US 6,386,865 B1 · System for fabrication of indirect dental restoratives

Abstract

A process for the fabrication of indirect dental restoratives includes the making of a first, pre-operative impression of a tooth to be restored using a first polyvinyl silicone (PVS) material disposed in a clear tray, followed by the preparation of the tooth. A second, final post-operative impression of the tooth is taken utilizing a second PVS material. A tooth model is then made by pouring a low viscosity and suitably rigid, third PVS material into the final impression. Prior to the complete setting of the low viscosity PVS material, a higher viscosity, fourth PVS material is applied onto the model PVS material to form a completed model with base. The model is then fitted into the pre-operative impression matrix made from the first PVS material. Layers of composite are packed onto the impression in the clear matrix. The model (with attached base) is then inserted into the composite disposed in the first PVS material and the resulting matrix is placed in a single apparatus for conducting both light and heat cure of the dental composite. The apparatus can utilize a thermister disposed in a composite material, the thermister/composite assembly being disposed in a curing chamber of the apparatus and connected to a control device which controls a heat lamp also disposed in the apparatus. Curing of the dental composite is performed by heating until, for example, the thermister reaches a selected temperature.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A process for fabricating an indirect dental restorative comprising the sequential steps of:

(a) forming a first, pre-operative impression of a tooth to be restored using a first polyvinyl silicone (PVS) material disposed in a clear tray;
(b) forming a final post-operative impression of the tooth in a second PVS material and allowing the material to dry;
(c) pouring a low viscosity third PVS material into the final impression, the third material forming a model tooth;
(d) applying a fourth PVS material onto the third PVS material, the fourth material having a viscosity higher than the viscosity of the third material, the fourth material providing a base for the model tooth;
(e) removing the model tooth and base from the final impression;
(f) fitting the model tooth into the pre-operative impression made from the first PVS material;
(g) applying composite material to the pre-operative impression;
(h) inserting the model tooth into the composite-containing pre-operative impression, forming a matrix;
and
(i) curing the composite in the matrix in a single apparatus for conducting one of light, heat, or both light and heat cure of the dental composite.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for fabrication of indirect dental restoratives

Life of this patent

System for fabrication of indirect dental restoratives

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36