Polymerization temperature test element

A polymerization temperature test element for a polymerization device for polymerizing a mass of the type, in particular, for polymerizing a mass in the form of a dental product, the polymerization device having an energy source for irradiating the mass with one or both of light radiation and thermal radiation to effect polymerization of the mass;

• comprising:
• a base element (20);
• a receipt region (12) carried by the base element (20) and operable to receive a mass to be polymerized in response to the application of energy from the irradiating source, the base element (20) and the receipt region (12) being configured so as to be subjected to the respective light and thermal radiation emitted by the energy source to effect polymerization of the mass received by the receipt region (12);
• and
• temperature indicating means for indicating that at least one discrete temperature has been reached during irradiation of the mass.

A method for polymerizing a dental restoration product, comprising the following steps:

• providing a test element having a base element with peripheral temperature indicating means and a centrally located receipt region;
• disposing the dental restoration product to be polymerized in the receipt region;
• irradiating the dental restoration product from an energy source to effect polymerization of the dental restoration product;
• and
• observing an indication on a polymerization temperature test element (10) from the temperature indicating means which indicates that at least one discrete temperature has been reached during the irradiation of the dental restoration product.

A polymerization device for polymerizing a dental restoration product, comprising:

• an energy source for irradiating the dental restoration product with one or both of light radiation and thermal radiation to effect polymerization of the dental restoration product;
• means forming an interior volume with a planar surface on which the dental restoration product to be polymerized is disposed;
• and
• a polymerization temperature test element 10 disposed generally centrally on the planar surface, the polymerization temperature test element (10) being configured so as to be subjected to the respective light and thermal radiation emitted by the energy source to effect polymerization of the dental restoration product to be polymerized and the polymerization temperature test element (10) being operable to indicate that at least one discrete temperature has been reached during the irradiation of the dental restoration product.