Molds for the manufacture of a dental restoration and methods of making dental restorations

• US 6,689,202 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
• Original Assignee: Jeneric/Pentron Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Panzera, Carlino
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCANTONI, PAUL D
• Application Number:
  US09/905,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 433/223, 433/8, 433/48, 433/228.1, 106/35, 501/88, 501/96.1, 501/97.1, 501/98.1, 501/103, 501/108, 501/127, 501/133
• US Class Current: 106/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/20 Protective coatings for natural or artificial teeth, e.g. sealings, dye coatings or varnish
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/818 comprising zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/82 comprising hafnium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/827 Leucite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49567 Dental appliance making

Abstract

Blocks of material are prepared in a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in the fabrication of models for dental restorations. The material comprises a partially sintered ceramic material. The blocks are used to manufacture molds using CAD/CAM methods and equipment. The molds are useful in the manufacture of dental restorations using ceramics, metals, alloys, or powders thereof, and composite materials. The models milled from the blanks may be used to manufacture a variety of dental restorations including, but not limited to, crowns, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, orthodontic retainers, dentures, posts, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, splints, partial crowns, teeth, cylinders, pins, and connectors.

Claims

1. A blank for the manufacture of a dental model fabricated from a partially sintered ceramic material having a density of less than about 75% theoretical full density and a flexural strength in the range from about 1 to about 20 MPa.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein the partially sintered material comprises alumina, zirconia, magnesia, zircon, aluminosilicate, cordierite, mica, quartz, cristobolite, silica, leucite, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silica-alumina-nitrides, mullite, garnet, or mixtures thereof.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein the partially sintered ceramic material is derived from a mixture comprising a refractory ceramic material and a binder.

4. The blank of claim 3 wherein the refractory ceramic material comprises alumina, zirconia, magnesia, zircon, aluminosilicate, cordierite, mica, quartz, cristobolite, silica, leucite, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silica-alumina-nitrides, mullite, garnet, or mixtures thereof.

5. The blank of claim 3 wherein the binder comprises an inorganic material, an organic material, or mixtures thereof.

6. The blank of claim 5 wherein the organic material comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidine, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butryal and polystyrene, or mixtures thereof.

7. The blank of claim 5 wherein the inorganic material comprises magnesium oxide, ammonium phosphate, colloidal silica, calcium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, alkaline silicates, silica hydrosol, colloidal clays, or mixtures thereof.

8. The blank of claim 1 wherein the partially sintered ceramic material comprises a refractory investment material.

9. The blank of claim 1 wherein the partially sintered ceramic material comprises a castable investment material.

10. The blank of claim 1 wherein the dental model it is used for the manufacture of a dental restoration.

11. The blank of claim 10 wherein the dental restoration is selected from the group consisting of crowns, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, orthodontic retainers, dentures, posts, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, splints, partial crowns, teeth, cylinders, pins, and connectors.