A surprising use for a void filler

Quality Dental Ceramics is a small, full-service laboratory located in Skokie, Ill. Owned by Ross Greenberg, a 37-year veteran of the industry, the lab specializes in same-day dental implants and hybrid cases, working in partnership with local dentists to deliver quality dental restorations. Greenberg has found an interesting use for Wonderfill, a premixed tongue and void filler from Dental Creations.

Wonderfill is designed to save labs time and money by creating accurate models quickly and easily. Using Wonderfill is simple: After a lower impression is taken, the tongue area (or void caused by missing teeth or undercuts) is filled with Wonderfill. After the plaster is poured and set, Wonderfill can be easily removed for a clean model. 

Greenberg, however, discovered a new use for Wonderfill that could help labs of all sizes. 

The Results

Greenberg began using Wonderfill in his lab about six months ago and quickly discovered the product was multipurpose. Although Wonderfill was designed-and typically used-as a tongue and void filler, Greenberg found it was also incredibly useful for making soft tissue models. This discovery was remarkably beneficial to his lab and made the already-useful product even more indispensable to his workflow.

“We use Wonderfill for blocking out models before we pour them, but it really, really makes my life easier when it comes to soft tissue models,” he says. “There are a lot of ways to make soft tissue models, but I’ve found that using Wonderfill is the easiest and fastest way.”

When making the models, Greenberg takes Wonderfill, makes it into a rough bullet shape and presses it in the sides of the implant. He then shapes it with a knife and sprays a separator on the impression. Once it sets, he takes off the Wonderfill. “I have a perfectly shaped soft tissue model,” Greenberg says. “It really makes for a very nice model. I not only use it for crown and bridge cases but for hybrid cases as well.” 

Technique: Pouring better models using Wonderfill

For Greenberg, Wonderfill also eliminated the need for hard-to-manage waxes and lab putty. 

“I tried Wonderfill because I was having issues making models,” Greenberg says. “It is easier and faster than using wax, which often doesn’t stick well to the impression materials. I really get good results every time.” 

Next page: A step-by-step of Greenberg's technique

Pleased with how the expedited soft tissue model-making process saved his lab time and money, Greenberg sent pictures of his models to the team at Dental Creations, who were excited and impressed by his innovative use of Wonderfill. “I wanted to share how I was using it because it has huge in-house benefits in terms of convenience,” he says. “It’s saving us money, energy and time. Being a small lab, this has been incredibly beneficial to our workflow and output.”

Step-by-step: Creating excellent implant fabrications

“It’s a nice material that you can use over and over, and the fact that we’ve found multiple uses for it has been a great perk,” Greenberg adds. “Wonderfill really just makes for a faster and more effective way of making a soft tissue model.”

“In fact,” he laughs, “I just took a model apart right now, and it’s perfect!”

The technique:

Greenberg found Wonderfill was incredibly useful in making soft tissue models.

Greenberg found Wonderfill was incredibly useful in making soft tissue models.

The Wonderfill is shaped into a rough bullet shape and pressed against the sides of the implant.

The Wonderfill is shaped into a rough bullet shape and pressed against the sides of the implant.

In addition to crown and bridge cases, Greenberg also uses Wonderfill for hybrid cases.

In addition to crown and bridge cases, Greenberg also uses Wonderfill for hybrid cases.

Once the Wonderfill is shaped, seperator is sprayed on the impression.

Once the Wonderfill is shaped, seperator is sprayed on the impression.

The finished model.

The finished model.All images provided by Ross Greenberg and Dental Creations.