O'brien Dental Lab, Inc.

Geodigm Corporation

Derrick G Luksch

Christophorus D Luksch

Michael J O'Brien

Our method applies a continuous pressure to an exterior of a denture setup during the polymerizing and shrinking of the plastic material forming a portion of our denture. The direction from which shrinkage occurs is controlled using a constant pressure of water. Application of at least 300 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure during polymerization continually forces a critical inside denture surface being formed against a master model surface to allow the major shrinkage to take place on a less critical outside denture surface, thereby reducing distortion to the interior (fitted) portion of the denture. This pressure reduces the size of the air bubbles to maximize the density of the polymerized denture material, thereby lowering oral fluid sorption into our denture. Thus our denture overall is a stronger, better fitting, durable product that addresses the esthetic, health and hygiene issues presented by conventional dentures.

Denture and method of manufacturing

A jig device holding a work piece is used with a milling machine that cuts from the work piece a prosthesis having a surface essentially free of defects. The jig device is inserted repeatedly into the machine in the same predetermined location, even upon inverting the jig device. This maintains the spatial relationship between the jig device and milling so, at start up, they are always in the same exact spatial relationship. The milling machine partially cuts through a first side of the work piece to form in the work piece a cavity having a surface part corresponding to at least a portion of the prosthesis being made. The jig device is then removed from the machine, inverted and reinserted into the machine at the same predetermined location. A support material is placed in the cavity prior to reinserting the jig device. Upon reinserting the jig device, the machine precisely cuts through an opposed side of the work piece to form within the work piece a prosthesis having a surface essentially free of defects. The prosthesis is supported within the work piece by the support material. The prosthesis and support material are separated to complete our method.

Jig device for making a dental prothesis or pattern therefor

Apparatus for making a dental prosthesis or pattern therefor

Jig device and apparatus and method of making a dental prosthesis or pattern therefor

A dental prosthesis is made by first forming a model of a patient's dentition. A three dimensional digital data corresponding to the surfaces of the model is then created. Based on this data, a three dimensional digital data file is then created substantially corresponding to the dental prosthesis to be manufactured. The three dimensional digital data of the dental prosthesis to be manufactured is next transmitted to automated prototyping equipment, and using the automated prototyping equipment, a wax pattern of the dental prosthesis is manufactured based upon this three dimensional digital data of the dental prosthesis. Finally, using this wax pattern in the lost wax investment casting process, the dental prosthesis is made. Prior to investment casting, marginal edges of the wax pattern are adjusted manually.

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Corvallis, OR, United States of America

Derrick G Luksch