SPECIAL REPORT

COMPOSITES

Association for Dental Research (LADR)

meeting to have a 66% retention rate in a
13-year-long independent study. "Beautifil
II only builds on the excellent foundation
provided by Beautifil. In addition to the excellent retention rate, which included 95%
at the 8-year recall, the study also showed
that patients with Beautifil restorations had
no secondary caries at the 8-year recall and
only two total at 13 years. The results were
outstanding," says Melonakos.
Shofu offers a vast array of background literature to support clinicians who are using
the higlily aesthetic,fluoride-releasing,versatile Beautifil II in their practices. In an effort
to make access to this information easier and
more intuitive, the company is in the process
of developing an iPad" application that aggregates all ofthe literature, technical information, photos, and even clinical articles about
any given Shofu product. Currently, the app
is only available to Shofu representatives and
lecturers, though Melonakos believes this
may change in the near future. "It's fantastic
for OUI" sales people, because it allows them to
become a resource for our customers without
inhibition of plaque formation, and acid having to carry around a bunch of papers, and
they never have to worry about forgetting an
neutralization."
Another advantage offered by Beautifil II, important piece of hterature or instruction
he adds, is the material's excellent handling booklet," he explains.
capabilities. "Shofu's composites don't stick.
In addition to Shofu's well-prepired sales
They're easy for the clinician to place and staff, the company also provides education to
manipulate, and we often hear vei-y good its customers via hands-on programs, CE arthings from our clinicians regarding how ticles, key opinion leader (KOL) lectures, weeasy it is to work with our materials," he says. binars, and live patient demos at trade shows.
Beyond its bioactive properties and ease- "We've found that our clinicians love the opof-use characteristics, Beautifil II is a highly portunity to learn via hands-on workshops
versatile universal composite. Clinicians and live patients. We plan on hosting more of
can use it for any Class I through V indi- these going forward," says Melonakos.
cation, and it is appropriate for both the
Looking ahead, Melonakos says that
anterior and posterior areas of the mouth. Shofu will continue to expand its composite
Especially notable for anterior restorations offerings to include bulk-fill materials that
is that the Giomer particles demonstrate incorporate Giomer technology. "We'll be
both opaque and transparent qualities, giv- looking to offer clinicians more bioactive
ing Beautifil II a chameleon-like effect in options to choose from when considerthe mouth. "When a clinician is working on ing restorative procedures. We want all of
an anterior restoration with Beautifil II, the Shofu's composites to offer our clinicians'
material's unique light refraction proper- patients healing properties, rather than just
ties ensure that the new tooth looks natural sit passively in the mouth."
and adapts seamlessly with the surrounding
dentition," Melonakos explains.
SHOFU DENTAL CORP.
Beautifil II is also extremely strong and 1225 Stone Dr
has a high retention rate. According to Shofu, San Marcos, CA 92078
Beautifil II's predecessor, BeautifiF, was re- 800-827-4638
cently reported at the 2013 International dentalaegis.com/go/cced399

Shofu's BeautifiF II Composite

Big on Therapeutic Properties

omposites are an extremely

varied and diverse group of
dental materials, says Brian
Melonakos, President of
Shofu Dental Corporation.
Besides the different types of compositesflowable, bulkfill,hybrid, and many
moreeach individual composite offers users unique features and advantages, which
could include excellent handling, superior
esthetics, or even therapeutic properties.
Shofu's Beautifil' II, he suggests, is one composite option available on the market that
offers clinicians all three of these features.
According to Melonakos, Beautifil II's
therapeutic characteristics are one of
many qualities that set the product apart.
"Beautifil II, like many of Shofu's restorative
materials, features Giomer technology,"
he says. Shofu's Giomer products contain
the company's proprietary Surface PreReacted Glass (S-PRG) filler particles.
These particles release six separate ionsfluoride, sodium, strontium, aluminum, silicate, and borateall with known bioactive
properties. Melonakos explains: "The bioactive properties of Shofu's Giomer materials offer patients significant therapeutic effects, including enhanced remineralization.
382

COMPENDIUM

May 2013

Volume 34, Number 5

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