FAQ’s Venus Diamond

How many levels of translucency are there within the Venus Diamond range?
There are 3 levels –
1) The opaque dentine shades (OB, OL, OM, OD) have the lowest translucency in the respective ranges.
2) The universal colours (Vita shades, A.., B.., C.., D..) have a medium translucency and generally form the body of the restoration.
3) The incisal colours (CL, AM, CO, YO) have the highest translucency and form the enamel layer.
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What does the ‘O’ mean in the Venus Diamond colour name?
The prefix ‘O’ (OL, OM etc.) stands for ‘Opaque’ - these colour shades are the least translucent of all Venus Diamond shades’.
The suffix ‘O’ stands for ‘Opal’ – these colour shades are opalescent and are used for the enamel to replicate natural tooth structure.
The exact shade terms may also be found in a table in the Instruction Manual.
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How can I determine the exact colour to be used?
Besides the 2-Layer shade guide, a small sample of the universal Venus Diamond can be polymerised directly on the tooth. The colour matching effect arising after polymerisation is easy to assess, prior to treatment.
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Why does the material seem matt during layering?
During processing very little monomer appears on the surface. This is completely normal for Venus Diamond. Monomer on the surface would increase stickiness and therefore hamper handling.
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Which adhesive systems can I use?
Venus Diamond can be used with commercially available bonding agents. We recommend iBond self etch. It is important that the adhesive layer forms an even, thin layer everywhere in the cavity. Take care that there is no excess (pooling) of bond in the corners of the cavity.
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Can I use a flow material as a liner in the cavity?
The use of a flow material is recommended, especially in deep or large cavities in order to adapt to the surfaces of the cavity preparation. The properties and colours of Venus Flow allow its combined use with Venus Diamond.
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Which polymerisation lamps are suitable?
Depending on the specifications on the Venus Diamond packaging, the polymerisation times are between 20 and 40 s per increment.
Commercially available halogen or LED lamps are suitable. Should the light intensity drop below 550, it is recommended to increase the time by 50%. When using plasma light sources, the time can be reduced by 25%.
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How can I achieve a durable high gloss?
You can, of course, also use the polishing system for Venus Diamond that you have used until now. We recommend the use of Venus Supra pre-polishers and high-gloss polishers. With Venus Supra you achieve an durable high polish in just two stages.
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Should Venus Diamond restorations only be completed using a layering technique?
If high aesthetic needs are secondary or if cases are less complex only the universal shades are required to give acceptable results.
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What does Colour Adaptation mean?
The refractive index of the filler and the monomer matrix have been completely matched, so that after polymerisation the material blends in perfectly with the colour of the surrounding dental hard tissue. This makes the restorative margins virtually invisible.
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Why is the Venus Diamond shade guide special?
The shade guide consists of the original Venus Diamond material and not of acrylic or other types of plastic. This in turn, ensures the colour of the shade tabs are identical to the cured material. The different translucencies were used for layering the shade tabs thus facilitating easier and simple shade selection for each individual patient.
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For what are the HKG shades HKA2.5 and HKA5 created?
The HKA2.5 shade closes the gap between the most popular Vita shades, A2 and A3. There was a corresponding market demand for an intermediate shade. HKA5 is intended especially for use in treating cervical lesions in older patients. Previously, there was no corresponding reddish brown darker shade for this indication.
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Are there any differences in the curing times between the universal and opaque shades?
Yes! The opaque and even some universal shades must be cured for 40 seconds. Because of their higher shade dentisty and opacity they absorb more light than the enamel shades.
20 seconds is adequate for setting of all other shades.
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How high is the volume shrinkage?
The volume shrinkage of Venus Diamond is 1.5%. (also see the difference between shrinkage and shrinkage force.)
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What is the difference between shrinkage and shrinkage force?
Shrinkage is the specification most commonly discussed. Low shrinkage certainly improves the integrity of the filling margins. However, this value alone, actually says nothing about how the shrinkage affects the cavity walls. It is essential that the shrinkage-stress force exerted, when curing the composite, is as low as possible, minimising stress to the cavity walls. As stated, low shrinkage stress is desirable, because a gap between the filling and the cavity wall can only arise if the force is so high, that the adhesive bond is damaged or stressed.
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Is it a nano-material?
Venus Diamond is a nano-hybrid material i.e. it contains a perfect combination of fillers of different sizes. This also includes the nano-range. The combination of different filler sizes improves the mechanics, aesthetics and shade matching.
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What is special about the new Venus Diamond chemistry?
Until now, low shrinkage monomer systems, such as BIS-GMA, had to be combined with reactive thinners on account of their low viscosity. However, these thinners raise the shrinkage of the monomer matrix. A special monomer is used in Venus Diamond that combines low shrinkage with low viscosity. The use of reactive thinners is not required and so the positive properties like low shrinkage for example, are maintained.
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