REU Report: Development of a Global Information Exchange Database System for the Machinability Evaluation of Dental Ceramics

Abstract

Aesthetic character, high strength, chemical durability, and bio-compatibility make dental ceramics ideal ingredients for fabricatingdental restoratives. However, the inherent brittleness of ceramics poses a challenge to the machining of ceramic restoratives. With the introduction of Dental CAD/CAM system, machinability evaluation is necessary to successfully fabricate dental ceramics for commercial use.This paper presents a unique approach to conduct the systematic experimental research for the machinability of dental ceramics. A database management system is employed to perform the systematic data management and manipulation function. This database engine is then connected to the World Wide Web to take advantage of the information infrastructure provided by it. Through user-friendly interface, this online database system provides guidance for the experiment design, data collection and data analysis. With the connection of the database to the World Wide Web, interactive web page can be generated to facilitate the information exchange and dissemination. This method utilizes new technologies to allow users to swiftly share information with anyone around the world.