Consultants’ Comments
- “The bleach white shade is opaque enough to block out underlying stains. ”
- “Nice visibility on radiographs.”
- “Restorations are very smooth.”
Description
Estelite Sigma is a universal composite for direct restoration of anterior and posterior teeth. The composite is filled 71% by volume with sub-micron spherical particles. Estelite Sigma is available in 18 radiopaque shades – 11 Vita shades, four opaque shades plus cervical, incisal, and bleach white shades. It is supplied in 3.8-g syringes and 0.2-g unit-dose tips. The introductory kit contains six, 3.8-g syringes or 40, 0.2-g unit-dose tips and a One-Up Bond F Plus mini kit. Estelite Sigma received a 96% clinical rating for clinical performance at two years.
Clinical Evaluation Protocol
- One hundred thirty-four restorations in 62 patients were evaluated for clinical performance at two years.
- Sixty-one anterior and 73 posterior restorations were evaluated (Figure 1).
- Restorations were evaluated on a 1 – 5 rating scale:
1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = excellent.
Clinical Observations
Resistance to Fracture/Chipping
Ninety-eight percent of recalled Estelite Sigma restorations showed no chips or fractures at two years. This universal composite is proving to be very durable in anterior and posterior teeth. Two restorations exhibited minor chipping, neither of which required repair or replacement.
Esthetics
The standard Estelite Sigma shades have adequate translucency to blend well with tooth enamel. Opaque shades should be chosen to block out dark or stained dentin. While the opaque, standard and incisal shades may be layered for complex esthetic restorations, the majority of restorations evaluated were placed using a single shade. The composite maintained a smooth, glossy texture at two-year recall.
Lack of Microleakage
Eighty-four percent of restorations showed no staining at the margins. Sixteen percent of restorations recalled showed slight to moderate marginal staining. These restorations were placed using a variety of 5th-, 6th– and 7th-generation bonding agents.
Wear Resistance
Ninety-six percent of Estelite Sigma restorations received ratings of excellent for wear resistance. Consultants evaluated the surfaces of the restorations visually for signs of wear. Occlusal anatomy and continuity with the tooth surface were well maintained. No wear facets on the composite surfaces were observed. Five of the recalled restorations showed slight wear at two years.
Editors’ Note: The original evaluation was published in THE DENTAL ADVISOR, Vol. 24, No. 9, November 2007.
