DENTAL POLYMERS

PRESENTED BY :
THOUNAOJAM S0BHALAXMI DEVI
2nd Year BDS
Roll No.: 8
 CONTENTS

 Introduction
 History
 Uses
 Ideal Requirements
 Properties
 Structures
 Commonly used resins
 Conclusion
 Reference
 INTRODUCTION
 Polymers are formed through chemical reactions that
convert large numbers of low molecular weight molecules,
known as monomers into very high molecular weight long
chain macromolecules.
 Resins are compositions of either monomers or
macromolecules blended with other components to
provide a material with a useful set of properties.
 The ‘mer’ ending represent the simplest repeating
monomer from which the polymer is composed .
 Example: poly (methyl methacrylate) is a polymer of
methyl methacrylate units.
HISTORY OF DENTAL POLYMERS
 In 1853, vulcanized rubber was introduced as a denture base.
 At about the same time, celluloid was adapted as a denture base
material.
 During the 1890’s, gutta- percha came into use for temporary crowns and
cavity fillings, permanent restorations and endodontic filling materials.
 By 1940’s , polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was used to make inlays,
crowns and fixed dental protheses.
 By mid 1940’s, self curing prosthetic and restorative resins also known as
cold and chemical - curving resins became available.
 In the late 1950’s, resin based composite are introduced.
 Self- curable resins were later replaced by ultra violet photocured
material which are now replaced by blue light photopolymerizable resins.
USES OF DENTAL POLYMERS
 Fabrication of dentures.
 Artificial teeth.
 Tooth restoration, eg.: fillings, inlays, and laminates.
 Orthodontic and Pedodontics appliances.
 Maxillofacial prostheses.
 Provisional restorations in fixed prosthodontics.
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS OF DENTAL POLYMERS
 Should be tasteless, odourless, non-toxic and non irritant to the oral
tissues.
 Should have good thermal conductivity.
 Should be radiopaque.
 Should bond chemically with the tooth when used as a filling material.
 Should have enough strength, resilience and abrasion resistance.
 Should be esthetically satisfactory.
 Should be economical.
 Should be insoluble and impermeable to oral fluids.
PROPERTIES OF DENTAL POLYMERS
1. Mechanical and Physical Properties
 Plastic Strain
 Elastic Strain
 Viscoelastic Strain

2. Rheological (flow) Properties

 Viscoelasticity

3. Solvation and Dissolution Properties

4. Thermal Properties
 Thermoplastic resins
 Thermosetting resins
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
 Plastic Strain: It is irreversible deformation that cannot
be recovered and result in a new shape as the result of
slippage among polymer chains.
 Elastic Strain: Reversible deformation and will quickly be
completely recovered when the stress is eliminated. This
is due to the uncoiling and recoiling of the polymer chain.
 Viscoelastic Strain: Combination of both elastic and
plastic deformation, but only the elastic portion is
recovered when the stress is reduced. The amount of
deformation that is not recovered at the moment the
stress is eliminated is known as plastic deformation.
RHEOLOGICAL (FLOW) PROPERTY
Involves a combination of elastic and
plastic deformation followed by elastic
recovery after the stresses are
eliminated. This combination of elastic
and plastic changes is termed
viscoelasticity.
SOLVATION AND DISSOLUTION PROPERTY

 Solvation is the interaction of a solvent with a dissolved

solute.
 Solvation properties are very sensitive to polydispersity,
crosslinking, crystallinity, and chain branching.
 The longer the chains, the more slowly a polymer dissolve.
 Polymers tend to absorb a solvent, swell, and soften rather
than dissolve . Any dissolution occurs from the swollen state.
 Absorbed molecules spread polymer chains apart and
facilitate slippage between chains. This lubricating effect is
called plasticization.
THERMAL PROPERTIES
THERMOPLASTIC RESINS THERMOSETTING RESINS

 Soften on heating, and harden on  Not soften by heat but char.

cooling.

 Can be reprocessed by heating and  Undergo a chemical change during

cooling. setting reaction.

Undergo reversible reorganization  Are crosslinked and as insoluble as

among the molecular chains upon resin-based composites.
heating as in denture base resins.
FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF POLYMERS

 Consists of very large

macromolecules.
 Chain-like molecular structure is
capable of virtually limitless
configurations and conformations.
 Chain length, the extent of chain
branching and cross linking, and
the organisation of the chains
among themselves, determine the
properties of polymers.
STRUCTURE OF POLYMER
1. LINEAR: “mer” units are connected in a linear sequence.

 Linear homopolymer: It has “mer” units of the same type.

Fig: Homopolymer
 Random copolymer of linear type: It has two type of mer units, randomly
distributed along the chain.

Fig: Random Copolymer

 Block copolymer: It has two types of mer distributed along the chain.

Fig: Block Copolymer

2. BRANCHED: The “mer” units are arranged in a branched fashion.
 Branched homopolymer: the “mer” units are of same type.

Fig: Branched homopolymer.

 Random Copolymer of Branched Type: It has two types of “mers” distributed
randomly.

Fig: Branched Random.

 Graft Copolymer of Branched Type: It has one type of “mer” unit on the main
chain and another “mer” for the branches.

Fig: Branched graft

3. CROSS LINKED POLYMER: It is made up of homopolymer cross linked with a single
cross linking agent.
 It is a network structure.

Fig: Cross-linked
polymer.
COMMONLY USED RESINS
 Acrylic resins
 Methymethacrylate
 Poly(methylmethacrylate)
 Multifunctional methacrylate and acrylate resins
 CONCLUSION

 Polymeric resins are increasing in use for restoring and replacing tooth
structure and missing teeth. These resins can be bonded with other resins,
directly to tooth structures, or to restorative materials such as amalgam.
REFERENCES

 Phillips Science of Dental Materials, First South Asia Edition

 Basic Dental Mterials by John Manapalil, 4th Edition
THANK YOU