Consultants’ Comments

• “Versatile composite. ”
• “Some chipping of the marginal ridges has occurred.”
• “In most cases the body shade alone looks great.”
• “From an esthetic standpoint, material behaves much like a microfill.”

Description

3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus is a universal composite indicated for all 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 that may be layered or used alone. All shades, except for the translucent shades, are radiopaque. 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 34 shades. This product received a 94% rating for clinical performance at five years.

Clinical Evaluation Protocol

• 3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus restorations have been placed and recalled on an ongoing basis during the past five years (Fig. 1).
• 1034 restorations were available for evaluation of clinical performance during the recall period; 86 were in anterior teeth and 948 were in posterior teeth (Fig. 2).
• Various 5^th-, 6^th-, and 7^th– generation bonding agents were used.
• Restorations were evaluated on a 1-5 rating scale: 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent.

Clinical Observations

Fracture Resistance
Ninety-three percent of restorations recalled showed no chips or fractures (Figs. 3 and 4). Eleven restorations (1%) in this recall period fractured and required replacement. Another 11 restorations had moderate fractures that required repair. Slight chipping occurred on 5% of the restorations, requiring no treatment or minor refinishing.

Esthetics
3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus shades blended well with surrounding enamel, earning an excellent rating for esthetics in 81% of recalled restorations (Figs. 3 and 4). Surface texture was smooth – in many cases smoother than at the time of initial placement. Some of the five-year-old restorations (3% overall) lacked shade stability and were yellow or opaque.

Resistance to Marginal Staining
Eighty-eight percent of restorations had well-sealed margins with no visible staining (Figs. 3 and 4). Light brown or gray stain along the margins was noted in 10% of restorations. The cases that exhibited mild to moderate staining at the margins were independent of the type of bonding system used. Two percent of restorations had moderate stain, but none were replaced. More marginal staining was noted in Class V restorations, compared to other classes.

Wear Resistance
3M ESPE Filtek Supreme Plus exhibited very good wear resistance. Ninety-four percent of restorations received a rating of excellent, as they exhibited no visible signs of wear (Figs. 3 and 4). Wear resistance has been consistent through each year of this five-year evaluation.