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What lies behind the quality assurance of your materials?

British Dental Journal volume 232, pages 630–632 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

In dentistry, all reputable manufacturers comply with international standards. This is important for quality assurance of dental materials. How such standards came into being and have evolved, however, is perhaps less well-known. This paper covers the necessity and formulation of standards and illustrates their application with reference to materials that may be considered as potential alternatives to dental amalgam. In addition, the uncertainties around such a framework following Brexit are summarised. Robust standards are essential for consumer protection and international trade.

Key points

  • Gives insight into the development of international standards.

  • Inspects drafting standards for dental materials and equipment.

  • Discusses standardisation of composite restorative materials.

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References

  1. Jacobsen P H. International standards and the dental practitioner. Dent Update 2008; 35: 700-704.

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  4. UK Government. Regulating medical devices in the UK. 2020. Available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regulating-medical-devices-in-the-uk (accessed August 2021).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair, British Standards Institution Committee CH 106 Dentistry, Cardiff, CF23 7HP, UK

    Peter H. Jacobsen

  2. Professor of Operative Dentistry and Dental Materials Science, University of Dundee, UK

    R. Graham Chadwick

Authors
  1. Peter H. Jacobsen
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  2. R. Graham Chadwick
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Contributions

Peter H. Jacobsen and R. Graham Chadwick, in equal proportion, contributed to all aspects of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Graham Chadwick.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Cite this article

Jacobsen, P., Chadwick, R. What lies behind the quality assurance of your materials?. Br Dent J 232, 630–632 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4196-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4196-8

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