Lec 1 Introduction to dental materials ‫د انتصار‬

Science of dental materials Is defined as:

The Study of composition and properties of dental materials and the manner in which they
interact with the environment in which they are placed.
It represents a marriage between the basic and clinical sciences.

Goals of Studying Dental Materials

The main goal of studying course of dental materials is to let the student:
1. Familiar with all materials used in dentistry.
2. Know all the properties of dental materials.
3. Know how to manipulate dental materials.
4. Know and understand causes of failure of restorations.
5. Improve dental materials.
6. Patient education regarding dental restoratives.
7. to make optimal selection of materials.

Oral environment
An understanding of the physical, electrical and mechanical properties of materials used in
dentistry is of great importance. This is because these materials are exposed to the oral
environment and subjected to biting forces.

Oral environment is characterized by

Wet (saliva, food and drinks). This may have an effect on solubility, water sorption and
staining of the restorations.
Temperature Fluctuation (Ice cream, 5o C to coffee or tea, 55o C).
Normal temperature of oral cavity (32℃ to 37℃).

The pH variation (pH of saliva is neutral (7.0) and on intake of acidic fruit juices or
alkaline medicaments, pH may vary from 2.0 to 11.0 ).
pH of saliva is neutral (7.0)

Masticatory forces variation.

Muscles of Mastication apply forces to the dentition.
- Masticatory forces vary from tooth to tooth.
- Average force applied by the tooth increases from anterior to posteriors.
Second molar 800 N
First molar 390 N
Bicuspids 288 N
Cuspids 208 N
Incisors 155 N

1
Characteristics of ideal dental materials
1. Biocompatibility (nontoxic, non-irritating, non allergic).
2. Mechanically stable and durable (strong and fracture resistant).
3. Dimensionally stable (minimally affected by temperature or solvents).
4. Esthetics (oral tissue-like appearance)
5. Easy manipulation (easy use with no specific equipment).
6. Tasteless and odorless (non-irritating or unpleasant).
7. Cost effective (within the patient's budget).
8. Cleanable (can be maintained).
9. Resistance to corrosion or chemicals (does not deteriorate over time.
10. Low thermal conductivity (insulators) as in filling and cement materials. However,
thermal conductivity is needed as for denture bases.

Classification of Dental materials

Based on the chemical composition;
All dental materials fall under 4 main groups:
1. Polymers.
2. Metals.
3. Ceramics.
4. Composites.

Dental materials can be classified according to their use

● Preventive dental materials
● Restorative dental materials
● Auxiliary dental materials.

Properties of dental materials

Many materials used in dentistry are supplied as two or more components which are mixed
together and undergo a chemical reaction, during which the mechanical and physical
properties may change dramatically. For example, many impression materials are supplied as
fluid pastes which begin to set when mixed together. The set material may be a rigid solid or
a flexible rubber depending upon the chemical nature of the product.
The acceptance of such a product by the dentist depends upon the properties of the unmixed
paste, the properties during mixing and setting and the properties of the set material. This
classification of properties applies to virtually all groups of materials.

Properties of unmixed materials:

Certain products deteriorate during storage. and as a result may perform poorly. Such
materials are said to have limited shelf life. Some materials have an extended shelf life if
refrigerated during storage.
Containers used for materials generally have a batch number stamped or printed onto them
from which the date of manufacture can be obtained.
Require material to keep fresh and last a long time. Wastage is minimized and bulk
purchases can be made.

2
 Properties of materials during mixing, manipulation and setting:
Several methods of dispensation exist among materials used in dentistry. Some involve the
mixing of powder and liquid components, others the mixing of two pastes, while others
involve paste and liquid components. The components are mixed for a recommended
time and/or until a recommended consistency is reached.

Easy and accurate to proportion, mix and use. Should not ‘drip’ off instruments. Should not
stick to instruments.
During setting. Material should have a convenient rate of set. Dimensional and temperature
changes on setting should not cause problems with accuracy or irritation.

Properties of the set material

Set material should have an acceptable appearance and sufficient durability to serve its
function. Should be safe and harmless.

Generally, it is the properties of the set material which indicate the suitability of a product for
any application.

The properties of the set material can be conveniently divided into the following categories:
I. Physical Properties
II. Thermal Properties
III. Electrical Properties
IV. Optical Properties
V. Mechanical Properties

Quality Assurance Programs

Many programs or agencies were developed to establish guidelines for some minimal level of
evaluation that has been deemed sufficient to ensure the safe use of the particular device or
material and maintaining quality of dental materials.
These agencies include
1. American Dental Association (ADA) Specifications.
2. Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
3. Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI).
4. International Standard Organization (ISO).
5. Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA).
6. National Institute for standard and Technology (NIST).

I. Physical Properties of Dental Materials

● Appearance: One of the most demanding requirements of dental restorative materials is
that they should match the natural hard and soft tissues in appearance.

● Density: The amount of mass of a material in a given volume.

• Density units are g/cm3.
Gold= 14 gm/ cm3

3
Acrylic= 1.2 gm/cm3
Chromium/ cobalt= 8.3 gm/cm3
Water= 1 gm/cm3
Density is a fundamental property which affects design aspects of dental appliances.

● dimensional stability: Dimensional accuracy is an important requirement of many dental

materials.
Where several stages are involved in the production of a restoration or appliance it is possible
that dimensional changes occur at each stage.
Dimensional changes may continue to occur inmaterials long after the apparent setting. There
are many possible causes. the changes may be due to
- continued slow setting or release of stresses set up during setting.
- water absorption by,
- loss of constituents from, the material.
- Solubility : Dental material should not be soluble in water and in oral fluids.
- As a consequence of thermal change

II. Thermal properties of dental materials

Wide temperature fluctuations occur in the oral cavity due to the ingestion of hot or cold
food and drink. In addition, more localized temperature increases may occur due to the
highly exothermic nature of the setting reaction for some dental materials.
The dental pulp is very sensitive to temperature change and in the healthy tooth is surrounded
by dentine and enamel, which are relatively good thermal insulators.
Another consequence of thermal change is dimensional change. Materials generally expand
when heated and contract when cooled.

Thermal conductivity: Thermal conductivity is defined as the rate of heat fl ow per unit
temperature gradient. Thus, good conductors have high values of conductivity.
Materials conducting heat are called “conductors”.
•Materials with low heat conductivity are called “insulators”.
Materials have different rates of conducting heat
• Metals have higher value than plastics or ceramics
Therefore, metals would cause patient to feel more sensitivity
• Enamel and dentin are poor thermal conductors , (0.92, 0.63 respectively)
• In deep restorations, a cement base will be used as an insulator

Thermal Diffusivity: It is a rate at which a body with a nonuniform temperature reaches a

state of thermal equilibrium.
Thermal diffusivity can be understood as the ability of a material to conduct heat relative to
the heat stored per unit volume.
· Better indication of the way in which a material responds to transient thermal stimuli.
· Diffusibility allows calculations of the temperature change in pulp.
· Naturally this should be as small as possible.
· Measure by thermocouple in a specimen material.
· Low value of diffusibility is indicated in many cases.

4
· High value of diffusibility is indicated in denture base materials. (patient retains satisfactory
response to hot and cold).

Exothermic reactions: Many dental materials involve the mixing of two or more
components followed by setting. The setting process often occurs in situ and very often the
chemical reaction occurring during setting is exothermic in nature.
the temperature rise increases with an increasing amount of material. Hence, due regard must
be paid to the possible effect that such materials may have on the dental pulp when used as
restoratives, particularly when a large bulk of material is used.
The temperature rise occurring during setting has become even more significant with the
growing number of light-activated materials used in dentistry. For these products setting
often occurs very rapidly, leading to a more marked rise in temperature. In addition, the light
sources used to activate setting produce heat. Hence, the combined effect of the setting
reaction and the heating effect of the light can cause short-lived temperature rises in excess
of 20ºC for even small quantities of some resin-based materials.

Coefficient of thermal expansion:

The linear coefficient of thermal expansion is defined as the fractional increase in length
of a body for each degree centigrade increase in temperature.
This property is particularly important for filling materials. When the patient takes a cold
drink, both the filling material and tooth substance contract, the amount of contraction
depending on the value of α for each. If the value of α for the material is significantly greater
than that for tooth substance a small gap will develop down which fluids containing bacteria
can penetrate. The magnitude of the gap, is minimized for both hot and cold stimuli if the
values of α for tooth substance and filling are matched.
For filling materials, the most ideal combination of properties would be a low value of
diffusivity combined with a coefficient of thermal expansion value similar to that for tooth
substance.