Bioscience Research and Development in Dental Technology

research question

A specific, answerable, and testable question derived from a broad problem.

independent variable

The factor that is changed or manipulated in an experiment (e.g., curing time).

dependent variable

The factor that is measured or observed in an experiment (e.g., flexural strength).

controls

Conditions that remain constant to ensure that any observed changes are due to the independent variable.

hypothesis

A testable prediction linking the independent variable to the dependent variable.

literature review

A structured search and evaluation of existing research relevant to a particular problem.

experimental study

A research approach where the researcher manipulates the independent variable to observe effects on the dependent variable.

observational study

A research approach that observes outcomes without manipulation, often used for identifying patterns.

control group

A baseline group used for comparison to determine the effect of the independent variable.

negative control

A condition expected to show no effect, used to validate the experimental setup.

positive control

A condition expected to show an effect, used to confirm the experimental method can detect an effect.

randomization

The process of randomly assigning subjects or samples to different groups to reduce bias.

blinding

A method where the researcher or participant is unaware of which group they belong to, to prevent bias.

standardization

Ensuring uniformity in experimental conditions to allow for reliable comparisons.

repeatability

The ability to obtain consistent results when the same person or group conducts the same experiment multiple times.

reproducibility

The ability of different researchers to obtain consistent results when conducting the same experiment.

outcome measure

A defined metric used to assess the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

in vitro

Research conducted with cells or biological materials outside of their normal biological context.

ex vivo

Research using extracted tissues or organs in a way that maintains their biological properties.

clinical study

Research involving human participants to evaluate the effectiveness or safety of a treatment.

flexural strength

The ability of a material to withstand bending forces.

cytotoxicity

The degree to which a substance is toxic to cells.

bacterial adhesion

The process by which bacteria attach themselves to surfaces.

biofilm

A complex community of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a protective matrix.

aseptic technique

Methods used to prevent contamination in microbiological work.

cell culture

The process of growing cells in a controlled, artificial environment.

histology

The study of tissue structure using microscopy.

minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)

The lowest concentration of a substance that prevents visible growth of a microorganism.

minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)

The lowest concentration of a substance that kills a defined proportion of organisms.

biocompatibility

The ability of a material to perform its function with an appropriate host response.

chemical toxicity

Harm caused by leachables or chemicals released from materials.

sensitization

An immune reaction that occurs after repeated exposure to a substance.

genotoxicity

The potential of a substance to damage genetic material.

extract testing

Testing the leachates from a material to assess cytotoxicity.

direct contact testing

Testing the biological effects of a material by direct contact with cells.

surface roughness

The texture of a surface which can influence bacterial adhesion.

scaffold

A structure that supports cell attachment and guides tissue formation in tissue engineering.

osseointegration

The process by which bone directly attaches to the surface of an implant.

quality systems

Procedures and policies to ensure consistent production and adherence to regulations.

risk management

The process of assessing and reducing the risks associated with a product or research.

informed consent

The process of obtaining voluntary agreement from participants with full understanding of the research.

3Rs in animal research

Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement principles to ethically guide the use of animals in research.

scientific integrity

The adherence to ethical principles and professional standards in research.

mean

The average of a set of values.

standard deviation (SD)

A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion of a set of values.

statistical significance

A measure indicating that the observed effect is likely not due to chance.

practical significance

The real-world relevance or importance of a statistically significant result.

dilution series

A series of solutions of decreasing concentration used in experiments, typically to determine MIC.