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2009 Product Awards
THE DENTAL ADVISOR has selected 34 products for special recognition. Our Product Awards are given to the dental products that have exceeded our standards of performance and quality. The products were selected for awards based on the clinical experience of our Editorial Board and Consulting Team.
Assistants’ Choice
3M ESPE Pentamix 3
3M ESPE
The Pentamix 3 Automatic Mixing Unit is
the newest in the Pentamix line from 3M ESPE. This smaller unit was
designed to take up less counter space or to be installed directly on the wall.
3M ESPE also added activation buttons on both sides to increase ease of
operation.
Hygienists’ Choice
Kolorz ClearShield 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish
Zenith Dental/DMG
Kolorz ClearShield 5% Fluoride Varnish is a 5% sodium fluoride varnish indicated for use as both a treatment for dentinal
hypersensitivity and as a cavity liner under amalgam restorations.
- "Less opaque than other fluoride varnishes.”
- "Very smooth, easy application.”
- "Because of the clear color and great taste, patients think it’s terrific.”
- "Our office has switched to ClearShield!”
- “Patients found the taste pleasant.”
Top 6th-generation Bonding Agent
CLEARFIL SE BOND
Kuraray America
CLEARFIL SE BOND is a self-etching, light-cured bonding agent and consists of two solutions: SE
Primer (6 ml) accomplishes both etching and priming of dentin and cut enamel.
- "Dispensing unit is innovative – easy to recap and solutions do not leak out if the unit is overturned.”
- “Good laminated instruction card.”
- “Application and curing times are labeled on the container – a nice reminder.”
- “Using Clearfil SE BOND resulted in less postoperative sensitivity.”
- “Viscosity of the solutions is low and if excess is delivered, it will run out of the preparation.”
Top 7th-generation Bonding Agent
Futurabond DC
VOCO America, Inc.
Futurabond DC is a dual-cured, self-etching bonding agent (7th-generation) that is reinforced with nano-particles. It is indicated for use
with direct light-, dual- or self-cured composite restorations and core build-ups.
- “SingleDose design is relatively easy to use.”
- “Good wettability of the tooth surface.”
- “Futurabond DC SingleDose provides fresh material for each case.”
- “Versatile adhesive system.”
- “Does not have a strong odor.”
Top Adhesive Resin Cement
Multilink Automix
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
Multilink Automix is a dual-cured, multipurpose resin-based dental cement with a self-curing and self-etching primer.
- “Cement is very easy to use.”
- “The viscosity of the cement is low enough to allow easy seating of restorations.”
- “Transparent shade blends well with ceramic inlays.”
Top Air-driven, High-speed Handpiece
GENTLEsilence 6500B
KaVo Dental
GENTLEsilence 6500B is a cellular-optic, air-driven, high-speed handpiece for tooth preparation in restorative and crown and bridge
procedures.
- “Smooth operation.”
- “Low vibration.”
- “My favorite handpiece!”
- “Easy to attach the handpiece to the coupler and insert the bur.”
Top Alginate
imprESSIX Color Change
DENTSPLY Raintree Essix
imprESSIX Color Change is a fast-set, dust-free, berry-scented alginate impression material that changes color
to indicate the stage of set.
- “Exceptional detail - best of all alginates.”
- “Patients found the taste pleasant.”
- “Best model I’ve seen from an alginate.”
- “Loved it!”
Top All-ceramic Bridge Material
3M ESPE Lava Crowns and Bridges
3M ESPE
3M ESPE Lava Crowns and Bridges is a CAD/CAM system for anterior and posterior all-ceramic crowns and 3- or 4-unit bridges.
- "3M ESPE Lava Crowns and Bridges allows me to provide my patient with strong, esthetic restorations.”
- “The marginal integrity is equivalent to that achieved with ceramic-metal restorations.”
- “As found with all restorations, esthetics is largely dependent on the laboratory fabricating the restoration.”
Top Anterior Ceramic
IPS Empress
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
IPS Empress is a pressable ceramic system indicated for anterior veneers and crowns, posterior crowns, inlays, and onlays.
- “IPS Empress is a reliable ceramic to use in all areas of the mouth.”
- “Anterior restorations look great – nice vitality.”
- “I have several inlays/onlays that have been in service for 9-10 years, and they all look very life-like. At first, it is difficult to tell if a tooth actually has a restoration.”
- “The margins are practically undetectable."
- "Because the fit is excellent, it practically eliminates dissolution of the cement layer between the restoration and the tooth.”
Top Bite Registration Material
JET BLUE BITE
Coltène/Whaledent, Inc.
JET BLUE BITE is an addition silicone bite registration material available in fast and super-fast setting times.
- “Stays where you put it!”
- “Easy to trim – remains in one piece.”
- “Does not lock in undercuts.”
Top Ceramic Finishing & Polishing System
Jazz P3S Polishers
S.S. White Burs, Inc.
Jazz P3S Polishers are latch-type polishers indicated for use on porcelain restorations, but they can also be used on metal.
- “Excellent assortment of shapes and sizes.”
- “Durable after repeated use and sterilization.”
- “Be patient as several different grits are required for best results.”
Top Composite
Tetric EvoCeram
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
Tetric EvoCeram is a universal, nanohybrid composite. It is indicated for Class I, II, III, IV, and V restorations; veneering anterior teeth;
splinting of mobile teeth; and repair of ceramic and composite veneers.
- “I loved the way it blended with the tooth.”
- “Easy to place, sculpt and, in general, work with.”
- “Good handling characteristics – just about the perfect consistency.”
Top Composite Finishing & Polishing System
Super-Snap Singles
Shofu Dental Corp.
Super-Snap Singles are thin, flexible disks with a silicone rubber center. The plastic, latch-type mandrel is disposable. Each Super-Snap Singles individually sterile pack contains a plastic mandrel plus eight disks: coarse, medium, fine, and extra-fine grits in both regular (12.5 mm) and mini (7.94 mm) sizes. The disks are color-coded for easy identification: black (contouring), violet (finishing), green (polishing), and red (super polishing). They are double-sided with an abrasive on both sides except for the coarse grit disk, which is single-sided. The disks are designed for use in a slow-speed handpiece at 10,000 to 12,000 rpm. Twenty-four consultants evaluated Super-Snap Singles in over 550 uses. This product received a 96% clinical rating.
- “Excellent polish!”
- “Plastic mandrels in each packet are great! No more hunting for the few metal mandrels in the office.”
- “No metal in the center of the disk is great!”
Top Core System
LuxaCore Z-Dual and LuxaBond Total Etch
Zenith Dental/DMG
LuxaCore Z-Dual is a radiopaque, dual-cured composite core material used for build-ups and post cementations. LuxaBond Total Etch is
a 4th-generation, dual-cured enamel and dentin adhesive for bonding resin-based restoratives.
LuxaCore Z-Dual
- “Dual-cured feature gives me more confidence in deep-layer polymerization.”
- “Viscosity is ideal.”
- “Shade differentiation made prepping easier.”
- “Cured material is hard and cuts like dentin!”
- “Good radiopacity.”
- “My assistants loved that LuxaCore Z-Dual did not require refrigeration.”
LuxaBond Total Etch
- “Useful for a wide variety of procedures.”
- “Chemical set is very predictable.”
- “As with all 4th-generation systems, application time is longer.”
- “In my experience, one seldom sees marginal staining with 4th-generation products.”
Top Cosmetic Product
Lumineers with Cerinate
Den-Mat Holdings LLC
Lumineers® with Cerinate® are leucite-reinforced, pressed ceramic veneers fabricated from the
patented Cerinate porcelain system.
- “The majority of the cases were fabricated with the pressable stain and glaze technique. The luminescent quality of the Cerinate ceramic is exceptional, given the fact that layering of incisals was not done.”
- “Correcting the appearance of peg laterals with no tooth preparation was extremely rewarding.”
- “Excellent esthetics after three years.”
- “A truly successful material requiring minimal tooth reduction and minimal ceramic thickness."
Top Dispensing System
VivaPen
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
VivaPen is a unique, pen-like dispenser with disposable micro-tipped cannulas. VivaPen enables the bonding agent to be applied directly t
o the preparation, saving time and material.
- “Excellent concept - very convenient.”
- “Impressive delivery system.”
- “Nice, small brush tip for access into narrow preparations.”
- “Very versatile - quick and easy to use.”
- “Available with AdheSE One and Excite.”
Top Electric Handpiece
701KL Electric Motor and ELECTROtorque Plus
KaVo Dental
The 701 KL Electric Motor is a brushless electric motor designed for use with high- and low-speed electric attachments to complete most
dental procedures. ELECTROtorque Plus is a cellular-optic electric handpiece system.
701KL Electric Motor
- “Smooth operation.”
- “Excellent constant torque.”
- “Easy snap-on handpiece connection.”
- “I appreciate the ability to digitally control the speed, especially when finishing and polishing or performing endodontic procedures.”
- “Custom mounting brackets are available for installation on existing delivery units.”
- “It is very convenient to control water spray at the motor rather than on the delivery system.”
ELECTROtorque Plus
- “By far the best handpiece that I have used in 30 years of practice.”
- “The air spray is perfect – it was so easy to adjust.”
- “The illumination on the high and low speeds is wonderful.”
- “I love the feel of this handpiece. It works wonderfully for removing old amalgams and crowns.”
- “Much quieter than air-driven handpieces.”
Top Endodontic System
The Elements System
SybronEndo
The Elements Obturation Unit is a portable endodontic unit combining the System B heat source with a motorized extruder handpiece.
The Elements Diagnostic Unit is an electronic apex locator/diagnostic unit.
The Elements Obturation Unit
- “The display is easy to read.”
- “A very nice, quality fill.”
- “It cuts the time to fill a tooth in half.”
- “Easy to use on difficult patients.”
The Elements Diagnostic Unit
- “I trust its accuracy.”
- “Easy to use and works well in wet canals.”
- “Easy to read LCD.”
- “Apex locator is more sensitive than others when used on teeth with metallic restorations.”
Top Esthetic Post System
ParaPost Taper LUX
Coltène/Whaledent, Inc.
ParaPost Taper Lux is a tapered, glass-fiber post with unidirectional fibers in a resin matrix.
- “The posts have a retentive head design.”
- “The natural color of the posts enhances esthetics, especially in the anterior.”
- “Excellent product! ParaPost has been around for a long time and this is their best product.”
- “It is a big help that the drills are color-coded to the posts.”
Top Esthetic Resin Cement
Clearfil Esthetic Resin Cement
Kuraray America
Clearfil Esthetic Resin Cement is a dual-cured, radiopaque resin cement that is used in
combination with a self-etching adhesive system (Clearfil DC BOND included in the evaluated
kit).
- “I really like the kit - I will keep using it.”
- “This cement is very easy to clean up after just a 3- to 5-second light cure.”
- “The shade matching and shade descriptions in the kit are very useful.”
- “The kit is all-inclusive.”
Top Flowable Composite
Accolade SRO
Danville Materials
Accolade SRO (Super RadiOpaque) is a fluoride releasing, flowable composite designed to have life-like fluorescence.
- “High radiopacity of a flowable is a very helpful characteristic.”
- “Adapts well to the floor of preparations.”
- “Use as a sealant – good flow.”
Top Fluoride Varnish
Kolorz ClearShield 5% Sodum Fluoride Varnish
Zenith Dental/DMG
Kolorz ClearShield 5% Fluoride Varnish is a 5% sodium fluoride varnish indicated for use as both a treatment for dentinal
hypersensitivity and as a cavity liner under amalgam restorations.
- “Less opaque than other fluoride varnishes.”
- “Very smooth, easy application.”
- “Because of the clear color and great taste, patients think it’s terrific.”
- “Our office has switched to ClearShield!”
- “Patients found the taste pleasant.”
Top Impression Material
Aquasil Ultra
DENTSPLY Caulk
Aquasil Ultra is an addition silicone impression material. This formula is designed with a reduced contact angle, an increase in tear strength, and maintenance of a low viscosity during the working time.
- “Remarkable accuracy in a moist environment.”
- “Excellent resistance to tearing, especially in thin areas.”
- “The light-body material stacks well, and the heavy-body material provides excellent rigidity for the tray.”
- “Many patients commented positively on the mint flavor and scent.”
Top Innovative Product
CLEARFIL CERAMIC PRIMER
Kuraray America
CLEARFIL CERAMIC PRIMER is a single-bottle silane/acidic adhesive monomer (MDP)-based coupling
agent for use with indirect porcelain, ceramic, hybrid ceramic and composite restorations.
- “Easy to use on a variety of materials.”
- “Wets ceramics well and is quick to apply!”
- “Saves step of etching ceramic restorations, decreases placement time.”
Top Light-curing Unit
bluephase G2
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
The bluephase G2 is a cordless LED curing-light used for the polymerization of light-curing dental materials,
including restoratives, bonding agents/adhesives, bases, liners, fissure sealants, temporaries, as well saluting
materials for orthodontic brackets.
- “This is a great light!”
- “It’s great to have one light that cures everything!”
- “The sleek design and power are great!”
Top Pediatric Product
Beautifil II
Shofu Dental Crop.
Beautifil II is a fluoride releasing, light-cured, nano-hybrid composite
indicated for Class I-V restorations, wedge-shaped defects and root caries,
direct laminate veneer, core build-up, and repair of restorations. The
manufacturer classifies it as a GIOMER, an esthetic restorative material that
combines the characteristics of both composite and glass ionomer.
- “Good handling characteristics - easy to pack and does not stick to my instrument.”
- “Fluoride release makes it an excellent choice for pediatric patients!”
- “The shades blend beautifully and polish nicely.”
- “The flip-cap on the syringe was well liked by my assistants.”
Top Pit and Fissure Sealant
Ultraseal XT Plus
Ultradent
UltraSeal XT Plus is a pit and fissure sealant.
- “This is a great dispensing system.”
- “It really makes the application of sealant effortless.”
- “I like the viscosity of this material.”
Top Posterior Ceramic
IPS e.max
Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
IPS e.max is a ceramic system featuring all-ceramic materials for use with CAD/CAM or as a pressable ceramic.
- “Excellent esthetics.”
- “I love the material options available.”
- “I have been using this system for over three years and the results have exceeded my expectations. Almost no fractures and the esthetics are unsurpassed.”
- “Polishes very well after any occlusal adjustments.”
Top Provisional Material
Luxatemp Fluorescence
Zenith Dental/DMG
Luxatemp Fluorescence is a self-cured, hybrid Bis-GMA resin composite for fabrication of provisional crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays,
temporary veneers, and long-term temporaries.
- “Nice esthetics and translucency.”
- “Easy to work with and didn’t fracture.”
- “Easy to remove and didn’t seem to lock onto teeth.”
- “One of my favorite materials.”
Top Sectional Matrix System
V3 Sectional Matrix System
TrioDent Ltd.
The V3 Sectional Matrix System is comprised of three components: the V3 Ring, a separator ring with V-shaped plastic tines, the V3 Matrix
and the Wave-Wedge.
- “The new V3 Sectional Matrix System worked better for wider proximal boxes when compared to the previous version.”
- “This system creates the most anatomic, tight contacts of any system I have ever used.”
- “Consistent separation of teeth and less for me to trim in the interproximal.”
- “Stacking the rings for multiple restorations is still difficult.”
- “Rings are tight, wedges are smooth and both are gentle to tissue.”
Top Self-adhesive Resin Cement
3M ESPE RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Universal Resin Cement
3M ESPE
3M ESPE RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Universal Resin Cement is a dual-cured resin cement. It is self-adhesive, requiring no tooth
surface preparation such as etching or priming.
- “After five years of use, RelyX Unicem continues to be the most widely used cement in our office.”
- “Simple cement for fiber posts.”
- “Very few debonds.”
- “Very mild cement with little sensitivity at cementation.”
- “Remove excess cement before it is fully set.”
- “Quick, easy to use, easy to clean, and very reliable outcome.”
Top Soft Reline Material
SOFRELINER TOUGH
Tokuyama Dental Corp./Tokuyama America, Inc.
SOFRELINER TOUGH is a chair-side addition silicone soft lining material for dentures and other removable acrylic prostheses.
- “A very useful material to provide retention of attachments in overdentures or implant-based prostheses.”
- “Easy product to use.”
- “A butt-joint finish line enhances the resistance to peeling at the edges.”
- “Lasts longer than other soft reline materials.”
Top Temporary Cement
3M ESPE RelyX Temp NE
3M ESPE
3M ESPE RelyX Temp NE is a non-eugenol, zinc oxide temporary cement formerly known as Procem.
- “My assistants love the tubes – easy to use, not messy.”
- “This material did a great job retaining temporaries.”
- “I am switching to RelyX Temp NE.” “It is easiest to remove the excess once the cement is set.”
Top WOW Product
EtchMaster
Groman, Inc.
EtchMaster is a single-use air abrasion tip for intraoral use. It is indicated for polishing, roughening and/or etching of enamel, dentin, crowns, veneers, prosthetics, orthodontic brackets and dental restorations for adhesive restorative procedures.
- “Very compact and easy to use.”
- “I have been looking for a chair-side device that can prepare surfaces for bonding - this is perfect!”
- “The convenience of having a small chair-side unit is outstanding.”
- “Probably the best new product I’ve tried yet!”
- “Works well for cleaning cement out of crowns.”
- “My hygienist likes the soft powder for orthodontic patients and cleaning around brackets.”
