Bioactive Dental Materials: Principles And Clinical Applications

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The prevention of carious lesions and periodontal disease is the foundation of the dental profession. Despite this goal, carious lesions and periodontal disease are common across the globe. The initial procedures of restorative dentistry had been to replace tooth structure lost to the carious process while periodontal therapy centered upon stabilization of periodontal disease and to remove diseased tissue. Within endodontics, the goal has been to relieve the pain caused by pulpal pathology. The modern era of dentistry has made exponential progress in both restorative dentistry, periodontal therapy and endodontics. The materials and procedures utilized today are designed to promote a favorable biologically based response which promotes the remineralization of tooth structure, the regeneration of periodontal tissues and to provide more predictable and favorable outcomes in endodontics. This course will highlight these innovative materials procedures.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon the completion of this course the participant will be able to:

1. Review the long-term use of dental materials that are biocompatible but that are not bioactive dental materials.

2. Understand the basic principles of bioactivity as it relates to dental materials.

3. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the use of bioactive dental materials.

4. Discuss the use of bioactive materials used in restorative dentistry.

5. Describe how the use of bioactive materials in various endodontic procedures can improve the prognosis of the teeth involved.

6. Analyze how the use of bioactive dental materials can be used to treat periodontally-involved teeth.