Easy. Efficient. Economical. These are the three “Es” I live by in my health-centered dental practices.
I want materials on hand that are versatile and can serve multiple purposes—not products that sit on a shelf waiting for that one specific case, only expire and cost the practice money. I also want straightforward protocols that my team and I can rely on repeatedly to deliver predictable results. Simply put, I want efficiency, predictability, and consistency.
For me, OMNICHROMA checks all boxes. It has become one of those go-to materials that earns its place in my restorative armamentarium because of how many different clinical situations it can handle.
So, in keeping with the theme of health-centered restorative dentistry, here are my five favorite “fills” for OMNICHROMA.
One of the situations I find most frustrating is when a crown comes off with no obvious decay or pathology. It should be a simple recement crown—but then you look at the build-up underneath, and it’s gray. Is there recurrent decay? Is there old amalgam left behind by a previous provider? Or is a translucent composite simply reflecting a dark or stained pulpal floor? There’s often no way to know with confidence.
Suddenly, what could have been a straightforward recement becomes a clinical question: Am I comfortable cementing an existing crown back over something I can’t fully evaluate?
That’s why I use OMNICHROMA BLOCKER for my build-ups. Its opacity masks dark or stained underlying tooth structure, creating a build-up that is easier to visually assess in the future if needed.
Why not reduce chair time while making your Class V restorations as esthetic as possible?
Start with a thin layer of OMNICHROMA BLOCKER (packable or flowable) to mask dark dentin, keeping this layer slightly shy of the margin. Next, add a thin layer(s) of packable OMNICHROMA. Complete the contour and polish of your restoration with a thin carbide or Enhance cup. The result! A beautiful, natural-looking restoration with smooth margins and a seamless transition into the surrounding tooth structure. Esthetics, easy protocol, minimal materials, all in one.
Amalgam removal is something many of us do every day. But what about those cracks/craze lines that extend along the prep margin from the occlusal surface toward the buccal pit? These pesky dark lines can make achieving an optimal restorative result more challenging.
This is where OMNICHROMA and OMNICHROMA FLOW BULK can be incredibly useful. With conservative preparation into the crack or craze line, I can block out any dark color, seal the crack and improve esthetics. Likewise, I am preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible with optimal anatomy for function and esthetics. OMNICHROMA's blending ability helps visually minimize those remaining craze lines while creating a smooth, healthy surface.
Post-Invisalign incisal edge composites are something I do routinely if not weekly in my practice. Patients often seek Invisalign treatment with the primary goal of straightening their teeth, without realizing that years of malocclusion may have contributed to chipped, worn, or uneven incisal edges. Once the teeth are straight, however, those uneven or worn edges can suddenly become visible and unsightly to the cosmetic patient.
Fortunately, OMNICHROMA composite makes restoring these edges easy. I begin with a conservative preparation inside the incisal edge…right in the groove of the wear. I prep just enough tooth structure to provide retention for my bond. I then place a small amount of OMNICHROMA BLOCKER (packable or flowable) where additional opacity is needed, followed by a thin layer of OMNICHROMA FLOW or OMNICHROMA FLOW BULK to complete the restoration. My personal preference is to smooth the composite using a gloved finger and little wetting resin right before curing. In a few short minutes, I restored the natural contour and appearance of the tooth without a complicated shade-matching process, excessive removal of tooth structure or massive lab bill. I scan for my final retainers and complete the case. Health-centered Dentistry 101.
I saved the best for last: opening the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). What a service we can provide for our patients!
For those patients who are wearing down their anterior teeth from grinding, or who repeatedly chip or fracture anterior composite restorations, this is a technique worth considering.
By adding a small amount of packable OMNICHROMA composite to the buccal cusp tips of the lower posterior teeth, you can increase the VDO using one material in a single appointment. No anesthetic. No traditional shade matching. How? Isolate 3 teeth on the right (I start with the second molar forward), complete bonding protocol, add composite (3 teeth at a time), smooth with a composite instrument, create anatomy to achieve desired amount of opening. Cure. Mark occlusion, adjust to be even, add additional teeth. Once the right side is complete and you have established contact on all posterior teeth, repeat on the left. In just over an hour, VDO is opened and posterior anatomy restored.
I have been using composite to increase VDO in my practice for appropriately 15 years, and I have seen incredible clinical results. For me, it is a perfect example of what health-centered dentistry can look like: preventative treatment, efficient protocols, and a future focus.
Example case from my practice featuring this technique below.
For more clinical tips, guidance, or questions about incorporating health-centered dentistry into your practice, I’d love to hear from you.
Stephanie Vondrak, DDS, FAACP
Founder, Intentional Growth Solutions
Experience-Based Coaching for Dentists
Health-Centered Dentistry • Airway • TMD
Contact: info@drvondrak.com