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US 2021/0230077 A1Published application
Polychromatic Zirconia Bodies and Methods of Making the Same
AssigneeJames R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
InventorsDongkyu Kim, . Akash
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ceramic body is provided that is suitable for use in dental applications to provide a natural aesthetic appearance. A colorized ceramic body is formed that has at least one color region and a color gradient region. A ceramic body is formed having at least two color regions and a color gradient that forms a transition region between two color regions. A method for making the colorized ceramic body includes unidirectional infiltration of a coloring composition into the ceramic body.
Claims19
A method of coloring a ceramic body for use in dental applications comprising:
- a. obtaining a porous ceramic body comprising
- i. a first end surface adjacent a first porous region,
- ii. a second end surface adjacent a second porous region, opposite the first end surface, and
- iii. a side surface that extends between the first end and second end surfaces;
- b. infiltrating a diluting liquid through the first end surface to occupy a first porous region adjacent the first end;
- c. preventing the diluting liquid from passing through the second end surface and the side surface;
- d. infiltrating a liquid coloring composition comprising a liquid component and a coloring agent through the second end surface to occupy the second porous region adjacent the second end surface,
- e. preventing the liquid coloring composition and the diluting liquid from passing through the first end surface and side surface;
- f. contacting a portion of the liquid coloring composition in the second porous region with a portion of the diluting the diluting liquid in the first porous region;
- and
- g. forming a color gradient region, wherein the coloring agent has a concentration that decreases from the second porous region towards the first porous region.
8 more elements
A method of coloring a ceramic body for use in dental applications, comprising:
- a. positioning a porous ceramic body within an enclosure of an infiltration apparatus, wherein the porous ceramic body comprises a side surface, a first end surface adjacent a first porous region, and a second end surface adjacent a second porous region opposite the first end surface;
- b. providing a volume of a diluting liquid within the enclosure on the first end surface of the porous ceramic body;
- c. infiltrating the diluting liquid through the first end surface of the ceramic body into a first porous region of the porous ceramic body;
- d. preventing the diluting liquid from passing through the second end surface and the side surface of the porous ceramic body;
- e. inverting the porous ceramic body within the enclosure;
- f. providing a volume of a liquid coloring composition comprising a liquid component and a coloring agent within the enclosure on the second end surface;
- g. infiltrating the liquid coloring composition through the second end surface into a second porous region that is adjacent the first porous region;
- h. preventing the diluting liquid and liquid coloring composition from passing through the first end surface and the side surface of the porous ceramic body;
- i. contacting a portion of the liquid coloring composition in the second porous region with a portion of the diluting liquid in the first porous region, and then mixing to form a color gradient region having a concentration of coloring agent that decreases from the second porous region to the first porous region;
- j. optionally, drying the infiltrated ceramic body, and bisquing, the infiltrated porous ceramic body;
- k. optionally, shaping the infiltrated porous ceramic body;
- and
- l. sintering to form a sintered ceramic body comprising a first color region adjacent a first end surface, a second color region adjacent the second end surface, and a color gradient region there between.
10 more elements
A method of coloring a ceramic body for use in dental applications comprising:
- a. obtaining a porous ceramic block for use in machining a dental restoration comprising
- i. a first end surface adjacent a first porous region,
- ii. a second end surface adjacent a second porous region, opposite the first end surface, and
- iii. a side surface that extends between the first and second end surfaces;
- b. providing a volume of a liquid coloring composition comprising a liquid component and a coloring agent directly above the second end surface,
- c. infiltrating the liquid coloring composition downwardly into the second porous region;
- d. fixing a first portion of the liquid coloring composition in the second porous region by heating;
- and
- e. diffusing a second portion of the liquid coloring composition that was not fixed in the heating step into the first porous region forming a color gradient region in the first porous region.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.