Universal Composite Saves Time, Simplifies Shade Matching

OMNICHROMA is the first oneshade universal composite that matches every tooth — from A1 to D4 and beyond — with a single composite shade. Available since early 2019, this material has simplified restorative dentistry for thousands of clinicians across the United States and Canada by eliminating the shade matching procedure and streamlining inventories.

Offered by Tokuyama Dental, this technology makes it possible to use one material for the majority of anterior and posterior composite cases. OMNICHROMA picks up the color of the tooth structure it is bonded to across all 16 VITA shades, so it blends right in. And thanks to its excellent physical and mechanical properties, it provides predictable long-term results that satisfy doctors and patients alike.

SHADE-MATCHING TECHNOLOGY

Featuring Tokuyama’s Smart Chromatic Technology, OMNICHROMA’s 260-nanometer spherical fillers are the precise shape and size necessary to generate red-to-yellow structural color as ambient light passes through the composite. Combined with the reflected color of the surrounding dentition, this results in a perfect match — and with no added dyes or pigments.

OMNICHROMA BLOCKER

While OMNICHROMA is a universal solution for almost any case, and indicated for use in anterior or posterior teeth, and cavity classes I through V, desired shade matching may prove challenging in certain situations. Because it adapts to the tooth structure it is bonded to, if not enough tooth structure is left — such as in large class III or IV restorations, or if staining or dark dentin are present within the restoration — clinicians can use OMNICHROMA Blocker to achieve the desired esthetic outcome.

OMNICHROMA Blocker serves as base for OMNICHROMA, preventing light interference from dark light as it reflects from the back of the mouth or the composite from adapting to undesired shades of stains or dentin. In this manner, OMNICHROMA Blocker allows the composite to invisibly blend with the surrounding dentition (Figure 1 through Figure 6).

PRACTICAL BENEFITS

With conventional composites, dental teams must manage a large variety of composites to match the numerous tooth shades encountered in practice. Even worse, unused composite shades eventually expire and must be discarded. By eliminating the need to maintain large inventories, OMNICHROMA saves dentists time and money.

OMNICHROMA also saves chairtime. Survey data show dentists spend 30 seconds or more selecting a shade for a restoration. Using 60 seconds on average and noting the typical dentist restores 23 caries per week, this adds up to a time-savings of almost 20 hours per year by using OMNICHROMA. This universal composite gives this time back by eliminating the need for shade selection and streamlining the restorative process.

IN SUMMARY

One-shade OMNICHROMA allows dentists to achieve excellent results, simplifies the color selection process, and decreases the inventory of composites an office needs to stock. From a clinical perspective, this is a game-changing material.

From Decisions in Dentistry. November 2020;6(10): 8-9.