Laboratory and Instrument

Overview

Boston University Dental Biomaterials Laboratory is part of the Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Over 150 shared instruments/tools are available for education and research. The instruments cover a wide range of applications in dental materials research including tissue culture, specimen section and polishing, chemical processing, polymer synthesis, ceramic processing, computerized dentistry, dental material processing, color testing, solution testing, surface analysis, imaging, elemental analysis, mechanical testing, and others.

Laboratory facilities located at R5 and X2 are open for residents and faculty. The instruments are well-maintained and ready for use. Proper training is required to access those instruments.

For additional details, please contact Dr. Yuwei Fan, 

We are located at:

5th Floor Housman Medical Research Center (R building)

Laboratory for biomaterials synthesis, processing, and testing.

Mailing address for USPS, FedEx

Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
72 East Concord Street,  R-520
Boston, Massachusetts 02118

The Ceramics Processing Laboratory contains various mills, mixers, presses, numerous electronically controlled furnaces, dental ceramic furnaces, grinders, polishers, sectioning saws, incubators, trimmers, precious and non-precious metal casting machines, sandblasters, ultrasonic probes, and analytical balances.

The Characterization Laboratory contains various transmission and reflectance optical microscopes, spectrophotometer, microhardness tester, pH meter/ion analyzer, 2- & 3-body wear tester, video micrometer, ceramic hydrolysis apparatus, thermocycling machine, analytical balances, strain gauge indicator, cyclic load fatigue machine, and an Instron mechanical testing unit.

The Resin Infusion Laboratory is a dedicated cold room with precise temperature and humidity control. Relevant equipment includes infusion pumps and chambers.

The Structural and Surface Analysis Laboratory has a field emission SEM with EDS, profilometer, sputter coater, critical point drier, and an optical microscope.

The Computerized Dentistry Laboratory houses several CAD/CAM scanners and milling machines, including OmniCAM, BlueCAM, inlab MCX5, CEREC, and 3D printer.

The Tooling Laboratory contains a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine, drill press, milling machine, air abrasion units, casting machines, gypsum trimmers, and an argon-back filled infra-red soldering machine, etc.

The Molecular Biocompatibility Laboratory contains a PCR machine, -86° C freezer, -20° C freezer, 4° C refrigerator, ultrapurification system, high speed centrifuge, autoclave, low speed shaker, water bath, UV transilluminator, video micrometer & microscope, analytical balance, electrophoretic gel system, Biorad power supply, mini vertical and horizontal electrophorectic systems, photo-documentation system, digitized optical scanner, viewbox, block heater, touch mixer, UV light, pressure blotter, slot-blot apparatus, pressure control station, pH meter, vacuum desiccator, membrane transfer tray, water storage tank, magnetic stirrer, hotplate, reflected-light differential interference contrast microscope, bright light microscope, and an electronic cell counter.

The Tissue Culture Laboratory has a Class IIA/B3 biological safety cabinet, tissue culture inverted microscope, tissue culture centrifuge, liquid nitrogen dewar, and CO₂-controlled incubator.