06707 - Dental Materials

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has the knowledge of all the dental materials used in modern dentistry. He knows how to recognize their particular indications of use, he knows how to choose between the different chemical, physical and biological properties that these materials present according to the purpose and the final therapeutic destination. Based on the properties of the materials, the student is able to critically consider the clinical impact of the technical and procedural choices and can predict their therapeutic success over time, in order to better prepare the oral rehabilitation plans that will be in the future. called to elaborate.

Course contents

Property of Materials


Impression materials


Materials for models


Dental amalgams


Composite materials


Dentin adhesives


Polymers and resins


Dental cements


Thermoplastic waxes and pastes


Metals and alloys


Dental ceramics


Materials that can be processed with CAD / CAM technologies


Color, translucency and other physical properties

Readings/Bibliography

1) Anusavice KJ. Phillips' Science of Dental Materials. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia. (11th ed. And later)


2) Spoto – AAVV. Materiali e tecnologie odontostomatologiche. Ariesdue Editore. II ed. e successive, 2013.


3) Craig RG. Materials for Restorative Dentistry. Masson, Milan. (11th ed. And later)


4) Dental Materials, Elsevier (subscription magazine available in the Department library);

Teaching methods

The teaching of Dental Materials consists in illustrating the properties of dental materials available today for modern Dentistry by explaining in detail their clinical and laboratory use. During the lessons the student is constantly stimulated with direct involvement to use the knowledge progressively acquired within a certain class of materials and to rationally motivate the field and the way of clinical-therapeutic use. At the end of the course, the student must be able to correctly choose the specific materials for each hypothetical orthodontic rehabilitation.

Assessment methods

Verification of learning takes place through an oral or written exam. The student will be required to discuss the properties and fields of use of at least three classes of dental materials. He will also be presented with hypothetical clinical cases for which he will have to be able to choose the appropriate materials for the correct rehabilitation of the patient.

Teaching tools

Students will be able to access both the dental or research laboratory where they will have the opportunity to perform various instrumental tests on materials and experimental tests in the context of the thesis of the undergraduates in Prosthetics or Dental Materials. Furthermore, in the dental laboratory  the students can use the dedicated tools, materials and devices to learn about the conventional and digital dental tecnology. Access to the laboratories must be agreed with the teacher whose presence is mandatory.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Baldissara