Prefabricated components for dental appliances

A component for use in a dental appliance system comprising:

• a prefabricated preshaped cured particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler wherein the particulate-filled composite material is shaped in the form of a block.

A kit for the fabrication of a dental appliance comprising:

• one or more prefabricated preshaped cured blocks of particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler wherein the block is shaped and cured to a hardness for use in a dental appliance system.

A dental restoration comprising:

• a prefabricated preshaped cured particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and particulate filler wherein the particulate-filled composite material is shaped in the form of a block.

A blank for the manufacture of a dental restoration comprising:

• a prefabricated preshaped cured particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler component wherein the particulate-filled composite material is shaped and cured for use in a CAD/CAM system.

A ready-to-use component for use in a CAD/CAM system comprising:

• a prefabricated preshaped cured particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler component wherein the particulate-filled composite material is shaped and cured for use in a CAD/CAM system.

A method of making a dental restoration comprising:

• putting a block of a prefabricated preshaped cured particulate-filled composite material comprising a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler wherein the block of particulate-filled composite material is shaped and cured to a hardness for use in the dental appliance system onto a milling device and machining the block to a desired shape.

A method of making a dental restoration comprising:

• fabricating a particulate-filled composite material into the shape of a block;
• curing the shaped block to provide a prefabricated, cured block;
• machining the block to provide the dental restoration.

A method of making a dental restoration comprising:

• fabricating a particulate-filled composite material into the shape of a block;
• curing the shaped block to provide a prefabricated, cured block;
• milling the block under the control of a CAD/CAM system to provide a dental restoration.

A method of making a dental restoration comprising:

• fabricating a particulate-filled composite material into the shape of a block;
• curing the shaped block to provide a prefabricated, cured block;
• modifying the cured block by cutting, grinding or machining the structural component to the desired shape.