The etch was placed, rinsed, and the restorations dried per the manufacturer’s instructions.
3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive was placed, gently air thinned and cured with the 3M™ Elipar™ DeepCure-S LED Curing Light.* 3M™ Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Flowable Restorative shade B2 was injected into the matrix.
Warmed 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative shade B2 was injected into the flowable causing hydrolysis to push the flowable out of matrix. The matrix was overfilled with composite to create a sprue that was cut away after curing.
Buccal and lingual sides were light cured for 10 seconds each. Matrix and wedge were removed. Restoration was contoured using a coarse 3M™ Sof-Lex™ Finishing and Polishing Disc. Once desired contours were achieved, restoration was polished (Magic Mix Pre-Polisher from Bioclear®) followed by a diamond impregnated polishing cup with water (RS Polisher from Bioclear®).
The final restoration was indistinguishable and had ideal interproximal contours. Composite cured against the mylar matrix provided a very high polish in the contact areas.
Refer to Instructions for Use (IFU) for complete product information. Results may vary.
Clinical dentistry and photography by Dr. Richard Young, San Bernadino, CA, USA.
* According to the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use