3M Direct Restorative Solutions

Start your day with more control and more confidence – every step of the way.

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Take your practice to the next level.

Transform your procedures with 3M Direct Restorative Solutions: a full portfolio engineered to enhance performance, profitability and patient satisfaction – every step of the way.

Each proven product is designed to further elevate the consistent high quality of your restorations, conquer common procedure challenges, and chart a route to greater profitability for your practice. Harness the power of 3M science, from our globally trusted universal adhesive that virtually eliminates post-operative sensitivity … to the true nanotechnology of our wear-resistant composites … and our innovative tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) ingredient that contains the building blocks of healthy teeth.

3M Direct Restorative Solutions also brings together two innovative partners: Bluelight, with easy, routine testing for curing lights; and Bioclear Matrix Systems, for intuitive and minimally invasive dentistry with spectacular results.

3M Direct Restorative Solutions

Shade Selection

Matching a patient’s tooth shade can be tricky – but it’s the real trick to creating a restoration your patient will love. By carefully controlling key variables – and choosing a composite that aligns with your shade guide and technique – you can help ensure a better match.

Set yourself up for success with simplified shade matching using composites formulated to match the VITA® Classical Shade Guide:

3M™ Filtek™ Z350 XT Universal Restorative
36 shades, including 8 “go-to” body shades

4 opacities: Body, Dentin, Enamel, Translucent

Shades formulated to match VITA® Classical Shade Guide

For highly esthetic single-shade and multi-shade restorations
Read a multi-shade clinical case
3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative
8 designer body shades + Extra White (XW) cover the 19 VITA Classical and Bleach shades

1 universal opacity helps shades to blend with surrounding dentition

For simpler single-shade restorations
Read a single-shade clinical case

Shade selection tips for success
- Select your shade in natural light.
- Dehydrated teeth lighten in color, so take the shade as quickly as possible before isolating.
- Don’t stare too long; let your eyes rest.

Technique Selection

With every restoration, you balance many factors: the size of the restoration, the color and translucency of the patient’s teeth, the patient’s desire for esthetics, and your practice’s productivity. At the same time, patients and practitioners alike are more motivated than ever to limit the unnecessary removal of healthy tooth structure. In every case, one factor remains constant: careful material selection and attention to detail pay off.

Scenario: Single-shade restorations
80% of direct restorations

Posterior restorations and small anterior restorations without stains or discoloration

Monochromatic teeth that don’t require layers to match surrounding dentition
Read a single-shade clinical case
Scenario: Multi-shade restorations
20% of direct restorations

Teeth with stains or dark dentition

Polychromatic teeth

Highly characterized teeth
Read a multi-shade clinical case

Solution: 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative
8 designer shades plus Extra White (XW), 1 universal opacity

Creamy handling

High strength with wear resistance similar to human enamel

Proprietary low-stress monomers for lower shrinkage
Solution: 3M™ Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative
Wide palette to create multi-shade restorations

36 shades, 4 opacities (Translucent, Enamel, Body and Dentin)

Exceptional handling

Outstanding strength with wear resistance similar to human enamel
15+ years of clinically proven performance (PDF, 1.09 MB)

Blocking out dark dentition

Dark spots under a new restoration aren’t just an esthetic problem: down the road, they can make other practitioners suspect secondary caries. Don’t risk patient satisfaction and unnecessary rework: block out dark dentition every time with 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative, Pink Opaquer.

Adhesive Application

In 2011, 3M introduced the first universal adhesive to simplify adhesive application and give you greater confidence in bond reliability. Today, there are more options than ever – but choosing the right adhesive doesn’t have to be complicated.

Why use a universal adhesive?
Streamline your inventory and standardize your adhesive procedures

Save time with one-step, one-coat application

Reliable bond strength with multiple substrates

Get the eBook: Why universal adhesives are here to stay (PDF, 1.26 MB)

Read the article: What you need to know about dental adhesives
3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Plus Adhesive
First radiopaque universal adhesive

Bonds and seals caries affected dentin to support minimally invasive dentistry

Gold standard adhesion to all dental substrates

Virtually no post-op sensitivity

Build confidence in a new adhesive

How can you trust a new adhesive or predict how it will perform in the future? By looking at its evolution. Our clinically proven original formulation, 3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive, was the industry’s first truly universal adhesive. It has also become the most researched, with 5+ years of published clinical studies and 400+ peer-reviewed scientific publications: Read the clinical booklet (PDF 1.7 MB)

Now, Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive offers all the benefits of its predecessor – with new levels of control and predictability.

Composite Placement

Whether you are placing incrementally in the anterior or bulk filling in the posterior, finding the right balance of esthetics and efficiency is important. Innovations such as true nanotechnology, low-stress monomers and composite warming can help you create restorations that look and wear more like natural teeth.

Anterior Esthetics
Wide variety of shades and opacities to match the neighboring teeth.

Block out stains and dark dentin, both for esthetics and to avoid future misdiagnosis. Download the flyer to learn more (PDF, 822.86 KB)
Posterior Bulk-Filling
Increase productivity by reducing placement time by 50–60% for Class I and Class II restorations. Read the article to learn more.

Simplify posterior restorations with one-step placement.

Find your next “go-to” composite
- 3M™ Filtek™ Z350 XT Universal Restorative – exceptional esthetics for the anterior, outstanding strength for the posterior
- 3M™ Filtek™ Universal Restorative – ultimate simplicity for single-shade restorations
- 3M™ Filtek™ Supreme Flowable Restorative – esthetic flowable
- 3M™ Filtek™ One Bulk Fill Restorative – advancements in esthetics and stress relief
- 3M™ Filtek™ Bulk Fill Flowable Restorative – efficient flowable

Benefits of composite warming

Warmed composites are more fluid, enabling easier handling and requiring lower extrusion force when dispensing. Warming may also improve adaptation to the tooth structure, resulting in fewer voids and gaps. 3M has conducted extensive testing to ensure that our composites are both safe and effective when warmed. Download the flyer (PDF, 1.03 MB) to learn more about warming Filtek dental restoratives.

Light Curing

Every step is important to ensure lasting restorations, but perhaps no single step is as critical as light curing. If your light isn’t calibrated or functioning properly, you could be under-curing or over-curing without realizing it. A high-performance light, routine monitoring and a curing light checklist can help you achieve a consistent cure – and avoid costly rework.

3M™ Elipar™ DeepCure-S LED Curing Light
Predictable, reliable cure, even at the bottom of the proximal box

Uniform light distribution at clinically relevant distances

Good depth of cure even when light positioning is difficult
The consequences of under-curing
Composite fracture

Debonding and discoloration

Post-op sensitivity

The risks of over-curing

Overheating and pulp damage

Increased shrinkage

Be sure of your cure

Every brand and shade of material requires a specific dose of blue light in order to polymerize – which means a major portion of your restorative business depends on your curing light’s performance and calibration.

Start with a free Bluelight CheckMARC Curing Light Test: a 3M representative will visit your clinic to test your light in clinically relevant scenarios and help optimize your protocols.

Request a free curing light test

Finishing & Polishing

Natural-looking anatomical shapes and a high-gloss polish: the most time-consuming parts of the direct procedure can be the most critical for long-term esthetic results. Fine-tune your technique and use a streamlined system to make your restorations blend invisibly with the surrounding dentition – and help ensure long-lasting results your patients will love.

3M™ Sof-Lex™ Finishing and Polishing Systems
Full line of discs and strips, from gross reduction and contouring to finishing and high-gloss polishing

Conformable and easy to use

Pop-on discs make change-outs quick and easy
3M™ Sof-Lex™ Diamond Polishing System

Create a high-gloss polish without the messy paste, in just two steps

Unique, flexible shape adapts to all tooth surfaces and can be used from any angle

Spiral shape is kind to gingival tissues and helps maintain the integrity and anatomy of your restorations

Tips for long-term color stability
- Smooth surfaces are less likely to attract biofilm*
- Use the right speed and pressure for your handpiece – too much can remove the anatomy you’re trying to create
Tips for maximizing composite esthetics
- Choose a true nanocomposite for natural-looking result and polish retention
- Ensure a proper light cure

*LeSage, B. Finishing and polishing criteria for minimally invasive composite restorations. Gen Dent. 2011 Nov-Dec;59(6):422-8. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22313913/

Protection

Patients who have had one cavity are already at risk for more. After your restorative work is finished, it’s important to help protect against secondary caries. And that starts by talking with your patients about their increased risk of caries – and by exploring both in-office and at-home fluoride treatments. The American Dental Association recommends that people with moderate to high risk of caries receive a professional fluoride treatment 2–4 times per year and use prescription strength fluoride toothpaste every day.

In-office treatment
Indicated for treatment of hypersensitive teeth, our fluoride varnishes are designed for easy application and are virtually invisible once applied. Choose extended release or fast release formulations.

3M™ Clinpro™ 5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish
At-home treatment
Indicated for treatment of hypersensitive teeth, our fluoride varnishes are designed for easy application and are virtually invisible once applied. Choose extended release or fast release formulations.

3M™ Clinpro™ 5000 1.1% Sodium Fluoride Anti-Cavity Toothpaste

Having the “high risk” conversation with your patients
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – but it isn’t always easy to convince patients to be proactive about their oral health. Help your patients understand their risk level and what they can do to set themselves up for better long-term oral health.
- Download patient brochures on fluoride (PDF, 419 KB) and cavity prevention (PDF, 548.39 KB)
- Read our article about how to start the conversation

Map pin icons with composite shades, dental tools and dental adhesive

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Meet our partners and access more educational resources

3M and Bluelight partnered to bring you the evidence-based information you need to be confident in the predictable performance of your curing light, specifically for the restorative materials used in your clinic. Have a trained representative evaluate your curing light materials and protocols, or purchase the new smart radiometer to perform your own in-house test.

Learn more about Bluelight CheckMARC® and CheckUp
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Read expert thought leadership from the 3M Oral Care team, industry leaders and your colleagues around the world.

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