Dental Asia January/February 2024

IN DEPTH WITH
of indirect bonding. As an accurate material with optimal clarity, IBT
Flex Resin enables orthodontists to avoid bond failures and minimises
rework.
“IBT Flex Resin is an enhanced material that provides a higher quality
of flexibility and translucency in comparison with other indirect bonding
materials we have used. IBT Flex Resin provides superb accuracy and
fit of the brackets. Providers can be confident it will deliver an excellent
indirect bonding experience for their team members and patients. The
workflow from beginning to end is effortless and will leave an overall
lasting impression,” said Patricia Mitchell, digital specialist at Alvetro
Orthodontics, on the resin’s impact. Based Sidney, Ohio, the clinic relies
on the Form 3B+ and Form Auto for producing models and various
appliances to treat over 120 patients a day.
NEW CAPABILITIES IN DIRECT COMPOSITE RESTORATION
GUIDES
Printed at a 50µm layer height, the new capability of IBT Flex
Resin in 3D printing direct composite restoration guides displays a
good surface finish and reduces the time needed for polishing. A
streamlined and fully digitised workflow produces a guide with optimal
transparency, flexibility, and fit, allowing dentists to focus on the
aesthetics and performance.
According to Formlabs, the digital production of 3D printed direct
composite restoration guides provides several advantages compared
to the traditional production where clear polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) is
used:
The traditional workflow requires printing a model with the ideal design
or wax-up which is later used to fabricate the silicone index upon. The
ability to 3D print the guide directly eliminates the model production as
a whole.
As fewer steps are required, it reduces the possibilities of losing details
or adding errors throughout the way. The directly printed appliance
can accurately transfer the wax-up to the patient’s mouth based on the
digital design already planned in the CAD software.
Traditional clear PVS materials can range from US$80-130 for two
cartridges of material which cost $10-20 per tray depending on the
design. The cost for a full arch direct composite restoration tray 3D
printed with IBT Flex Resin is reduced to $2-5.
Fewer steps are needed with the capability of the resin in printing direct
composite restoration guides
Three-dimensionally printing the guides enables dental professionals to
accurately design the extension of the guide and control its adaptation
at the gingiva margin which is critical for the technique. Waste is also
reduced as there is no need to cut the guides with a blade to adjust to
the gingiva margin. Moreover, the thickness of the appliance can be
controlled when designed digitally to ensure it is consistent throughout
the appliance which is not achievable via the analogue workflow.
Traditional silicone guides require the application of a separating
agent to prevent the composite from adhering to it during clinical use.
For trays used for guided restorative techniques, some composites
do not adhere to the tray, providing a nice advantage compared to
conventional workflows.
“There is great fidelity between the reference and the printed guide,
which results in the good reproduction of details and helps to
avoid surface or occlusion corrections. Another advantage is the
translucency of the material, which makes it possible to control the
distribution of the temporary resin in the guide and avoid the presence
of bubbles,” said Dr Edouard Lanoiselée, DDS.
A Formlabs Dental key opinion leader and restorative dentistry expert,
Dr Lanoiselée has been testing and using IBT Flex Resin for chairside
permanent and temporary crowns and bridges, mock-ups or try-ins
during aesthetic treatments, and moulds for restorations.
“The printed guide is flexible, so it is easy to insert and remove.
Furthermore, the composite does not stick to the printed guide so
we can use it for different techniques with chemo-polymerisable
resins such as temporary resins or photo-polymerisable restoration
composites.”
The indirect bonding
tray workflow with
IBT Flex Resin can
reduce over 30mins
in patient chair time
Dentists might perform direct composite restorations freehand or
use a variety of digital or analogue tools. With IBT Flex Resin, dental
professionals can go directly from digital design to the 3D printed index,
reducing costly steps that create rooms for mistakes. The 3D printed
guide directly replicates a digital design with accuracy, whether a design
is a single unit, a full smile, or anywhere in between. DA
DENTAL ASIA JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 53