889 results about "Dental restoration" patented technology

Solid free form fabrication techniques can be utilized indirectly to manufacture substrates, dies, models, near-net shapes, shells, and wax-ups that are then used in the manufacture of dental articles. Digital light processing is the most preferred indirect method for the production of substrates. After the substrates are produced, various coating or deposition techniques such as gel casting, slip casting, slurry casting, pressure infiltration, dipping, colloidal spray deposition or electrophoretic deposition are used to manufacture the dental article.

The invention provides systems for integrated haptic design and fabrication of dental restorations that provide significant advantages over traditional practice and existing computer-based systems. The systems feature technical advances that result in significantly more streamlined, versatile, and efficient design and fabrication of dental restorations. Among these technical advances are the introduction of voxel-based models; the use of a combination of geometric representations such as voxels and NURBS representations; the automatic identification of an initial preparation (prep) line and an initial path of insertion; the ability of a user to intuitively, haptically adjust the initial prep line and / or the initial path of insertion; the automatic identification of occlusions and draft angle conflicts (e.g., undercuts); the haptic simulation and / or marking of occlusions and draft angle conflicts; and coordination between design output and rapid prototyping / milling and / or investment casting.

The present invention relates generally to mill blank constructions to facilitate the manufacture of dental restorations. A given mill blank is formed in a shape (i.e. with a given geometry) that has been predetermined to reduce material waste when the mill blank is machined into the final part. A set of two or more blanks each having such characteristics comprise a smart blank “library.” In one embodiment, a smart blank library includes a sufficient number of unique blanks such that, when the geometry of the designed restoration is known, the smart blank with a highest yield can be selected for use in milling the restoration. The “yield” of a given smart blank represents the amount of material of the smart blank that is actually used in the final restoration. Automated processes for smart blank inventory management and smart blank selection are also described.

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining an accurate three-dimensional model of a dental impression, said method comprising the steps of, scanning at least a part of an upper jaw impression and / or a lower jaw impression, obtaining an impression scan, evaluating the quality of the impression scan, and use the impression scan to obtain a three-dimensional model, thereby obtaining an accurate three-dimensional model of the dental impression.

A process for fabricating dental form pieces for dental restoration and replacement parts is provided and includes the step of applying a material, on a firm support or a fluid medium, by a three dimensional plotting technology in a layer by layer manner. The material has micro cords and / or micro drops which include at least one of a meltable, polymerizable, polycondensable, and polyaddable constituent element that is an unfilled monomer, a reinforced monomer, oligomer, polymer, or a ceramic element. The process also includes the step of hardening the applied material by cooling of the material, chemical reaction, polymerization with thermal handling, or polymerization by irradiation of the material with UV or visible light.

Tools are described for preparing digital dental models for use in dental restoration production processes, along with associated systems and methods. Dental modeling is improved by supplementing views of three-dimensional models with still images of the modeled subject matter. Video data acquired during a scan of the model provides a source of still images that can be displayed alongside a rendered three-dimensional model, and the two views (model and still image) may be synchronized to provide a common perspective of the model's subject matter. This approach provides useful visual information for disambiguating surface features of the model during processing steps such as marking a margin of a prepared tooth surface for a restoration. Interactive modeling tools may be similarly enhanced. For example, tools for margin marking may synchronize display of margin lines between the still image and the model so that a user can interact with either or both of the visual representations, with changes to a margin reflected in both displays.

The invention provides a digital dentistry system that utilizes a haptic interface and features a computer-based design application configured to allow the intuitive construction of irregular, amorphous three-dimensional structures typically seen in dental restorations, utilizing, where appropriate, the design skills of a user. In certain embodiments, the system provides a comprehensive digital solution for dental labs in the business of creating dental restorations such as partial frameworks, crowns, copings, bridge frameworks, implants and the like, with a sense of touch provided by a haptic interface device.

Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing comprises inkjet 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 restoration can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered / cured simultaneously. The amount of green body oversize is equivalent to the amount of shrinkage which occurs during sintering or curing. 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 or cured at a suitably selected temperature to further promote binding of the powder particles.

Disclosed is a method of designing a dental restoration for a patient, wherein the method includes providing one or more 2D images, where at least one 2D image includes at least one facial feature; providing a 3D virtual model of at least part of the patient's oral cavity; arranging at least one of the one or more 2D images relative to the 3D virtual model in a virtual 3D space such that the 2D image and the 3D virtual model are aligned when viewed from a viewpoint, whereby the 3D virtual model and the 2D image are both visualized in the 3D space; and modeling a restoration on the 3D virtual model, where the restoration is designed to fit the facial feature of the at least one 2D image.

In one aspect, a group of inter-connecting, prefabricated components of various shapes and sizes that can be assembled together to form a framework system directly onto dental implants installed in the patient's mouth is disclosed. In another aspect, a group of prefabricated components to form a drill guide system for drilling a properly spaced and oriented implant hole adjacent to another implant hole or adjacent to a fully-installed implant is disclosed. In yet another aspect, improved procedures for installing permanent, implant-supported dental restorations are disclosed, including an immediate loading procedure.

Disclosed is a method for planning, visualizing, and / or optimizing dental restoration on at least a part of the pre-prepared teeth of a patient, wherein said method comprises the steps of:providing at least one 3D digital model of at least a part of the pre-prepared teeth;designing at least one dental restoration CAD model based on the 3D digital model of at least a part of the pre-prepared teeth;providing at least one 3D digital model of at least a part of the prepared teeth, where the prepared teeth are provided by preparing the pre-prepared teeth by dental restorative work, at least partly based on the dental restoration CAD model; andaligning the 3D models of the pre-prepared and the prepared teeth.

Tools are described for preparing digital dental models for use in dental restoration production processes, along with associated systems and methods. Dental modeling is improved by supplementing views of three-dimensional models with still images of the modeled subject matter. Video data acquired during a scan of the model provides a source of still images that can be displayed alongside a rendered three-dimensional model, and the two views (model and still image) may be synchronized to provide a common perspective of the model's subject matter. This approach provides useful visual information for disambiguating surface features of the model during processing steps such as marking a margin of a prepared tooth surface for a restoration. Interactive modeling tools may be similarly enhanced. For example, tools for margin marking may synchronize display of margin lines between the still image and the model so that a user can interact with either or both of the visual representations, with changes to a margin reflected in both displays.

Lithium disilicate based glass-ceramics contain high strength ceramic components for use in the manufacture of dental products. The glass-ceramics have good pressability, i.e., the ability to be formed into dental products by heat-pressing using commercially available equipment. The strength of the dental articles is increased with the inclusion of the high strength ceramic components.

An augmented reality system for integrating video imagery of an actual dental restoration into a computer-implemented display of a model (that represents a preparation, mesial / distal neighbors, and opposing occlusion) that has been generated from a 3D scan of a patient. The 3D scan data may be generated at a dental office remote from a location at which the augmented reality system is implemented. In one embodiment, the 3D scan data is provided to the augmented reality system as a digital impression.

Systems, methods, and / or computer-readable media described herein provide technical solutions to the highly technical problems of machine generation of dental restorations. In particular, these systems, methods and / or computer readable media may provide technical solutions to aid in the creation of dental restorations that more closely resemble a natural tooth (including its internal optical structure). These systems, methods and / or computer readable media may help in virtually rendering a tooth, including its internal optical structure, and apply these renderings (e.g., digital models) to the fabrication of the dental restoration.

Dental restorations can be made by acquiring a three-dimensional digitized image of a dental restoration site. A ceramic blank from which volatile organic binders have been removed, is then machined according to the three-dimensional digitized image to form a “brown” ceramic restoration. This material is then sintered using microwave energy to provide a high density ceramic dental restoration corresponding to the dental restoration site. This method can be carried out within a few hours thereby saving the patient several dental visits and enabling the dentist to better serve the patient directly in the office.

A method for generating a 3D model for a restoration is operative in a computer having a display. The method begins by obtaining a 3D model of the preparation. The preparation model may be obtained by an operator using a 3D digitizer. A “margin” curve on the preparation model is then determined. The method then continues by selecting a given 3D restoration cap model from a set of such models, where the set includes cap models that vary by one or more characteristics such as type, age, sex and ethnicity. The restoration cap model has a cap edge curve. According to the invention, the method then continues by fitting the restoration cap model over the preparation model (on the computer display) so that a minimum distance between the restoration cap and the restoration model is greater than a given minimum material thickness. The restoration cap model is then reshaped or otherwise scaled as necessary so that the restoration cap edge curve is related to the margin curve in a predetermined manner. In particular, preferably the cap edge curve is related to the margin curve by an angle from vertical that is equal or substantially equal to a given emergence angle at each point along the curve. To complete the model, a side surface is then created, preferably by lofting a surface from the margin curve to the cap edge curve.

A dental implant system and method for effecting a dental restoration using the same. The dental implant system having an implant fixture adapted to be deployed in a bone; an impression coping adapted to be selectively deployed on the implant fixture and in a dental impression; a laboratory analog adapted to be selectively deployed on the impression coping and in a dental cast; a spherical abutment adapted to be selectively deployed on the laboratory analog; and a multiaxis abutment adapted to be adjustably deployed on the spherical abutment; wherein the spherical abutment and the multiaxis abutment are used to generate a cast permanent abutment which may be received by the laboratory analog and the implant fixture.

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.

The invention discloses high-strength lithium disilicate glass ceramic and a preparation method thereof. The glass ceramic comprises the following chemical components in percentage by weight: 59-80% of SiO2, 10-18% of Li2O, 0.1-14% of MgO, 0-15% of Al2O3, 1-8% of P2O5, 0-5% of Na2O, 0-7% of CaO, 0-9% of K2O, 0.5-8% of stabilizer and 0-10% of colorant, wherein the stabilizer is selected from one or more of ZrO2, SrO, BaO and Y2O3, and the colorant is selected from one or more of Eu2O3, CeO<+>, Tb4O7, La2O3, Ta2O5, MnO2 and Fe2O3. The lithium disilicate glass ceramic is a material which contains a residual glass phase, a Li2Si2O5 principal crystalline phase and a small quantity of Li3PO1, quartz, cristobalite, zirconium oxide or magnesium-aluminum silicate phase and is prepared by controlling nucleation and crystallization processes after carrying out heat treatment on lithium disilicate matrix glass. The lithium disilicate glass ceramic is very high in bending strength and fracture toughness and favorable in translucence and chemical stability and can serve as a full-ceramic dental material applied to the field of dental restoration.

The invention is directed to veneer ceramics for dental restorations of framework ceramics comprising yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide. It is the object of the invention to make possible a translucent veneer ceramic which has high flexural strength as well as excellent adhesion to the framework ceramic of yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide. According to the invention, this object is met in a veneer ceramic for dental restorations made of yttrium-stabilized zirconium dioxide which is produced from the following components:a)SiO258.0-74.0 percent by weightb) Al2O3 4.0-19.0 percent by weightc)Li2O  5.0-17.0 percent by weightd)Na2O 4.0-12.0 percent by weighte) ZrO2  0.5-6.0 percent by weight.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an osseointegrative implant and related tools, components and fabrication techniques for surgical bone fixation and dental restoration purposes. In one embodiment an all-ceramic single-stage threaded or press-fit implant is provided having finely detailed surface features formed by ceramic injection molding and / or spark plasma sintering of a powder compact or green body comprising finely powdered zirconia. In another embodiment a two-stage threaded implant is provided having an exterior shell or body formed substantially entirely of ceramic and / or CNT-reinforced ceramic composite material. The implant may include one or more frictionally anisotropic bone-engaging surfaces. In another embodiment a densely sintered ceramic implant is provided wherein, prior to sintering, the porous debound green body is exposed to ions and / or particles of silver, gold, titanium, zirconia, YSZ, α-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, carbon, carbon nanotubes, and / or other particles which remain lodged in the implant surface after sintering. Optionally, at least the supragingival portions of an all-ceramic implant are configured to have high translucence in the visible light range. Optionally, at least the bone-engaging portions of an all-ceramic implant are coated with a fused layer of titanium oxide.

In one aspect, a group of inter-connecting, prefabricated components of various shapes and sizes that can be assembled together to form a framework system directly onto dental implants installed in the patient's mouth is disclosed. In another aspect, a group of prefabricated components to form a drill guide system for drilling a properly spaced and oriented implant hole adjacent to another implant hole or adjacent to a fully-installed implant is disclosed. In yet another aspect, improved procedures for installing permanent, implant-supported dental restorations are disclosed, including an immediate loading procedure.

The present invention provides methods for acquiring and utilizing time-based 3d jaw motion images (4d datasets) to enhance the computer-aided design (CAD) of dental devices, which may include dental restorations, oral prostheses, and oral appliances. These 4d datasets may be used directly to provide a jaw motion model suitable for enhanced CAD or, they may be used to derive mathematical expressions that are then used to drive a motion simulation. The methods of the invention are based on acquiring time-based 3d images (a 4d sequence) of the upper and lower teeth, with each 3d frame in the time sequence capturing some upper and lower arch anatomy (the oral anatomy). Each image in the 4d sequence may therefore contain an accurate record of the relationship between the upper and lower arch in three dimensions.

Dental articles are produced using relatively low sintering temperatures to achieve high density dental articles exhibiting strengths equal to and greater than about 700 MPa. Ceramic powders comprised of nanoparticulate crystallites are used to manufacture dental articles. The ceramic powders may include sintering agents, binders and other similar additives to aid in the processing of the ceramic powder into a dental article. The ceramic powders may be processed into dental articles using various methods including, but not limited to, injection molding, gel-casting, slip casting, or electroforming, hand, cad / camming and other various rapid prototyping methods. The ceramic powder may be formed into a suspension, pellet, feedstock material or a pre-sintered blank prior to forming into the dental article.

Ceramic precursor powders are combined with a binder and pressed into blocks or similar shapes to form green bodies. The ceramic powders consist of fairly uniform particles thoroughly dispersed to be essentially free of agglomerates such that it will sinter predictably and isotropically without appreciable distortion. The green bodies may be soft-sintered to a bisque density less than about eighty five percent of the final density. The soft-sintered blocks are then milled to a desired shape and sintered to a final density rendering a high strength dental restorative material. The material may be aluminum oxide, partially stabilized zirconium oxide, mixtures of the two, mullite or any suitable oxide that may be sintered to high strength (i.e., greater than 250 MPa).