Dental Material Sciences - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Dental Material Sciences lecture notes.

Dentistry

Art and branch of medical science dealing with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, oral cavity, maxillofacial area, and related structures.

Prosthodontics

Dental specialty focused on diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance, and health for patients with missing/deficient teeth using biocompatible substitutes.

Dental Materials

Science studying the composition and properties of dental materials and how they interact with the environment where they are placed.

Biocompatibility

Ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response without causing harmful reactions (toxicity, allergy, inflammation) in the body.

ISO Standards

International standards (e.g., ISO 4049, 6872, 1567, 15912, 21563) that cover various dental materials and products.

ADA Standards

American Dental Association standards and Seal of Acceptance for products meeting specified effectiveness.

FDA Regulations

U.S. regulatory framework classifying dental materials as medical devices, overseen by the FDA's CDRH.

ISO 10993

Biological evaluation standard guiding biocompatibility testing of medical devices, including dental materials.

Oral Environment

Harsh environment in which restorative materials operate, featuring bacteria, high forces, changing pH, and warm, fluid conditions.

Temperature Variations

Oral cavity temperature typically 32–37°C, but can range from 0°C to 70°C with hot/cold exposures.

pH Variations

Saliva is about neutral (pH ~7.0); intake can shift pH from approx. 2.0 to 11.0.

Ideal Restorative Material

Biocompatible, non-toxic, durable, corrosion-resistant, dimensionally stable, esthetic, easy to manipulate, and has properties similar to tooth tissues.

Mechanical Properties

Material properties (strength, elasticity, wear resistance) that determine response to mechanical forces.

Elastic Deformation

Reversible deformation that returns to original shape when the force is removed.

Plastic Deformation

Irreversible deformation that remains after the force is removed.

Tensile Stress

Stress from forces pulling materials apart; example values: enamel ~10 MPa, dentin ~106 MPa, amalgam ~32 MPa.

Compressive Stress

Stress from forces pushing materials together; example values: enamel ~384 MPa, dentin ~297 MPa, amalgam ~388 MPa.

Shear Stress

Stress from parallel but opposite forces; example values: enamel ~90 MPa, dentin ~138 MPa, amalgam ~188 MPa.

Flexural Stress

Stress on a material under bending (bending moment); outer surface in tension, inner surface in compression, middle in shear.

Force

Influence causing a change in movement, direction, or geometry; defined by point of application, magnitude, and direction; SI unit is the Newton (N).

Stress

Internal reaction to an external force; classified as tensile, compressive, shear, or flexural.

Modulus of Elasticity

Measure of a material's stiffness; ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region.

Yield Strength

Stress at which a material begins to deform plastically.

Toughness

Ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform before fracturing.

Four Groups of Dental Materials

Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, and Composites.

Classification: Preventive Materials

Materials used to prevent decay and leakage, such as pit and fissure sealants and fluoride-releasing liners, bases, cements.

Preventive Materials (Examples)

Sealants; fluoride-releasing liners/bases/cements; chlorhexidine-based agents.

Restorative Materials

Materials used to repair or replace tooth structure, including primers, bonding agents, liners, bases, amalgams, composites, ceramics, and denture polymers.

Direct Restorative Materials

Materials fabricated directly on the tooth to create a restoration.

Indirect Restorative Materials

Materials fabricated outside the mouth and placed later on teeth or tissues.

Auxiliary Materials

Materials used in fabricating prostheses and appliances but not part of the final device (etch solutions, impression materials, gypsum casts, waxes, etc.).

Amalgam

A metal alloy used as a direct restorative material in dentistry.

Resin Composite

A tooth-colored restorative material made of a resin matrix and filler particles.

Crowns, Bridges, Veneers

Restorations that cover or replace tooth structures to restore form and function.

Inlay and Onlay

Indirect restorations fitted into or onto prepared tooth surfaces to restore structure.

Complete Dentures

Full-arch removable prostheses replacing all teeth in an arch.

Partial Dentures

Removable dentures that replace some but not all teeth in an arch.

Implant-Retained Dentures

Denture supported by dental implants, either fixed or removable.

Implant-Supported Dentures (Fixed)

Dentures anchored to implants with no removable component.

Implant-Supported Dentures (Removable)

Dentures supported by implants but designed to be removable.

Biomechanics

Study of how biological materials interact and deform under forces.

In-Vitro Testing

Laboratory testing of materials before clinical use, including mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

Quality Assurance in Dental Materials

Manufacturer QA programs with standard specifications (ADA/ISO/FDA), laboratory evaluations, and clinical trials.

Proportional Limit

Point at which stress and strain are no longer proportional in a material.

ADA Seal of Acceptance

Recognition by ADA for products meeting specified standards and effectiveness.

ISO 4049

ISO standard for polymer-based restorative materials.

ISO 6872

ISO standard for ceramic dental materials.

ISO 1567

ISO standard for denture base polymers.

ISO 15912

ISO standard for denture base polymers – Part 1: Denture base polymers.

ISO 21563

ISO standard for adhesion of orthodontic attachments.

Materials Selection

Process of choosing materials based on biological and physical properties, applications, and performance.

Materials Evaluation

Assessment of materials through specifications, laboratory testing, and clinical trials.

Force Characteristics

Forces have a point of application, magnitude, and direction; internal stress balances external force.