Integrated Porcelain System for a Dental Prosthesis

Abstract

An integrated dental porcelain system for making dental prostheses and restorations is provided. The system includes three universal major components: a) opaque porcelain composition; b) pressable dentin ingot; and c) veneering porcelain composition that can be used interchangeably for making restorations. Techniques for making the prostheses and restorations include porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM), press-to-metal (PTM), and either pressed and / or machined all-ceramic methods. The system uses both a hand-layering of veneering porcelain (PFM technique) and a hot-pressing process (PTM and all-ceramic technique) to fabricate the prostheses and restorations.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 156,169, filed on May 30, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to materials for making dental prostheses and restorations such as inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, and bridges. Particularly, the materials include one universal opaque, one universal pressable ingot, and one universal veneering porcelain that can be used interchangeably to manufacture a prosthesis or restoration using different techniques. This includes porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), press-to-metal (PTM), and pressed or computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) machined all-ceramic techniques.[0004]2. Brief Description of the Related Art[0005]There are various methods known in the dental arts for making dental prostheses and restorations. By the term, “prosthesis” or “restoration” as used herein, it is meant...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One drawback with PFM restorations is that the dark-colored margin may be exposed at the gum line and the restoration may not have the most pleasing esthetics.

While all-ceramic prostheses may offer improved esthetics over PFM restorations, the all-ceramic prostheses tend to be more brittle.

Traditionally, all-ceramic prostheses have been limited generally to anterior up to pre-molar applications.

One major problem with conventional PFM, PTM, and all-ceramic systems available in the marketplace today is that the components of each system are tailored to their own applications.

The materials cannot be used interchangeably across the systems due to the thermal incompatibility among the components and / or metal substructure.

This may cause over-inventory problems and confusion over mixing use of the components in dental laboratories.

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