PROPERTIES OF DENTAL

MATERIALS
(PART 5)

DR.MUHAMMAD ZAKIR
B.D.S, MSC DENTAL MATERIALS
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
FATIMA JINNAH DENTAL COLLEGE
 NEWTONIAN BEHAVIOR

When there is no change in the viscosity of the liquid

by a change in strain or by any external force then
that behavior of the liquid is known as the
Newtonian behavior of the liquid.
 OPTICAL PROPERTIES

An important goal of dentistry is to restore the color

and appearance of the natural dentition.

With the passage of time the consideration of

aesthetics has taken an important priority in
restorative and prosthetic dentistry.

Thus dentistry also shows the artistic touch of the

dentist as well.
 OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF DENTAL MATERIALS

Light is an electromagnetic radiation which can be

detected by the human eye.

This portion of the wavelength is called the visible

light.

The range of the visible light is 400 (violet) – 700

nm (dark red).
Visible light when passed through a prism, is spilled
into a spectrum of various colors.
The reflected light from an object gives us the
perception of that color.
The reflected light intensity and the combined
intensities of the wavelength in the incident light and
the reflected light determine the appearance of the
material.

For an object to be visible it should be able to reflect

the incident light which falls on it from an external
source.
 PHYSIOLOGY OF VISION

Light which is reflected from an object which is an

incident light for the eye is focused on the retina.

This gives a psychological image.

This is converted into nerve impulses and are

transmitted to the brain via a set of cones and rods.
These cones are responsible for the vision.
This light which falls on the rods and cones cause
different chemical reactions due to variance in the
wavelengths of the light.
 THREE DIMENSIONS OF COLOR

There are countless colors in the universe and

therefore cannot be described precisely.

For example, to describe a brownish purple color

called puce the Webster’s third new international
dictionary defines it as:
‘’A dark yellower and less strong than cranberry, paler
and slightly yellower than average garnet, bluer, less
strong, and slightly lighter than pomegranate, and
bluer and paler than average wine.’’
This description is impossible to convey, therefore
the colors are described or perception is given in 3
dimensions

Hue
Chroma
value
 HUE

Hue is the color.

It is the dominant wavelengths present in the

spectral distribution.

eg. Red, green, yellow, blue

It is an inherent property of a material.

 VALUE

Value is the darkness or lightness of the color.

Value increases towards the top (whiter) and

decreases towards the bottom (darker or blacker).

Teeth and objects can be separated into lighter and

darker shades (higher value and lower value).
•Lighter the shade, higher the
value

•Darker the shade, lower the

value

•Objects which scatter all the

wavelengths appear white

•If the object absorb all the light

they appear black.

•This depends on the external

factors like surface finish
 CHROMA

Chroma is the intensity of a color

Higher the chroma, more intense will be the color.

It is always associated with hue and value.

This is also an in built property of an object.

 FACTORS AFFECTING PERCEPTION OF COLORS

The factors include:

Low or high light levels
Fatigue of color receptors
Sex
Age
Memory
Cultural backgrounds
Like in low light the rods in the human eye are more
active and thus the color perception may be different
when in daylight

If one looks at a red object for a long time, fatigue of

rod receptors occur and when he/she looks at a white
background, it may appear a green shade to him.
This is due to the color fatigue
 METAMERISM

The phenomenon of different color appearance of

the object in different kinds of lights is known as
metamerism

This is b/c the spectral distribution of the light

reflected from or transmitted through an object is
dependent on the nature of the light in which the
object is viewed.
Therefore, the appearance of the object in different
lights will be different.

The appearance of an object viewed in daylight may

appear different in sunlight, fluorescent light and in
night.

This is why color matching should be done in

different lights.
 OTHER TERMS OF IMPORTANCE

NEAR ULTRA VIOLET RADIATION:

Natural teeth absorb light at wavelengths between
300 and 400 nm. These are known as the near
ultra violet radiations.
Photoflash lamps, natural sunlight and UV lights
used in decorating lights are absorbed by the teeth.
FLUORESCENCE:
The energy that the tooth absorbs and it becomes a
light source , this phenomenon is known as
fluorescence.
The emitting light blue-white in color is in the
range of 400-450 nm.
Example of missing of fluorescent agent in a crown
or composite restoration.
OPACITY:
An object which absorbs all the incident light is
known as an opaque object.

An object which prevent the passage of light.

TRANSLUCENCY:
Property of a material to allow partial transmission
of light and causes partial reflection of incident light

It disperses the light so the object is not very clear.

TRANSPARENT:
An object which allows complete passage of light
with no reflection of light is known as a transparent
object.

Object is clear without any distortion.

 DENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Materials are pigmented, so care should be taken

when selecting a material. Shade guides are given for
the purpose.
Aesthetic materials should be permanent in color,
should not stain nor should discolor
For good aesthetics materials should be translucent.
Some materials have fluorescent agents to enhance
aesthetics.