National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the National Dental Assisting Exam with comprehensive quiz questions, including multiple choice and detailed explanations. Equip yourself for success!

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Plaster of Paris and dental stone are examples of which type of materials?

Polymer products
Gypsum products
Composite materials
Resin materials

The correct answer is: Gypsum products

Plaster of Paris and dental stone are classified as gypsum products, which are derived from gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. When gypsum is heated, it can lose water and transform into various forms that serve specific purposes in dental practices, including creating impressions and models. Plaster of Paris is known for its ease of use, quick setting time, and ability to capture fine details of dental impressions, while dental stone provides superior strength and durability, making it ideal for creating more robust casts used in dental restorations and prosthetics. Understanding these materials' classification as gypsum products is essential, as they exhibit particular physical properties, such as setting time and compressive strength, which are critical in dental applications. In addition, this categorization helps differentiate them from other types of materials, each serving distinct roles in dental practices.