BISCO’s Tried & True Calcium-Releasing Family
BISCO releases the newest addition to its Thera product line, TheraBase, joining a family of solutions well suited for multiple restorative scenarios
Remember “A penny saved is a penny earned”? How about “Little strokes fell great oaks”? It’s time to add another adage to that list: “If it works, keep using
it.” While this saying has countless uses in everyday life, it’s particularly common in the dental community. Here, when something is efficient and reliable, we turn to it time and time again. That’s why dentists across the country continue to rely on the BISCO line of therapeutic, calcium-releasing materials for their restorative needs.
The newest addition to this family of products, launched just this year, is TheraBase, a dual-cure, calcium- and fluoride-releasing, self-adhesive base/liner designed to be stronger and more durable than other base materials.
Here’s how it works: With the introduction of water, the nondissolving matrix releases calcium hydroxide and fluoride ions. Then, within minutes, the ongoing ion exchange that results raises pH levels,* and the ensuing alkalinity in turn promotes pulp vitality.¹ TheraBase is dual curing, which means that even though it can be light cured, the material can fully polymerize chemically throughout, and this includes the area in deep restorations where light can’t reach. The calcium-releasing base and liner feature BISCO’s proprietary hydrophilic matrix, which aids in protecting tooth structure. In addition, the material is self-adhesive and no bonding agents are needed, saving time and cost.
A much-touted benefit is that TheraBase is highly radiopaque, paving the way for improved x-ray identification and more accurate dental diagnoses. The product also has a high flexural strength, absorbing stress and shock from occlusal forces.
“I like the science behind it—releasing calcium and fluoride—and it has good handling properties.”
-Aliisha Choucair, DMD
Well Suited for Pulpitis Risk
“I've been using TheraBase when I am very near to the pulp, and where there's a risk of pulpitis,” Dr. Aliisha Choucair of Laurel Dental in Leander, TX, explained. “It’s very easy to place and has good retention. I was able to restore a case that had reversible pulpitis—the tooth remained vital, the nerve settled down, and the restoration appears to be well sealed,” she continued. “I like the science behind it—releasing calcium and fluoride—and it has good handling properties.”
BISCO packages TheraBase in a dual-barrel syringe that includes automix cannula tips, enabling an accurate and always steady material supply, as well as simple, accurate delivery, with very little waste.
Meet the Rest of the Family
TheraBase joins three other Thera products, which all use the THERA technology in their formulas. TheraCal PT, for example, is a biocompatible, dual-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate that is used for pulpotomy treatment.
David Martin, DDS, in Totowa, NJ, said TheraCal PT was particularly useful with pa-tients who can’t tolerate long chair times. The material has a working time of 45 sec-onds and a setting time of 5 minutes.
“I recently had a young child with a large carious exposure,” he explained. “I was able to treat the lesion in a much quicker timeframe, resulting in a more pleasant appointment for the child, as well as an excellent final restoration.”
Moisture-tolerant and requiring fewer steps compared to other similar materials, TheraCal PT resists breakdown and provides a durable seal. It also is radiopaque, and the dual-cured set allows for immediate placement of the restorative material.
“Being able to place in the presence of some moisture makes it close to an ideal material for pulpotomies,” Dr. Martin added.
Released in 2017, TheraCem is a dual-cured, calcium- and fluoride-releasing, self-adhesive resin cement that contains MDP, an adhesion-promoting monomer that enhances bond strength to zirconia, metal, and tooth structure without the need for additional adhesive or primer.
BISCO’s unique line of Thera products traces its lineage back to 2011, with the launch of the first member of the Thera family, TheraCal LC. This light-cured product is a resin-modified, calcium silicate filled liner. TheraCal LC insulates the pulp by forming a protective barrier for protection against thermal changes.2, 3 Its significant calcium release** also leads to a protective seal.2, 4,5
For BISCO, building on the success of each product means its 40-year journey will continue to evolve as dental practices throughout the world make the Thera family of products their go-to solution for all their restorative needs.
References:
1. Okabe T, Sakamoto M, Takeuchi H, Matsushima K. Effects of pH on mineralization ability of human dental pulp cells. J Endod. 2006;32(3):198-201.
2. Sangwan P, Sangwan A, Duhan J, Rohilla A. Tertiary dentinogenesis with calcium hydroxide: A review of proposed mechanisms. Int Endod J. 2013;46(1):3-19.
3. Savas S, Botsali MS, Kucukyilmaz E, Sari T. Evaluation of temperature changes in the pulp chamber during polymerization of light-cured pulp-capping materials by using a VALO LED light curing unit at different curing distances. Dent Mater J. 2014;33(6):764-9.
4. Cantekin K. Bond strength of different restorative materials to light-curable mineral trioxide aggregate. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2015;39(2):143-8.
5. Nielsen M, Vanderweele R, Casey J, Vandewalle K, USAF, JBSA-Lackland, TX. Mechanical properties of new dental pulp-capping materials over time. J Dent Res. 2014;93(Spec Iss A): 495. (www.dentalresearch.org).
*BISCO has on file the pH data for TheraBase.
**BISCO has on file the calcium release data for TheraCal LC.
