A truly “Universal” bonding agent

Matthew R. Miller, DDS (left); Kerr OptiBond™ Universal 360 (right)

Kerr Dental’s OptiBond™ Universal 360 streamlines workflows

Matthew R. Miller, DDS, is a life-long learner. He is an active advisor in his local Seattle Study Club, a clinical ambassador for The Dental Advisor, and a board member on Kerr Dental’s endodontic advisory board and restorative advisory board. “Continuing my education and getting involved in clinical research gave me the opportunity to test different dental products and materials and to be involved in writing articles and even product development,” says Miller.

Miller played a role with Kerr’s restorative advisory board in developing OptiBond™ Universal 360, the next generation of the company’s best-selling OptiBond Universal bonding agent. He says, “One of my priorities is finding materials that allow for consolidation with other materials to reduce the steps involved in various techniques and workflows.”

OptiBond Universal 360 is specifically formulated to provide reliable bond strength to all surfaces and substrates, including zirconia, lithium disilicate, gold, base metal alloys, alumina, titanium, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), and porcelain-fused-to-zirconia (PFZ). It does not require a separate ceramic or metal primer. Miller says. “We wanted OptiBond Universal 360 to be universal for all indications and to be universally compatible with other resins, including cements, core buildup materials, and composites.”

A one-bottle solution, OptiBond Universal 360 can be used in self-etch, selective-etch, and total-etch protocols for both direct and indirect restorations. Kerr’s patented GPDM, MDP, and proprietary ternary solvent system with water, acetone, and ethanol enables dental practices to reduce technique sensitivity and application time without compromising bond strength. “Universal bonding agents that are acidic can interfere with the bonding of another resin, so in many situations, you have to light cure your bond first,” Miller says. “OptiBond Universal 360 will self-cure with any dual-cure resin, so if you’re using a buildup material or cement, and your curing light won’t reach the bonding agent, there’s no worry. Furthermore, OptiBond Universal 360 will play well with your other preferred products. This is also the first Kerr bonding agent that includes MDP, eliminating the need for a dedicated primer when bonding to metal and zirconia.”

OptiBond Universal 360 also features an all-new ergonomic bottle design that significantly improves ease of use. With an auto-open button, dental professionals need only one hand for opening, dispensing, and closing, and the dropper delivers a precise drop size at every application.  Miller says, “When you are holding a few things and actively working on teeth, it can be cumbersome, so the auto-open feature is really neat.”

Miller also notes the improved film thickness of OptiBond Universal 360, which means that less is needed to cover teeth. Because OptiBond Universal 360 combines etching, priming, and bonding and works well with as little as one coat without auxiliary products, it can also help dental practices save on inventory costs. Also, the material doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

Miller also appreciates OptiBond Universal 360’s ability to bond in both wet-and-dry conditions. Miller says. “It is nice that you can bond to the tooth in dry, moist, or wet conditions, including to wet dentin. The material is hydrophilic in its application, but then as it dries and cures, it becomes hydrophobic to receive the resin.” This allows OptiBond Universal 360 to penetrate the tooth optimally, reducing the risk of postoperative sensitivity and increasing patient satisfaction.

With six full-time dentists and an orthodontist in his office, it is important to Miller that everyone approaches materials and workflow similarly, and as such, they use just one bonding agent for everything in the practice. Previously, that bonding agent was OptiBond Universal, but now his office will upgrade to OptiBond Universal 360 as soon as it is fully mass-marketed.

Excerpted from: Dr. Matthew Miller, “A Truly Universal Bonding Agent for All Procedures.” Inside Dentistry. Copyright 2024 to Conexiant LLC. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the publisher.

This information was provided by Kerr Dental.