American Dental Association and American Board of Dental Examiners Advance Dental Licensure Examinations Through New Agreement

 

ADEX to incorporate the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) into the ADEX Dental Examination no later than Aug. 1, 2026

 

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) have finalized an agreement to license the ADA's Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) for incorporation into the ADEX Dental Examination, marking a significant step forward in modernizing dental licensure and advancing patient safety.

The agreement benefits public health, dental licensure candidates, the dental profession, and licensing boards to help ensure dentists enter the profession with proven competence and uphold the highest standards for patient safety.

The integration of the ADA's DLOSCE simplifies licensure pathways and supports licensure portability, benefiting candidates seeking to practice in 48 states and other jurisdictions — including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — that currently accept or require the ADEX Dental Examination.

"This agreement represents an important milestone for the dental profession," said Dr. Richard Rosato, D.M.D., president of the ADA. "By aligning pathways to licensure and advancing candidate assessment, we are strengthening licensure portability, supporting a more mobile and responsive workforce, and ensuring that patient safety remains paramount. The ADA has long championed solutions that modernize licensure while protecting the public, and this collaboration reflects our commitment to shaping a strong, sustainable future for dentistry in service to public health."

The ADEX Dental Examination with its DLOSCE component represents a modernized, evidence-based approach to evaluating clinical competence and readiness for practice. The ADEX Dental Examination will continue to assess candidates' clinical hand skills alongside their treatment-planning and decision-making abilities. Through inclusion of the DLOSCE, the ADEX Dental Examination will benefit from the DLOSCE's extensive use of images and 3D models that allow candidates to demonstrate their clinical judgment in scenarios that closely mirror real-world practice.

 "ADEX has long served state dental boards to support licensure processes that reflect both public protection and clinical competence," said Dr. Mark Armstrong, Chair of ADEX. "This agreement continues that work by strengthening alignment across assessment components while preserving the clinical hand-skills evaluation that remains central to licensure in most U.S. jurisdictions."

 The agreement follows extensive collaboration among the ADA, ADEX, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), and the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure (CDEL) that began in 2025. In March 2026, the ADA Board of Trustees and ADEX Board of Directors voted to approve the general terms that led to this joint agreement.

Central to discussions was a shared commitment to ensuring that dental licensure assessments continue to evolve in step with advancements in clinical education, technology, and patient care. Both organizations emphasized the importance of strengthening public protection while also enhancing the portability of dental licensure for candidates navigating an increasingly mobile profession.

 ADEX will sunset its DSE OSCE no later than Aug. 1, 2026. Upon sunset of the DSE OSCE, all ADEX Dental Examination administrations will include the DLOSCE.

 The DLOSCE will no longer be offered or administered as a standalone examination to new DLOSCE candidates, except in conjunction with the ADEX Dental Examination, after Aug. 1, 2026. All standalone administrations of the DLOSCE will cease after Oct. 9, 2026.

 About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 152,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance has long been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), published monthly, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org. 

About the American Board of Dental Examiners

The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting dental boards in their mission to protect the public through the licensure of qualified oral health professionals. Established in 1969, ADEX administers independent competency examinations developed and approved by representatives of state dental boards. ADEX examinations are accepted or required by law in 51 U.S. jurisdictions and serve as the initial licensure pathway for 98% of dental and 85% of dental hygiene candidates nationwide. Through ongoing collaboration with dental boards and educators, ADEX continues to advance innovative, evidence-based assessment methods that uphold the highest standards of fairness, clinical competence, and public protection. Learn more at adextesting.org.

SuperMouth Launches One of the First Electric Toothbrush Systems Designed Exclusively for Orthodontic Care

 

If you happen to know someone who's going through orthodontic treatment that uses traditional wires, here's something to definitely think about.  SuperMouth has just released a new powered tooth brush made specifically for orthodontics.

Orthodontic brackets and wires are difficult to clean around, even if the patient is diligent about it.  I love the idea of a brush specifically designed to help with that problem.  In my career I've seen many patients that needed fillings done because cavities formed around the edges of the brackets.  They normally are small areas, but I've never enjoyed putting fillings on teeth right after a patient finishes ortho treatment.  I'm all for anything that can help prevent that.

I've tried the SuperMouth Ultim8 brush, which I got my hands on last year.  I really liked it.  The company is shipping me this new model to try.  I think you can assume I'll be happy with it, however if I have any concerns, I'll let the company know and post something here, so that all of you know too.

Here's all the info on the new Ultim8 Ortho Edition...

Orthodontist-Engineered Electric Toothbrush Features Up to 60x Better Cleaning Around Braces; Patented Bristles, and UV Sanitization to Revolutionize Oral Hygiene

SuperMouth, the dentist-founded brand known for its advanced oral care solutions for all ages, is proud to unveil its latest innovation: the Ultim8 SmartBrush System Ortho-Edition. As one of the first orthodontist-engineered electric toothbrushes designed to support users through every stage of orthodontic treatment, it delivers superior cleaning, advanced hygiene, and unmatched comfort. 

Equipped with patented SuperBristles® Ortho, the Ultim8 Ortho SmartBrush cleans up to 60 times more effectively around braces than a manual brush. Developed after scanning thousands of teeth with braces, these specialized bristles adapt to the natural contours by wrapping around braces or other orthodontic appliances, like aligner attachments, for a meticulous clean, while the super-soft PBT filaments provide three times more bristles than standard brushes. To ensure peak hygiene, the system’s Ultim8 SmartHub™ features a built-in UV sanitizer that effectively eliminates 99.9% of germs in just five minutes and dries the bristles between uses. 

The system was developed through decades of clinical experience by Dr. Kami Hoss, founder of SuperMouth and orthodontist of over 30 years. Dr. Hoss identified three common issues with traditional toothbrushes––that they are ineffective, unsafe, and unhygienic––and set out to revolutionize at-home oral care through accessible, high-performance technology. 

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Ultim8 SmartBrush System Ortho-Edition, a comprehensive electric toothbrush specially engineered for braces,” said Dr. Kami Hoss, founder of SuperMouth. “Following years of patient care, we identified the unique hygiene challenges of orthodontic patients and where ordinary brushes fall short. This system was created to fill those gaps. With bristles that clean up to 60 times more effectively and features that ensure a deeper clean, our goal is to support patients through every stage of their smile journey.”

The latest addition to SuperMouth’s collection of electric toothbrushes, the Ultim8 SmartBrush System Ortho-Edition includes standout features such as: 

• Four Sonic Modes: Select from four modes designed to effectively clean: Ortho, Super, Sensitive, and Smart. The new Ortho mode is specifically designed for patients in braces or aligners, and the new Smart mode intelligently adapts to real-time brushing pressure for optimized, effortless results. 
• Pressure Sensor Protection: Prevents over-brushing by providing real-time visual feedback through lights that indicate if pressure is too heavy, too little, or just right. 
• Replaceable Brush Heads: Developed by leading orthodontists, the system includes three replaceable ortho-specific brush heads. 
• Ultim8 SmartHub™: This all-in-one station stores, charges, sanitizes, and dries the brush between uses. It features a five-minute UV sanitizer, a built-in dryer, and a dual function cap that serves as both a protective cover and a practical rinse cup. 
• Travel SmartCase™: A new standard for portable care, the SmartCase features a powerful UV sanitizer to eliminate germs and bacteria on the go, a long-lasting rechargeable battery, and custom spaces for travel-sized toothpaste and floss. 
• Versatile Charging: Offers multiple power options, including SmartMag wireless charging, an adaptive charger in the base, and the Travel SmartCase. 
• Waterproof Design: Fully waterproof to allow for convenient brushing in the shower.
• SmartTimer™: Automates shut-off after two minutes and provides 30-second quadrant reminders to ensure even, dentist-recommended brushing time. 

Currently available for purchase at SuperMouth.com, with Amazon availability coming soon, the Ultim8 SmartBrush System Ortho-Edition comes in two customizable versions: $199.99 for the SmartBrush, SmartHub, and Travel SmartCase, and $169.99 for the SmartBrush and SmartHub. Each system is also available in three beautiful colors: Sapphire Blue, Pearly White, and Rose Gold.  

For more information about SuperMouth and the Ultim8 SmartBrush System Ortho-Edition, please visit www.SuperMouth.com.

About SuperMouth®

SuperMouth is a dentist-founded oral care brand offering over 200 best-in-class products and holding nearly 300 patents, reflecting its commitment to innovation and excellence. With products designed for every age and stage of life, SuperMouth continues to push the boundaries of oral care, creating solutions that combine safety, effectiveness, and fun. Learn more at www.SuperMouth.com.

Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Help with Oral Cancer Detection

 

Sometimes less is more and in this case, it applies to this post...

Today is a short post because most of the info will come from the link at the bottom.  Researchers at Harvard are working on ways to bring AI into the realm of detecting oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a horrible disease.  It is often fatal, mainly because it isn't detected in the early stages.  Cancers detected in Stage 1 or Stage 2 often have much better outcomes.  However, oral cancer is often not detected until Stage 3 or Stage 4 which makes them much more difficult treat and extremely difficult to recover from.  Globally it is responsible for around 325,000 deaths per year.

Dentistry has been trying for decades to create a way to make them easier to detect.  That's why I was excited to read about a study from Harvard that deals with using the emerging tech of AI to make detection easier and faster.

Follow this link for more info.  

DMG Introduces New Clinical Protocols for Icon Resin Infiltration

 

Minimally invasive dentistry is a hot topic.  Doctors know that nothing works better in the environment of the oral cavity than the original structures that nature put there.  Discovering and implementing ways to remove as little natural tooth structure as possible saves more tooth structure for later.  I wish I could remember who told me this (unfortunately I can't) but years ago someone called this concept "tooth bank dentistry" which implied it is "banking' more natural enamel and dentin for the future".  I love that analogy and use it frequently when talking about minimally invasive procedures to both doctors and patients.  

One of the ways to perform minimally invasive procedures is with a concept called "resin infiltration".  This is a process where a tooth is etched and then thin, flowable resin is applied to the area.  This thin resin penetrates the microscopic porosities in the lesion and is then photo-polymerized with a curing light.  The resin reinforces the area while also sealing it from breakdown.   

One of the best products for resin infiltration is Icon from DMG.  It's especially helpful in conservatively treating 'white spot lesions' on anterior teeth.   I've worked with the material and have been really impressed with the results.  I've also worked with the team at DMG on several projects over the last few years and I can tell you from personal interactions, they are a great group of people.  I love it when good products come from great people.  It always makes my work a little easier.

I have to offer kudos to the folks at DMG for the hard work they've done on Icon.  The kudos are especially appropriate today as DMG has announced a new "decision tree" that doctors can download and use to make Icon usage easier.  

There are a few quotes below from Dr. David Rice, who is a terrific guy.  If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Rice, here is a link to an interview I did with him for The Technology Evangelist Podcast.

All the info & details from DMG are below...

Protocols improve diagnosis, treatment planning, and esthetic outcomes

Dental professionals across North America now have access to updated clinical protocols for micro-invasive Icon® resin infiltration. These new protocols from DMG incorporate enhanced diagnostic techniques, optimized infiltration timing, and structured treatment guidance designed to improve predictability and outcomes for patients with early enamel lesions and opacities.

The updated approach is the result of DMG’s commitment to clinical research and integrates transillumination-based diagnosis, extended infiltration times, and new pre-treatment strategies, alongside a newly-developed clinical decision tree that helps guide dental professionals through case selection and treatment pathways.  Resin infiltration represents a cornerstone of modern minimally invasive dentistry, enabling clinicians to intervene early and preserve healthy tooth structure while addressing patients’ esthetic concerns. 

With the addition of improved diagnostics, refined protocols, and structured clinical guidance, the updated Icon approach aims to help dental professionals achieve more predictable, conservative, and esthetic treatment outcomes.  

Enhanced Diagnostic Protocol: Transillumination

One of the most significant updates to the clinical workflow is the incorporation of transillumination as a diagnostic and monitoring tool that improves case selection and reduces the risk of misdiagnosis or unnecessary invasive treatment. It is also helpful during treatment to assess lesion dehydration and infiltration progress. 

This diagnostic enhancement allows practitioners to better differentiate:

• White spot enamel lesions and opacities
• Early carious lesions
• Developmental defects such as fluorosis 

Optimized Infiltration Protocols

The updated protocol also emphasizes longer infiltration times, allowing deeper penetration of the low-viscosity resin into porous enamel.  “Over the years, I’ve found that success with Icon resin infiltration isn’t just about the material—it’s about refining the protocol,” said Dr. David Rice, a recognized dental industry key opinion leader and founder of igniteDDS. “By incorporating transillumination for better diagnosis and allowing more time for resin penetration, we’re seeing more predictable outcomes and significantly improved esthetic results. It’s a meaningful step forward in how we manage white spot lesions without drilling.”  Longer infiltration periods can improve diffusion of the resin into hypomineralized enamel structures, increasing the masking effect and enhancing lesion stabilization. 

Expanded Pre-Treatment Strategies

The new protocols also incorporate pre-treatment methods designed to produce predictable, esthetic outcomes, including:

• Microabrasion to remove resistant enamel layers and improve access to the lesion body
• Pre-whitening or bleaching protocols in certain cases to reduce contrast between affected and healthy enamel prior to infiltration

Introducing the Icon Clinical Decision Tree

To support clinicians in implementing these updated protocols, a new Icon Clinical Decision Tree has been introduced.

The decision tree provides a structured pathway to help dental professionals:

• Evaluate lesion etiology and severity
• Determine whether infiltration is appropriate
• Identify when additional pre-treatment steps may be necessary
• Select the correct treatment protocol based on lesion characteristics

The tool simplifies clinical decision-making and promotes predictable treatment planning for white spot lesions, fluorosis, and early caries lesions.

Clinicians can access the decision tree here:

https://drilling-no-thanks.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DMGA_Icon_Decision-Tree_2026.pdf

About Icon Resin Infiltration

Icon is a micro-invasive treatment designed to halt early enamel caries and improve the appearance of white spot lesions without drilling. By infiltrating a low-viscosity resin into the lesion body, the  technique arrests lesion progression and restores the natural optical properties of enamel.

About DMG 

DMG manufactures and distributes a full range of market-leading dental materials and  equipment that are internationally recognized for their quality and innovation. Known for its breakthrough dental technology – including flagship products like Luxatemp® and LuxaCore® Z Dual, the revolutionary Icon® caries infiltrant, LuxaCrown® long-term crown and bridge material, and new additions such as Ecosite restorative composites, and DentaMile® 3D printing solution, complete with software, hardware and resins – DMG is committed to helping provide holistic solutions and streamlined workflows for dental and lab professionals to meet their needs through innovation, collaboration, and dedication. 

For more information about DMG products, or to find a sales representative, please visit online at www.dmg-america.com, or call 800-662-6383.

Together, we’re looking ahead: A smile ahead together

A Totally Digital Workflow and the DWX-43W Helps

 The world has changed dramatically due to the influx of technology.  Dentistry has seen a huge swing toward digital in the last 10 years.  One of my personal pet peeves was the introduction of the concept "digital workflows" into marketing.  What bothered me is that it seemed to imply there was a true digital workflow and not the *concept* of digital workflows.

Digital radiography made tremendous changes in how offices functioned.  That *is* a digital workflow, but it didn't mean everything around it was digital as well.  I felt the term brought a dust cloud of misunderstanding to doctors trying to evaluate things to incorporate into their practices.

However, now I'm much happier because I can tell you with confidence that digital workflows truly exist.  It's now routinely possible to really have 1s and 0s be the only thing between you and delivery of care.  The DWX-43W mill form DGSHAPE is a good example of this.  This is the second DGSHAPE mill that's been in my practice.  We started out with the DWX-42W in 2022 and upgraded to the new model about 14 months ago.

The unit is open architecture which is a huge benefit.  When I began milling in 2022 we had been taking digital intraoral scans with our iTero scanners for about fifteen years.  We were familiar with our scanners, knew how to use them, and were getting tremendous results with them.  Because of the open architecture we could immediately use the scanner data to feed the mill.  Our results were impressive.

The process is now scan digital, design digital, and mill digital.  The only physical part of the process is the patient and the finished crown.  That is a truly digital workflow!

The amazing thing to me is that this is only getting better.  I think in the next 5-10 years dentistry is going to see a tremendous amount of what we do migrate into the in-office sphere.  The results are precise and predictable and the delivery time will be cut dramatically.  There is always going to be a need for dental labs.  There are somethings that will require human brains to create them.  However labs are currently more digital than most dental offices.  That means that even if you don't ever want to do things in-house, you'll still get better results and help your lab by doing as much digitally as you can.  This is the future that I've been dreaming of for over two decades and it's finally starting to arrive.

Research Report from Dandy Examines the Impact of Remakes on Restorative Dentistry

 

Dandy is really going on all in on making digital dentistry easier and as massively predictable as it can be.  I am continually impressed with their efforts to move dentistry forward.  One of the questions I get frequently from other doctors is "won't this digital dentistry stuff cause the end of the lab industry?"  My answer is always a resounding NO.  The reason I feel that way deals a lot with labs like Dandy.  This lab is doing pretty amazing things and making themselves a necessary partner for dentists.  Here's some interesting news from them.

Survey Reveals 58% of Dentists Have Lost a Patient Due to Poor-Fitting Prosthetics

Every dentist knows the frustration of receiving a poor-fitting crown or implant from the lab. But a new research report from Dandy, the fully digital dental lab, has now revealed that poor fit has a direct impact on patient retention, especially for fast-growing practices.

Dandy’s report investigates the extent of prosthetic fit issues for dentists across the U.S. and their impact on dentist practice performance. According to the survey of 137 dentists:

• 94% have had to order a remake
• One in four (23%) have had to re-make a prosthetic three or more times
• The problem is even more pronounced for dentists whose practices are growing quickly, with 22% of them sending more than half (50-75%) of their prosthetics back to the lab

The survey found that sub-par prosthetics are directly impacting dentists’ productivity. 

• Over half (51%) report spending more than an hour a week dealing with remakes. 
• More than three-quarters (79%) report having spent more than 30 minutes chairside addressing an issue caused by an ill-fitting prosthetic for a single patient and 28% have spent more than one hour. 

But it’s not just the dentists’ time that’s lost. Lab work issues have a direct impact on patient experience. A majority of dentists (58%) say they have, or suspect they have, lost a patient to another provider due to a restoration that didn’t fit properly. Dentists whose practices have grown significantly over the past year are even more likely to feel the impact: 74% of them have, or suspect they have, lost a patient for this reason.

Broader Financial Pressure for Dentists

More broadly, Dandy found that 97% of dentists faced growing costs over the past 12 months, predominantly related to dental supplies (reported by 80% of dentists), followed by personnel (64%) and administrative expenses (56%). Many have seen this reflected in their take-home pay: while 67% said their practice has grown over the past year, a much smaller percentage (52%) said their personal income has grown, indicating that costs are increasing faster than revenue and dentists are paying the price personally. 

Solving the Remake Problem

Dentists attributed remakes to a variety of factors: chiefly in the clinic-to-lab workflow. The most common cause was inaccurate impressions or scans (34%), followed by lab fabrication issues (31%). Just 12% of dentists cited patient-related issues such as anatomical challenges. 

Respondents were optimistic that technology could help. Nearly half (42%) said they’d reduced their remake rate by using intraoral scanners, while 53% said they expected AI to improve the fit of lab-produced prosthetics. 

“Amid rising costs, efficiency is crucial for dentists today; but that shouldn’t mean compromising on quality,” said Cong Yu, Head of Engineering at Dandy. “Technology is improving every step of the restoration process, from scan to lab to installation, making it economically possible to deliver high-quality restorations the first time around, every time. For example, our AI Scan Review analyzes scans in real-time, flagging crown preparation issues while the patient is still in the chair, and AI-powered quality control in the lab ensures each device is perfected to a high level of accuracy. By eliminating remakes, we’re helping dentists to deliver a better patient experience and save time so they can grow more profitably.”

Read the Report

The full report: “Solving the Squeeze: Eliminating the Toll of Dental Prosthetic Remakes”.  

 

Survey methodology

Dandy conducted an online survey of 137 dentists across the U.S. in Q3 2025.

About Dandy

Dandy is building the modern operating system for dentistry, powering the world’s most advanced dental labs. Dandy partners with dental practices to transform their business with state-of-the-art intraoral scanners, always-on expert guidance, and precision manufacturing accelerated by AI, 3D printing, and other state-of-the-art technologies seamlessly orchestrated by Dandy's proprietary software. Dandy empowers dentists with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practice, their people, and their patients. With unparalleled quality, efficiency, and experience, Dandy makes the business of dentistry pain-free. To learn more, visit meetdandy.com or our LinkedIn page, www.linkedin.com/company/dandyofficial/.

Warming Composite: Trend, Trick, or True Clinical Advantage?

 

Every so often, something starts popping up in conversations, lectures, and online groups that makes you stop and think, “Am I missing something here?”  Lately, that something is warming composite.  You’ve probably heard it: “It flows better.”  “It adapts like a flowable but keeps its strength.”  “Once you try it, you’ll never go back."

That’s a pretty strong set of claims for something as simple as… heating up your composite.  So let’s take a step back and look at what’s really going on.  Quick disclaimer: I've been using warmed composite for over two decades and I'm a believer.

What Happens When You Warm Composite?

At its core, composite is a highly filled resin system. That filler content is what gives us strength, wear resistance, and esthetics—but it also makes composite more viscous and, at times, harder to manipulate.  When you warm composite (typically into the 120–155°F / 50–68°C range), a few things happen:

1. Viscosity Drops

This is the big one.  Warmer composite flows more easily. It adapts better to:  Internal line angles, Margins, Irregularities in prep design.  In practical terms, that means less “fighting the material” and more controlled placement.

2. Improved Adaptation

Better flow = better adaptation.  That can translate into: Fewer voids, Better marginal integrity, Potentially reduced microleakage.  Now, is this a magic bullet for poor technique? No.  But does it make good technique easier to execute? Absolutely.

3. Increased Degree of Conversion (Potentially)

There’s a body of evidence suggesting that preheating composite can:  Increase monomer mobility and improve polymer chain formation.  The result? A potentially higher degree of conversion.

That could mean:

• Better physical properties
• Improved wear resistance
• More stable restorations over time
• The Real-World Benefits

Let’s bring this out of the lab and into the operatory.

✔️ Easier Handling

If you’ve ever tried to sculpt a high-fill composite in a tight box prep, you know the struggle.  Warming composite makes it:  Smoother and more responsive.  This makes the material less “sticky” in an annoying way and that's a good thing.

✔️ Better Margins (When Done Right)

That improved adaptation can help you get: Cleaner margins, fewer gaps, and less need to “chase” the material with an instrument.

✔️ Fewer Layers (In Some Cases)

Some clinicians find that warmed composite behaves closer to a flowable—without sacrificing strength. That opens the door to: simplified layering, faster placement, and best of all more efficient procedures.  But this is where I think the conversation needs some balance.

Because while warming composite has real advantages, it’s not without limitations—and it’s definitely not a cure-all.  Here are a few things to consider:  ⚠️ Working time decreases because warm composite doesn’t stay warm forever.  Once it’s out of the heater it starts cooling immediately and that means viscosity begins to increase again.  So you’ve got a shorter window to work with that ideal consistency.

This is one of the reasons I like the Compex HD from AdDent and the Phasor from Vista-Apex Solutions.  These devices are both "warming guns" that actually let you dispense warm composite directly into the prep.  The material stays warmer longer and allows you more of the placement benefits.

However, ⚠️ Polymerization Shrinkage Still Exists

So let’s not forget:  Warming composite may improve flow and conversion—but it doesn’t eliminate shrinkage.  It's still important to know the shrinkage factor of your material and place it accordingly.  That means you still need proper layering techniques, thoughtful curing protocols, and good bonding fundamentals.  When it comes to adhesive dentistry, there are no shortcuts there.

⚠️ Equipment and Workflow Matter!  To do this consistently, you’ll need:

• A composite warmer - this can be a base like Calset or the guns mentioned above
• A system for cycling compules efficiently
• And more importantly—you need a workflow that supports it.

Otherwise, it becomes one more “cool idea” that slows you down instead of helping you.

The Bigger Question: Is It Worth It?  Here’s my take.  Warming composite isn’t a gimmick.  There’s real science behind the concepts of:  Improved flow, better adaptation, potentially enhanced material properties.  But the impact is incremental, not revolutionary.  This isn’t going to suddenly make average dentistry exceptional.  What it will do is:  Make good clinicians more efficient, make excellent clinicians more precise, and sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of edge we’re looking for.