1 Dental Materials

 What is impression material?

A negative or likeness copy in reverse of the subject of the object. An imprint of the teeth
and adjacent structures for use in dentistry

 How are Polyether dispensed?

supplied as two pastes with a catalyst and base

 What is the composition of the Polyethers?

Catalyst: containing reaction initiator

Base: forming oils and fillers in second syringe which is smaller than base

 What is the chemical setting characteristics of Polyethers?

 Base and catalyst upon mixing a cationic, ring opening addition to polymerisation.

 What are the properties of Polyethers?

Good tear resistance, elastic properties approaching those of silicon. They are rigid when
they are set and force is required to to remove impression after setting.
 What is alginate?

Irreversible hydrocolloids ,When powder is mixed with water to obtain a paste setting oc-
curs.

 What are the two main setting reactions that occur in alginate?

1. (tri)sodium phosphate + calcium sulphate

2.remaining calcium sulphate + sodium potassium alginate

 What is the mixing time on alginate?

1 minute

 What’s the setting time of alginate?

1.5-3min

 What are the physical properties of alginate?

Material that is flexible and elastic enough to be withdrawn past undercuts

 What is a disadvantage of alginate?

 Care must be taken during withdrawal from mouth, to avoid tearing.

 How long should you wait before withdrawing an alginate impression from a patient’s
mouth?

A further 2mins, as cross-linkage continues after material has set. This enhances the
elastic nature of this material.

 What can influence the setting characteristics of alginate?

1. Temperature of water
2. Power-Water Ratio

 How does the temperature of water affect the setting properties?

Using warm water reduces working time and setting time through accelerating rate by
which sodium phosphate is consumed and increasing rate of cross linkage.
Using cold water has the reverse effect.

 How does the Powder-water ratio affect the setting properties?

Too much powder: alginate too thick causes mixing to become difficult
Too much water: alginate mixture becomes runny, setting time increases, runs out of tray
(higher risk of gag reflex

 When should alginate be cast?

As soon as possible to prevent inaccuracies due to dimensional changes, because alginate

undergo syneresis and imbibition.
 Describe the term synersis

Envisaged as squeezing out water between polysaccharide chains. Water lost by evapora-
tion causing SHRINKAGE of impression and serious inaccuracies.

 Describe the term Imbibition

presences of excess water cause separation of aligned polysaccharide chains leading to

SWELLING of the impression. Opposite to synersis

 What is the chemistry (ingredients) of alginate?

Potassium titanium fluoride

Potassium sodium alginate
Tri-sodium phosphate
Diatomaceous earth
Calcium Sulphate
Zinc oxide
Colouring/flavouring

 What does Potassium sodium alginate do? (Chemistry)

Thickening agent
 How does diatomaceous earth react?

Adds bulk to material.

 How does Calcium Sulphate react?

Reacts with potassium alginate to form gel.

 How does Trisodium phosphate reacts?

Slows down reaction time.

 How does Zinc Oxide react?

Adds to bulk of material.

 How does Potassium titanium fluoride react?

Added so it does not interfere with setting and surface strength.

 What are the physical phases of alginate?

 1. Solution (the material is a liquid or semiliquid form)

2. The material is semisolid like a gelatine dessert.
  How many physical phases are in alginate?

 Two

 What is the chemical setting characteristics of alginate?

A chemical reaction occurs –Soluble alginate reacts with calcium sulphate to produce a insoluble
calcium alginate as a gel. The production of calcium alginate is delayed by adding trisodium
phosphate.

 Describe in laymen terms the setting characteristics of alginate.

First the sodium phosphate reacts with calcium sulphate to provide adequate working time.
Second after sodium phosphate has reacted, the remaining calcium sulphate reacts with sodium
alginate to form an insoluble calcium alginate which forms a gel with water.

 What do you use to decontaminate alginate impressions?

hypochlorite or furaldehyde

 How do you store alginate impressions?

wrap in damp paper towel, placed in plastic bag, store only for short time frame.

 What is a modified alginate?

Incorporation of silicon polymers, it's a two-paste system (mixed). Colour contrast

between mixing allows thorough mixing.

 Benefits of using a modified alginate.

 Shows a marginally better detail and tear resistance.

 Disadvantages of using a modified alginate.

Mixing can be difficult as viscosity can vary. Has poor dimensional quality.

 Name another dental material.

Reversible Hydrocolloids (agar)

 How many impression dental materials are there?

 What are the impression materials called?

 Alginate, polyethers,modified alginate, reversible hydrocolloids (agar), polysulphides

 What is the composition of Reversible hydrocolloids?

Supplied in gel, toothpaste like syringe/tube. 15% colloidal suspension of agar in water.
Agar is a complex polysaccharide extracted from seaweed.
 Disadvantages of using Reversible hydrocolloids.

Poor mechanical strength and tears at low levels of stress, has poor dimensional stability,
subgingival and inter-proximal areas are difficult to record.

 What is a poly sulphide?

A two based system dispensed from tubes, a base (liquid polysulphide prepolymer) and
catalyst (oxidising agent). It is available in light, regular and heavy body.

 What are the setting characteristics of polysulphides?

The terminal and pendant thiol groups of the prepolymer chains undergo a reaction with
lead dioxide, result in chain cross-linkage.

 What is the scientific term for polysulphides result in cross-linkage?

Known as condensation polymerization.

 What are the properties of Polysulphides?

Very good tear resistance. Heavy bodied are more accurate as they exhibit less setting
and thermal contraction >better dimensional stability.

 Why do we use impression materials?

 To accurately record dimensions of oral tissues and their spatial relationships

 What is alginate impression materials used for?

Bleaching trays, mouth guard, splint guards, orthodontic comparison, study models. op-
posing arch, duplicating models.

 What are the advantages of using Irreversible Hydrocolloid (alginate)

Ease of manipulate
Reasonable cost
Adequate flow and wetting properties
Sufficient mechanical strength
Appropriate setting time
Safe nontoxic or irritating
Good shelf life.

 How does alginate set?

First the sodium phosphate reacts with calcium sulphate to provide

adequate working time.

 Second after sodium phosphate has reacted, the remaining calcium

sulphate reacts with sodium alginate to form an insoluble calcium
alginate which forms a gel with water