Amalgam
An alloy, with one of the constituents being mercury
Auto-cured
Hardened or set by a chemical reaction of two materials
Ceramic
Hard, brittle, heat- and corrosive-resistant material such as clay
Coupling Agent
Agent that strengthens resin by bonding filler to the resin matrix
Cured
Preserved or finished by a chemical or physical process
Dual-Cured
Prepared-, preserved, or finished by a chemical or physical process
Esthetic
Artistically pleasing and beautiful appearance
Filler
Inorganic material that adds strength and other characteristics to composite resins
Galvanic
An electrical current that takes place when too different or dissimilar metals come together
Gold
A soft, yellow, corrosive-resistant metal that is used in the making of indirect restorations
Irregular
Not straight, uniform, or symmetric
Malleability
The ability of a material to withstand permanent deformation under compressive stress without sustaining permanent damage
Matrix
Foundation that binds a substance together, continuous phases (organic polymer) in which the particles of filler are dispersed in composite resin
Microleakage
Microscopic space located at the interface of the tooth structure and the sealant or restoration
Palladium
Soft, steel-white, tarnish-resistant metal that occurs naturally with platinum
Pestle
An object that is moved vertically to pound or pulverize a material
Platinum
Silver white noble metal that does not corrode in air
Porcelain
Hard, white translucent ceramic material fabricated by firing and then glazing it to match the tooth color
Restorative
To restore or bring back to its natural appearance
Retention
The act of holding something by means of an adhesive, or mechanical locking, or both
Spherical
Round
Strain
Distortion or change produced as a result of stress
Stress
Internal reaction or resistance to an externally applied force
Trituration
To mix together, as in the process of mixing an alloy with mercury to form amalgam
Viscosity
Physical property of fluids responsible for resistance to flow
Wetting
Covering or soaking something with a liquid
Force
Causes a physical change through energy and strength