Dental Materials Review

A pulling force. Think of stretching a rubber band.

A pushing force. Think of crushing a can.

A side-to-side, back-and-forth force. Similar to cutting with a knife.

Tiny spaces between a tooth and filling where bacteria and fluids can get in, leading to problems.

The attraction force holding unlike substances together

How well a filling stays in place in the tooth.

Damage to a metal due to the oral environment (chemicals or electricity). Think of rust on metal.

The ability of a liquid to flow. Higher viscosity = stickier.

Materials used to bond or fill teeth in dental procedures.

A temporary dental cement used for temporary fillings and bases, known for its sedative effect.

A permanent dental cement for crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, that acts as an insulator.

A permanent dental cement for restorations, orthodontic appliances, and as a base.

A permanent dental cement, often used for both restorations and bases, that releases fluoride.

Tooth-colored restorative material used for fillings and core buildups.

Established by organizations like ANSI, ADA, and ISO to ensure safety.

Different glass ionomer cements categorized by their use: I-luting agent, II-restorative, III-bases/liners.

A component of a denture that attaches the baseplate and bite rim, providing height for the denture.

A wax structure that is attached to the baseplate and shaped to conform to the edentulous portion of the ridge, representing the teeth during denture construction.

The permanent portion of a denture that contacts the soft tissue of the alveolar ridge and holds the artificial teeth.

The part of the denture base that extends over the attached mucosa, creating a seal around the denture.

The posterior part of the maxillary denture that helps retain the denture by creating suction.

A specialized tray made for individual patients, used for taking final impressions for various dental procedures like dentures and crowns.

A type of resin used in dentistry for various applications, including custom tray construction.

Conditions that make teeth whitening a suitable treatment option, such as stained or discolored teeth.

Insufficient mixing of amalgam results in a grainy mix that hardens quickly, leading to a weak amalgam.

Excessive mixing of amalgam beyond the recommended time, reducing working time and making proper carving and placement difficult.

More mercury than needed weakens the final amalgam.

Exposure to moisture causes expansion, corrosion, and recurrent decay.

Used for creating detailed models of the final restoration, including anatomical features.

Surrounding the wax pattern with a gypsum-bonded investment material, capturing all the details.

Heating the invested mold to remove the wax pattern and sprue, leaving a hollow space for molten metal.

Gold alloys are used to create strong and stable restorations by combining noble metals (platinum, palladium, gold) with base metals (zinc, copper, silver, tin, titanium, nickel).

Factors like humidity, temperature, and powder-to-liquid ratio can influence cement setting time. Humidity affects powder, temperature affects exothermic reactions (heat), and proportions are critical for proper consistency.

Alginate setting time is affected by water temperature. Warm water speeds up the setting process, while cool water slows it down.

Gypsum is used to create dental models. There are three main types: Model Plaster (weakest, used for study models), Dental Stone (stronger, for working casts), and High Strength Dental Stone (strongest, for precise restorations).

Different Gypsum products have specific water-to-powder ratios for optimal mixing. For example, Dental Stone requires 30 mL of water per 100 g of powder.

Addition silicone is a popular impression material ideal for final impressions. It offers high accuracy and dimensional stability, making it suitable for crowns, bridges, and implants.

Polyether is a rigid and accurate impression material, often used for crowns, bridges, and partial dentures. Its rigidity allows for capturing fine details.

Amalgam is a dental filling material made of a combination of metals. Silver is the main component, providing strength and durability. Other metals like tin, copper, zinc, and mercury are added to adjust properties.

Factors like particle size, mercury content, and proper mixing techniques can impact the quality of an amalgam filling. Too much mercury can lead to weakness, while improper mixing can create voids.

The dominant color of a material, like red, yellow, or blue.

The lightness or darkness of a color, measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being black and 10 being white.

The intensity or saturation of a color, measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being pale and 10 being rich.

The amount of light that can pass through a material.

When a metal in the mouth becomes dull or discolored.

Changes in the length or volume of a material due to the absorption of liquid, which can lead to stiffness.

The ability of a material to withstand pulling forces without breaking.

Dental cements are materials used to bond or fill teeth. The main types include Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE), Zinc Phosphate, Polycarboxylate, Glass Ionomer, and Composite Resin.

Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) is a temporary cement used for sedative bases, temporary fillings, and provisional crowns. It's known for its soothing effect on the pulp.

Zinc Phosphate is a permanent cement used for crowns, bridges, orthodontic bands, and insulating bases. It's known for its high strength, but can irritate the pulp.

Polycarboxylate is a permanent cement often used for restorations, orthodontic bands, stainless steel crowns, and bases under composites and amalgam. It's less irritating to the pulp than Zinc Phosphate.

Glass Ionomer is a versatile cement used for restorations, bases, and liners. It releases fluoride, which helps strengthen teeth and prevent decay.

Composite Resin is a tooth-colored material primarily used for fillings and core build-ups. It's strong, aesthetically pleasing, and can be bonded directly to tooth structure.

Organizations like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develop standards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of dental materials.

Different dental cement types are classified based on their intended use: Type I cements are luting agents for bonding restorations, Type II for direct restorations, and Type III for bases and liners.

The ideal ratio of alloy to mercury for amalgam is 50:50. This ensures the appropriate strength and consistency of the final restoration.

Insufficient mixing of amalgam results in a grainy mix, which hardens quickly and weakens the restoration.

Excessive mixing of amalgam can reduce working time, making it difficult to properly shape and place the restoration.

Having more mercury than needed in amalgam weakens the final restoration.

Exposure to moisture can cause amalgam to expand, corrode, and lead to recurrent decay.

A wax or metal channel attached to the wax pattern, allowing molten alloy to flow and form the final restoration.

Heating the invested mold to remove the wax pattern and sprue, leaving a hollow space for molten metal.

A final step in the casting process where the metal restoration is placed in an acidic solution to remove oxides.

Cement setting time is influenced by humidity (powder), temperature (exothermic reaction), and powder-to-liquid ratio. Too much or too little powder can alter the setting time.

Warm water speeds up the setting time of alginate, while cool water slows it down. This is because temperature affects the chemical reaction.

Gypsum products are used for making dental models. There are three types: Model plaster (weakest), Dental stone (stronger), and High strength dental stone (strongest).

Dental stone requires a specific water-to-powder ratio for proper mixing. The standard ratio is 30 mL of water for every 100 g of powder.

Amalgam is a dental filling material made of a mix of metals. Silver is the primary component, providing strength and durability. Other metals like tin, copper, zinc, and mercury are added to adjust properties.

The quality of an amalgam filling depends on factors like particle size, mercury content, and proper mixing. Excessive mercury weakens the amalgam, while improper mixing can create voids.

A complete denture consists of a baseplate that sits on the gums, artificial teeth, and a flange that extends over the gum tissue to create a seal.

Custom trays are used to take final impressions for various dental procedures like dentures, crowns, and bridges because they offer a precise mold compared to standard trays.

PMMA is a resin used to construct custom trays, offering strength and adaptability.

Conditions where teeth whitening is a suitable treatment option. Examples include stained or discolored teeth.