Introduction to Dental

Materials
Ass. Prof.Ali Abdul Wahab Razooki
 Dental (Bio) materials science
 Involves a study of the composition and properties
of materials and the way in which they interact with
the environment in which they are placed.
 The dentist spends much of his professional

career handling materials and the success or

failure of many forms of treatment depends upon
the correct selection of materials possessing adequate
properties, combined with careful manipulation.
 Selection must be made before the tooth is
prepared for restoration.

 Therefore understanding the properties that

distinguish one material from another is
important.
 Selection of dental materials
logical sequence involving:
(1) analysis of the problem,
(2) consideration of requirements,
(3) consideration of available materials and their
properties
(4) choice of material.
 Resin composite materials

 Usually chosen for the restoration of a

portion of an anterior tooth that may
be caused by either injury or caries.
 Their strength is a secondary factor, since the
anterior teeth are usually not subject to high
biting forces.

 Weaker than metals, their excellent appearance,

and acceptable durability are the main reasons
for their choice.
 Amalgam
 A metallic restoration may be preferable to a
resin composite material for the restoration of
the portion of a posterior tooth subject to
considerably greater biting forces because of
strength and wear resistance considerations.
 Appearance factor is not so important, though
increasing numbers of patients are requesting
the placement of posterior composites.

 Dental silver amalgam restorations and gold

inlays are most often used for this type of
restoration.
 . An amalgam paste is directly placed into
the prepared tooth cavity and carved to the
correct anatomy
 Inlay
 An inlay is a restoration prepared outside
the mouth and cemented to the prepared
tooth.
 Base
 If a deep posterior restoration is required, a
cement base is placed below the metallic
restoration.
 Such a base serves to insulate the pulp of the
tooth from the irritation of thermal sensations
transmitted through metallic restorations.
 Numerous cements are available for this
application.
Crown
 A crown is a restoration of part or all of the
coronal portion of a tooth.

 Suitable for the posterior portion of the mouth,

where high strength is needed and appearance is
secondary.
 Porcelain
 When the entire crown portion of an anterior
tooth requires restoration, a crown made from
porcelain can be used, since this material
combines strength with excellent esthetic
properties.
 Porcelain fused to metal crown
 Consists of a metal crown with a veneer of
porcelain

Advantages:
 Esthetics of a porcelain veneer

 Strength and fit of a cast metal crown

Esthetic veneers
 Used to cover labial aspect of anterior teeth that
are severely discolored, malformed, or eroded.

Types:
 Resin composite

 Cemented ceramic veneer

 Dental bridge
 A fixed partial denture that is cemented
on anchoring teeth.
 Used to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

 Cements are used for retention to hold the

bridge permanently in place on the abutment
teeth.
 Removable partial denture
 If several teeth are missing, a more complex
prosthetic appliance known as a removable
partial denture may be used.
 A removable partial denture is attached to the
remaining abutment teeth by using a clasp.
 If all the natural teeth in an arch are lost, a full,
or complete, denture is required.
 Complete denture
 A denture is a removable
prosthesis that replaces all
the teeth of the lower or
upper arch.
 The denture consists of a base with artificial
teeth.
 Most denture bases are made from acrylic resins
that are pigmented to match the pink shades of
the oral tissues.
Thank You