CDC Dental Materials & Technology Flashcards
6 cards from real CDC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CDC Dental Materials & Technology flashcards as text
Which component of composite resin restorations most significantly determines their mechanical strength and wear resistance?
Answer: The inorganic filler particles
The inorganic filler particles in composite resin largely govern mechanical properties; higher filler content by volume generally results in greater strength, hardness, and wear resistance.
What is the purpose of etching enamel with 35–37% phosphoric acid before placing a composite resin restoration?
Answer: To remove the smear layer and create microporosities for micromechanical retention
Phosphoric acid etching dissolves the smear layer and selectively demineralizes enamel prisms, creating microporosities that bonding resin infiltrates to establish micromechanical retention.
What is the galvanic effect in dentistry?
Answer: The electric current produced when dissimilar metals contact each other in the electrolytic environment of saliva
The galvanic effect occurs when two dissimilar metals (e.g., a gold crown opposing an amalgam restoration) contact each other in saliva, generating a small but perceptible electric current.
Which mechanical property describes a dental material's ability to return to its original dimensions after a deforming load is removed?
Answer: Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of a material to recover its original shape after elastic deformation; it is quantified by the elastic modulus (Young's modulus).
What is the primary diagnostic advantage of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) over conventional intraoral radiographs?
Answer: Three-dimensional volumetric imaging of dental and craniofacial structures
CBCT generates three-dimensional volumetric data that allows clinicians to evaluate bone volume, root morphology, proximity to vital structures, and pathology in all three spatial planes.
Why is the water-to-powder (W/P) ratio critical when mixing dental gypsum products?
Answer: It directly affects the setting time, setting expansion, and compressive strength of the gypsum product
The W/P ratio governs the porosity, setting expansion, and compressive strength of gypsum products; excess water weakens the set material and increases porosity.