DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
LESSON TITLE: Properties of Dental Materials: Electrical MATERIALS:
Properties Ballpens, erasers, pencils and
module
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the day, you will be able to: REFERENCES:
1. Learn and familiarize all the different properties of dental ● Kenneth J. Anusavice –
materials. Phillips’ Science of Dental
2. Decide which materials is suitable for dental application. Materials (2012, Saunders)
PRODUCTIVITY TIP:
Good day! You are about to start your module. Do stretching and simple breathing exercises. Make sure
you are seated comfortably. Let us start. Enjoy!
A. LESSON PREVIEW / REVIEW
Introduction (2 minutes)
Welcome to DEN 029 (Dental Materials Lecture)
Today, we shall learn the last part of the properties of dental materials and how it can help decide the
right material to be used.
You have to recall your learning on the last two different properties of dental materials.
Activity 1: What I Know Chart, part 1 (3 minutes)
What I Know Guide Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)
1. What are the different electrical
properties of a dental material?
2. How do you define Galvanism?
3. What is a Galvanic shock?
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
B. MAIN LESSON
Activity 2: Content Notes (12 minutes)
Properties of Dental Materials: Electrical Properties
● ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF DENTAL MATERIALS:
1. CONDUCTOR
is a material that allow the flow of electrical current in one or more directions. A metal wire is
a common electrical conductor.
2. INSULATOR
are materials that offer high resistance to the flow of electric current.
3. CORROSION
is the dissolution of metal in the mouth and one cause is due to the presence of two
adjoining dissimilar metallic restorations.
May also be observed when a gold alloy is contaminated with iron during handling in the
dental laboratory.
4. GALVANISM
is the generation of electrical current and occurs when two different metals are present in
oral cavity.
It results from the difference in potential between dissimilar materials in opposing or
adjacent teeth.
Examples:
o Metals placed in an electrolyte (liquid containing ions) have various tendencies to go
into solution. Aluminum the alloys of which are used as temporary crowns has great
tendency to go into solution and has electrode potential of +1.33 volts.
o Gold on the other hand has little tendency to go into the solution as indicated by the
electrode potential of -1.36 volts.
In this situation, two opposing teeth where oral fluids acts as electrolytes. The system is
similar to that of an electrical cell. When the two restorations touch the current flows
because the potential difference is 2.69 volts and the patient feels pain, discomfort and
metallic taste.
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
The same effect is experienced if an aluminum foil from a baked potato becomes wedged
between two teeth and contacts a gold restoration. Temporary plastic crowns are used to
prevent this problem since they are poor electrical conductors.
Galvanic Shock
- This shock occurs when the filling of one tooth, containing amalgam, touches the
filling of another tooth, containing another metal. Saliva facilitates the shock by
functioning as an electrolyte. Galvanic shock is also commonly experienced when
the metal in a tooth comes in contact with aluminum foil.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TARNISH AND CORROSION:
Tarnish only affects the surface of a metallic restoration, while Corrosion affects the surface as
well as the inner structure of the restoration, and it requires the replacement of a restoration.
Activity 3: Skill- Building Activities (15 mins + 5 mins checking)
Differentiate Corrosion from Tarnish
● Check your answers against the Key to Corrections found at the end of this activity sheet. Write your
score on the paper.
Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2 (2 minutes)
● Go back to the “What I Know Chart” in Activity 1 and answer the “What I Learned” column.
Activity 5: Check for Understanding (5 minutes)
● Please answer the short quiz as honestly as you can. Let’s go! My Score: _____________
1. It usually results when people have metal fillings done by different dentists who may have used
materials that differed a bit. If these fillings came in contact with each other, they could send a bit of a
“zap” through the tooth and other soft tissues:
a. Poisson’s ratio
b. Galvanic shock*
c. Strain
d. Elastic Modulus
2. The following are some common electrical conductors except:
a. copper
b. glass*
c. metal wire
d. gold
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
3. The following materials are insulators that does not allow electric current to pass through it:
1. Glass 3. Rubber 5. copper
2. Gold 4. Wood
a. 3, 4 and 5 are correct
b. 1 , 2 and 3 are correct
c. 1, 3 and 4 are correct*
d. 2, 4 and 5 are correct
4. The dissolution of metal in the mouth and one cause is due to the presence of two adjoining dissimilar
metallic restorations.
a. Corrosion*
b. Insulator
c. Tarnish
d. Galvanism
5. They are materials that offer high resistance to the flow of electric current.:
a. Galvanism c. Tensile
b. Insulator* d. Flexural
● Stop and check your answers against the Key to Corrections found at the end of this Activity Sheet.
Write your score/s on your paper.
C. LESSON WRAP-UP
Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 minutes)
A. Work Tracker
You are done with this session! Let’s track your progress. Shade the session number you just
completed.
B. Think about your Learning:
Please answer the following questions:
1) Please rate your activity today by placing a check mark (/) before a choice. Please explain your
choice on the blank space beside the table:
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
1. Boring
2. Not informative
3. Challenging
4. Fair
5. Fun
2) “What details in the content and/or activities were not clear to you?”
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
D. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
● What is a Galvanic Shock?
Galvanic shock is the result of electricity flowing from the fork to the amalgam and through the pulp.
What are some examples for conductors and insulators?
Silver, gold, steel, aluminum and copper are some examples for conductors. Glass, plastic, ceramic and
rubber for the insulators.
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
KEY TO CORRECTIONS:
Activity 3:
CORROSION TARNISH
- is an electrochemical process and is
dependent on the ability of metals to
- surface discoloration on a metal or
conduct electric current
slight loss or alteration of the surface
finish or luster
- it causes metal deterioration and
subsequent mechanical failure
- occurs due to formation of deposits,
oxides, sulfides and chlorides on the
- it causes pulpal pain (galvanic shock)
restoration surface
- toxic and allergic responses to metal
- it is an early indication and precursor of
ions
corrosion
- metallic taste
Activity 5
Short Quiz:
1. c
2. d
3. c
4. d
5. c
Prepared by:
AILEEN D. ATILLO, DMD
Subject Instructor
Southwestern University PHINMA - College of Dentistry
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION
DEN 029: Dental Materials Lecture
Student Activity Sheet #5
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Class number: _______
Section: ____________ Schedule: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION