Specialist prosthodontist Dr Akit Patel has extensive experience in restorative dental care, from working in a private specialist practice focusing on implant, aesthetic and reconstructive dentistry, to teaching clinicians in hands-on courses such as Success Simplified, with Solventum, formerly 3M Health Care.
He spoke about why he uses the 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement, and why he recommends it to other dental professionals.
Why and when do you use the 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement?
I use the cement when I want to confidently adhesively bond, based on if the restoration needs it – for example it’s a weak ceramic that needs strengthening – and/or if the tooth preparation lacks sufficient retention and resistance form.
The 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement is a material you can trust across a wide range of clinical indications, so it has become a key part of my everyday workflow.
In the Success Simplified course, you talk about knowing when and why to bond or cement. When should you choose an effective cement?
There is a trend for one to adhesively bond all restorations, but that approach is incredibly technique sensitive. When you’re using resin composite materials, you need to follow the right protocol and take great care – leaving more room for error. I prefer to choose a cement when I want ease ease of application and a quicker, more comfortable workflow for both myself and my patient.
When I need to bond, I try not to over-complicate things. A reliable solution like the 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement helps make the application less technique sensitive and easier to perform.
What common challenges do clinicians face when providing indirect restorations, and how can their choice of cement help to deliver more predictable outcomes?
When resin cements fail, it’s often because the clinical steps weren’t followed exactly as instructed. Proper surface cleaning and preparation are critical for creating the right conditions for the cement, and missed steps lead to problems such as debonding or microleakage at the margin.
3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement simplifies this process. Most adhesive cements are either self-adhesive or adhesive, but this is the only cement I know of that combines both modes in one product. Clinically, that means I can use the same adhesive bond I use for direct work—just one adhesive bottle (3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Plus Adhesive) and the cement itself—which streamlines my workflow.
You can use it in self-adhesive mode, which often provides sufficient retention, or in adhesive mode with the 3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Plus Adhesive for maximum strength––so you only need two products that do it all for you.
As a bonus, if a step is missed in tooth preparation, the self-adhesive mode will kick in and do the work for you on the surface. I often tell colleagues it’s like the “AI” of cements—it adapts to the surface conditions and acts like a clinical get-out-of-jail card when you need it.
Do you find the 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement offers the versatility you need for different restorations?
Absolutely. Paired with 3M™ Scotchbond™ Universal Plus Adhesive, it will bond to virtually anything—zirconia, all types of ceramics and metals, composite, and even acrylic. I use it for crowns and bridges, onlays, veneers, partial restorations, and I’ve even used it to cement denture teeth.
I’ve never experienced a debond with this cement. It delivers the highest bond strength I’ve ever known, so I have complete trust in it.
How important is learning to use new products in hands-on educational environments, such as with the Success Simplified course?
Hands-on learning is invaluable. It allows you to update and upgrade your skills, refine your understanding of each procedural step, and immediately put solutions—like 3M™ RelyX™ Universal Resin Cement—into practice.
The Success Simplified course guides clinicians through the entire indirect restorative workflow––from assessment and strategic planning, to tooth preparation, optimal material selection, and expert tissue management. They master practical impression techniques and provisional fabrication, all while learning streamlined cementation strategies, and simplified adhesive protocols.
True to the KISS principle—“Keep It Simple, Smart” – that I follow, this comprehensive hands-on experience is designed to empower clincians with the confidence and skills to deliver predictable, long-lasting restorations—making your indirect restorative care faster, easier, and more successful than ever before.
To learn more about Solventum, please visit https://www.solventum.com/en-gb/home/oral-care/
For more updates on trends, information and events follow us on Instagram at @solventumdentalUK and @solventumorthodonticsemea
Sign up to the Success Simplified course with Dr Akit Patel, and use code SUSI20 for 20% off here https://info.engage.solventum.com/hands_on_with_Akit?elq_mid=4304&elq_cid=1211895
©Solventum 2024. Solventum, the S logo and RelyX are trademarks of Solventum and its affiliates. 3M and Scotchbond are trademarks of 3M company.
About Solventum
Solventum, enabling better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients’ lives for the better while enabling healthcare professionals to perform at their best. Because people, and their wellbeing, are at the heart of every scientific advancement we pursue. We partner closely with the brightest minds in healthcare to ensure that every solution we create melds the latest technology with compassion and empathy. Because at Solventum, we never stop solving for you.
Dr Akit Patel BDS MFDS RCS MClinDent(Pros) MRD RCS
Akit Patel graduated from Guy’s Hospital Dental Institute in 2002. He holds a Master’s in Clinical Dentistry degree in fixed and removable prosthodontics from UCL (University College London) Eastman Dental Hospital and Institute with distinction and an award for clinical and academic excellence in 2009.
Dr. Patel is a specialist prosthodontist and works at Perlan Specialist Dental Centure focusing on Implant, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Dentistry. He is also a Clinical Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL Eastman Dental Institute, an ITI Fellow and an Honorary Consultant for Solventum.
