Low Aerosol Restorations

Are you looking for ways to reduce aerosol production in your practice? 

Using minimally invasive restorative techniques with GC’s convenient glass ionomer and glass hybrid restorative systems, you can provide patients with immediate, interim and/or definitive clinical solutions – all with a minimal amount of aerosol generation.

• No need for water-cooled, high-speed drills: by using hand instruments or low-speed rotary instruments, aerosol/air-borne particles can be minimized.

• Quick: no bonding or etching required; cavity can be cleaned using just cavity conditioner during 10 sec.

• Rinse and dry without an air/water syringe by using wet and dry cotton pellets.

Other advantages of the technique:

• Minimally invasive – decrease risk of pulp exposure & low post-op sensitivity. Only the infected portion of the tooth tissue is removed and as much tooth tissues as possible is preserved. In deep caries lesions, the pulp is more likely to remain vital with selective excavation techniques.

• Great patient acceptance. Little need of anesthesia, no use of hand-piece, more comfortable treatment approach for patients.

Step by Step for low aerosol restorations using a glass Hybrid restorative material 

1. Remove enamel to obtain proper access to the cavity: 

• Use hand instruments when possible, like an enamel cutter.

• Remove all thin, non supported and demineralised enamel overhang.  

2. Remove carious dentine at the dentino-enamel junction until you reach hard dentine in order to create a clean margin of 2 mm wide.

• This is needed to ensure a long lasting seal, which is essential for the success of this treatment. 

3. Remove carious dentine at the pulpal and axial wall until you obtain firm/leathery dentine: 

• In deep cavities, soft carious tissue can be left over the pulp to avoid pulp exposure and maintain pulp vitality.

4. Clean the floor of the cavity: 

• Apply CAVITY CONDITIONER using a cotton pellet for 10 seconds to remove the smear layer. 

• Avoid rinsing: use a several moist cotton pellets instead. 

• Avoid drying with air syringe: use dry cotton pellets & air suction. 

• Prepared cavity should appear moist to allow chemical adhesion. 

5. Activate the capsule by firmly pressing in the plunger & mix the capsule for 10 seconds. 

6. In Class II, the use of a sectional matrix is recommended to create a proper contact point and to increase the durability of the restoration. 

7. Inject the glass ionomer or glass hybrid restorative material of choice.

 8. Press the material using the “press finger technique”.

• Apply a very thin layer of separation medium on your glove such as Cocoa Butter. 

• In case the restoration will be coated afterwards, the use of a neutral plastic foil is preferred over Cocoa Butter. 

• Move the finger sideways to spread the excess over the pits and fissures.  

9. After setting, remove excess and carve the anatomy with hand instruments. 

• Check the occlusion. 

• Premature contact points can be removed with a manual scaler. 

10. Apply a protective coating (e.g. EQUIA Forte Coat) and light-cure.  

11. Advise the patient not to eat for one hour.

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Are you looking for ways to reduce aerosol production in your office?

Moreover, glass ionomers and glass hybrid restorative systems provide additional benefits

Which restorative material to choose? 

GC’s convenient glass ionomer and glass hybrid restorative systems work perfectly with this minimal invasive technique as they are moisture tolerant, bond chemically and can be finished with the press finger technique without use of rotary instruments.