Electroless plating method for treating teeth
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorThomas J. O'Keefe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electroless plating method for providing a thin adherent substantially continuous metallic layer over an osseous substrate such as a tooth structure. The method comprises contacting the substrate with an aqueous plating mixture containing a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and tin, and a reducing agent for the metal ions of said salt. The plating mixture is maintained in contact with the substrate for a time sufficient for the metallic layer to form thereon. The metallic layer so provided is adapted for subsequent application of a tooth restorative material such as a dental amalgam for carrying out a tooth restoration.
Claims28
A dental procedure for providing a thin adherent substantially continuous metallic layer over a surface of a tooth comprising the steps of:
- contacting a surface of a tooth in a patient's mouth with an aqueous plating mixture containing a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and tin and a reducing agent for the metal ions of said salt;
- and
- maintaining said mixture in contact with said surface for a time sufficient for an electrolessly deposited metallic layer to form thereon.
A dental procedure for sealing a surface of a tooth comprising the steps of:
- contacting a surface of a tooth in a patient's mouth with an aqueous plating mixture containing a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and tin and a reducing agent for the metal ions of said salt;
- maintaining said mixture in contact with said surface for a time sufficient for the metal ions of said salt to be reduced and form an electrolessly deposited metallic sealing layer on said surface;
- and
- applying over said metallic sealing layer a further sealing material which adheres to said metallic layer.
A dental restorative procedure for adherently applying a restorative material in an excavation made in the course of a tooth restoration comprising the steps of:
- contacting a surface of a tooth excavation in a patient's mouth with an aqueous plating mixture containing a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and tin and a reducing agent for the metal ions of said salt;
- maintaining said mixture in contact with said surface for a time sufficient for the metal ions of said salt to be reduced and form an electrolessly deposited metallic layer on said surface;
- and
- applying a tooth restorative material over said metallic layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.