Alpha Omega in Denver

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
SHELDON M. NEWMAN, DDS, MS, FADM

Dr. Sheldon Newman is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry where he has been Director of Biomaterials, teaching not only the basic material sciences but also clinically in operative dentistry and fixed prosthodontics. He has been Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Colorado. Previously he has been Chair of Biomaterials at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Dentistry. He also has taught biomaterials and periodontics at the University of Tennessee. His DDS from the University of Tennessee, 1976, provided excellent preparation for his continuing practice of general dentistry while he has pursued his teaching career. He obtained a Masters Degree in Materials Science Toxicology at Tennessee and has studied biomaterials at Northwestern University. He is a member of a number of dental professional and materials research organizations, and he is a Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials. He has maintained at least a part-time practice throughout his professional career, with an emphasis on esthetic dentistry. He has taken a leadership role in faculty governance at the University of Colorado having served as Chair of the then four-campus University of Colorado Faculty Council and Vice President of the Faculty Senate (UCHSC, Denver, Colorado Springs and Boulder). He has provided consulting to private industry helping to design some of the products dentists are currently using including Confi-Dental Products Co. which is part of Septodont, a company that is marketing one of the low-shrink composites. He has a long list of published research in biomaterials and materials toxicology, and has lectured internationally. He brings a unique combination of training and experience to the understanding of the questions of materials application in dentistry. His current research in polymer chemistry and the applications of resin systems in dentistry has brought insights to the area of composite restorations and bonding. His efforts in esthetic dental restorative techniques contribute to continual updates of his presentation of esthetic concepts. Curing technology and restorative techniques that improve efficiency and yet maintain quality are his current interests. He is currently continuing his studies in a Ph.D. program in Materials Science Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. His current research includes development of new resins for application as restorative materials and investigating the capabilities of dental curing lights in photopolymerization. The latest work is in characterizing the new low-shrink composite restorative materials.

Don’t Shrink Away from Restorative Success!

Radically New Technology in Composite Resin Restorative Materials

The newest catch-phrase in composite advertising is “low shrinkage”. The lower shrinkage causes less stress on the bonding to the tooth. Dental manufacturers have tweaked the same old composite technologies for the last decade but have reached the limits of what the tweaking can accomplish and yet less shrinkage is still need. Finally there are two new, radically different technologies that have been introduced to dentistry that drastically reduce the shrinkage of the composite restoration; one developed locally at the University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine and marketed by Septodont, and the other developed and marketed by 3M/Espe. There are major differences between these two approaches and their chemistries. Because of the positive potential that these new technologies provide, it is important to understand how these materials can affect clinical technique and improve clinical results, even possibly decreasing the incidence of post-operative sensitivity. These ramifications and what they mean to the practicing dentist will be discussed quickly so that dentists can take advantage of these opportunities to improve their restorative practice.