POLISHING MATERIALS

1 Tin Oxide. Tin oxide is used in polishing teeth and metal restorations. Tin oxide is a fine, white powder that is made into a paste by adding water or glycerin.

2. Pumice. Pumice is used as an abrasive and polishing agent for acrylic resins, amalgams, and gold. It consists mainly of complex silicates of aluminum, potassium, and sodium. Two grades--flour of pumice and coarse pumice--are listed in the Federal Supply Catalog.

3. Chalk (Whiting). Chalk is used for polishing acrylic resins and metals. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate.

4.Tripoli. Tripoli is usually used for polishing gold and other metals. It is made from certain porous rocks.

5. Rouge (Jeweler's). Rouge is used for polishing gold and is composed of iron oxide. It is usually in cake or stick form.

6. Zirconium Silicate. Zirconium silicate is used for cleaning and polishing teeth. It may be mixed with water or with fluoride solution for caries prevention treatment. For full effectiveness, instructions must be followed exactly to obtain the proper proportions of powder to liquid.

ACRYLIC RESINS

Use. Acrylic (unfilled) resins are used as temporary crown material. Temporary crowns are placed to protect the crown preparation and provide patient comfort during the time the permanent crown is being constructed

POLYCARBOXYLATE CEMENT 

Use:. The primary use of polycarboxylate cement is as a cementing medium of cast alloy and porcelain restorations. In addition, it can be used as a cavity liner, as a base under metallic restorations, or as a temporary restorative material. 

Clinical Uses

Polycarboxylate cement is used in the same way as zinc phosphate cement, both as an intermediate base and as a cementing medium. 

c. Chemical Composition. 

(1) Powder:. It generally contains zinc oxide, 1 to 5 percent magnesium oxide, and 10 to 40 percent aluminum oxide or other reinforcing fillers. A small percentage of fluoride may be included. 
(2) Liquid. Polycarboxylate cement liquid is approximately a 40 percent aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid copolymer with other organic acids such as itaconic acid. Due to its high molecular weight, the solution is rather thick (viscous). 

d. Properties. 

The properties of polycarboxylate cement are identical to those of zinc phosphate cement with one exception. Polycarboxylate cement has lower compressive strength. 

e. Setting Reactions: 

The setting reaction of polycarboxylate cement produces little heat. This has made it a material of choice. Manipulation is simpler, and trauma due to thermal shock to the pulp is reduced. The rate of setting is affected by the powder-liquid ratio, the reactivity of the zinc oxide, the particle size, the presence of additives, and the molecular weight and concentration of the polyacrylic acid. The strength can be increased by additives such as alumina and fluoride. The zinc oxide reacts with the polyacrylic acid forming a cross-linked structure of zinc polyacrylate. The set cement consists of residual zinc oxide bonded together by a gel-like matrix. 

Precautions. 
The following precautions should be observed. 
o    The interior of restorations and tooth surfaces must be free of saliva. 
o    The mix should be used while it is still glossy, before the onset of cobwebbing. 
o    The powder and liquid should be stored in stoppered containers under cool conditions. Loss of moisture from the liquid will lead to thickening. 
 

Pit-and-Fissure Dental Sealants

Applications/Use

Occlusal surfaces of newly erupted posterior teeth
Labial surfaces of anterior teeth with fissures
Occlusal surfaces of teeth in older patients with reduced saliva flow (because low saliva increases the susceptibility to caries)

Types

Polymerization method

Self-curing (amine accelerated)
Light curing (light accelerated)

Filler content

Unfilled-most systems are unfilled because filler tends to interfere with wear away from self-cleaning occlusal areas(sealants are designed to wear away, except where there is no self-cleaning action a common misconception is that sealants should be wear resistant)

Components

Monomer-BIS-GMA with TEGDM diluent to facilitate flow into pits and fissures prior to cure
Initiator-benzoyl peroxide (in self-cured) and diketone (in light cured)
Accelerator-amine (In light cured)
Opaque filler-I % titanium dioxide. or other colorant to make the material detectable on tooth surfaces
Reinforcing filler-generally not added because wear resistance is not required within pits and fissures

Reaction-free radical reaction 

Manipulation

Preparation

Clean pits and fissures of organic debris. Do not apply fluoride before etching because it will tend to make enamel more acid resistant. Etch occlusal surfaces, pits, and fissures for 30 seconds (gel) or 60 seconds (liquid) with 37% phosphoric acid . Wash occlusal surfaces for 20 seconds. Dry etched area for 20 seconds with clean air spray. Apply sealant and polymerize

Mixing or dispensing

Self-cured-mix equal amounts of liquids in Dappen dish for 5 seconds with brush applicator. Light cured-dispense from syringe tips 
Placement

-pits, fissures, and occlusal surfaces  --> Allow 60 seconds for self-cured materials to set. 

Finishing

Remove unpolymerized and excess material .Examine hardness of sealant. Make occlusal adjustments where necessary in sealant; some sealant materials are self-adjusting

Properties

Physical

Wetting-low-viscosity sealants wet acid etched tooth structure the best

Mechanical

Wear resistance should not be too great because sealant should be able to wear off of  self-cleaning areas of tooth
Be careful to protect sealants during polishing procedures with air abrading units to prevent sealant loss

Clinical efficacy

Effectiveness is 100% if retained in pits and fissures .Requires routine clinical evaluation for resealing of areas of sealant loss attributable to poor retention .
Sealants resist effects of topical fluorides
 

Introduction

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

Selection of Dental materials

The process of materials selection should ideally follow a logical sequence involving

(1) analysis of the problem,

(2) consideration of requirements,

(3) consideration of available materials and their properties, leading to

(4) choice of material.

Evaluation of the success or failure of a material may be used to influence future decisions on materials selection.

Properties of Amalgam.

The most important physical properties of amalgam are

• Coefficient of thermal expansion = 25-1 >ppm/ C (thus amalgams allow percolation during temperature changes)

• Thermal conductivity-high (therefore, amalgams need insulating liner or base in deep restorations)
• Flow and creep. Flow and creep are characteristics that deal with an amalgam undergoing deformation when stressed. The lower the creep value of an amalgam, the better the marginal integrity of the restoration. Alloys with high copper content usually have lower creep values than the conventional silver-tin alloys.

 Dimensional change. An amalgam can expand or contract depending upon its usage. Dimensional change can be minimized by proper usage of alloy and mercury. Dimensional change on setting, less than ± 20 (excessive expansion can produce post operative pain)

•  Compression strength. Sufficient strength to resist fracture is an important requirement for any restorative material. At a 50 percent mercury content, the compression strength is approximately 52,000 psi. In comparison, the compressive strength of dentin and enamel is 30,000 psi and 100,000 psi, respectively. The strength of an amalgam is determined primarily by the composition of the alloy, the amount of residual mercury remaining after condensation, and the degree of porosity in the amalgam restoration.
• Electrochemical corrosion produces penetrating corrosion of low-copper amalgams but only produces superficial corrosion of high copper amalgams, so they last longer

• Because of low tensile strength, enamel support is needed at margins

• Spherical high-copper alloys develop high tensile strength faster and can be polished sooner
• Excessive creep is associated with silver mercury phase of low-copper amalgams and contributes to early marginal fracture
• Marginal fracture correlated with creep and electrochemical corrosion in low-copper amalgams
• Bulk fracture (isthmus fracture) occurs across thinnest portions of amalgam restorations because  of high stresses during traumatic occlusion and/or the accumulated effects of fatigue
• Dental amalgam is very resistant to abrasion