Dr. DiTolla’s Clinical Tips – RelyX™ Unicem Clicker™

January 3, 2008
RelyX™ Unicem Clicker™

PRODUCT:
RelyX™ Unicem Clicker™

SOURCE:
3M ESPE
St. Paul, Minn.
888-364-3577

I have been using RelyX™ Unicem cement for almost three years and have been willing to use it in their RotoMix triturator, despite the fact it isn’t very convenient. I am happy to report that 3M ESPE has discovered a way to eliminate this problem: by dispensing it from the same “clicker” unit that RelyX Luting Cement Plus has used for years. My dental assistant loves not having to walk to the triturator to use this cement, and I think dentists were a little confused by the delivery system for a crown and bridge cement as well.

RelyX Unicem is a self-etching resin cement, a concept many dentists regard as new. However, the Panavia™ (Kuraray Dental; New York, N.Y.) family of cements has been self-etching since their inception. If using the total etch technique to bond a restoration never appealed to you, it’s time you take a look at this cement where no separate etching step is necessary. The name Unicem refers to the fact that it is a universal cement and can be used on any restoration, with the exception of veneers. 3M ESPE says that it cannot be used with veneers because of its dual-cure nature, in addition to the fact it gives you limited working time. Are we getting closer to the day when veneers can be cemented in like crowns? We may be closer than you think!