Method for processing a dental material and a dental furnace

A method of processing a dental material (28) by pressing a dental material, using a molding insert (30) that has a pre-pressing area (22) which adjoins a molding area (14, 16), wherein the pre-pressing area (22) is designed to receive the dental material (28) in the form of an ingot or blank, and using a pressing furnace with a firing chamber (10) for receiving the molding insert (30), the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing the dental material (28) into the pre-pressing area (22);
• heating the firing chamber (10), in which the molding insert (30) is located;
• pressing the dental material (28) towards the molding area (14, 16) using a pressing punch (26) by applying a force onto the pressing punch (26) during a first processing phase, wherein the pressing punch (26) is moved, and the pressing punch speed is detected as a speed profile dependent on time;
• adjusting the heating of the firing chamber (10) during a second processing phase starting at a point in time at which the detected speed profile matches a first speed profile without reducing the force applied to the pressing punch (26);
• terminating the second processing phase by decelerating or ceasing a forward motion of the pressing punch towards pressing;
• in a third processing phase the application of force onto the pressing punch (26) is suspended or the force onto the pressing punch (26) is reduced to a value being smaller than a value of the force applied in the first and second processing phase for a duration of the third processing phase;
• and
• subsequently in a fourth processing phase the force is again applied to the pressing punch (26).