Method for enhancing optical properties in ceramics having applications in dental restorations
AssigneeJames R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
InventorsJae Won Kim, Akash
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for enhancing optical properties of sintered, zirconia ceramic bodies and zirconia ceramic dental restorations is provided. The porous or pre-sintered stage of a ceramic body is treated with an yttrium-containing composition and sintered, resulting in sintered ceramic bodies having enhanced optical properties. The enhanced optical properties may be substantially permanent, remaining for the useful life of the sintered ceramic body.
Claims18
A method for enhancing the translucency of a sintered zirconia dental restoration comprising
- obtaining a porous zirconia ceramic body that comprises an yttria-stabilized zirconia material comprising 2 mol % yttria to 7 mol % yttria;
- obtaining an aqueous yttrium-containing composition comprising
- between 20% wt and 70% wt yttrium-containing material and
- a colorant comprising at least one metal-containing component as a coloring agent;
- and
- providing a first application of the yttrium-containing composition to penetrate a portion of the porous zirconia ceramic body;
- providing a second application of the yttrium-containing composition to penetrate the portion of the porous zirconia ceramic body that comprises the aqueous yttrium-containing composition of the first application;
- and
- sintering the porous zirconia ceramic body after the first and second application to form a sintered zirconia dental restoration;
- wherein a difference in L* values (CIE color space) between (i) the sintered zirconia dental restoration having the first and second applications of the yttrium-containing composition and (ii) an untreated sintered zirconia dental restoration is less than or equal to 6%.
A method for applying an yttria-containing composition to enhance optical properties of a sintered zirconia ceramic body, comprising an application method comprising
- applying a first application of an aqueous yttria-containing composition to an edge of a porous ceramic dental restoration form comprising an yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material for a first application distance of 1 mm to 5 mm from the edge, and penetrating a portion of the porous ceramic dental form;
- applying a second application of the yttria-containing composition to the edge for a second application distance of 0.5 mm to 3 mm from the edge, penetrating the portion of the porous ceramic dental restoration form containing the aqueous yttria-containing composition from the first application, wherein the second application distance is less than the first application distance;
- and
- sintering the porous ceramic dental restoration form after the first and second application to form a dental restoration;
- wherein the yttrium-containing composition comprises between 30% wt and 70% wt yttrium-containing material and a colorant comprising at least one metal-containing component as a coloring agent;
- and
- wherein the application method provides at least 46% or greater transmittance at 700 nm when applied to a porous zirconia ceramic body made from the yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic material having a 1 mm target thickness when sintered to at least 98% theoretical density;
- and
- wherein a difference in L* values (CIE color space) between (i) a sintered zirconia ceramic body having the first and second applications of the yttrium-containing composition and (ii) an untreated zirconia ceramic body is less than or equal to 6%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.