Dental composite restorative material and method of restoring a tooth

A method of restoring a tooth comprises the steps of

• preparing a tooth to receive a dental restorative;
• packing an amount of said restorative into the prepared tooth;
• and,
• curing said dental restorative material;
• wherein said dental restorative material comprises a polymeric matrix and a filler component;
• said filler component comprising (a) a first plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers;
• (b) a second plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers;
• and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers.

A packaged photosensitive material comprising in combination:

• a photosensitive material formed into a unit dose and contained within a container;
• said photosensitive material comprising a polymeric matrix and a filler component;
• wherein said filler component comprises (a) a first plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers;
• (b) a second plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers;
• and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers.

A method of working with a unit dose of photosensitive material comprising the steps of:

• providing the unit dose of material in a package, wherein said material comprises a polymeric matrix and a filler component;
• wherein said filler component comprises (a) a first plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers;
• (b) a second plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers;
• and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers;
• said package having an open top container having a base and at least one upstanding wall and having an open area therein;
• said at least one upstanding wall having a first end proximate to said base and an end proximate to said open top;
• said end proximate to said open top being contiguously formed with a laterally extending web;
• a release layer removably fixed to said web and enclosing said open area;
• said container and said release layer being substantially non-transmissive of at least a portion of the light spectrum to which the materials are photosensitive;
• removing said release layer from said package;
• removing the unit dose of material from said package and placing the unit dose of material onto a support surface;
• repeatedly removing a selected portion of the unit dose of material and inverting and placing said package over the unit dose of material;
• such that light is prevented from contacting the unit dose of material under said packages said selected portion of the unit dose is employed for its intended purpose.

A intra-oral or extra-oral dental restorative material having improved wear properties comprising:

• a polymeric matrix and a filler component;
• wherein said filler component comprises (a) a first plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers;
• (b) a second plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers;
• and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers.

An extra-oral dental restorative material having improved wear properties comprising:

• a polymeric matrix and a filler component;
• wherein said filler component comprises (a) a first plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers;
• (b) a second plurality of particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers;
• and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers;
• wherein the material is employed as a dental crown, inlay, onlay or veneer.