Description

CLEARFIL ESTHETIC Cement is a dual-cured, radiopaque resin cement that is used in combination with a self-etching adhesive system (CLEARFIL DC BOND included in the evaluated kit). The cement is indicated for cementation of all types of ceramic restorations including laminates, posts, and etched-metal bridges. The shade-matching system, designed to simplify cement selection, is arranged by restoration type. Available colors are Universal, Chroma, Clear, Bleach, and Opaque. The indications are clearly presented in chart form. The cement is packaged in dual-barrel auto-mix syringes and has matching try-in pastes. The kit contains five, 2.4-ml syringes of the CLEARFIL ESTHETIC Cement; five, 1.8-ml syringes of the try-in pastes; one CLEARFIL DC BOND Kit; one, 4-ml bottle of the ceramic primer; one, 6-ml bottle of K-Etchant Gel (phosphoric acid); and accessories. The working time is one minute and the setting time is three minutes from the start of mix. The kit must be refrigerated. Twenty consultants used CLEARFIL ESTHETIC Cement for cementation of 223 restorations. This product received a 96% clinical rating.

Editors’ Observations

Manufacturer’s Instructions and Packaging
The products are neatly packaged in a flip-top plastic box containing two trays of materials. Illustrated instructions are provided on laminated cards with a color chart, and the indications for use are located on the inside cover of the box.

Dispensing, Viscosity and Handling
The cement is dispensed directly from the auto-mix tips into the restoration, eliminating mixing or other extra steps. The try-in pastes are an accurate representation of the final cement color.

Ability to Seat the Restoration Completely and Cement Removal
The excellent viscosity of the cement allows for complete seating of the restoration, and the excess cement does not flow away from the margins.

Working Time and Setting Time
The working time is more than adequate for a cementation, but the cement should not be exposed to strong ambient light or premature polymerization will occur. The excess cement can be removed before light curing or a tack-cure of 5-10 seconds can be used to gel the cement prior to removal of the excess.

Postoperative Sensitivity
There was no postoperative sensitivity reported during the evaluation period.

Ceramic Primer
The inclusion of the ceramic primer in the kit was a very positive feature.

Clinical Tips

• Do not express the cement onto the tooth surface after the bonding agent has been placed and cured; otherwise, the cement will cure on contact and not allow for complete seating of the restoration.

Editors’ Note: The original evaluation was published in THE DENTAL ADVISOR, Vol. 24, No. 8, October 2007.