Processes for forming dental materials and device

Abstract

Processes for forming dental materials that include applying a first hardenable dental composition (e.g., a dental adhesive) to a surface followed by applying a second hardenable dental composition (e.g., a dental composite) to the first hardenable dental composition on the surface. The first and second hardenable dental compositions are hardened such that the second hardenable composition is substantially completely hardened prior to complete hardening of the first hardenable composition.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 185,431, filed Jun. 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,875, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to processes for forming dental materials from hardenable dental compositions involving generally sequential hardening. BACKGROUND [0003] Hardenable polymeric materials are used in a wide variety of dental applications, including composites, filling materials, restoratives, cements, adhesives, and the like. Often, such materials shrink upon hardening. This is particularly problematic when the material is in a constrained environment, as in a dental filling or restorative, for example. Dimensional changes upon shrinkage while in a constrained environment can generate a strain within the material that is typically converted into a stress on the surrounding environment (e.g., tooth). Such forces can result in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides processes for hardening dental materials involving a sequential hardening of the compositions. These processes can reduce stress placed on the dental material and surrounding environment during and after hardening. The processes involve a first step of initiating hardening of a second composition that is in contact with a first composition that is in contact with a dental surface. The second composition is then irradiated to selectively harden it, while the first composition remains substantially unhardened. The first composition can be a dental adhesive and the second composition can be a dental composite. The processes can be carried out using blue light or other suitable radiation. The invention also provides dental materials that are adhered to a dental surface using these processes.

Problems solved by technology

Often, such materials shrink upon hardening.

This is particularly problematic when the material is in a constrained environment, as in a dental filling or restorative, for example.

Such forces can result in interfacial failures between the tooth and the polymeric material resulting in a physical gap and subsequent microleakage into the tooth cavity.

Alternatively, such forces can lead to fractures within the tooth and / or the composite.

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