Key Terms

Biocompatible

Property of a material that allows it not to impede or adversely affect living tissue

Stress

The internal force, which resists the applied force

Strain

Distrotion or deformation that occurs when an object cannot resist a force

Ultimate strength

The maximum amount of stress a material can withstand without breaking

Compressive force

Force applied to compress an object

Tension/tensile force

Force applied in opposite directions to stretch an object

Shear/shearing force

Force applied when two surfaces slide against each other

Torsion/torque

A twisting force that combines tensile and compressive forces

Thermal conductivity

The rate at twhich heat flows through a material

Thermal expansion

Tendency of matter to change in size, area, or volume in response to change in temperature

Galvanism

An electrical current transmitted between two dissimilar metals in a solution of electrolytes

Microleakage

Leakage of fluid and bacteria caused by microscopic gaps that occur at the interface of the tooth and restoration margins

Adhesion

Act of sticking two things together, in dentistry used to describe the bonding or cementation process. Chemical adhesion occurs when atoms or molecules of dissimilar substances bond together and differs from cohesion, in which attraction among atoms and molecules of similar materials holds them together

Wettability/wetting

The ability of a liquid to wet or intimately contact a solid surface. Water beading ona waxed car is an examples of poor wetting

Viscosity

The ability of a liquid material to resist flow, ex. ketchup is more viscous than water

Film thickness

Minimal obtainable thickness of a layer of material. It is particularly important in the context of dental cements

Biofilm

Complex community of oral microbes living on surfaces within the mouth. When these colonies are found on teeth or restorations, they are commonly called dental plaque

Chroma

Intensity or strength of a color ex. bold yellow has more chroma than pastel yellow

Hue

The color foa tooth or restoration. It may include a mixture of colors such as yellow-brown

Value

How light/dark a color is. A low value indicates a darker color and a high value indicates a brighter color

Preventive materials

Utilized to provide protection to the tooth and not allow the disease process to cause any permanent damage from occurring to the tooth or periodontal supporting structures

Restorative materials

used to replace tooth structure or periodontal supporting structures lost due to damage from disease or injury and restore the patient to full chewing and speech function

Therapeutic material

Products used to treat dental disease

Retention

Ability to maintain its position without displacement under stress