CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST37 PROFILE or nal set. is provides full con dence when restoring di cult or deep angled restorations.” While traditional composites are limited to between 2-5mm depth of cure, Stela has an unlimited depth of cure. is certainty of cure eliminates guesswork and the risk of premature failure, preventing the widely-acknowledged risk of uncured material underneath a restoration. “ e simplicity of Stela is also perfect for nervous patients who are apprehensive about having a changing set of instruments and tastes placed in their mouth,” Emma concludes. Stela’s strengths With a compressive strength of 328 MPa and exural strength of 143 MPa, Stela is one of the strongest composites available. “Stela’s combination of high compressive and exural strength ensures restorations can survive daily mastication forces,” Samantha adds. “While this strength is essential – it’s also Stela’s gap free interface that ensures the longevity of restorations.” One common cause for composite failure is microleakage into adjacent gaps, formed from stresses during curing. Stela’s unique, patented system results in a lowstress, gap-free interface, ensuring longer lasting restorations According to Leon Prentice, SDI’s Chief R&D O cer, Stela’s unique composition considered the shrinking property that plagues composites. “All composites shrink a little as they cure – as the chemical bonds polymerise (cross-link), they pull together. e key is a composite’s shrinkage behaviour, and understanding the stresses that remain when everything is in its nal set state,” he explains. “For Stela, SDI engineered the system so that the Stela Primer accelerates curing towards the marginal walls – very di erent from light-curing, where the light cure polymerisation creates micro gaps as the restoration is pulled towards the light source. is innovation provides a restoration with no gaps, which reduces post-operative sensitivity.” Two-step process – no curing light necessary Stela is designed for easy placement. Unlike traditional composite systems, which involve up to 7 preparation steps, a Stela restoration requires only two steps: rst applying the custom Stela Primer, followed by placing the Stela restorative. is streamlined approach minimises the risk of cross-contamination, reduces the need for patient intervention, and enhances e ciency. “SDI also added technology into the bonding, engineering an optimal two-step restorative to deliver both optimal cavity preparation and optimal restoration,” Leon says. “Stela Primer and the Stela Restorative both contain methacrylate monomers and MDP. ese cure together, bonding to the cavity walls, delivering both superior bond strength and an outstanding seal, with minimal residual stresses.” As Stela requires no curing light during preparation or for nal set, its universal shade is designed for a “chameleon e ect”. “A bulk ll composite that needs to be light cured generally has to be unnaturally translucent to allow the light to get as deep as possible,” Leon adds. “Stela has no such limitation. It does not require a curing light to cure all the way through, therefore its shade can more accurately mimic teeth. Stela is available in a universal shade with chameleon e ect that blends in with surrounding structures, blocking stains like a dentine replacement and sealing edges for a awless nish that mimics enamel.” Stela’s ingenuity further shines through its versatility – it’s meticulously crafted for application in both capsules and syringes. is thoughtful design ensures that whether you’re equipped with a triturator/ amalgamator or not, Stela seamlessly integrates into your practice. Ears to the ground SDI’s commitment to dental innovation is evident in the journey that led to Stela’s creation. From the collaborative e ort with leading Australian universities to its breakthrough attributes – high exural strength, two-step process, no light curing, minimally invasive, no mercury, gapfree – Stela is aptly positioned as the “true amalgam alternative”. As SDI celebrates its 50th anniversary, Stela stands as a testament to the company’s evolution from an Australian brand with a single product to a global brand o ering a comprehensive range of restoratives and tooth-whitening solutions. Meanwhile, SDI Ltd is capping o the year with another accolade – being named by Dental Advisor (USA) as the “2023 innovative company of the year”. Proud of their achievements, Samantha Cheetham articulates SDI’s long-standing perspective behind their innovative agenda. “SDI achieves its success by listening to dentists and striving to help them deliver better patient outcomes,” she says. “And in the future, that will be no di erent. SDI will continue to engineer improved restoration and whitening products that are faster, easier and longer lasting.” u
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTc3NDk3Mw==