Technique Video

Class V with Rhodri Thomas, DDS

Class V Tip of the Month with Rhodri Thomas

In this Tip of the Month video, Dr. Thomas uses Renamel Microfill as the foundation for this Class V restoration. He then uses FlexiDiscs, FlexiCups, and FlexiPoints to contour and polish, creating a seamless finish. He finishes the restoration with Enamelize to add shine.

Dr. Thomas starts the restoration by creating a bevel using a flame-shaped diamond bur. After achieving the desired general shape, he softens the bevel with a Medium FlexiDisc to smooth and contour. Dr. Thomas then applies the bonding agent and cures it. The tooth is now ready for composite.

Dr. Thomas applies A2 Renamel Microfill to the tooth. He uses a #3 brush dipped in Brush & Sculpt to smooth out the Microfill. Dr. Thomas uses the brush to smooth the composite around the gingival margin and spread it just past the bevel.

To achieve a long-lasting restoration and prevent staining, Dr. Thomas finishes and polishes the composite. He uses a pencil to mark secondary anatomy and uses a flame-shaped diamond bur to create mesial and distal depressions. He follows up with the Medium FlexiCup to soften the anatomy.

Dr. Thomas uses the Superfine FlexiCup and FlexiPoint to start polishing, getting right around the gingival margin. He then runs a #12-blade scalpel across the tooth surface to remove any flash left, repeating until there is no catch.

To finish the restoration, Dr. Thomas applies a small amount of Enamelize Polishing Paste and uses the FlexiBuff to achieve a high shine.

About the AuthorDr. Rhodri Thomas

Rhodri Thomas, BDS, graduated with Honors from Cardiff University. His background as an artist spurred his love of aesthetic dentistry, and he now dedicates his work towards truly blending dentistry into nature with his clinical focus on advanced aesthetic restorative dentistry.

An internationally renowned educator and multi-award-winning dentist, Rhodri lectures and teaches around the world on the subject of aesthetics, presenting at conferences, running private courses, and publishing articles in leading dental magazines. Recently Rhodri has been teaching in Chicago, New York, Florida, London, Montreal, and Sweden.

He was the winner of the British Society of Prosthodontics Heraeus Kulzer Prize for his research on tooth wear, pioneered a new resin layering technique, and is also the author of a book based purely on resin artistry. Rhodri has been the youngest speaker for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a published author for the prestigious Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has received a record-breaking six consecutive national awards.

Passionate about teaching and sharing with other dental professionals, Rhodri is honored to be Resident Faculty at both The Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago and Stribe Dental in New York. He is also the founder and director of The Art of Dentistry, a series of unique international training programs and aesthetic-based courses for dentists. He believes every clinician has a natural creative ability inside of them and enjoys nothing more than helping to ignite it.