The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2010
Kenneth E. Knapp, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Steven M. Maginnis, Irvine, CA (US);
Wolfgang Friebauer, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Robin A. Carden, San Juan Capistrano, CA (US);
Kenneth E. Knapp, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Steven M. Maginnis, Irvine, CA (US);
Wolfgang Friebauer, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Robin A. Carden, San Juan Capistrano, CA (US);
James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc., Newport Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
Unlike conventional dental ceramic powder made by grinding, dental ceramic nanocrystals are formed by vaporization into individual particles. Tetragonal zirconia particles thus formed are not broken into pieces, and so do not transform to weaker monoclinic zirconia and weaker sintered products. The particles created by this approach can be much smaller, and dental prostheses sintered from this powder can be stronger and more realistic. For instance, the smaller size of sintered tetragonal zirconia crystals increases optical translucence by reducing scattering from birefringence, and the small average particle size and tight distribution of sizes and shapes can essentially eliminate pores in a sintered product. Cylindrical and spherical particles can be manufactured by this approach, whereas prior art dental ceramic particles were generally neither. In addition to tetragonal zirconia, various dental ceramic particles and powders can be made by this approach, which can be used to form various sintered dental prostheses.