Nordic Institute of Dental Materials: Difference between revisions
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|type = [[Research & Development]] |
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|headquarters = Haslum, outside [[Oslo]] |
|headquarters = Haslum, outside [[Oslo]] |
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|location = {{flagicon|Norway}} Norway |
|location = {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]] |
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|language = English, Norwegian, Swedish |
|language = English, Norwegian, Swedish |
Revision as of 19:10, 5 January 2009
Formation | 1972 |
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Type | Research & Development |
Headquarters | Haslum, outside Oslo |
Location | |
Official language | English, Norwegian, Swedish |
Director | Stig Karlsson |
Website | niom.no |
NIOM is a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The main goal is to promote the use of safe and suitable dental materials and procedures in the Nordic countries. Dental materials constitute a subgroup of biomaterials and medical devices. Major activities in fulfilling this obligation are applied research, materials testing and dissemination of scientifically based information. As a joint Nordic resource center, NIOM collaborates with dental schools and research institutions and provides services to government health authorities, dental professionals, and the public in the Nordic countries in the field of dental biomaterials.
History
NIOM was established in 1972, as a joint Nordic institute located in Haslum outside Oslo. A programme for testing and certification of dental biomaterials on the Nordic market was established, and the first lists of certified materials were published in 1974. Products were tested every year, and the Nordic health authorities required, or strongly recommended, that dentists used NIOM certified products. In 1992, the laboratory obtained official accreditation for testing dental biomaterials. These testing and certification activities continued until 1998 when the European Medical devices directive came into force, introducing a new, joint European regulatory scheme for the certification (CE marking) of medical and dental biomaterials and devices.
Today, the Institute maintains its competency in the accredited testing of dental biomaterials, and promotes this activity with manufacturers and regulatory bodies. On January 1st 2004, the CE-certification activity, formerly undertaken by NIOM, was handed over to a Norwegian-registered foundation named Nordic Dental Certification (NDC). They have taken over the responsibility as a Notified Body for the use of the CE mark on dental products. The provision of an accredited laboratory service to industry, health authorities and other parties remains one of NIOM´s core activities.
Research
Research is a major part of the portfolio of work at NIOM. The institute collaborates with universities and research centres in dentistry, medicine and materials science in the Nordic countries and worldwide. Research underpins both standardization activities and the information and recommendations provided to health authorities, the dental profession and the public. Projects include material characterization and properties, biocompatibility and clinical performance.
Services for dental professionals
NIOM provides evidence- and research-based information on dental biomaterials and medical devices to dental personnel, health authorities and to the public. This is promulgated through articles in the Nordic dental journals, journals for dental technicians, KDM-reports (Kunskapscenter för Dentala Material, http://www.sos.se/kdm) and a continuous updating of the NIOM website. NIOM also provides on-line services, E-mail and telephone, related to dental biomaterials.
Testing and consulting services
NIOM carries out testing according to relevant product standards and according to selected methods as requested by the client. Third party audits secure the highest quality of this service. NIOM offers consulting services in questions related to dental biomaterials. Every enquiry and assignment is treated as strictly confidential. Consultancies cover questions related to properties, performance, safety and development of dental biomaterials.
Standardization
NIOM has for many years contributed to standardization at an international level both through the International organization for Standardization - ISO and within Europe through the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN). Development of new standards and revision of existing standards have been the main focus. Standards in dentistry set requirements for the properties of dental materials and dental instrumentation, and prescribe procedures for the testing of dental materials. Participation in standardization work for dental products and for biocompatibility in general allows NIOM to have an influence on test methods and requirements for dental products. NIOM has had, and still has, a major impact on the selection of methodology and requirements of the dental product standards, and the requirements are often based on results from research activities at NIOM.
International standardization is organized in different Technical Committees (TC), each dealing with a specific field of interest. Each committee is again divided into smaller subcommittees and working groups devoted to different topics of the field. Scientists from the institute are technical experts and conveners of working groups within the following technical committees: ISO/TC 106 Dentistry; ISO/TC 194 Biocompatibility of medical devices; CEN/TC 55 Dentistry, and CEN/TC 206 Biocompatibility of medical and dental materials and devices. Standards Norway (SN) is the national member body in the European and International standardization organizations.