3M ESPE – Masters of innovation in restorative dentistry

“Invention isn’t innovation until you’ve delivered something to the marketplace. The engine that drives innovation is technology, but understanding what people need and delivering the right product at the right price is equally important.”

– Joe Bailey, Previous 3M Vice President for Research and Development, 1999

3M – Innovating since the 1920s

The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, or 3M as it’s called today, was founded by five businessmen, who in 1902, set out to mine mineral deposits. By the 1920s, the company was flourishing, having created many world-first innovations such as waterproof sandpaper and masking tape.

From the start, its original owners realised the importance of supporting their workers in the development of new products; a principle that became the core belief of their business. The 15 per cent rule, which is unique to 3M, was first practiced in the 1920s and still applies as company policy today.

3M encourages its technical people to devote 15 per cent of their working time to a project of interest outside their normal duties. This philosophy is what makes 3M a world leader in invention and innovation, and has brought about products including: Scotchlite reflective sheeting; the Thermo-Fax copying process; Scotchgard fabric protector; Thinsulate insulation and the ubiquitous Post-It note.

3M’s many firsts in dentistry

In dentistry, 3M has also brought about many innovations that have helped revolutionise the work of dental professionals worldwide.

Since the foundation of 3M Dental in 1964, the company has continuously pioneered many innovative dental restorative products, starting with Addent composite, the world’s first tooth-coloured commercial resin composite.

Many other products followed, such as Impregum, the first polyether impressioning material, and Vitrebond light-cure glass ionomer liner, the first light-curable product of its class,[1] offering extra assurance that restorations will be long-lasting and sensitivity free.[2]

3M ESPE innovation

3M Dental acquired the German dental company ESPE AG in 2001, which led to the foundation of 3M ESPE. A year after the merger, 3M ESPE introduced Filtek Supreme universal restorative, a nanotechnology product that has played a substantial role in improving composites.[3]

In order to call a restorative a nano composite, every single filler particle in the material must measure less than 100 nanometres [nm] (a single hair strand is about 100,000 nm in width). The minute filler particles in Filtek restorative offer excellent polish retention, smoothness and aesthetic quality.[4]

As former 3M engineer Joe Bailey once said, delivering the right product at the right price is equally important, which is why 3M ESPE recently launched Filtek Z500 restorative, the truly affordable universal restorative that carries the same 3M nanotechnology and quality guarantee. Filtek Supreme and Z500 restoratives are the only two true nanocomposites in the marketplace to date.

The same year that Filtek restorative was launched also saw the introduction of RelyX™ Unicem cement, the world’s first self-adhesive resin cement. This product was a big world first for 3M ESPE because for five years following its launch, no other competitor in the market was able to challenge RelyX Unicem cement and introduce a similar product.

Another world-first that 3M ESPE has brought into the market is Protemp crown, the first single-unit, self-supporting, malleable, light-curable composite crown, which was launched in 2007. Protemp crown also allows dentists to create a temporary single-unit restoration in under four minutes, is twice as fast,[5] and is stronger than other temporisation materials.[6]

This innovative product offers high-quality aesthetic properties as well, with its pre-formed anatomical shape and tooth-coloured shade, which can be polished to a shiny, tooth-like appearance.

The same year Protemp crown was launched also saw the introduction of the world’s first non-methacrylate based composite.

Continued advancement for the future

All these leading restorative products join many other dental innovations from 3M ESPE, such as the first automatic mixing unit.

The beauty of 3M technology, seen since the 1920s, is that it never stops evolving. 3M ESPE continues to bring astounding innovations to dentistry that move with the industry’s changing demands, with products that always have the wants and needs of both dentists and patients in mind.

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk