Dental material
Dental Material
Dental material refers to the natural or synthetic substances used to replace missing teeth or repair tooth structures. These materials are designed to interact with the body and mimic the properties of natural teeth.
Pronunciation
Den-tal Ma-te-ri-al
Etymology
The term "dental" is derived from the Latin word "dens," which means "tooth." The term "material" comes from the Latin word "materia," meaning "substance."
Types of Dental Materials
There are several types of dental materials, each with its own unique properties and uses. These include:
- Amalgam: A mixture of mercury and other metals, used for fillings.
- Composite Resin: A tooth-colored material used for fillings and cosmetic enhancements.
- Dental Ceramics: Hard, brittle materials used for crowns, bridges, and veneers.
- Dental Implants: Titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth.
- Dentures: Removable appliances that replace missing teeth.
- Endodontic Materials: Materials used in root canal therapy, such as gutta-percha and sealer cements.
Properties of Dental Materials
Dental materials must have certain properties to be effective. These include:
- Biocompatibility: The material should not cause any adverse reactions when in contact with the body.
- Mechanical Properties: The material should be able to withstand the forces of biting and chewing.
- Aesthetic Properties: The material should closely match the appearance of natural teeth.
- Thermal Properties: The material should not expand or contract significantly with temperature changes.
Related Terms
- Dental Prosthesis: An artificial device that replaces one or more missing teeth.
- Restorative Dentistry: The branch of dentistry that deals with the restoration of damaged or missing teeth.
- Dental Biomaterials: Materials that are used in the human body and are either natural or synthetic.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dental material
- Wikipedia's article - Dental material
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