Gypsum products are used extensively in dentistry. Gypsum was found in mines around the city of Paris, so it is also called plaster of Paris. This is a misnomer as gypsum is found in most countries. The mineral gypsum CaSO4. 2H2O is usually white to yellowish white in color and is found as a compact mass. Gypsum is also an industrial by-product. For centuries gypsum has been used for construction purposes and making statues. Alabaster, a form of gypsum which is white in color was used for building in ancient times. Besides dentistry gypsum is also used in orthopedics for splinting fractured bones.