Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

Practice Solutions: Ultradent by Victoria L. Wallace

Start Discussion


by Victoria L. Wallace
Victoria L. Wallace has practiced chairside-expanded functions since 1976. She has been a CDA, RDA, and now is currently an LDA. Wallace works for Ultradent Products as a representative to West Coast dental schools and also in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Wallace has worked for Ultradent since 1996. She loves to educate, especially on adhesives. She finds bond testing very exciting. She also loves lecturing, having taught at every major dental association meeting here in the U.S., smaller state meetings, and at the ADA. Wallace is very passionate about the proper use of dental products, no matter what you are using or how long you've been using it.

There isn't any reason to be afraid anymore. Let's go over one of the most commonly performed procedures in dentistry that still seems to give some dentists anxiety.

It's 2015, and most dentists are luting or cementing their indirect restorations with a composite resin type of material—or at least, we should be. Up until a decade or so ago, we frequently used a polycarboxylate cement. It was simple and easy—just mix the powder and liquid, fill the crown, seat on the tooth, bite down, wait, clean off the extra cement, and ta-dah! Done. Glass ionomers were the same—fast, easy, and as simple as that. The only thing we had to make sure of was that the restoration's margins were absolutely spot on. Over time, due to wear and tear, possible leakage could start at the margin, and because polycarboxylate and glass ionomers are water soluble, the cement or luting agent would eventually wash away and the crown would come off. In many cases, we would clean out the crown, disinfect the tooth and re-cement, with hopes of the crown staying on for another five years.

When performing post and core buildups, it was the same thing. We would cement the post with one product, buildup with another material, and then cement the restoration with something completely different. All were water soluble, and there was no adhesive bond between any of the chemical mixes used. Now, there is a better way. With resin luting/cementing agents, we can create a wonderful thing called a "hybrid layer," which not only seals the dentin, but also creates a beautiful link to the next layer of composite luting resin. We know that bonding with adhesive resin cements can also strengthen the tooth.

In the past 10 years, esthetic manufacturers in dentistry have started using more porcelain and zirconia materials to create restorations. Metal posts are becoming less popular, as the newer glass-fiber posts are much more esthetically pleasing, and they bond with adhesive resins to create monoblock strength.

A single product can be used for any of these situations: PermaFlo DC by Ultradent Products. PermaFlo DC is a dual-cured adhesive luting agent and core buildup material. Not a lot of doctors know about this sleeper product. Those who do never go back because it works so well.

It's simple and easy to use, and has a film thickness of only 9µm. The low film thickness gives a fabulously sealed and secure margin for a long-lasting indirect restoration. Plus, PermaFlo DC is fast. When was the last time you did a post and core buildup in just four minutes?

If you are luting a veneer that you feel confident light can pass through, you can use a single-component BisGMA resin.

If in doubt, go with a dual-cured material, as the chemical cure aspect will help to provide a complete cure.

In the past, shade stability was a concern, as well as limited options of shades. Thanks to improved technology, this no longer seems to be an issue. When using a translucent shade, be aware of any possible show-through from the prepared tooth beneath. New opaque shades are absolutely fantastic when darkness of the underlying tooth structure is presented.

Let's go over luting a full-porcelain crown: Prep the restoration according to your lab's recommendations. If you are using hydrofluoric acid (like Ultradent's Porcelain Etch), apply to the crown for 90 seconds, rinse, and dry. Then etch with a phosphoric acid to remove any residual fluoride from the restoration. (Any fluoride present could possibly compromise the bond strength, so the placement of phosphoric acid for just 10 seconds can help alleviate any risk of that happening.) Rinse, dry, and then apply the silane, coating the entire inside of the restoration, then air-thin and set aside. Do not rinse off the silane. Silane is like a coupling agent that acts as the link in the bonding process of the crown to the luting agent.

Now we use a universal bonding agent. Total-etch, self-etch, or selective-etch techniques can be used to create your hybrid layer on the tooth structure. Air-thin, making sure to eliminate any pooling or thickness of the bonding resin, especially at margins. Light-cure. Simple and easy, just like creating your hybrid layer for any type of direct composite restoration.

Your assistant will then fill the prepared porcelain restoration with PermaFlo DC. (Dental assistants should know the products almost better than the doctors do, so be sure to work with your assistants to make sure they are in the know.) Place the crown, seated to fit, give it a quick light-cure, then remove excess cement at margins and interproximally. Once all the excess cement is removed, light-cure the entire tooth for 40 seconds. Rinse and you're finished! Simple and easy. Durable and beautiful. What more could you ask?



Using a system that can multitask is awesome! And the more you use something, the better you get to know it. The more you use a composite dual-cured luting resin for cementing indirects, the more your production goes up. If you can use that same product to complete the luting of a post and make a core buildup, all in one four-minute procedure, well…high five! If you're building restorations in the office, you'll find the multi-tasking PermaFlo DC is right there in your operatory, ready to be used once again to cement or lute the final preparation.

The patient is handed the mirror, ready for the reveal… silence…your heart is racing as you watch your patient thoroughly examine your work. Then finally, the big, giant happy smile. Your patient is thrilled. Hugs. Kisses. Thank you and see you soon. Four minutes to a monoblocked post and core…and you said there were too many steps. You're most welcome!


Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
Dentaltown Magazine September 2025 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Who or what do you turn to for most financial advice regarding your practice?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds Dental News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
©2025 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450