Aura

Consultants’ Comments

• “The handling properties of Aura are very good.”
• “The combination of a nano-hybrid and a microfill is a nice feature within a single system.”
• “Capsule design and color coding are perfect.”
• “I would not use the enamel shades in the posterior because they are radiolucent.”
• “Adapting to this shade system is challenging.”

Description

Aura is a light cured, radiopaque composite restorative system with a unique shade matching system. Aura adopts a systematic and scientific approach to shade arrangement and colors of natural enamel and dentin. Shade designations for each category of composite (dentin, enamel, multipurpose, and bulk fill) are numerically arranged from light to dark. Dentin and enamel shades are intended for layered restorations.

• Aura Enamel shades are microfilled composite in shades in E1, E2 and E3. Enamel shades are not radiopaque.
•  Aura Dentin Chroma shades are nano-hybrid composites based on a single opacity and single hue that is fluorescent with a broad range of chroma, in shades DC1, DC2, DC3, DC4, DC5, DC6 and DC7.
• Aura Multipurpose Chroma is a nano-hybrid composite in shades MC2, MC3, MC4 and MC5. These are less opaque and designed for general non-layering or bulk-filling requirements with a 4 mm depth of cure.
•  Aura Bulk Fill composite has a 5 mm depth of cure using 20 seconds with an LED curing light or 40 seconds with a halogen light.

Aura composite is available in 4 g syringes and 0.25 g unit dose capsules (3 g syringes/ 0.20 g unit dose for Enamel shades). Aura was evaluated by nine editors in 345 uses. This composite system earned a 91% clinical rating.

Product Features

Instructions/Packaging
Syringes and capsules of Aura are labeled completely with name, shade and expiration date. Unit-dose capsules are color-coded by type of composite and are boxed in clear plastic containers that are easy to store. The kit includes clear instructions on shade selection based on chroma.

Handling
Aura nano-hybrid composites handle extremely well. The viscosity has sufficient body for packing without being too stiff. Sculpting anatomy can be done with no sticking of the instrument to the composite. The Enamel shades are softer and waxier.

Shades
The Aura shading system was new to the consultants, requiring a shift in how they approached shade selection. While it was not difficult to learn, consultants were resistant to change from the familiar Vita system. The Multipurpose Chroma shades blend well and work as a universal anterior/posterior single-layer composite.

Esthetics
The Aura system provides a variety of composites to satisfy all clinical situations. Shades blend well with the tooth, and they all polish well. Use of the Aura Dentin Chroma shades replicate the opacity of dentin and are especially useful in Class III and Class IV restorations. Aura Enamel polishes to a high shine, matching the gloss of tooth enamel. Aura Bulk Fill is fairly translucent but was reported to be acceptable for most posterior applications.

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