Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative

Because all composites shrink, achieving lasting marginal integrity has been a challenge ... until now.

Any time you restore a patient's tooth, you strive to achieve a "perfect margin" – a smooth connection between the tooth structure and restoration without interruptions or gaps. Even if your technique is perfect, achieving lasting marginal integrity is a challenge because all composites shrink.

Shrinkage is intrinsic to resin chemistry – which is why, to date, no methacrylate-based composite has solved the shrinkage problem.

Shrinkage comparisons of Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative and methacrylate composites using bonded-disc method. Source: University of Manchester

Scientists at 3M ESPE changed the chemistry to deliver a solution.

The Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative System is based on 3M ESPE’s latest product innovation: silorane chemistry. This scientific breakthrough results in the lowest volumetric shrinkage to date. The silorane-based composite works with a dedicated self-etch adhesive.

Dedicated adhesive provides excellent bond strength

The Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative System combines the lowest-shrinking silorane-based composite with a dedicated two-step, self-etching bonding system:

3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive Self-Etch Primer and Bond. It offers excellent bond strength to enamel and dentin, and is the one and only adhesive formulated to provide optimal bonding with such an extraordinarily low-shrinking composite.

NOTE: Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative is formulated to work only with 3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive. The P90 System adhesive is not designed for use with other composites.

Conventional composite: adhesive and shrinkage forces work in strong opposition.	The Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative System promotes marginal quality due to reduced shrinkage forces combined with equivalent adhesion

Why attaining an excellent margin is so important.

To illustrate why this product-chemistry breakthrough is so important, we need to examine the clinical symptoms associated with volumetric shrinkage, polymerization stress and marginal gaps. Filtek P90 restorative, along with 3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive Self-Etch Primer and Bond, work together to alleviate the clinical problems illustrated below.

Dedicated adhesive provides excellent bond strength

The Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative System combines the lowest-shrinking silorane-based composite with a dedicated two-step, self-etching bonding system:

3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive Self-Etch Primer and Bond. It offers excellent bond strength to enamel and dentin, and is the one and only adhesive formulated to provide optimal bonding with such an extraordinarily low-shrinking composite.

NOTE: Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative is formulated to work only with 3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive. The P90 System adhesive is not designed for use with other composites.

Conventional composite: adhesive and shrinkage forces work in strong opposition.	The Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative System promotes marginal quality due to reduced shrinkage forces combined with equivalent adhesion

Summary of advantages:

• The first composite to shrink less than 1%
• Excellent marginal integrity
• Up to 9 minutes operatory light stability
• Easy to handle; nonsticky; excellent ability to hold shape
• Strong and durable
• Low water sorption for substantially decreased exogenic staining
• Radiopaque
• Available in 4 shades: A2, A3, B2, C2 (capsule or syringe)
• Dedicated self-etch adhesive with excellent bond strength

Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative, together with 3M™ ESPE™ P90 System Adhesive Self-Etch Primer and Bond, is a system for direct, posterior restorative filling. It can be used for the following posterior restorations:

• Class I
• Class II

Filtek P90 restorative and P90 System adhesive may be used together with glass ionomer cements or resin-modified glass ionomer cements, as cavity liners or bases.

Composites and compomers (including flowable composites and compomers), which are bonded to the tooth substance using an adhesive, may not be used as a liner or base under a Filtek P90 filling.

Revolutionary "ring-opening" silorane chemistry has resulted in the first composite to shrink less than 1%.

Silorane chemistry is the basis for a new composite breakthrough: Filtek™ P90 Low Shrink Posterior Restorative.

The illustrations below demonstrate how this silorane-based composite works at the molecular level to reduce shrinkage dramatically, compared to methacrylate-based composites.

As silorane-based composite polymerizes, "ring-opening" monomers connect by opening, flattening and extending toward each other. The result is significantly less volumetric shrinkage compared to methacrylate-based composites.

As methacrylate-based composites cure, the molecules of these "linear monomers" connect by actually shifting closer together in a linear response. The result is a loss of volume.

• Technique Guide (pdf, 256KB)
• Technical Product Profile (pdf, 2.7MB)