Dental Composite Dispenser For Injection Molded Filling Techniques

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of an anterior tooth or re-restoration of a previously filled anterior tooth, and to dental matrices and composite resin dispensers that may be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of an anterior tooth.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 024,473 filed Jan. 29, 2008 and from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 043,307 filed Apr. 8, 2008.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of an anterior tooth or re-restoration of a previously filled anterior tooth, and to dental matrices and composite resin dispensers that may be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of an anterior tooth.[0005]2. Description of the Related Art[0006]Dental cavities that have spread to the dentin or have undergone cavitation are typically treated by removing the decayed portion of the tooth and thereafter filling the missing tooth structure with a restorative material such as silver (amalgam), white (resin), porcelain, or ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0032]It is one advantage of the invention to provide a composite dispenser in which paste composite can be treated to act like flowable composite when filling a cavity preparation. The composite dispenser allows paste composite to be used in injection molded cavity preparation and filling techniques with better handling and placement. The composite dispenser also allows paste composite to be used to fill smaller cavity preparations. In addition, the small orifice diameter of the composite dispenser applies shear stresses to the paste composite that lower the viscosity of the paste composite.

[0033]It is another advantage of the invention to provide a composite dispenser in which paste composite can be substituted for flowable composite when filling a cavity preparation. The use of paste composite overcomes the problems of flowable composite such as the increase shrinkage of flowable composites, the lower polishability of cured flowable composite, the lower wear resistance of cured flowable composite, and the lower strength of cured flowable composite.

[0034]It is yet another advantage of the invention to provide a method of filling a cavity preparation using an anatomic matrix and a composite dispenser in which paste composite can be substituted for flowable composite. Previous techniques for placement of the paste composite are not truly injection molded. Rather they are placed with a small spatula, layered and or packed. Prior matrices do not allow injection molding because they are not anatomically...

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantages of these known matrix bands is that they are not truly anatomic and therefore, they must be conformed to the tooth by pressure or other means.

As a result, these matrixes are inefficient in that more dentist time is needed to complete the restoration, and the final result may be a non-anatomic restoration.

There have been problems with previous techniques.

The problems with traditional clear Mylar™ plastic strips are that they are flat and require wedging, and do not conform to the tooth.

Holding all four ends of the strips while simultaneously light-curing is always a challenge.

The problems of the traditional technique included flat interdental shapes that are an esthetic and health liability.

In particular, the “dark triangle” that often occurs is caused by insufficient buttressing of the gingival triangle which is seeking two approximating rounded interdental tooth profiles.

It is believed that to date there are no sectional matrices available for anterior teeth other than a flat Mylar™ plastic strip.

Some problems with current flat plastic matrix strips for anterior teeth include: (1) the flat plastic matrix strips are flat (not anatomic), requiring crimping; (2) the flat plastic matrix strips require stabilizing with wedges or other devices; (3) the flat plastic matrix strips require further stabilizing with the operator's fingers or the dental assistant's fingers, and back to back fillings (two neighboring teeth with interproximal caries or failing fillings) present extreme challenges to manipulate four matrix ends simultaneously; (4) the flat plastic matrix strips require that the strip be “wrapped” to approximate the tooth after placement of filling material (such as a composite, glass ionomer, composite/glass ionomer mix) and prior to polymerization or light curing of the material; (5) time and energy is usually expended to remove excess and areas of bulky, non anatomic regions of the composite filling material because of the residual contour created by the flat, non anatomic clear strip; (6) the above mentione...

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