Jeneric/pentron Inc.

Pentron Laboratory Technologies, LLC

Pentron Corporation

Martin L Schulman

Arun Prasad

Carlino Panzera

Ajit Karmaker

Weitao Jia

Bruce H Alpert

Dmitri G Brodkin

Paul Panzera

Gregg Daskalon

Elie Zammarieh

Grant P Day

Joseph A MacDougald

Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell or die used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously.

Solid free-form fabrication methods for the production of dental restorations

Ready-to-use preshaped, prefabricated cured structural components are prepared in a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in the fabrication of dental appliances. Preferably the structural components are fabricated of a fiber-reinforced composite material or a particulate-filled composite material comprising fibers or particulate filler impregnated with a polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix is partially or fully cured to the point of sufficient hardness to provide a ready-to-use structural component for use in the fabrication of dental appliances such as orthodontic retainers, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, splints, crowns, partial crowns, dentures, posts, teeth, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, cylinders, and connectors.

Prefabricated components for dental appliances

Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a shell used in the manufacture of a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound shell can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously. While the layers become hardened or at least partially hardened as each of the layers is laid down, once the desired final shaped configuration is achieved and the layering process is complete, in some applications it may be desirable that the form and its contents be heated, cooled or cured at a suitably selected temperature to further promote the integrity of solid free-form structures.

Mass production of shells and models for dental restorations produced by solid free-form fabrication methods

Dental alloys are provided having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range from about 8 to about 18&times;10 /&deg; C. in the temperature range of 25-500&deg; C. and melting temperatures above about 800&deg; C. but below about 1500&deg; C. The alloys contain gold in combination with a small amount of chromium and/or tantalum. Other elements may also be included with the gold and chromium and/or tantalum to provide the necessary forming, melting, and mechanical properties required to manufacture the desired dental restoration.

Dental alloys

Method for manufacturing dental restorations

A method for etching and treating a tooth surface prior to restoration, comprising a solution comprising of an &mdash;SO terminated compound resin, such as an &mdash;SO H compound resin, and an aldehyde desensitizing compound. In practice, the composition is applied to the tooth surface and not subsequently washed prior to application of an adhesive or other restorative material.

Method of etching and priming a tooth

Process for the manufacture of dental restorations using high strength ceramic components. A wax pattern is built around a high strength ceramic component on a die. The wax pattern with the high strength ceramic component is surrounded with investment material. The wax is burned out, leaving a mold with the high strength ceramic component. The mold is filled with a ceramic material, covering the high strength ceramic component, creating a dental restoration.

Method of making high-strength dental restorations

High-strength dental restorations

A composite for a dental restoration is presented comprising ground, densified, embrittled glass fibers together with fillers and a polymeric matrix precursor composition. The ground, densified, embrittled glass fibers are obtained by grinding glass fibers which have been densified and embrittled by heating glass fibers at a temperature substantially below the softening point of the glass fibers, without significant fusion or melting together of the fibers. The composite is particularly useful as a direct filling material, in that it has the feel and workability of an amalgam.

Dental composites comprising ground, densified, embrittled glass fiber filler

Ready-to-use preshaped, prefabricated cured structural components are prepared in a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in the fabrication of dental appliances. Preferably the structural components are fabricated of a fiber-reinforced composite material comprising fibers impregnated with a polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix is partially or fully cured to the point of sufficient hardness to provide a ready-to-use structural component for use in the fabrication of dental appliances such as orthodontic retainers, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, splints, crowns, partial crowns, dentures, posts, teeth, jackets, inlays, onlays, facings, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, cylinders, and connectors.

Dental composites comprising ground, densified, embrittled glass fiber

A dental alloy is provided which is compatible with a wide variety of composites and porcelain compositions. The alloy has a melting range of between about 870.degree. C. and 1230.degree. C. and a coefficient of thermal expansion of between 15.5.times.10.sup.-6 and 17.5.times.10.sup.-6 in/in/.degree. C. when heated from room temperature to 500.degree. C. The alloy contains between one and 85 percent by weight gold, between two and 65 percent by weight of a thermal expansion adjuster, between 0.25 and 34 percent by weight of a strengthener and oxide former, up to about one percent by weight grain refiner, and up to about 0.25 percent by weight deoxidizer.

Dental alloys for composite and porcelain overlays

A dental composite cartridge is made of a plastic material molded to define an elongated cylindrical hollow body portion forming a reservoir, and a discharge nozzle portion. A piston is disposed within an open end of the hollow body after the body is filled with dental composite material. The hollow body and the discharge nozzle define a planar end wall which intersects the longitudinal axis of the hollow body at an angle of about 45.degree.. The interior design of the hollow body and its angled planar end wall enables a simple, easy to manufacture and cost-effective piston to be used in the hollow body for discharging dental composite material from the reservoir.

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Orange, CT, United States of America

Martin L Schulman