Intro to the selection and use of dental materials and history of use

Question 1

Why is the human body a challenging environment to place a synthetic material?

Answer 1

Implanted materials interact with host immune and related defence mechanisms and may themselves have toxic or noxious potential
Challenges - pH, temperature fluctuations, wet environment = risk of corrosion and degradation, mechanical loading, microbial colonisation, need for long term function often including aesthetics, contact with wide range of foreign substances

Question 2

Why does change happen in dental materials?

Answer 2

Increased pt expectations for better QoL
Pressures on health programme costs
Industrial competition and the free market economy
Academic curiosity, new discoveries - clinical advances
Government policies and strategies in response to societal changes
Environmental concerns and demand for sustainable dentistry

Question 3

Barriers to innovation?

Answer 3

Lack of clinical evidence base
Lack of clinical readiness
Technologies not yet fully optimised
Regulatory environment
Lack of investment in new technology development
Patient/public/clinical scepticism

Question 4

Why study dental materials?

Answer 4

Closely related to clinical work of dentists
Integration with clinical decision making
Rapidly evolving