Consultants’ Comments
- “Surface texture is smoother at recall than at placement.”
- “Excellent esthetics without layering.”
- “Easy to place and sculpt.”
- “When finishing Class II restorations, keep the marginal ridges thick to minimize future chipping.”
Description
3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus is a light-cured composite indicated for anterior and posterior direct restorations. The composite is filled 57-60% by volume with 5-20 nm particles and 60-140 nm pre-polymerized particle clusters. The composite is available in dentin, body, enamel, and translucent shades. All shades, except the translucent shades, are radiopaque. Shades may be layered for complex esthetic restorations, although body shades alone may provide adequate esthetics for posterior restorations. Curing time for 2-mm increments is 20 seconds for enamel, body and translucent shades and 40 seconds for dentin shades. 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus is available in 4-g syringes and 0.2-g unit-dose capsules in 35 shades. This product received a 94% rating for clinical performance at four years.
Clinical Evaluation Protocol
- 1,427 restorations have been placed during the past four years, as part of an on-going clinical evaluation of 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus. Restorations are continuing to be placed.
- Various 5th-, 6th-, and 7th-generation bonding agents were used.
- 739 restorations in 424 patients were available for evaluation of clinical performance during the recall period (Figure 1).
- Of the restorations recalled, 25 were anterior and 714 were posterior, 62% of which involved one or two i nterproximal surfaces.
- Restorations were evaluated on a 1-5 rating scale:
1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent.
Figure 1
Clinical Observations
Resistance to Fracture/Chipping
Eighty-eight percent of restorations recalled showed no chips or fractures. Slight chipping occurred on 9% of the restorations, mainly at the marginal ridges of Class II restorations or at incisal edges of anterior restorations. These slight chips were either recontoured and polished or left untreated. Two percent of restorations showed moderate chipping that required a repair and 1% were fractured, requiring replacement.
Esthetics
The majority of 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus restorations (94%) were rated very good to excellent for esthetics, including shade match and blending with the tooth. Many were described as “invisible” or “undetectable.” Some of the early restorations were noted to be slightly opaque or yellow. (See Editors’ Note) Surfaces remained smooth with a high level of gloss.
Microleakage
Eighty-five percent of restorations exhibited no evidence of microleakage, which is visible as gray or black marginal discoloration. Mild staining was noted in 11% of restorations. The cases that exhibited mild to moderate staining at the margins were independent of the type of bonding system used. Two restorations were replaced due to suspected bond failure.
Wear Resistance
3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus provides very good wear resistance. Ninety-one percent of restorations received ratings of excellent, with no visible signs of wear. Occlusal anatomy and continuity with the tooth surface were well maintained. Less than 1% of restorations were observed to have moderate wear.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Summary
At four years, 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus received ratings of 96% for resistance to fracture/ chipping, 92% for esthetics, 96% for microleakage, and 98% for wear resistance.Editors’ Note: 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus has the same chemistry and properties as the original Filtek Supreme with enhanced shades and a greater number of shades.
