Dental material

Dental products are specially fabricated materials, designed for use in dentistry. There are many different types of dental products, and their characteristics vary according to their intended purpose. A temporary dressing is a dental filling which is not intended to last in the long term. They are interim materials which may have therapeutic properties. A common use of temporary dressing occurs if root canal therapy is carried out over more than one appointment. In between each visit, the pulp canal system must be protected from contamination from the oral cavity, and a temporary filling is placed in the access cavity. Examples include: Zinc oxide eugenol—bactericidal, cheap and easy to remove. Eugenol is derived from oil of cloves, and has an obtundant effect on the tooth and decreases toothache. It is suitable temporary material providing there are no biting forces on it. It is also contraindicated if the final restorative material is composite because eugenol adversely effects the bond/polymerization process, also, when applied directly on the pulp tissue, it can produce chronic inflammation and result in pulp necrosis. Examples brands: Kalzinol, Sedanol. Dental cements are used most often to bond indirect restorations such as crowns to the natural tooth surface. Examples include: Zinc Oxide cement—self setting and harden when in contact with saliva. Example brands: Cavit, Coltosol. Zinc Phosphate cement Zinc Polycarboxylate cement—Adheres to enamel and dentin. Example brands: PolyF. Glass Ionomer cement Resin-based cement Copper-based cement Dental impression Dental impressions are negative imprints of teeth and oral soft tissues from which a positive representation can be cast. They are used in prosthodontics (to make dentures), orthodontics, restorative dentistry, dental implantology and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Rigidity- Inelastic (rigid) impression materials are used with patients with shallow undercuts. Elasticity- Elastic impression materials are used in patients with deep undercuts as it must be flexible enough to reach the end-point of the undercut.