Method for molding dental restorations and related apparatus

• US 6,485,849 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TEC Ventures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TEC Ventures, Inc.
• Inventors: Petticrew, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEIN, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/779,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 428/689, 428/697, 428/699, 428/701, 428/702, 501/20, 501/2, 501/4, 501/7, 501/63, 501/66, 501/68, 501/77, 501/5, 433/199.1, 433/201.1, 433/212.1, 433/202.1, 106/35
• US Class Current: 428/697
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/20 Methods or devices for soldering, casting, moulding or melting A61C13/04, A61C13/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/16 Refractive index
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/78 Pigments
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/818 comprising zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/824 comprising transition metal oxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/833 Glass-ceramic composites
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/24 by injection moulding injection moulding of ceramic slips B28B1/265; of tubular articles B28B21/38
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 5/04 in moulds moved in succession past one or more shaping stations on turn-tables B28B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 10/00 Devitrified glass ceramics, i.e. glass ceramics having a crystalline phase dispersed in a glassy phase and constituting at least 50% by weight of the total composition
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 4/0021 for dental use

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with a process for the formation of dental restorations from glass-ceramic materials and the resulting dental restorations. A dental restoration is prepared by placing a glass-ceramic material in a heat-pressure deformable crucible. Heat is applied to the crucible to bring the glass-ceramic to a working range at temperatures above its liquidus temperature. The crucible has heat-pressure deformation properties which are matched to the working temperature of the glass-ceramic. Once the glass-ceramic is heated to its working temperature, the crucible is brought into contract with a mold having a cavity therein. As the distance between the heated crucible and the mold is decreased, the crucible is deformed to form a seal with the mold facilitating the injection of the molten glass-ceramic into the cavity. The resulting dental restoration has superior optical, esthetic and strength properties.

Claims

1. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent);

8. The dental restoration of claim 1, wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

2. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent;

9. The dental restoration of claim 2, wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

3. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent);

10. The dental restoration of claim 3 wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

4. A dental restoration which if formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent);

11. The dental restoration of claim 4, wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

5. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent);

12. The dental restoration of claim 5 wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s)

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

6. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition by (weight percent);

13. The dental restoration of claim 6, wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the C.T.E. of the glass ceramic material.

7. A dental restoration which is formed from a glass-ceramic material, which does not deform during heat treating, comprising the following composition (by weight percent);

14. The dental restoration of claim 7 wherein said dental restoration is further altered by applying one or more layer(s) of a porcelain material to said dental restoration, and fusing said porcelain layer(s);

wherein the C.T.E. of said porcelain material is slightly more or less than the glass ceramic material.