Process for producing dental devices
OwnerEdward L. Walker SR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for producing dental devices such as teeth is disclosed. Specifically, a process for producing gold dental devices, such as gold denture teeth, is disclosed. The process includes the production of an injection mold based on an impression or mold of a target tooth. The injection mold can then be utilized to produce a hardened polymeric precursor of the product device. In particular, a hardened precursor can be produced from pure polypropylene. The precursor can be used as a model to produce an investment casting mold. The desired product material, for example a gold alloy, can then be cast in the investment casting mold by methods known in the art to produce the final product.
Claims32
A process for producing a hardened polymeric precursor of a dental device comprising:
- creating an injection mold, said injection mold defining a cavity of the shape of a dental device, said cavity having at least one wall, said injection mold comprising an insert, said insert being located within said cavity so as to maintain a gap between at least a portion of said insert and said wall of said cavity;
- injecting a molten polymeric material into said injection mold, said polymeric material substantially filling said gap;
- and
- setting said molten polymeric material to form a hardened polymeric precursor of said dental device.
A process for producing a unitary tooth comprising:
- creating an injection mold, said injection mold defining a cavity of the shape of said unitary tooth, said cavity having at least one wall, said injection mold comprising an insert, said insert being located within said cavity so as to maintain a gap between at least a portion of said insert and said wall of said cavity;
- injecting a thermoplastic material into said injection mold, said thermoplastic material substantially filling said gap;
- setting said thermoplastic material to form a hardened thermoplastic precursor of said unitary tooth;
- producing an investment casting mold from said hardened thermoplastic precursor;
- removing said hardened thermoplastic precursor from said investment casting mold;
- and
- casting a gold alloy in said investment casting mold to form said unitary tooth.
A process for producing a unitary tooth comprising:
- producing an investment casting mold from an injection molded precursor;
- removing said injection molded precursor from said investment casting mold;
- and
- casting a metallic material in said investment casting mold to form said unitary tooth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.