Taking composite materials to the next level

For nearly 20 years, dentists have turned to the TPH Spectra^® brand of composites from Dentsply Sirona to provide their patients with esthetic, long-lasting restorations. The newest member of the TPH family, TPH Spectra^® ST universal composite, is certainly no exception. The material features filler technology that Dentsply Sirona’s Senior Manager of Clinical Affairs Dr. Khaleel Mohammed says takes the composite to another level.

This technology, known as SphereTEC™ filler technology, was first introduced to the European market in 2015 and came to the U.S. through TPH Spectra ST last October. SphereTEC, which is the company’s proprietary method of manufacturing microscaled spherical superstructures from submicron glass, offers the improved handling, sculptability, durability and simplified shade selection dentists want as well as the natural-looking restorations patients expect.

“Patients are highly demanding. They want a long-lasting, esthetic result,” Dr. Mohammed says. “Whether it’s an anterior or a posterior restoration, patients don’t want to have to come back in to have it restored for a long time. They want the tooth to give them natural esthetics and to function properly.”

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Handling and durability

Unlike many other composites on the market, the SphereTEC filler technology combined with an optimized resin matrix takes TPH Spectra ST’s handling to the next level, Dr. Mohammed says. The spherical pre-polymerized particles give a ball-bearing effect that allows for easy extrusion and adaptability to the cavity walls. Thanks to the pre-polymerized SphereTEC fillers, the amount of unpolymerized resin within the TPH Spectra ST composite is reduced, which also decreases the material’s stickiness to instruments. The composite is easy to sculpt and doesn’t slump. All of these exceptional handling properties alleviate the most common composite pain points dentists face.
TPH Spectra ST also maximizes the composite’s filler loading capability, Dr. Mohammed says, making the composite more mechanically strong. This comes from the interlocking of the resin into the pores of the SphereTEC filler particles.

“You don’t want patients to come back in a few months or a year with a fractured restoration,” Dr. Mohammed says. “This composite’s higher polishability leads to its higher durability, and it has that polishability thanks to the SphereTEC technology. SphereTEC filler is not solid glass filler but pre-polymerized composite filler composed from submicron barium glass. When a TPH Spectra ST surface is finished and polished, the SphereTEC fillers abrade only partly, corresponding to their microstructure. The result leads to fewer defects, a faster finish and an excellent polish.”

Shade selection and esthetics

With only five shades that cover the entire VITA shade guide, TPH Spectra ST makes shade selection faster and easier.

“Shade selection can be time-consuming, but getting a great match is key to patient satisfaction with the result,” he says. “The TPH Spectra ST CLOUD shade concept is designed to make shade selection and shade match simple. TPH Spectra ST has five CLOUD shades to cover the full 16 shade VITA range.”

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Beyond that, TPH Spectra ST has an enhanced chameleon blending ability that simplifies shade matching. The material is also less susceptible to staining than other composites. This gives patients beautiful restorations that won’t discolor over time, Dr. Mohammed says.

“Normally, a composite might change or stain because of coffee intake or other foods and drinks, but this composite is highly resistant to stains,” he says.

Why you should try TPH Spectra ST in your practice

TPH Spectra ST addresses some of the main concerns dentists have with composites: handling, esthetics, durability and shade selection.

“That’s exactly what we offer with TPH Spectra ST,” Dr. Mohammed says. “The SphereTEC’s new and novel filler technology takes the material to another level, enabling dentists to offer patients the best possible results they expect.”