Dental crowns and bridges from semi-thermoplastic molding compositions having heat-stable custom shape memory
OwnerJoel D. Oxman, Lani S. Kangas +1inventors
InventorsJoel D. Oxman, Lani S. Kangas, F. Andrew Ubel, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Dental crowns and bridges are made from thermoplastic molding compositions which are a mixture of thermoplastic material (for example, polycaprolactone), a free-radically polymerizable resin (for example, a urethane diacrylate oligomer), and free-radical initiator (for example, a visible-light cure photoinitiator). The mixture is solid at 38.degree. C., has a melting or softening point that comfortably can be withstood by oral tissues, and can be imprinted with a heat-stable custom shape memory and semi-thermoplastic properties by shaping the composition to a desired shape and then causing or permitting the resin to undergo polymerization.
Claims21
A dental crown or bridge, said crown or bridge being formed from a homogeneous blend of a thermoplastic material, a free radically polymerizable resin, and a free-radical initiator, the blend being solid at 38.degree. C. and having a melting or softening point at a temperature less than 75.degree. C., the blend having semithermoplasticity and hot custom memory after the resin is polymerized.
A male model of a tooth or teeth, said male model being formed from a homogeneous blend of a thermoplastic material, a free radically polymerizable resin, and a free-radical initiator, the blend being solid at 38.degree. C. and having a melting or softening point at a temperature less than 75.degree. C., the blend having semithermoplasticity and hot custom memory after the resin is polymerized.
A method for making a male model of a tooth or teeth, comprising the steps of:
- a) shaping a molten or softened molding composition comprising a homogenous blend of a thermoplastic material, a free-radically polymerizable resin, and a free-radical initiator, the blend being solid at 38.degree. C. and having a melting or softening point that comfortably can be withstood by oral tissues to the form of a male model of a tooth or teeth, and in either order,
- b) cooling the composition so that it solidifies and
- c) causing or permitting the free-radically polymerizable resin to undergo polymerization,
- whereby a semi-thermoplastic male model having hot custom memory is obtained.
A method for making a crown or bridge, comprising the steps of:
- a) shaping a molten or softened molding composition comprising a homogenous blend of a thermoplastic material, a free-radically polymerizable resin, and a free-radical initiator, the blend being solid at 38.degree. C. and having a melting or softening point that comfortably can be withstood by oral tissues to the form of a crown or bridge, and in either order,
- b) cooling the composition so that it solidifies and
- c) causing or permitting the free-radically polymerizable resin to undergo polymerization,
- whereby a semi-thermoplastic crown or bridge having hot custom memory is obtained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.