How to Make Cervical Restorations Invisible with Opaquers

For July’s tip of the month, Dr. Arthur Volker has a conversation with Cosmedent’s Bennett Cochran (@bennettskis2013 on Instagram) about how he uses opaquers to make his cervical restorations invisible.

“If the patient is periodontally sound, often we can use direct composite as a predictable means to address cervical lesions,” says Dr. Volker as he shares the immediate post-op results of a Class V case that has obvious transition zones.

To address the transition zone, Dr. Volker recommends avoiding the use of a translucent composite because it will become very visible and may even have a grey appearance.

Instead, one of the best ways to add opacity to the cervical region and help mask the transition line is to use flowable, liquid opaquers like Cosmedent’s Creative Color line.

Dr. Volker then guides you through the simple steps he takes when using opaquers on cervical restorations to achieve ideal esthetic results.

1. Place your dentin layer composite
2. Add your opaquer to a Cosmedent Brush #1
3. Place your Creative Color Opaquer over the transition line and cervical area (this will also help subsequent layers of composite to adhere)
4. Make sure you have sufficiently opaqued the area before placing your Renamel Microfill composite

In August, Dr. Volker will continue with part 2, which will focus on polishing your Class V composites for high esthetics.

Did you know that Dr. Volker recently hosted a 1-hour webinar on how to deal with Class IV fractures? Presentation highlights included material selection for optimal strength and longevity, how to use tints and opaques to easily enhance esthetics, and the polishing protocols for obtaining an ideal finish.

You can now watch a recording of the webinar and be eligible to earn 1 CE credit upon completion of the included quiz.

Enroll here for FREE: https://www.ceevirtual.com/p/class-iv...

About Dr. Arthur Volker:

Dr. Volker graduated from the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. He is the Chairman of the New Dentist Committee and a member of the Continuing Education Committee for the New York State Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Volker is a Diplomate of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists. He was a clinical attending at the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility on Roosevelt Island, and is in private practice in New York, with an emphasis on cosmetic and minimally invasive dentistry. Dr. Volker has published articles and lectures nationally and internationally on such topics as cosmetic dentistry, minimally invasive dentistry, dental materials and dental implants.

Products mentioned in the video:

Renamel Microfill
https://www.cosmedent.com/shop-by-dep...

Brush & Sculpt
https://www.cosmedent.com/shop-by-dep...

Creative Color Opaquers
https://www.cosmedent.com/shop-by-dep...

Dental Comopsite Brush
https://www.cosmedent.com/products/co...