INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL

MATERIALS
 INTRODUCTION

• The Science of Dental Material

• Its importance to our studies
• History of Dental Materials
• Characteristics of Ideal Dental Materials
• Quality Assurance Programs
• Identification of Restorations
THE SCIENCE OF DENTAL
MATERIALS:

• Development & evaluation of materials

• Characteristics of the material
• Safety and Health
• Effectiveness and Duration
THE SCIENCE OF DENTAL
MATERIALS:
“Why are we studying this field?
• for the knowledge to make optimal selection of
materials
• To understand the behavior of the materials, use,
handling, manipulation
• Safety considerations of the materials
• Patient education re. dental restoratives
• Recognition of materials – proper tx and care of
prosth/restorations (OH, prophys)
• Understand the professional literature
Selection of Dental Materials
 Daignosis or Analysis

Requirements Available materials

Compare requirements and properties

Selection

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Review
 THE ORAL ENVIRONMENT:

• What are the characteristics of the oral cavity that challenge dental
materials?
• Wet – saliva
• Fluctuating pH – acidic/alkaline
• Intake of acidic juices or frizzy drinks decrease PH to 2 or alkaline
medicaments Or Baking Soda increase pH to 11
•Masticatory forces – up to 28,000 lb/psi

•Gateway to digestive tract (ingestion)

Temperature fluctuations:
Normal oral temperature is 32 to 37 °C.ingestion of hot fluids increase the
temperature to 70 °C and ingestion of cold fluids increase the temperature to 0°C

•Living tissue – tooth, oral mucosa, gingival fluids

 CHARACTERISTICS OF IDEAL MATERIALS:

• Biocompatible –
• Non-toxic, non-irritating, non-allergenic
• Mechanically stable & durable –
• Strong, resistant to fracture
• Resistant to Corrosion –
• Does not deteriorate over time
• Dimensionally Stable –
• Little change by temperature &
solvents
 CHARACTERISTICS OF IDEAL
MATERIALS:
• Minimal conduction –
• Insulates against thermal/electrical change
• Esthetic –
• Looks like oral tissue
• Easy to manipulate –
• Minimal/reasonable effort & time needed
• Adheres to tissues –
• Retains onto, and seals, tooth structure
CHARACTERISTICS OF IDEAL MATERIALS:

• Tasteless and Odorless –

• Not unpleasant to
patient
• Cleanable/Repairable –
• Easily maintained or
fixed
• Cost-effective –
• Affordability vs.
benefits/disadvantag
es
 QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

• Ensures safety & efficacy of material/”device”
• American Dental Association (ADA)
• Council on Scientific Affairs establishes standards and specifications
• ADA “seal of acceptance”
• Clinical studies when there are no standards
• International Standards Organization (ISO)
 PROPERTIES

Properties are the way the material responds to the environment and external
forces.

Mechanical properties – response to mechanical forces, strength, etc.

Electrical and magnetic properties - response electrical and magnetic fields,

conductivity, etc.

Thermal properties are related to transmission of heat and heat capacity.

Optical properties include to absorption, transmission and scattering of light.

Chemical stability in contact with the environment - corrosion resistance.

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 IDENTIFICATION OF RESTORATIONS:

• “Dental Restoration” –

• Restores function & appearance of oral structure lost by

pathology, injury, or is congenitally missing
Examples:
• Pathology – caries: filling
• Injury – broken tooth: crown
• Congenitally Missing: prosthetic (i.e. bridge)
 IDENTIFICATION OF RESTORATIONS:

• Direct Restoration –
• A restoration that is created and placed directly into the prep site of the
tooth
(i.e. amalgam filling, composite filling)
• Indirect Restoration –
• A restoration that is created outside of the mouth on a model of the prepped
tooth and later fixed into the mouth
(i.e. gold crown, denture)
DIRECT FILLINGS:

• Usually made of amalgam

(“silver” metal) or
composite (acrylic)
materials
• For caries of various
degrees; anterior or
posterior teeth
Posterior amalgam fillings
DIRECT FILLINGS:

Anterior Composite Filling

Posterior Composite Filling

 CROWN:
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crown
• Indirect restoration to
replace missing crown
of tooth, or protect
remaining crown of
tooth
• Caries, fractures, teeth
with RCT, esthetics
• Made of porcelain,
metals, or both
BRIDGE:

• An indirect restoration; to replace one or more missing

teeth
• “fixed” – not removable; cemented to existing teeth
• Made of porcelain, metals, or both
• Abutment – the existing tooth/teeth supporting the bridge
• Pontic – the replacement tooth
BRIDGE:

Pontic

Missing tooth –
area to be restored

Abutments
BRIDGE:

Anterior bridge on model

Anterior bridge before cementation

How many abutment teeth

does the patient have?
BRIDGE:

Before treatment

After bridge
cementation
 INDIRECT RESTORATIONS:

• Inlay –
• A fabricated restoration made of metal or porcelain that
replaces missing tooth structure; does NOT include the
restoration of any cusps
• Onlay –
• A fabricated restoration (as above) that DOES include the
restoration of at least one cusp
INLAYS VS. ONLAYS:

Porcelain Inlays

Gold Onlay
VENEERS:

• All-porcelain or acrylic
facing for tooth
• Primarily used for
esthetic reasons
• Can alter shape &
color of existing tooth
DENTURE:

• The removable dental prosthetic used to replace all of the teeth

in an arch; patient is edentulous.
• Made of acrylic (teeth may be porcelain)
• “Partial Denture” – replaces some teeth in the arch; patient is
partially edentulous.
• Made of acrylic usually with metal substructure and clasps
DENTURE:

Full Upper and Lower Denture

DENTURE:

Removable
Partial Denture

metal clasp for retention

 PEDIATRIC RESTORATIONS

Stainless Steel Crown

(SSC):
• Prefabricated
• Cemented
PEDIATRIC RESTORATIONS:

Space Maintainer:
• Holds space where
primary tooth was
prematurely lost
• Stainless steel
band/crown with loop
• Fabricated outside of
the mouth; cemented