Tempering by Water in Dentistry - Coursework Example

dentistry] By Insert Presented to Location Due Dentistry Introduction An essential branchof medicine, dentistry is the study of diseases and conditions affecting the oral cavity, their diagnosis and prevention, treatment and control. Disorders of the oral cavity mostly affect the dentition, and influence oral health immensely, affecting the maxillofacial structures and tissues therein. In essence, dental medicine focuses on the promotion of oral health, which influences directly on the general health of the patients. In the course of the management of oral diseases and conditions, several processes, techniques and materials are crucial. For instance, while impression materials are of great importance in use for administering dental medication, tempering is equally important in the reduction of the temperature so that impression paraphernalia can be tolerated in the overly sensitive oral tissues. This paper seeks to explore the techniques of tempering by water, a practice that remains critical in dental medicine. Tempering by Water in Dentistry The application of different techniques during dental medicine demands for observance of the conditions favourable for the medication. Dentists must consider the possible consequences that may arise upon use of a particular technique in treatment. The application of elastic impression materials remains essential in the treatment of teeth or severe undercuts. These are easier for removal after treatment due to their elasticity, unlike rigid impression materials, which are best suited for recording edentulous areas but difficult to remove after treatment. Rigid impression materials often lead to distortion or fracture, which like the oral conditions and disorders threatens the health of the patients. Tempering of elastic impressions by water makes them more efficient and thus boosts their applicability in dental medicine. There are different elastic impression materials on which tempering by water is an essential step. These impression materials are classified into two systems, the hydrocolloids and the elastomeric materials, all of which depend of tempering by water for the improvement of their efficiency (Manappallil, et al., 2003, p. 14). Tempering by water is applied in different elastic impression materials, which are commonly used for the treatment of teeth and severe oral undercuts. The hydrocolloids are one system of the elastic impression materials which utilizes water tempering in operation. Operative dentists apply this system of impression materials extensively for dental operations and treatment of general oral conditions. Hydrocolloids consist of a solution or suspension and colloids. All depend on tempering by water for effectiveness during dental operations. According to Manappallil et al (2003, p. 15), the hydrocolloids are made up of gelatine particles suspended in water to form lyosols, with water being the dispersion medium. The material uses particles larger than those in the solution, with sizes ranging from 1-200 nanometres. In the process of making the impressions, the materials are transformed from a fluid (whether solution or suspension) to a solid state. This is done in what is called a sol-gel transformation, a change of state common in hydrocolloids. This change of state makes it possible for the application of tempering in order to make the hydrocolloids effective during operative dentistry (Hussain, 2004, p. 71). The agar hydrocolloid requires tempering for full functionality. Therefore, special equipment must be used in its development. For instance, the hydrocolloid conditioner and a water cooled rim lock trays are used for the preparation of the hydrocolloid elastic impression materials. The hydrocolloid conditioner consists of different sections that work collectively for the enhancement of the efficiency of the materials for application in dental medicine. In general, the hydrocolloid container consists of a boiling section (also known as the liquefaction section), the storage section, and the tempering section (Ferracane, 2001, p. 189). The different sections serve different purposes in the development of the hydrocolloids. The major purpose is the creation of hydrocolloids with minimum to no failures, in order to ensure proficiency in dental operations and treatment of oral cavity. To start with, the boiling or liquefaction section involves the placement of the hydrocolloids impression materials in boiling water for ten minutes. This section ensures the breakdown of the agar brush heap structure in order to use in a different treatment option. The section demands that the sol used in the hydrocolloid be homogeneous and free of lumps. In addition, the reliquefaction of the material should be carried for three minutes longer in order to assure the breakdown of the agar brush heap structure after a previous use (Hussain, 2004, p. 72). The storage and the tempering sections are of equal significance in the development of the hydrocolloids for use in dental operations. On the one hand, the storage section serves the essential role of storing hydrocolloid material (Satish Chandra, et al., 2007, p. 121). It is maintained at a high temperature range of 65 ºC to 68 ºC, where the hydrocolloid is stored in a solution state until it is required for use in operative surgery. On the other hand, the tempering section serves the major role, which makes the hydrocolloid usable and effective in the course of dental surgery. The section maintains the hydrocolloid at a temperature of 46 ºC for approximately two minutes (Manappallil, et al., 2003, p. 50). During the short time duration, the hydrocolloid impression material is loaded in the tray. This process is essential for making the material viscous, but is done mainly to lower its temperature so as to make it tolerable in the sensitive oral tissues (Noort & Barbour, 2013, p. 233). Of similar importance in dentistry is impression trays. Impression trays are basically rim lock trays with devices that circulate water. With the rim lock, the impression trays assist in the retention of hydrocolloid material using a beading on the inside part of the tray. The beading is incorporated in the device mainly because the agar does not adhere to the tray and would otherwise limit tempering. Further, it contains an inlet and an outlet for connection to water tubes in order to enhance circulation. All notwithstanding, the impression trays must have sufficient spacing laterally and occlusally, mainly 3 mm, extending distally in order to ensure all teeth are covered. The material contained in the tray must, however, be tempered before removal from the bath. After removal from the bath, scrapping off of the outer surface of the agar sol is done and connection made to the water hoses. The tray containing tempered material is positioned in the patient’s mouth by a dentist (Manappallil, et al., 2003, p. 52). Effectiveness of the tempered material is determined by the process that follows. Proper positioning of the tray allows proper circulation of water through it until the occurrence of gelation. The water is circulated at a temperature range of 18 ºC and 21 ºC. During the process, the dentist must limit cases which can inhibit the proficiency of the process in order to assure full recovery after treatment. For instance, rapid cooling, which can cause distortion of the impression material must be avoided. In addition, the dentist must ensure that the impression tray is maintained at its position throughout the treatment. Certainty in doing so can be achieved through the application of three stops of compound on non-involved teeth. These prevent distal flow of the material, provide uniformity in the hydrocolloid thickness, and limit the impression material depending on where they are placed. In the order given, the stops should be placed a post dam, the tray’s palatal aspect, and on its distal aspect respectively (Manappallil, et al., 2003, p. 53). The most recent dental materials that apply tempering include the wet field technique and the laminate technique. The wet technique involves a process where warm water is used to flood the tissues. This process is followed by an injection off the tempered syringe material into the surface to be recorded. In addition, the tray material is seated before the gelation of the syringe material. Doing this creates a hydraulic pressure emanating from the viscous tray material, forcing the syringe material, which is in fluid form to flow to the areas under treatment (Hussain, 2004, p. 72). The movement of the material, from the tray and the syringe, causes the displacement of blood and debris through the sulcus. Also known as the agar-alginate technique, laminate technique, works with the use of agar carried in a syringe and injected into the area of treatment. An impression tray containing tempered alginate is placed over the area to be recorded, where it bonds with the material contained in the syringe (agar). Further, the process involves the gelation of alginate and agar by chemical reaction and contact with cool alginate respectively. It should be noted that the process does not depend on the circulation of water throughout the tray for cooling. Though the laminate technique depicts accuracy in recording tissues and sets faster, there is a possibility for agar-alginate bond failure, and that of displacement of the agar by viscous alginate (Anusavice, et al., 2013, p. 179). Apart from the hydrocolloids, the elastomeric impression materials (also known as elastomers or synthetic rubbers) are essential dental materials. These depict elasticity due to their soft and rubber-like nature. The softness of the elastomeric can be attributed to their large molecules, which have weak interaction between them. As liquid polymers, most of the elastomeric are hydrophobic, making it impossible for the application of tempering with water in their functioning. As such, though equally useful in the treatment of different conditions, elastomeric impression materials are ineffective in numerous ways (Manappallil, et al., 2003, p. 59). Conclusion Tempering is crucial for the enhancement of different dental materials. The application of the process in impression materials such as hydrocolloids, and new techniques like the wet field technique depicts their importance. The development of the existing elastic impression materials has come to enhance dental health within the society. This has been made possible through tempering. With promoted dental health, the society stands a chance for social development, as oral cavity seems to influence human health in general. This has a direct influence on humanity which depends majorly on health, interaction, and integration. Bibliography Anusavice, K. J., Phillips, R. W., Shen, C. & Rawls, H. R., 2013. Phillips science of dental materials. St. Louis: Elsevier/Saunders. Ferracane, J. L., 2001. Materials in dentistry : principles and applications. Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hussain, S., 2004. Textbook of dental materials. New Delhi: Jaypee. Manappallil, J. et al., 2003. Basic dental materials. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. Noort, R. v. & Barbour, M. E., 2013. Introduction to dental materials. Edinburgh : Mosby Elsevier. Satish Chandra, P., Chandra, S. & Chandra, G., 2007. Textbook of operative dentistry (with MCQs). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Ltd.. Read More