Dental Symposium Presentation Lauds Ability of Venus Diamond® to Achieve Excellent Esthetic Results With Minimal Invasiveness

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The recently-completed 4th International Heraeus Symposium featured a presentation entitled, "Composites in the 3D World: Ease, Strength and Beauty." The presentation, by Brian LeSage, DDS, FAACD, was one of 14 presentations given to an audience of 68 key opinion leaders at a two-day symposium sponsored by Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide leader in dental esthetics.

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Dr. LeSage noted that composite resins, particularly nanohybrid composites such as Heraeus' Venus Diamond, have evolved to offer vast improvements over previous generations and are now among the most versatile cosmetic restorative materials available. Through advancements in material sciences and layering techniques, these composites now demonstrate improved strength, handling characteristics and durability, as well as lower polymerization shrinkage rates, to provide dentists with greater ease of use and predictability when placing restorations intraorally.

Available in a variety of shade options that can be polished to a natural luster, today's composites enable creation of restorations that seamlessly mimic surrounding dentition for unmatched esthetics. Dr. LeSage also stressed the fact that these innovative composites combine with improved techniques to support minimally invasive and highly conservative dentistry, allowing dentists to improve function and esthetics without aggressive tooth structure removal. 

Offering color adaptability, restorations completed with nanohybrid composites such as Venus Diamond allow dentists to use single or multiple shades of layered material to reproduce the natural appearance of the patient's dentition. The size of the filler particles present in Venus Diamond offer enhanced resistance to wear from masticatory forces, enabling their use in both the anterior and posterior.

Sonny Serreno, Heraeus' Director of Scientific & Clinical Affairs who oversaw the planning of the symposium in concert with his counterparts at Heraeus' Hanau, Germany global headquarters, was impressed by the patient cases featured in the presentation.  "We have devoted years of extensive research toward the development of advanced composites such as Venus Diamond that can allow dentists to mimic natural dentition in a minimally invasive manner," he said.  "Dr. LeSage's extremely thorough and compelling case demonstrations made it clear that our efforts have been worthwhile."  He also noted that the cases emphasized the humanity of dentistry.  "Our ultimate goal at Heraeus is to help dental practices transform patient lives, and Dr. LeSage did a wonderful job of conveying what kind of impact is possible when you put the right materials in the hands of talented and caring practitioners."

Dr. LeSage is the founder and director of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Aesthetic Continuum Levels I and II and the director of the Beverly Hills Institute of Dental Esthetics.  He is one of 30 accredited cosmetic dentists in the worldwide American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).  He was awarded the Excellence in Cosmetic Dental Education Award by the AACD in 2009, the same year he was inducted as a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.

Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company with 160 years of tradition. Our fields of competence include precious metals, materials, and technologies, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as dental products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources. With product revenues of 4.1 billion euros and precious metal trading revenues of 17.9 billion euros, as well as more than 12,900 employees in over 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets.

SOURCE Heraeus