Coated dental article
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsEnrique A. Nikutowski, Randall E. Adam, David G. O'Neill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dental article is coated with a hard carbon coating of polycrystalline diamond, diamond-like amorphous hydrogen-free carbon, diamond-like hydrogenated amorphous carbon, or combinations thereof. The hard carbon coating presents a barrier to nickel and chromium that might otherwise diffuse from an underlying metal substrate, and as such is useful for patients exhibiting sensitivity to nickel and chromium.
Claims38
A dental article having a hard carbon coating, wherein said article comprises an orthondontic bracket.
A dental article having a hard carbon coating, wherein said article comprises an orthodontic buccal tube.
A dental article having a hard carbon coating, wherein said article comprises a tooth band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.