Assemblies, methods, and kits including a compressible material
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorDavid K. Cinader, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides assemblies, kits, and methods including a compressible material. Optionally, a hardenable dental composition (e.g., an adhesive or primer) is in contact with the compressible material for bonding a dental article (e.g., an orthodontic appliance) to a tooth structure. Removal of excess hardenable and/or hardened dental composition, if desired, can be facilitated for embodiments in which the hardenable dental composition is an unfilled or a lightly filled composition.
Claims56
An assembly comprising:
- a dental article for bonding to tooth structure, the article having an outer surface;
- a compressible material attached to the surface of the article, wherein the compressible material is capable of being reduced in volume on application of pressure used to place the article on the tooth structure and is a porous material selected from the group consisting of foams, sponges, nonwoven fabrics, nonwoven mats, glass wool, cotton fibers, cellulose fibers, and combinations thereof;
- and
- a hardenable dental composition at least partially within the compressible material that, during use, is configured to form a bond with tooth structure, wherein the compressible material forms at least part of the bond.
A method for bonding a dental article to a tooth structure, the method comprising:
- providing a dental article having an outer surface;
- providing a compressible material and a hardenable dental composition;
- contacting the compressible material and the hardenable dental composition with the tooth structure and the surface of the dental article, wherein the compressible material is capable of being reduced in volume on application of pressure used to place the article on the tooth structure and is a porous material selected from the group consisting of foams, sponges, nonwoven fabrics, nonwoven mats, glass wool, cotton fibers, cellulose fibers, and combinations thereof;
- and
- hardening the dental composition to create a bond between the dental composition and the tooth structure, the compressible material forming part of the bond.
An assembly comprising:
- a dental article for bonding to tooth structure, the article having an outer surface;
- and
- a porous, compressible material attached to the surface of the article, wherein, during use, the compressible material is reduced in volume on application of pressure used to place the article on the tooth structure and, upon application of said pressure, filling a gap between the surface and the tooth structure, and wherein at least a portion of the compressible material exhibits a reduction in volume of at least 30% and no greater than 99% on the application of pressure used to place the article on the tooth structure;
- and
- a flowable, hardenable dental composition in contact with the compressible material and operable to form a bond with tooth structure, wherein the flowable, hardenable dental composition is a composition comprising no greater than 25% filler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.