Dental Materials.

Catalog description

This course introduces the student to various types of dental materials used in dental practices. It allows the student to begin to understand the properties of the materials and actually manipulate them and provides the foundation for current practice in dental care. These materials include restoration materials (metals/composites), impression materials, sealants, mouth guards, prosthetics, tooth whitening, and temporary restorations. The student will learn to mix and prepare the various materials used. The role of the allied dental personnel in the manipulation and application of these materials is stressed. The classroom component will introduce the student to the properties of the materials and how to mix them proportionately. Emphasis is on the section, manipulation, and clinical management of dental materials particularly from the dental hygiene and dental practice perspective. Focus will be placed on the composition, chemistry, clinical properties, mixing techniques, advantages, disadvantages and setting times of more common materials utilized in the dental setting. The relationship between the oral environment and dental materials is also examined. Lab session are integrated with lectures to provide the student with opportunities to practice various techniques such as sealants, amalgam finishing and theoretical components of the course in order to continue in the program. Students must pass both the laboratory and theoretical components of the course in order to continue in the program. Completion of this course with a final grade of C+ or better must be achieved in order to advance in the DHY/DAC programs. Spring. Prerequisites: DHY 105 , DHY 107 , DHY 108 (corequisites).