KULZER
Kulzer Memosil 2 transparent A-silicone 2 X 50 ml
Very low stock (2 units)Regular price LE 1,800.00 EGPUnit price /UnavailableUltradent
In stock (25 units)Regular price From LE 85.00 EGPUnit price /Unavailable-
How to Choose the Right Transparent Silicone for Your Practice
- Light Transmission — Transparent A-silicone must transmit sufficient blue light (450–480nm) through 2–4mm of material thickness to fully polymerize composite placed behind it. Cloudy or tinted putty extends required curing time and risks an undercured palatal shelf; verify the manufacturer states curing-light compatibility through the set material.
- Addition vs. Condensation Silicone Chemistry — Addition-cured (A-silicone/PVS) materials such as Memosil 2 set via a platinum-catalyzed reaction with no by-product, giving near-zero dimensional change (<0.05% linear shrinkage) and long-term index stability for repeated chairside use. Condensation silicones release ethanol on setting and distort within days — unsuitable for a reusable index.
- Shore A Hardness — A set hardness of Shore A 55–65 gives an index rigid enough to hold its shape when removed and reseated during buildup, yet flexible enough to disengage from undercuts around adjacent teeth without tearing.
- Working and Setting Time — Standard-set transparent silicone allows 60–90 seconds working time and reaches intraoral removal hardness in 2–3 minutes; fast-set formulations shorten this to under 90 seconds total, useful for reducing chair time in a busy Egyptian clinic schedule but requiring faster mixing-tip technique.
- Dispensing System — Automix cartridges dispensed through a static mixing tip give a consistent 1:1 base-catalyst ratio and eliminate hand-mixing voids that would otherwise create light-blocking bubbles in the transparent index. Hand-mixed putty is lower cost but more technique-sensitive for maintaining optical clarity.
- Tear Strength — A minimum tear strength of 3–4 N/mm prevents fracture of thin index sections around incisal edges when the silicone is removed from undercut areas, which would otherwise require remaking the index mid-procedure.
Transparent Silicone Formats at a Glance
| Format | Chemistry | Set Time | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automix light-body cartridge | A-silicone (PVS) | 2–3 min | Palatal/lingual index for direct composite |
| Putty transparent silicone | A-silicone (PVS) | 3–5 min | Full-arch diagnostic wax-up index |
| Fast-set cartridge | A-silicone (PVS) | 60–90 sec | Single-tooth chairside index, reduced chair time |
Availability & Delivery in Egypt
MedSTA supplies transparent silicone index materials including Kulzer Memosil, priced in EGP with delivery across Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and all Egyptian governorates. Automix cartridges require a compatible dispensing gun and mixing tips, both available from MedSTA for same-order delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is transparent silicone used for in restorative dentistry?
What is transparent silicone used for in restorative dentistry?
Transparent silicone is used to fabricate a putty or light-body index of the tooth before preparation, most commonly from a diagnostic wax-up. The set index is then placed back over the prepared tooth as a palatal or lingual matrix, and because the silicone is optically clear, the curing light can polymerize composite resin injected behind it, allowing a freehand direct buildup to follow the planned tooth contour.
How is transparent silicone different from standard impression putty?
How is transparent silicone different from standard impression putty?
Standard impression putty is formulated for dimensional accuracy in taking a working impression and is typically opaque or lightly tinted, which blocks curing light. Transparent silicone uses the same addition-silicone chemistry but is manufactured without opacifying pigments, allowing sufficient blue light transmission through 2–4mm of set material to cure composite resin placed against the tooth surface behind it.
What thickness of transparent silicone still allows adequate composite curing?
What thickness of transparent silicone still allows adequate composite curing?
Most curing lights fully polymerize a 2mm composite increment through up to 3–4mm of clear A-silicone when using a standard 10–20 second cure cycle at 800–1200 mW/cm² output. Thicker index sections, or a curing light held at increased distance from the tooth, should be compensated with an extended cure time to avoid an undercured layer against the silicone.
How should transparent silicone be stored in Egypt's climate?
How should transparent silicone be stored in Egypt's climate?
Store base and catalyst cartridges below 25°C and out of direct sunlight; Egyptian summer temperatures above 35°C can accelerate the setting reaction inside an unopened cartridge and shorten working time once dispensed. Keep cartridges capped with the original plunger seal between uses to prevent the tip channel from curing shut, which wastes material on the next dispense.
Can a transparent silicone index be reused for multiple restorations?
Can a transparent silicone index be reused for multiple restorations?
A single transparent silicone index can be reused across multiple appointments for the same patient if it is rinsed, disinfected per standard chairside infection-control protocol, and stored without deformation, since A-silicone's low shrinkage keeps it dimensionally stable for weeks. It should not be shared between patients without a validated disinfection cycle, and any index showing tearing or distortion at the margins should be remade rather than reused.