• About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Podcast
  • Earn CE
  • Free Samples
    • Figure 6.
    1. Dentistry
    2. Products

    One of my favorite things right now: Skyce from Ivoclar Vivadent

    Oct. 20, 2020
    Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, reviews Skyce from Ivoclar Vivadent—a simple, noninvasive way to add a little "bling" to your smile. (And who couldn't use a little bling right now?)

    Bejeweled smiles date back to 1800BC to 250AD when the Mayans inlayed jade and other minerals into teeth.1,2 Nowadays, people can purchase a kit online that includes etch, bonding agents, and a curing light to apply jewels onto their teeth. If a patient is seeking noninvasive dental embellishment, where can it be more safely applied than a dental office?

    The last live dental conference I attended was Chicago Midwinter in February. When I was there, I applied Skyce tooth jewels to the teeth of conference attendees. They had such a positive response, dental professionals waited for hours to have a Skyce applied to their teeth. Many dentists asked me about the process to apply them and it couldn’t be simpler or less invasive: 

  • Evaluate the tooth where the patient desires Skyce application. Ensure the tooth structure is intact. It is not advisable to apply Skyce to demineralized or carious tooth structure, and it is unlikely that Skyce will bond predictably to porcelain.
    • Discuss where the patient would like the Skyce tooth jewel applied to their tooth. Most patients like the jewel to be visible when smiling,
    Figure 1.
    Figure 1.
    so evaluation of the high smile line is suggested. In instances of application on a mandibular tooth, ensure that the jewel will not interfere maximum intercuspation or excursive movements. Some patients prefer to have their Skyce applied to the center of their
    Figure 2.
    Figure 2.
    tooth and others prefer it on a corner of the tooth in the incisal third.
  • Isolate the tooth. An Optragate is an ideal device for isolation (figure 1).
  • Pumice tooth, rinse.
  • Etch enamel for 10-15 s. and rinse (figure 2).
    • Apply Heliobond to the tooth surface (figure 3).
    Figure 3.
    Figure 3.
  • Using a microbrush, dip the end into bonding agent to facilitate picking up the Skyce tooth jewel to transfer to the tooth (figure 4). 
    • Apply Skyce tooth jewel to the tooth and position it to the desired area. Some practitioners seek confirmation from the patient before
    Figure 4.
    Figure 4.
    curing. Once it is positioned properly, cure with a curing light (figure 5). 
  • Apply Heliobond over the Skyce tooth jewel. This will seal the jewel to the tooth and will add additional sparkle!
    • Skyce tooth jewels are efficient to apply, noninvasive, and whimsical (figure 6).
    Figure 5.
    Figure 5.
    If the patient would like the jewel removed, it can be easily done with a scaler. I’ve had mine since January, and I love it!

    References

    1. Stewart TD. New examples of tooth mutilation from Middle America. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 1941;28(1):117-124. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330280107
    2. History of oral health: Teeth embellishments. Delta Dental. 2019. https://www.deltadental.com/grinmag/us/en/ddins/2019/spring/history-of-tooth-embellishments.html

    Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles at this link and subscribe here.  

    Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].