Redefining Diastema and Black Triangle Closures
The OMNIGap Protocol enables dentists to apply just the right amount of composite using the Goldilocks principle.
Diastema closures and black triangle treatments are some of the most requested procedures in modern dentistry. Patients want smiles that look natural, full, and untouched by the drill. They’re seeking noninvasive solutions that preserve enamel and maintain the essence of their smile. Fortunately, dental materials have caught up with these expectations. Enter Tokuyama Dental’s OMNICHROMA, the world’s first structurally colored composite. This means less inventory, no guessing over shade tabs, and no fear of restorations standing out as teeth change over time.
Why Structural Color Matters
Traditional composites rely on universal shades that can make additive bonding appear bulky. OMNICHROMA’s translucency mimics natural enamel gradients without producing visible patchwork. Available in both flowable and packable formulation, OMNICHROMA polishes to a high luster and does not undergo shade degradation over time. In my own clinical practice, I’ve placed OMNICHROMA on hundreds of teeth and have yet to see interproximal debonding. Personally, I am always amazed how well the material behaves over time. Repeatedly, my colleagues note they can’t tell where the tooth ends and the composite starts. For dentists, few procedures are as rewarding as seeing an immediate transformation that requires no preparation of enamel with reduced chair time.
A Smart Tool for Clear Aligners
Orthodontics require planning for tooth size and shape discrepancies. These teeth are frequently undersized relative to the rest of the arch, creating esthetic disharmony or overjet concerns. Rather than defaulting to lower incisor interproximal reduction, I can confidently add to narrow teeth conservatively, preserving tooth structure. Also, when crowded lower anterior teeth are derotated, black triangles frequently appear; patients want them gone. The composite blends invisibly into enamel, preserving emergence profiles and avoiding bulky contours.
The OMNIGap Protocol in Action
I developed the OMNIGap Protocol to deliver just the right amount of composite using the Goldilocks principle. Beads of OMNICHROMA Flow are interproximally placed to stabilize vertical matrices (Figure 1). To do this you must visualize the midline, map bead sites, then spot-etch, prime, and bond. Place eight microbeads interproximally: two gingival and two incisal on the facial, mirrored on the lingual to form a lattice to guide closure without impinging the papilla. With rubber dam isolation, secure matrices with a diamond wedge and micro-etch. Then etch, prime, and bond the full interproximal surface beyond composite margins. Inject OMNICHROMA Flow followed by warmed OMNICHROMA in a sandwich technique.
By placing OMNICHROMA Flow first and then pushing OMNICHROMA against it, you can better seal the margins, reducing risk of voids/open margins, staining, decay, and gingival inflammation. Lastly, cure facially and lingually, remove matrices, refine contours, and polish (Figure 2). This technique produces predictable, noninvasive, and natural results every time and is similar in workflow to Class II restorations with sectional matrices.
Material That Works as Hard as You Do
Closing gaps is about restoring harmony to the smile. Single-shade composites offer precision, efficiency, and artistry. They are best when sculpting delicate contacts, mimicking natural enamel, or managing post-whitening shade changes. As dentistry embraces additive, minimally invasive methods, OMNICHROMA is the material that finally keeps pace with both patient expectations and clinical demands.
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From Decisions in Dentistry. October/November 2025;11(5):24.
