Editor’s Note: This blog was written by Ultradent Products Founder & CEO Emeritus, Dr. Dan Fischer As we enjoy this special time of year, I find myself reflecting once again on what makes the dental industry so unique, so rewarding: It’s you. This year, like so many before it, was filled with hard work, growth, and challenges—and through it all, your dedication, kindness, and care have remained steadfast. I’m grateful for the ways you continually uplift your patients and the communities you serve. It’s no small thing to say that dentistry is built on these relationships and the respect we show each other, day in and day out.

By Daniel Lewis There are two things dentists seem to always be striving to improve: speed and quality. With cases requiring a sectional matrix system being so common, one area where many clinicians look to shave time and boost results is in the sectional matrix system they choose. For Dr. Brett Richins, the case below perfectly showcases how the Halo™ sectional matrix system enhances his abilities. “The Halo matrix system makes my Class II restorations faster and improves the final result,” says Dr. Richins. “I love the contour of the matrix bands and the way the tines adapt to the anatomy of the teeth! My contacts and marginal ridges have never been better.” He says time saved during restorations is the best part about using the Halo system. “I almost never need to remove flash or modify the occlusal embrasure. I can tell that the Halo system was designed with both the patient and the clinician in mind; it achieves great results and is easy to use.”

By Daniel Lewis Advancements in sectional matrix systems streamline many processes in dental offices and allow clinicians to provide effective, time-conscious treatment for their patients. The case below arrived in Dr. Adrian TS Goh’s office and presented with a chipped filling requiring a Class II composite restoration. The “easy usage and slick design” of the Halo™ sectional matrix system aided Dr. Goh in achieving the high-quality results. “My dental assistants love the easy access and storage of the carousel,” Dr. Goh says of the Halo system. “Certainly an important piece of equipment to have in the practice.”

A user report by Dr. Christoph Neugebauer We trusted in the products from Ultradent Products in our practice for many years. And this was the right thing to do. Likewise, we were immediately impressed by the latest development of curing lights – the VALO X light – which is the successor of the VALO™ and the VALO™ Grand curing lights and cannot imagine working without it.

Why should I use Transcend™ universal composite? What is so special about it? Transcend universal composite is not only an innovative, state-of-the-art dental material. It is rather a genuine one-shade composite, providing unprecedented shade matching with just one Universal Body shade. During the development of Transcend composite, it was our dedicated aim to make the handling for the user as easy as possible. Also, there is not even the need for a blocker or opaquer to hide darker underlying colors.

By Daniel Lewis Starting your journey toward a bright smile begins with understanding the diverse factors that can introduce stains to our teeth.

A user report by Dr. Farina Blattner Being used for more than 80% of the treatments, it is an indispensable part of the orthodontics department in our practice: the curing light. Regardless of whether a bracket got detached, brackets must be attached, or composites need to be cured - without a curing light our practice would come to a standstill. As we do have a high patient frequency and often squeeze in patients for minor repairs, this treatment step always must be done very quickly.

A user report by Dr. Florian Bremer The placement of fillings is an integral part of the daily workflow in a dental practice nowadays. While silver amalgam fillings were still considered to be the standard a few years ago, composite fillings are now mainly used. A new direction has also been taken in the field of matrix systems. Today, a large range of matrices is available for the user. Full-matrix systems, e.g. the Tofflemire system, or sectional matrix systems can provide the decisive advantage. A lot of factors play a role during the placement of a filling, starting from the size and position of the cavity up to the level of patient cooperation. But also, the dentist's skills are important.

During the first half year 2024, our teams at Ultradent Products were busy and thrilled to inform you regularly about our products, such as the brand-new Transcend™ universal composite or the pathbreaking VALO™ X LED curing light. We hope you enjoyed browsing through our regular newsletters and various articles on our Ultradent Product blog to discover all details about our product innovations.

User Report by Dr. David Stachowicz During my professional career as a dentist, I have been working in all parts of dentistry. However, I am especially passionate in restorative procedures. From my point of view, the restorative part is the basis of every aspect in modern dentistry. All other treatment steps and protocols are build-up on restorative dentistry.