INTRODUCTION TO

DENTAL MATERIALS 1
Mahmoud N. Almughany, MDS
Orthodontist
• Name : Mahmoud N. Almughany, MDS
Orthodontist
Head of Dental Department
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

• Contact information:
E-mail: m.almughany@up.edu.ps
Phone no. 0599763477
Course Description, Objectives, and Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
This course is meant to teach the student of dentistry aspects of materials science necessary to
enable him/her to understand the basic physical, chemical and mechanical properties of dental
materials as they relate to the clinical applications. In addition, students will be able to develop
Course Description:
an appropriate understanding of the required criteria for the selection of materials for specific
dental procedures.

1. To evaluate current and future biomaterials in the light of a sound knowledge of basic
material and biomaterials science.

2. To obtain appropriate information about biomaterials and communicate relevant information

Course Objectives:
to peers, patients and the lay public.

3. To equip the undergraduate with the knowledge, understanding and transferable skills
required to select dental biomaterials effectively.
Upon the completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Mechanical, physical, chemical, optical and biological properties of the most common dental
biomaterials.

2. Adhesion and bonding, tarnish and corrosion, and metallurgy.

Intended Learning 3. Model and die materials.
Outcomes:
4. Investment materials.

5. Impression materials.

6. Dental waxes.
7. Polymer and nonmetallic denture base materials.
Course Syllabus:

Week No./Content(Theory/Practice) Notes

Week 1
Theoretical Content Introduction to Dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 2
Theoretical Content Mechanical Properties of Dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 3
Theoretical Content Physical Properties of Dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 4
Theoretical Content Gypsum Products of dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 5
First Mid-term Exam
 Week 6
Theoretical Content Investment materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 7
Theoretical Content Impression Materials – Part 1
Practice/ laboratory
Week 8
Theoretical Content Impression Materials – Part 2
Practice/ laboratory
Week 9
Theoretical Content Dental Waxes
Practice/ laboratory
Week 10
Second Mid-term Exam
Week 11
Theoretical Content Polymers in dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
Week 12
Theoretical Content Acrylic resin dental Materials
Practice/ laboratory
References and Educational Resources:

Book Title: Applied Dental Materials

John F. McCabe
Author Name:
Angus W. G. Walls
Publisher : Wiley-Blackwell
Edition : edition 9
Year Of Publish: 2008
ISBN : 978-1-405-13961-8
Book Title: Essential Dental Materials
Author Name: Tyagi / Rahul
Publisher : CDS Publishers and distributions
Edition : 1St edition
Year Of Publish: 2006
ISBN : 978-8123911298
 Introduction

What is Dental materials

The science of dental materials 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

• Manipulation is the skillful handling, controlling or using of dental materials

Goals of Studying Dental Materials:

The main goal of studying course of dental materials is to let you:

1. Familiar with all materials used in dentistry.

2. Know all the properties of dental materials.

3. Know how to manipulate dental materials.

4. Identify the various gypsum products, describe their physical and

chemical reactions, and demonstrate their proper usage.
5. Identify types of investment materials and uses in
dentistry.
6. Identify the various dental waxes, describe their physical
application, and demonstrate their proper usage
7. Identify the various impression materials, describe their
physical application, and demonstrate their proper usage.
8. Identify types and importance of polymers in dental materials
9. Describe the various types of acrylic resins, their physical and chemical
properties, and demonstrate their proper usage.
An understanding of the physical, electrical and mechanical
properties of materials used in dentistry is of great
importance. This is because these materials are exposed to
the oral environment and subjected to biting forces.
DENTAL SPECIALITIES
Orthodontics Endodontics Oral & maxillofacial surgery Operative

Removable prosthodontics Fixed prosthodontics Implant

Oral Radiology Periodontics

Paediatric dentistry Dental Public health

Classification of Materials Used in
Dentistry
 a.
Polymers

Based on
d.
Composites chemical b. Metals
composition

c. Ceramics
 a. Polymers
• A word polymer is a combination of two Greek words, “Poly” means
“many” and “Meros” meaning “parts or units.

• A polymer is a large molecule of which is formed by repeated linking

of the small molecules called “monomers”.

• The number of repeating units in the chains of which a polymer is

made up is called degree of polymerization .
Acrylic complete denture Rubber impression Gutta percha
 b. Metals

“An opaque lustrous chemical substance that is a good conductor of

heat and electricity, and when polished is a good reflector of light”.
Amalgam restoration Partial denture
 c. Ceramics

Are inorganic compounds formed of metallic or semi-metallic and non-

metallic elements, which are subjected to high heat treatment for a time
period to achieve desirable properties
Ceramic bridge Ceramic crowns
 d. Composites

Are highly cross linked polymeric material reinforced by a dispersion of

glass ,crystalline or resin filler particles and bounded to matrix by saline
coupling agent.
Composite restoration
 a.
Preventive

Based on
use of
material
c. b.
Auxiliary Restorative
 a. Preventive dental materials

• Pit and Fissure Sealants

• Sealing agents that prevent leakage
• Materials used primarily for their antibacterial effects.
• Liners,bases, cements and restorative materials that are used
primarily because they release fluoride.
 Fissure sealant Bonding agent
Glass ionomer filling

Calcium hydroxide Zinc Phosphate cement Zink Polycarboxylate cement

 b. Restorative dental materials

Synthetic components that can be used to repair or replace tooth structure,

including amalgams, resin-based composites, cast metals, metal-ceramics,
ceramics, and denture polymers.
Types of restorative materials:

1. Direct restorative materials

Used intraorally to fabricate restoration or prosthetic devices directly on the teeth.

2. Indirect restorative materials

Made extra-orally in which the materials are formed indirectly on the teeth or tissues.

3. Temporary restorative materials

Intended to be used to restore the tooth temporarily as temporary filling materials.

 Amalgam Capsule Ceramic crowns
Composite kit

Ceramo-metallic rest. Full ceramic rest.

Metal melting for casting Full metal crown

Partial denture complete denture Orthodontic bracket and wire

Acrylic polishing
 c. Auxiliary dental materials

• Substances used in the process of fabricating dental prosthesis and

appliances but do not become part of these devices.

• Acid – etch solutions, impression materials, casting investments, gypsum

cast, and model materials and dental waxes.
 Acid Etching
Alginate impression material Investment material

Rubber impression material Gypsum material Dental waxes

Characteristics of ideal dental materials
1. Biocompatibility (nontoxic, non-irritating, non allergic).

2. Mechanically stable and durable (strong and fracture resistant).

3. Dimensionally stable (minimally affected by temperature or

solvents).

4. Esthetics (oral tissue-like appearance)

5. Easy manipulation (easy use with no specific equipment).

6. Tasteless and odorless (non-irritating or unpleasant).

7. Cost effective (within the patient's budget).

8. Cleanable (can be maintained).

9. Resistance to corrosion or chemicals (does not deteriorate over time.

10. Low thermal conductivity (insulators) as in filling and cement

materials.
Thank You