Master of Science in Dental Materials

Study the science and technology of dental materials

Dental materials include the natural tissues (enamel, dentin, cementum, bone, and other intraoral tissues) and biocompatible synthetic materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, and composite structures) used to restore decayed, damaged, or fractured teeth.

As a student in the Graduate Dental Materials Program, you will focus on restoring and maintaining patients’ oral health through materials science as you work toward a Master of Science in Dental Materials degree through the University Graduate School. During this two-year program, you’ll gain advanced knowledge of research and methodology for materials applications, including:

  • Knowledge of the compositional and microstructural features of preventive and restorative dental materials
  • Concepts of biocompatibility
  • Definitions and applications of the mechanical and physical properties of dental biomaterials
  • Principles of materials science as they relate to dentistry
  • Education for the proper manipulation and application of dental materials
  • Analysis of material and structural defects relevant to clinical failure of dental restorations and prostheses
  • Criteria for selecting materials for patient-centered clinical practice

Core competencies

If you successfully complete the program, you will be able to demonstrate competency in these areas.

You will be able to:

  • Describe the major classes of dental biomaterials used in clinical dentistry
  • Explain the differences in the chemical nature of the major classes of materials
  • Recognize the effects of chemical nature on the mechanical behavior of materials
  • Describe the relationship between material characteristics and clinical performance of dental biomaterials

You will be able to:

  • Identify the physical and chemical principles of major material testing
  • Select and justify appropriate testing methods for the major classes of dental biomaterials
  • Formulate hypotheses and design the necessary experiments for a given material evaluation scenario

You will be able to:

  • Present research methods and results correctly in oral and written reports
  • Provide evidence-based arguments on research findings in oral and written reports
  • Provide suggestions on dental biomaterial selection based on current dental literature

How to apply

You will use the IUPUI Online Graduate and Professional Admissions Application to apply to the M.S. in Dental Materials program.

The application deadline is November 1 each year.

Learn how to apply

Costs and financial aid

Your tuition and fee costs will depend on your residency (in state or out of state) and the number of credit hours you take each semester. You can use IUPUI’s tuition and fee estimator as a starting point for figuring out what your costs will be.

The University Graduate School can help you explore options for paying for graduate school.

Learn more about costs and financial aid