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Simply a better way to bond.View Infographic
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Do you like technical details? Dig in.READ TECHNICAL GUIDE (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Revolutionise your bonding with 3M™ APC™ Flash-Free Adhesive
Bonding is undergoing a revolution, and while the process of adding adhesive to a bracket works fine, the APC™ Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliance System works even better—and faster1. The most advanced generation of APCTM Adhesive Costate Appliance, works so well because of its resin-soaked nonwoven mat base which adheres to the enamel for a more reliable bond2, whilst also eliminating the process of flash removal. It’s an idea anyone could think of, but only we could make a reality.
Adhesion. Only where you need it.
Traditional paste adhesives require flash cleanup which can leave uneven adhesive clumps around the edges of brackets, allowing a surface area for food particles to accumulate or plaque to form. Our APC Flash-Free Adhesive forms a smooth meniscus when the adhesive coated bracket is seated, which seals the tooth surface around the edges of the bracket.
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Your challenge
For you and your staff, bonding and debonding are time and labor-intensive processes -
Our Solution
APC Flash-Free Adhesive has only 5 bonding steps and with that reduction in veriability you can achieve an overall bond failure rate of less than 2 percent3
"As any orthodontist knows, chair time is king. We were able to see more patients per day and remove those painstakingly long bonding appointments from our schedule."
Davies Orthodontics, Wisconsin
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Your challenge
Because it requires 11 steps, traditional bonding systems inject lots of variability into the bonding process leading to unacceptably high failure rates4.
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Our solution
Flash-free adhesive coated brackets have a smooth, consistent adhesive base that protects the tooth under the bracket. By eliminating flash, you eliminate everything that can go wrong during clean up.
"Less bond failures means you're not filling up your schedule with fixing broken brackets. When you commit to using quality products, it trickles down into everything that happens in your clinic in a positive fashion."
Mortimer Orthodontics - Pittsburgh
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Your challenge
Flash can cause problems with bacteria and plaque accumulation and accidental bracket movemnet. Never mind the fact clearing away excess flash is time consuming and exhausting.
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Our solution
Flash-free adhesive coated brackets have a smooth, consistent adhesive base that protects the tooth under the bracket. By eliminating flash, you eliminate everything that can go wrong during clean up.
"Cleaning up the flash is the exhausting part of the placement. It uses your fine motor skills, constant concentration and visual focus. Cleaning flash wears you down."
Davies Orthodontics, Wisconsin
Powered by 3M science, APC Flash-Free Adhesive leverages several of the highly advanced 3M Technology Platforms such as nanotechnology, adhesives and nonwoven materials. The result is a revolutionary way to bond orthodontic appliances that eliminates the many challenges of bonding with flash.
Orthodontic appliances bonded using APC Flash-Free Adhesive have reliable bond strength that’s comparable to 3M Transbond™ XT Adhesive and 3M APC™ II Adhesive⁵ while eliminating challenging and time-consuming flash removal.
Orthodontic appliances bonded using APC Flash-Free Adhesive have reliable bond strength that’s comparable to 3M Transbond™ XT Adhesive and 3M APC™ II Adhesive⁵ while eliminating challenging and time-consuming flash removal.
The pre-coated resin forms a smooth meniscus around the bracket base. This creates an even seal and protects the enamel under the surface of the bracket from acid erosion caused by microleakage.
The pre-coated resin forms a smooth meniscus around the bracket base. This creates an even seal and protects the enamel under the surface of the bracket from acid erosion caused by microleakage.
Minimal bracket drift occurs after initial placement because of the adhesive bond provided by nonwoven materials. A web of micron–sized polypropylene fibers provide the necessary thickness and loft needed for a reliable bond⁶.
Minimal bracket drift occurs after initial placement because of the adhesive bond provided by nonwoven materials. A web of micron–sized polypropylene fibers provide the necessary thickness and loft needed for a reliable bond⁶.
As with any revolutionary technology, there’s a lot to learn about the APC Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliance System. Check out these videos and discover how this innovative bonding system can fit into your practice.
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How it worksGet a deeper look into 3M technologies used in APC Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliance System. -
Connect with a 3M expertLearn how APC Flash-Free adhesive revolutionises orthodontic bonding.
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Technical GuideIf you want all the technical details, we’ve assembled them here.
Revolutionise your bonding experience
Explore our featured brackets available precoated with APC Flash-Free adhesive and our comprehensive product portfolio. It's time to leave flash behind.
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Resources
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Bonding Protocol
References
- a) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “Eliminates the need for adhesive flash clean up”, S10497, 16/09/11;
b) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “The resin exudes and forms a meniscus around the edges of the bonding base, minimising gaps around the edges of the bonding base and the tooth surface”, S10499, 15/03/13 - a) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “Requires fewer overall bonding steps than traditional light-cure adhesive systems, reducing bonding time”, S10504, 26/04/11;
b) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “Reduced bonding time and bonding steps lead to a more efficient bonding procedure”, S10505, 28/04/11;
c) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “The reduced bonding steps can lead to reduced variability in the bonding process”, S10634, 14/03/13;
d) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “Feedback from early users has shown a 40% reduction in the time required for bracket placement, positioning and clean-up versus other bonding systems”, S10659, 19/03/13 - 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “According to feedback received from early users in 3M study #130220B for direct bonding, the bond failure rate is less than 2%”, S10635, 12/03/13
- 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “The average bond failure rate for APC™ Flash-Free Adhesive coated brackets is 60% lower than the industry average labial bond failure rate.”, S10931, 29/07/2016
- 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “Orthodontic appliances bonded using APC™ Flash-Free Adhesive have reliable bond strength, similar to bonding with Transbond™ XT Adhesive or APC™ II Adhesive”, S10503, 16/09/13
- a) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “APC™ Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliances have a non-woven fiber mat that is saturated with a methacrylate-based resin”, S10498, 09/11/2011
b) 3M Oral Care Clinical Claims DB, “APC(TM) Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliances provide consistent and predictable adhesive thickness.”, S10494, 06/06/2012