Biomimetic Dentistry with Beautifil Flow Plus
In years past, traditional restorative care relied on treating damaged and decayed teeth with aggressive preparation to place a strong, stiff restoration. The emphasis was on the strength of the restoration, and less about the function and bio-mechanics of the final restored tooth. Unfortunately, this often led to weaker teeth and complications, such as root canals, and treatment became progressively more aggressive and invasive.
Biomimetic dentistry is intended to copy what is lifelike, preserving ideal properties to the natural teeth by using minimally invasive preparation to preserve enamel and with a better under-standing of the caries process.
Carefully placed bonded materials replace lost tooth structure, while recreating strength and beauty.
There were 3 key takeaways from this case:
1. The removal of previous restorative materials and diligent conservative decay removal with a hard-tissue laser allow better preservation of tooth structure, creating a more optimum prognosis for tooth stability.
2. Using a high-quality Giomer material that is designed to improve acid resistance and remineralize remaining tooth structure provides a durable bioactive result that has been demonstrated in 8- and 13-year in vivo clinical studies at the University of Florida. This is reassuring to the patient and clinician.
3. The layered combination of low- and high-viscosity BEAUTIFIL material (Shofu) provides a well-adapted dense restoration that is strong on its own, but more importantly enhances the flexural resistance of teeth, which decreases biomechanical risk.
About the Doctor
Dr. Hugh Flax is an award-winning, internationally respected cosmetic dentist in Atlanta, who strives for perfection with every patient. He has a passion for continuing education and far exceeds the state of Georgia requirements by averaging 150 hours of continuing education each year – nearly eight times the required amount. Even though his reputation continues to attract patients, it’s his gentle, caring demeanor that keeps them returning time and time again. Dr. Flax has earned numerous awards and certifications in dental implant care and laser treatment. He attends numerous advanced training meetings throughout the world including the Kois Center, AAID Maxicourse (a mini-residency in implants), the Academy of Laser Dentistry, and the Pankey Institute to continually improve his care for his patients.
