The placement of composite resins in the cavity preparation is always a stressful. It is typically better for long-term wear and function to use hybrid materials for posterior restorations; their downside is that they are rather viscous and may not manipulate well into all the nooks and crevices of the cavity. This maladaptation cannot be seen by the operator and risks bubbles, air spaces, and marginal gaps. The solution is most often to use a less viscous flowable resin in high-risk areas. The downside of this compromise approach is that most flowables are not as strong or wear-resistant as hybrids. Brasseler USA has introduced the ET3000 oscillating composite manipulation instrument (OCMI), the first vibrational device that can effectively overcome both the stickiness and the lack of flow of the more highly filled composite resins. It eliminates the stickiness and tug back of composites after they are placed into the cavity, allowing them to flow more efficiently into the less accessible recesses and for the development of anatomy. The instrument’s oscillations increase hybrid composite flow by 30%. The ET3000 OCMI is well balanced and lightweight, cordless, and very portable. The 14 different tip designs can accommodate every clinical requirement, from preventive pit and fissure procedures to Class I through V restorations, always reducing the occurrence of voids and air bubbles. The chucking system is quick and intuitive. The lithium ion battery can operate for many hours on a single charge. The ET3000 is also very useful in shaping and contouring the surface anatomy of any composite prior to polymerization, reducing the need and time for adjustment and polishing
