FAQs
SeLECT Defense™ Primer
- Is SeLECT Defense™ Primer a light-cure primer or a self-cure primer?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer is a light-cure primer, designed to work with our SeLECT Defense™ Light-Cure Adhesive. - What is the expiration date for SeLECT Defense™ Primer and Adhesive?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer and Adhesive have an expiration date of two years from the date of manufacture. - Is it necessary to etch the entire tooth?
Yes, we do recommend that you etch the entire labial enamel surface of the tooth to ensure patient protection. - How do you protect gingival margin since it does not leach?
Because the gingival margin is one of the main problem areas, it is important to etch and prime as close to gingival margin as possible. You can coat the entire enamel surface with SeLECT Defense™ Primer, or you may use air to blow the Primer closer to the gingival margin without risking contamination. - How long does the Primer last on the tooth?
Is reapplication necessary? If so, how often?
Current tests are being performed to determine how long the SeLECT Defense™ Primer will remain active on the tooth surface, but the average duration of protection is unknown at this time. Our current recommendation is to reapply the Primer every 3-6 months. A more highly-filled surface sealant that would offer extended protection is currently under development. - Does the SeLECT Defense™ Primer brush off over time?
Tests conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio compared SeLECT Defense™ products to Chlorhexidine and a control group.
The test was a 28-day simulated-mouth test designed to mimic the environment in the human mouth over the course of two years. Test results indicated that SeLECT Defense™ showed no breakdown under the conditions of the test—10 seconds each tooth, two times a day—while the Chlorhexidine product definitely did not withstand the effects of brushing. However, at this time it has not been clinically proven how long SeLECT Defense™ Primer will remain on the enamel of the tooth surface. - Can I use the Primer on a patient that is already in brackets?
Yes. Simply etch around the bracket, apply the Primer, and cure with
curing light. - If a bracket debonds and is then micro-etched before re-bonding,
will it affect the protection?
To ensure continued protection in this situation, we recommend that you re-bond the bracket with SeLECT Defense™ Primer and Adhesive so that the patient remains protected. - Will the SeLECT Defense™ Primer and Adhesive work with any brand of etch?
To date, results show that the SeLECT Defense™ Primer and Adhesives will work with any brand of etch as long as the products are used according to instructions. - If the Primer and Adhesive are the key products to patient protection, what is the benefit of using all components of the SeLECT Defense™ System?
It’s true that the Primer and Adhesive are the key products in reducing white spots on the enamel surface. However, SeLECT Defense™ brackets, o-rings,
and chain offer your patients multiple layers of oral hygiene protection and increase the efficiency of the appliances by further reducing plaque buildup on the appliance surfaces. Finally, it is a nice competitive advantage to offer the full SeLECT Defense™
System to your patients. - Is the SeLECT Defense™ Primer a highly-filled sealant?
No, the Primer is not a highly-filled sealant such as a surface sealant or dental sealant. Its composition is very similar to other brands of orthodontic primer currently on the market. The enamel surface sealant currently under development would be a more highly-filled sealant. - How is SeLECT Defense™ Primer different than the competition?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer creates not only a physical barrier, but also a biological barrier. By using SeLECT Defense™ Primer, no additional, separate step is required in the bonding process. Additionally, SeLECT Defense™ has not shown to be visible on the tooth surface. - What is the curing time for SeLECT Defense™ Primer?
Tests have shown curing time to average 20 seconds with variation depending on the intensity and power of the curing light used. - If you notice a spot on the tooth where demineralization is about to occur when you are bonding, will SeLECT Defense™ Primer stop it?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer can stop further tooth demineralization, but it cannot re-mineralize what has already been damaged. Fluoride treatment would be needed in this situation, in addition applying SeLECT Defense™ Primer. - Can you use SeLECT Defense™ Primer without etching the tooth?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer can be applied without etching the tooth first.
However, because SeLECT Defense™ Primer is designed for an etched enamel surface, we recommend that the tooth surface is etched prior to application to achieve maximum effectiveness. - Will SeLECT Defense™ change the color of the teeth?
Laboratory tests to date have shown no clinically visible difference in tooth shade as a result of using SeLECT Defense™. - Do you have a SeLECT Defense™ Self-Cure Primer?
No, primer is not used during the self/chemical cure bonding process. - Can SeLECT Defense™ Primer be considered a sealant?
No. Like other orthodontic primers, SeLECT Defense™ Primer is designed to work in the presence of an adhesive interface. - How is the SeLECT Defense™ Primer packaged?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer is available in your choice of a 5gm or 10gm bottle.
The 5gm bottle treats approximately 20 patients, and the 10gm bottle treats approximately 40 patients.
- What is the expiration date for SeLECT Defense™ Adhesive Systems?
The SeLECT Defense™ Adhesive Systems have an expiration date of two years from the date of manufacture. - Can I use SeLECT Defense™ adhesives if I use indirect bonding?
Except for a change to SeLECT Defense™ products, the indirect bonding process should remain the same. - How are the SeLECT Defense™ Adhesive Systems packaged?
SeLECT Defense™ Primer: Available in your choice of a 5gm or 10gm bottle.
The 5gm bottle treats approximately 20 patients, and the 10gm bottle treats approximately 40 patients. SeLECT Defense™ Light-Cure Orthodontic Adhesive: Available in your choice of a 2-Syringe Pack or a 4-Syringe Pack. (Each 4gm syringe treats approximately 10 patients.) Each Syringe Pack will include 5cc etchant, application brushes, and mixing pads. Primer is sold separately.
SeLECT Defense™ One-Step Orthodontic Adhesive: Available in your choice of a 2-Syringe Kit or a 4-Syringe Kit. (Each 4gm syringe treats approximately 10 patients.) Each Kit will include 10gm Activator, 5cc etchant, application brushes, and mixing pads. - How does the shear bond strength of SeLECT Defense™ Light-Cure Orthodontic Adhesive compare to other leading brands?
Independent lab tests show that the shear bond strength of the SeLECT Defense™ Light-Cure Orthodontic Adhesive compares favorably to current leading brands on the market. Viscosity and set times were also favorable.
- Does the addition of SeLECT Defense™ affect the dimensions of the bracket?
Visual tests/observations indicate that the addition of SeLECT Defense™ to the bracket surface does not distort the dimensions of the slot size and is not visible to the naked eye. - Can I use SeLECT Defense™ Brackets in my nickel-sensitive patients?
No, the SeLECT Defense™ technology does not protect against nickel sensitivity. However, a nickel-free SeLECT Defense™ Bracket is available. - Will the composition of the SeLECT Defense™ bracket affect bond strength? There has been no indication in tests to date that suggests any decline in bond strength.
- How are the SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Ties packaged? What colors are available?
The SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Ties are available in your choice of a pack of 20 sticks or a pack of 50 sticks. Each pack of 20 contains 480 ties, and each pack of 50 contains 1200 ties. SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Ties are available in the following colors: Clear, Blue, White, Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Violet, Pearl, Hot Pink, and Silver. - Is SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Chain available in colors to match the Elastomeric Ties?
Yes. SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Chain is available in all of the same colors as the Elastomeric Ties: Clear, Blue, White, Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Violet, Pearl, Hot Pink, and Silver. Each spool consists of 10 feet of chain. Currently, only “short” chain is available. - Is the elasticity of SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Ties and Chain different?
To date independent tests have found no difference in elasticity between SeLECT Defense™ Elastomeric Ties and Chain and conventional ties and chain.
- Will bacteria become resistant to SeLECT Defense™ products over time?
No bacterial resistance is known at this time to SeLECT Defense™ products. - Will SeLECT Defense™ kill too many of the good bacteria in the mouth putting patient at risk for infection?
One of the benefits of SeLECT Defense™ is that it will not leach into the oral environment like other bacteria-reducing elements (e.g., copper or silver). It is also designed to target the primary bacteria that cause plaque. Even then,
the bacteria have to come in contact with the SeLECT Defense™ treated surface/products. Therefore, SeLECT Defense™ should have no effect on the remaining bacteria in the mouth (e.g., tongue, cheek, lips, throat, etc.). - Is it possible for a patient to be allergic to Selenium?
Selenium is a naturally occurring element with superior biocompatibility, and no known allergy concerns have been revealed to us to date. Selenium is a required dietary nutrient, and many people ingest 100mcg in their normal daily diet. Therefore, an orthodontic patient would probably have severe food allergies and know that they were allergic to Selenium before treatment. - What is the zone of inhibition?
There is no zone of inhibition since the product does not leach. The effective reaction of this technology is very localized. - Is Selenium toxic?
SeLECT Defense™ products are cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, and sensitivity and toxicity testing indicated no reason for concern. The amount of Selenium used in SeLECT Defense™ products is minimal and therefore considered non-toxic. - Does it taste bad?
To date, test subjects using the products have reported no unusual differences in taste. - Do SeLECT Defense™ products affect the bleaching process at the end of treatment?
Since there are currently no completed cases with SeLECT Defense™ braces, it is not known what effect bleaching will have after treatment; however, it is believed that SeLECT Defense™ will have no adverse effect on the enamel if/when the teeth are bleached. - Does a cold sterile solution affect the effective action of
SeLECT Defense™ products?
SeLECT Defense™ products should not need to be cold-sterilized, so the effects of cold sterilization are not known at this time.