Product Evaluation

Dentistry is both an art and a science, and most dentists have a remarkable aptitude for esthetics. But while a master painter needs only to blend paints to achieve their desired results, dentists must pair their paintbrushes with individual tooth anatomy, patient expectations, lighting conditions, and the risk of a color shift over time.

DMG simplifies this struggle with its new Ecosite Elements, a unique light-curing nanohybrid composite system that’s part of the Ecosite family of restorative materials. Ideal for everything from simple posterior fillings to highly detailed anterior restorations, Ecosite Elements truly shines in esthetically demanding cases. Its compact, modular shade system simplifies shade matching while providing a maximum combination of shades. The material leverages patented NC1 (non-clustering) technology, which ensures an even distribution of nanoparticles within the resin matrix—allowing for easy handling characteristics along with high polishability.

With intuitive esthetics, precise engineering, and consistently reliable results, Ecosite Elements is a welcome addition to Dr. John Horn’s restorative toolbox. Praising the material’s “unique layering system flow chart that makes shade matching and restoring easy,” Dr. Horn explained, “I like the wheel that comes with the product, which allows you to layer and achieve outstanding results.” Noting that “the esthetics and final polish produce a very nice lifelike restoration,” he added, “The final results tell the whole story.”

Shade Matching

Ecosite Elements’ intelligent shade system consists of 3 simplified shade categories that can be combined—or Pure can be used on its own—to achieve the target shade: Pure for dentin/enamel replacement; Layer for enamel replacement or layer technique combined with Pure shades; and Highlight for masking discolorations, reproducing white spots, and replicating brown spots. The compact selection of highly viscous composites includes 5 VITA shades as well as 1 bleach and 4 enamel shades in different opacities. Restorations can be customized with 3 flowable composites.

“Ecosite Elements provides a simple approach to composite restorations and an easy way to create polychromatic composites,” shared Arthur Volker, DDS. “The wheel of target shades is a fantastic guide that makes shade matching much quicker and easier; it is very accurate and user-friendly,” said Dr. Anthony Vocaturo.

Dr. David Fine praised the “excellent color match capabilities,” and Dr. Phil Harper said, “The difference in translucent layers optimizes the blend with the natural tooth.” Compared to other composites, “the depth of shades and selection are greater with this composite,” said Dr. James Cooper, and Dr. Jacob Scheiner found that “layering allowed many different shades to be created with less material.”

Handling Properties

Available in syringe and unit-dose delivery, Ecosite Elements features a Push-and-Flow effect that creates an initially firmer material, but it quickly becomes softer during sculpting. Unique handling properties ensure optimal adaptation to cavity walls and precise reproduction of anatomical features while preventing bubbles and cracks between composite layers.

 “Sculpting is very easy as there’s no slumping, and it doesn’t have a tackiness that sticks to instruments as you apply and shape restorations,” said Dr. Horn. When asked about improvements, he suggested a narrower cannula for upper posterior work, and a few dentists felt the material was stiff and hard to dispense.

Praising its “ease of maneuverability, blending, and polishability,” Dr. Vocaturo achieved “great results” with Class IV restorations. Dr. Kane Fulton noted, “Ecosite Elements is easy to manipulate, doesn’t stick to instruments, and is very esthetic.”

Final Results

“You can achieve the best esthetics with Ecosite Elements; the shade combinations are real,” said Dr. Alan Howard. Dr. Horn reported a successful “complete smile makeover” by combining a Pure and Layer shade for a patient with cervical erosion of Nos. 8 and 9 with visible darkened dentin.

After using Ecosite Elements for a large lower anterior composite buildup in a patient with a fractured tooth exhibiting a 50% loss, Dr. Sharde Harvey discovered, “The restoration matched extremely well, and polishability was better than other composites.” She also said, “It appears to have great bonding strength in areas of compressive and lateral forces where others have failed. It appears to withstand forces of occlusion better than others.”

Overall Satisfaction

Praising the versatility of Ecosite Ele­ments, Dr. Fine called it “effective in a vari­ety of applications, including anterior and posterior restorations and sealing access holes in screw-retained implant restorations.” For Dr. Jack Ringer, it worked well with all classes of direct bonding “without any issues or complications.” Noting that “it’s hard for new composites to enter this competitive field,” he said, “Ecosite Elements does a great job of covering all the bases—namely, ease of dispensing, handling, shade matching, and polishing.”