Consultants’ Comments
- “Margins are incredibly smooth.”
- “Great for use on children when it is difficult to keep the teeth perfectly dry.”
- “Saves time by eliminating the bonding agent.”
- “Blends so well with the tooth that excess material is difficult to identify.”
- “Provide brush-tipped applicators.”
Description
EMBRACE WetBond encompasses a line of products that are indicated for bonding to moist tooth surfaces. The resins are self-etching on dentin and self-adhesive, requiring no bonding agent. EMBRACE WetBond Pit and Fissure Sealant is indicated as a traditional sealant and also as a small-lesion restorative material. After enamel is etched with phosphoric acid, sealant is applied to the slightly moist tooth and then light cured for 20 seconds. The sealant is 36.6% filled by weight and contains fluoride. It is available in either natural or off-white shade and is supplied in a kit of four, 1.2-ml syringes with 20 applicator tips or in a 3-ml syringe. EMBRACE WetBond Pit and Fissure Sealant was evaluated by 22 consultants to seal or restore over 525 teeth. This product received a 91% clinical rating.
Product Features
The moist-bonding feature of EMBRACE WetBond Pit and Fissure Sealant proved to be a benefit clinically. This was noted predominantly by hygienists placing sealants. Slight moisture not only enhances the bond of the material to the tooth, but it also helps to blend the material into the tooth. This results in sealants with virtually undetectable margins. Consultants found that using the product as a restorative for small lesions saved time by eliminating the need for a bonding agent. Overall the material is easy to use. The flow and viscosity were rated very good. The opening of the applicator tips was found to be too large, requiring control of pressure on the syringe during application to avoid dispensing excess material. Ninety-five percent of consultants found the sealant to be comparable to or better than their usual pit and fissure sealant. Sixty-eight percent of consultants would switch to EMBRACE WetBond Pit and Fissure Sealant and 86% would recommend it.
Clinical Tips
- Maintain contact of syringe tip to the tooth surface during placement to minimize voids.
- Dispense slowly – material comes out fast.
Editors’ Note: The original evaluation was published in THE DENTAL ADVISOR, Vol. 21, No. 8, October 2004.
