A monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis with facial surface having reflective flat surface portions

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relates to monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) comprising a monolithic prosthesis body (110) having a facial surface (111). The facial surface (111) comprises plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) which are an integral part of the monolithic prosthesis body (110) wherein at least two of the reflective flat surface portions (200) have different orientations such that an incident beam is reflected at different angles from the reflective flat surface portions (200) with different orientations.

Description

[0001] A MONOLITHIC FIXED CROWN OR VENEER PROSTHESIS WITH FACIAL SURFACE HAVING REFLECTIVE FLAT SURFACE PORTIONS

[0002] Technical Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a dental prosthesis with surface portions, especially a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis or a monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis with facial surface having reflective flat surface portions.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Human teeth have multiple functions. They are essential for effectively chewing food and correctly articulating especially specific consonant sounds. Additionally, teeth significantly contribute to our overall appearance. Well aligned and healthy teeth are considered aesthetically pleasing. Thus, maintaining healthy teeth is of utmost importance.

[0006] Despite the wide acceptance and utilization of preventive measures such as regular tooth brushing, flossing, and gargling fluoridated or iodized water for maintaining healthy teeth, a large majority of people still continue to encounter problems concerning both the health and appearance of their teeth.

[0007] Dental prostheses are used for patients who experience dental problems or are unhappy with their dental appearance. Dental prostheses can compensate for missing teeth and repair damaged teeth to restore chewing function, aid in speech and serve cosmetic purposes. The common types of dental prostheses comprise fixed prostheses, removable prostheses and hybrid prostheses.

[0008] In dentistry, fixed prostheses are referred to as prostheses that are fixed onto the pre- operated / cut natural teeth or dental implants. Fixed prostheses cannot be removed by patients. The most commonly used fixed prostheses are crown prostheses and bridge prostheses. Crown prostheses refer to applications made on a single damaged tooth or a single or dental implant. Bridge prostheses, on the other hand, refer to a prosthetic that involve three or more units prepared with the support of adjacent teeth to the missing tooth area. Crown prostheses are artificial coverings / caps placed on a single damaged tooth or a single dental implant. They are used to restore function of teeth especially for decayed or damaged tooth, the natural appearance or to improve aesthetics. Crown prostheses are usually made of durable materials such as porcelain or zirconium. They are attached to the tooth using a special adhesive and permanently fixed. Crown prostheses can be used for various purposes such as strengthening a tooth, stopping decay, repairing snaggletooth or worn tooth, and providing an aesthetic smile.

[0009] Another type of fixed prosthesis that has been increasingly used in recent years is veneer prostheses, also known as dental veneers. The biggest difference between veneer prostheses and crown prostheses is that veneer prostheses do not fully surround the teeth. They are applied only to the front surfaces of the corresponding tooth. In another words, veneer prostheses are artificial coverings / caps placed on a single tooth which only covers the front surface of a single damaged or healthy tooth. Since they are usually made for aesthetic purposes, no intervention is made on the inner surfaces (lingual surface) of the tooth that are not normally visible. In this sense, the less dental tissue is removed compared to crown prostheses which makes it a more conservative method.

[0010] Removable dental prostheses, on the other hand, are types of prostheses that are made for situations where dental loss is widespread or when the patient has no remaining teeth. They can be inserted and removed by the patient. Tooth loss can occur for various reasons including decay, tooth extraction, trauma, or gum diseases. Removable dental prostheses are usually composed of artificial teeth mounted on an acrylic base. These mentioned removable dental prostheses are used to provide aesthetic smiles, restore chewing function, and speech ability for individuals with tooth loss.

[0011] Hybrid prostheses are used for patients with widespread dental loss. They are a combination of removable prostheses and fixed prostheses. They are firmly attached to implants which are placed in the jawbone. Hybrid prostheses cannot be removed by the patient but can be removed by the dentist.

[0012] Regardless of the type of prosthesis, they all have a common feature which is the requirement for all surfaces facing the oral environment to be polished. Shiny / smooth surfaces are essential to prevent plaque accumulation on prostheses in the oral environment and to facilitate easy cleaning of the prostheses. The smoother or more polished the surfaces are, the less plaque formation there will be. Another advantage of smoothness is the attractiveness that it visually creates. Many people find shiny teeth more attractive, beautiful and aesthetic. In dentistry, there are two methods of polishing porcelain teeth. The first and the most commonly used method is glazing. A prosthesis with adjusted / finalized shape and fit is subjected to the glazing process to polish its surface before being applied to the tooth. The fluid glaze material is applied to the surface of the tooth and spread over the tooth surface. Then, it is fired in an oven to bond with the surface. When it comes out of the oven and cools down, the material creates a shiny surface on the tooth.

[0013] The second method is mechanical polishing. In this method, abrasive materials with different levels of abrasiveness are attached to a tip of an appropriate rotary hand tools. By using the rotary tool, the surface is abraded from thick to thin in order to achieve the desired shine. In this method, the operator holds the prosthesis by one hand while by the other hand he holds the rotary tool with abrasive tip. The operator moves the abrasive tip over the porcelain surface to achieve an appropriate polishing.

[0014] Dental prostheses generally have organic shapes in which the original shape and structure of the tooth is tried to be imitated. However, especially the facial surfaces of the teeth (a surface facing the lips) have generally irregular, oval or conve> concave surface texture. In the glazing process, the fluid glaze material applied to the prosthesis surface using a brush ensures the smoothing of all surfaces of the tooth by entering all texture details. Nevertheless, in mechanical polishing, smoothing is performed depending on the shape and type of the abrasive material at the tip of a handheld rotary tool. Thus, it may not be possible to achieve the desired shine in deep or concave / convex areas with miscellaneous dimensions and texture of dental prostheses. Some roughness that causes bacterial accumulation may remain on the surface of the dental prostheses. Therefore, dental prostheses having organic shapes are not preferred due to the challenges they present in terms of easy cleaning, preventing plaque and bacterial accumulation, and achieving an aesthetically pleasing smile.

[0015] On the other hand, in the state of the art some dental prosthesis may comprise sparkling materials to enhance the aesthetic appeal of smiles. These materials, including diamonds, are fixed to the facial surface of the prosthesis through methods such as gluing or drilling. However, such fixations can compromise the smoothness of the facial surface making the facial surface more challenging to clean which leads to increased plaque and bacterial buildup. Additionally, some approaches involve coating dental prostheses or healthy teeth with shiny metallic materials to achieve a sparkling effect. Unfortunately, these metallic coatings can significantly detract from the natural appearance of teeth, may cause metal allergies and lifespan of coating is inherently limited.

[0016] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying an embodiment of the invention which will be explained in detail hereinafter:

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis [incisor] having a facial surface [a labial surface (reflective flat surface portions are not shown)] in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis [incisor] having a facial surface [a labial surface] with plurality of reflective flat surface portions, and a transition surface portion in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is a side view of a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis [incisor] in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 is a front view of a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis [incisor] with a central surface portion and a transition surface portion in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 is another perspective view of a monolithic fixed crown prosthesis [incisor] with a central surface portion and a transition surface portion in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis [incisor] having a facial surface [a labial surface (reflective flat surface portions are not shown)] in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis [incisor] having a facial surface [a labial surface] with plurality of reflective flat surface portions with a central surface portion and without a transition surface portion in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic view of a half-finished monolithic fixed crown prosthesis attached to a handle bar having a workpiece layer on a facial surface in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 9 is a schematic view of a half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis attached to a handle bar having a workpiece layer on a facial surface in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 10 is a schematic view of a half-finished monolithic fixed crown prosthesis attached to a fixing bar from an unfinished facial surface and glued to a handle bar from a surface of the monolithic fixed crown prosthesis which is opposite to the unfinished facial surface wherein the fixing bar and the handle bar is concentrically positioned via an aligning dock in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 11 is a perspective views of a half-finished monolithic fixed crown prosthesis having an unfinished facial surface with a protrusion in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 12 is an exploded view of a half-finished monolithic fixed crown prosthesis, a fixing bar and a handle bar wherein the fixing bar and the handle bar are concentrically positioned in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0030] 100. A monolithic fixed crown or a veneer prosthesis

[0031] 110. Prosthesis body

[0032] 111. Facial surface

[0033] 200. Reflective flat surface portion

[0034] 300. Central surface portion

[0035] 400. Transition surface portion

[0036] 500. A half-finished monolithic fixed crown or a half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis

[0037] 510. Workpiece layer

[0038] 520. Protrusion 600. Handle bar

[0039] 610. Gripping surface

[0040] 700. Glue

[0041] 800. Fixing bar

[0042] 810. Inlet

[0043] 900. Aligning dock

[0044] 910. Fixing bar busch

[0045] 920. Handle bar busch

[0046] Detailed Description

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention relates to a monolithic fixed crown or (monolithic fixed) veneer prosthesis (100) comprising a monolithic prosthesis body (110) having a facial surface (111). The facial surface (111) comprises plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) which are an integral part of the monolithic prosthesis body (110) wherein at least two of the reflective flat surface portions (200) have different orientations such that an incident beam is reflected at different angles from the reflective flat surface portions (200) with different orientations.

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention cover a dental prosthesis which is only a crown prosthesis or only a veneer prosthesis. Crown prosthesis should be understood as a dental prosthesis which is an artificial covering / cap placed on a single damaged tooth or a single dental implant. Crown prosthesis fully surrounds a single damaged tooth or a single dental implant. The veneer prosthesis should be understood as a dental prosthesis which is an which is an artificial covering / cap placed on a single damaged or healthy tooth. The veneer prosthesis does not fully surround the teeth. The veneer prosthesis only covers the front surfaces of the single tooth. The veneer prosthesis is not suitable for implementing onto a dental implant.

[0049] In all embodiments of the present invention, the crown prosthesis is a fixed crown prosthesis and the veneer prosthesis is a fixed veneer prosthesis. Fixed crown prosthesis should be understood as a crown prosthesis which are fixed onto the pre-operated / cut natural teeth or dental implants. Fixed veneer prosthesis should be understood as a veneer prosthesis which are fixed onto a healthy / pre-operated / cut natural tooth. Fixed prostheses cannot be removed by patients. Removable prostheses and hybrid prostheses fall outside the scope of this application / invention or claims. In all embodiments of the present invention, the fixed crown prosthesis and fixed veneer prosthesis are monolithic. The monolithic fixed crown or monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) should be understood as a fixed crown prosthesis or a fixed veneer prosthesis which are formed from a single block of a material. The material may consist of a single piece of homogeneous material, a composite material, a layered or nonlayered material. Monolithic prosthesis ensures increased rigidity, reducing stress points under pressure from biting and chewing and minimizing the risk of prosthesis fractures. Therefore, the reflective flat surface portions (200) that are attached, fixed, glued, drilled, or coated onto the facial surface (111) of a prosthesis fall outside the scope of this application / invention or claims.

[0050] The prosthesis body (110) forms the monolithic fixed crown or a veneer prosthesis (100) itself. To achieve a smooth facial surface (111) and ensure the durability of the monolithic fixed crown or a veneer prosthesis (100), it's essential for the prosthesis body (110) itself to be monolithic. Within all embodiments of this innovation, the reflective flat surface portions (200) are an integral part of the monolithic prosthesis body (110). Consequently, the only viable method to create the reflective flat surface portions (200) onto the facial surface (111) is through mechanical carving / polishing. This carving / polishing should be meticulously tailored to create the reflective flat surface portions (200). This necessitates individual carving / polishing for each monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100). The bridge prostheses comprise at least three tooth prostheses and thus it cannot undergo individual carving / polishing. Therefore, present invention is not suitable for bridge prostheses.

[0051] In all embodiments of the invention, the facial surface (111) should be understood as a visible surface of the monolithic fixed crown or a veneer prosthesis (100) when the patient smiles. The facial surface (111) is a labial surface for an incisor or canine type crown or veneer prosthesis (100). The facial surface (111) is a buccal surface for molar or premolar type monolithic fixed crown or a veneer prosthesis (100).

[0052] The orientation difference can be also defined such that at least two of the reflective flat surface portions (200) have different normal vectors. A normal vector of at least one reflective flat surface portion (200) is not parallel to a normal vector of at least another reflective flat surface portion (200). In other words, an angle between a plane of at least one reflective flat surface portion (200) intersecting with a reference plane is different from an angle between a plane of at least another reflective flat surface portion (200) intersecting with the reference plane. Alternatively, an angle between a plane of at least one reflective flat surface portion (200) and a plane of at least another reflective flat surface portion (200) is not 180° (is not parallel).

[0053] The reflective flat surface portions (200) with varying orientations reflect light beams at diverse angles that result in distinct levels of brightness for each reflective flat surface portion (200). The reflective flat surface portions (200) provide a perfect reflecting surface, in other words reflecting plane, without scattering or collecting incident light beams. This creates a sparkling effect reminiscent of gems, capture attention and adds an aesthetically pleasing smile to the patient. Furthermore, the reflective flat surface portions (200) on the facial surface (111) which resemble gem-like geometrical shapes rather than organic textures provide a smoother facial surface (111). This smoothness helps to prevent the accumulation of bacteria on the facial surface (111) promoting dental and oral hygiene.

[0054] In one embodiment of the invention, the monolithic prosthesis body (110) (so the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100)) made of dental ceramic especially zirconia, glass ceramic especially, porcelain, metal such as stainless steel, dental glass lithium disilicate or dental composites. The dental composites may be resin-based composites or synthetic materials that combine polymeric matrix with a dispersion of glass, mineral, or resin filler particles and / or short fibers by coupling agents. However, the monolithic prosthesis body (110) made of metal may cause an allergic reaction. Thus, a nonmetallic material is preferred to made the monolithic prosthesis body (110) (so the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100)). In preferred embodiment of the invention the monolithic prosthesis body (110) (so the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100)) made of zirconia.

[0055] In one embodiment of the invention, the monolithic prosthesis body (110) (so the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100)) made of a non-layered dental material. The only viable method to create / produce the reflective flat surface portions (200) onto the facial surface (111) is through mechanical carving / polishing. A single block layered dental material which is used for making the monolithic prosthesis body (110) may have different color structure in each layer. After mechanical carving / polishing, some parts of a reflective flat surface portion (200) or between the reflective flat surface portions (200) may have color fluctuation which is not desirable. To ensure uniform color and minimize color fluctuation on the reflective flat surface portions (200), it is important to use a non-layered dental material for producing the monolithic prosthesis body (110) (so the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100)). Using non-layered dental material guarantees the creation of single-shade reflective flat surface portions (200) without undesirable color variations.

[0056] In one embodiment of the invention, the reflective flat surface portions (200) are in a form of a polygon. This provides a smooth transition between adjacent reflective flat surface portions (200) promoting dental and oral hygiene.

[0057] In one embodiment of the invention, one of the reflective flat surface portions (200) is a central surface portion (300). The central surface portion (300) is positioned substantially at a center of the facial surface (111). In this embodiment, the reflective flat surface portions (200) other than the central surface portion (300) are positioned symmetrically around the central surface portion (300). This provides an appealing light effect on the facial surface (111) when viewed from the front. The central surface portion (300) is preferably the biggest and horizontally oriented reflective flat surface portions (200). The central surface portion (300) may be in a form of an octagon. In one alternative of this embodiment, a flat surface area of the central surface portion (300) is greater than 5% of the surface area of the facial surface (111). The central surface portion (300) with the flat surface area exceeding 5% of the facial surface area (111) produce a visually captivating and recognizable sparkling effect, enhancing overall aesthetic appeal.

[0058] In one embodiment of the invention, a transition surface portion (400) surrounding all reflective flat surface portions (200) wherein inner edges of the transition surface portion (400) has flat surfaces and outer edges of the transition surface portion (400) has rounded surfaces for providing a smooth boundary between the facial surface (111) and a surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111). The surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111) has an organic surface texture. However, the reflective flat surface portions (200) constitute more geometrical surface texture on the facial surface (111). This geometrical surface texture may disturb vermilion border and / or lips of the patient. To prevent the mentioned disturbance there should be a smooth transition between the geometrical surface texture and the organic surface texture. The transition surface portion (400) facilitates this smooth transition, promotes the appealing light effect on the facial surface (111) and enhances smoothness thereby supporting dental and oral hygiene.

[0059] In one embodiment of the invention, a surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111) are polished which promotes the organic surface texture.

[0060] The surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111) may comprise:

[0061] - a lingual surface which is a surface facing toward the tongue an incisal surface that is a surface / edge which comes in contact with those of opposite jaw during the act of closure cutting the food an occlusal surface that is a surface which comes in contact with those in the opposite.

[0062] The present invention also relates to the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the previously disclosed embodiment of the invention, wherein the reflective flat surface portions (200) are obtainable by carving / polishing the facial surface (111) of the monolithic prosthesis body (110).

[0063] The present invention also relates a method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) any of the previously disclosed embodiment of the invention comprising the steps of; attaching, in other word temporarily fixing, a half-finished monolithic fixed crown or a half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) having finished shape and fit, adjusted specifically to a patient, but an unfinished facial surface (111) to a handle bar (600); carving / polishing the unfinished facial surface (111) so as to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500); detaching the finished monolithic fixed crown or the finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) from the handle bar (600).

[0064] Attaching the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the handle bar (600) facilitates the carving / polishing step. The half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) refers to a monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) having a finished shape and fit, adjusted specifically to a patient, but an unfinished facial surface (111) (see Fig. 6). The half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) may also be described as a monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) having a carved / unpolished facial surface (111).

[0065] The handle bar (600) provides a larger gripping surface which enhances the maneuverability of the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) during the carving / polishing process which facilitates precise carving / polishing. Especially for hand carving, using the handle bar (600) instead of attempting to grip the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) which are the relatively small to a hand provides significantly greater convenience for the operator or dentist.

[0066] The half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) may be made of dental ceramic especially zirconia, porcelain, metal such as stainless steel, dental glass or dental composites. The dental composites may be resinbased composites or synthetic materials that combine polymeric matrix with a dispersion of glass, mineral, or resin filler particles and / or short fibers by coupling agents. However, the monolithic prosthesis body (110) made of metal may cause an allergic reaction. Thus, a nonmetallic material is preferred for the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the halffinished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500). In preferred embodiment of the invention, the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is made of zirconia.

[0067] Since a polishing process also carves some material from the surface to be polished, the carving should also be understood as polishing for all embodiments.

[0068] In one embodiment of the invention, the method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) comprises that the unfinished facial surface (111) comprises a workpiece layer (510) having a thickness between 0.1 mm and 5 mm for creating the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) on the workpiece layer (510) via carving / polishing (see Fig. 8 and 9). The facial surface (111) has the workpiece layer (510) which provides a carving / polishing material for forming reflective flat surface portions (200). A thickness between 0.1 mm and 5 mm of the workpiece layer (510) is sufficient for forming the reflective flat surface portions (200) by carving / polishing. At the end, the workpiece layer (510) is carved / polished to form the reflective flat surface portions (200) on the facial surface (111) resulting in the production of the finished monolithic fixed crown or finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100).

[0069] In one embodiment of the invention, the method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) further comprises that the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is attached by a glue (700) or a hot wax to the handle bar (600).

[0070] In one embodiment of the invention, the method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) further comprises the steps of;

[0071] - attaching, in other word temporarily fixing, the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) having a protrusion (520) protruding from the unfinished facial surface (111), to a fixing bar (800) having an inlet (810) at least one end of the fixing bar (800) for receiving the protrusion (520) via engaging the protrusion (520) with the inlet (810);

[0072] - placing the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600) to an aligning dock (900) which is adapted to concentrically position the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600) wherein the attached half-finished monolithic fixed crown or half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is positioned between the end of the fixing bar (800) and end of the handle bar (600);

[0073] - attaching, in other word temporarily fixing, the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the handle bar (600); detaching the fixing bar (800) from the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500);

[0074] - carving / polishing unfinished facial surface (111) so as to cut up the protrusion (520) and to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500); detaching the finished monolithic fixed crown or the finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) from the handle bar (600).

[0075] To achieve an aesthetically pleasing smile, it is essential for each monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) in the patient's mouth should have a facial surface (111) with reflective flat surface portions (200) positioned at consistent angles which creates a sparkling harmony to the smile. For example, central surface portions (300) of each prosthesis should align with the same angle relative to their respective facial surface (111). To accomplish this, it is crucial to attach, in other word temporarily fix, the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the handle bar (600) at a fixed / selected angle and / or position. To facilitate prosthesis-handle bar (600) attachment at the fixed / selected angle and / or position, the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is initially attached to the fixing bar (800). The prosthesis-fixing bar (800) attachment is realized by the protrusion (520) provided on the unfinished facial surface (111) and the inlet (810) provided at one end of the fixing bar (800). The protrusion (520) protrudes from the unfinished facial surface (111), preferably from a center of the unfinished facial surface (111), at a selected angle. In a preferred embodiment, the selected angle substantially perpendicular to the unfinished facial surface (111). In a further preferred embodiment, the protrusion (520) is positioned substantially perpendicular to the center of the unfinished facial surface (111). During attachment step, at least a part of the protrusion (520) settles into, engages with the inlet (810) on the fixing bar (800). The engagement between the protrusion (520) and the inlet (810) facilitates for attach ing / fixi ng the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the fixing bar (800) at a selected angle and / or position. After attaching the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the fixing bar (800) through the engagement of the protrusion (520) and the inlet (810), both the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600) are placed to the aligning dock (900) which is adapted to co centrically align the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600). Since the fixing bar (800) and handle bar (600) are concentrically positioned on the aligning dock (900), the selected angle and / or position also determines the angle and / or the position of the prosthesis-handle bar (600) attachment which defines the reflective flat surface portions (200) relative to the facial surface (111). At this position of the fixing bar (800) (the handle bar (600) with the half-finished prosthesis (500)) and the handle bar (600) on the aligning dock (900), the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is attached to the handle bar (600) at a selected angle and / or position from a side opposite to the unfinished facial surface (111), preferably via a glue (700) or a hot wax (see Fig. 10-12). Then, the fixing bar (800)-half-finished prosthesis (500)-handle bar (600) assembly is removed from the aligning dock (900). Subsequently, the fixing bar (800) is detached from the fixing bar (800)-half-finished prosthesis (500)- handle bar (600) assembly which reveals the handle bar (600) with the half-finished prosthesis (500). Then, so as to cut up the protrusion (520) and to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) the unfinished facial surface (111) with protrusion (520) is carved / polished. Attaching the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the handle bar (600) at the selected angle and / or position enables the operator to expediate carving / polishing process of the unfinished the facial surface (111). This ensures the creation of the reflective flat surface portions (200) at a precise location and angle on the facial surface (111) for each monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100). Finally, the finished monolithic fixed crown or the finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) is detached from the handle bar (600).

[0076] In one embodiment of the invention, the aligning dock (900) comprises at least one fixing bar busch (910) for providing a bedding to the fixing bar (800) and handle bar busch (920) for providing a bedding to the handle bar (600) such that when the fixing bar (800) is placed to the fixing bar busch (910) and handle bar (600) is placed to the handle bar busch (920), the fixing bar (800) and handle bar (600) concentrically aligned each other. In preferred embodiment, the handle bar (600) is slidable at least a part of the handle bar busch (920) which facilitate to remove the handle bar (600) with the half-finished prosthesis (500) from the aligning dock (900).

[0077] In one embodiment of the invention, the method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) further comprises the steps of;

[0078] - carving / polishing the facial surface (111) so as to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500); is made by a table grinder.

[0079] In this embodiment, the handle bar (600) comprises an articulated end for connecting a fixed anchor wherein the articulated end limits mobility of the handle bar (600) in one degree of freedom. The articulated end provides one degree of freedom to the handle bar (600) in order for providing an operator to manipulate a manageable movement to the halffinished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) during the carving / polishing the facial surface (111). In one embodiment of the invention, the method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) further comprises that an end of the handle bar (600) to which is not attached to the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) has a gripping surface (610). In an alternative of this embodiment, the handle bar (600) may be attached to an anchor to ensure the half-finished crown or a half-finished veneer prosthesis (500) remains stable during carving / polishing in order to facilitate precise carving. The step "- carving / polishing the facial surface (111) so as to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500)" of the method may be made by hand or by a CNC machine enabling mass production of the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100). The gripping surface (610) may increase the friction promoting a firm and secure hold by hand. Alternatively, the gripping surface (610) may have a polygonal cross section for assisting to attach the dop stick (600) to the CNC machine.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) comprising a monolithic prosthesis body (110) having a facial surface (111) characterized in that the facial surface (111) comprises plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) which are an integral part of the monolithic prosthesis body (110) wherein at least two of the reflective flat surface portions (200) have different orientations such that an incident beam is reflected at different angles from the reflective flat surface portions (200) with different orientations.

2. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to claim 1, wherein the monolithic prosthesis body (110) made of a non-layered dental material.

3. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflective flat surface portions (200) are in a form of a polygon.

4. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the reflective flat surface portions (200) is a central surface portion (300) which is positioned substantially at a center of the facial surface (111) wherein the reflective flat surface portions (200) other than the central surface portion (300) are positioned symmetrically around the central surface portion (300).

5. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to claim 4, wherein a flat surface area of the central surface portion (300) is greater than 5% of the surface area of the facial surface (111).

6. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims comprises a transition surface portion (400) surrounding all reflective flat surface portions (200) wherein inner edges of the transition surface portion (400) has flat surfaces and outer edges of the transition surface portion (400) has rounded surfaces for providing a smooth boundary between the facial surface (111) and a surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111).

7. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a surface area of the prosthesis body (110) other than the facial surface (111) are polished.

8. The monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflective flat surface portions (200) are obtainable by carving / polishing the facial surface (111) of the monolithic prosthesis body (110).

9. A method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of the preceding claims comprising the steps of;- attaching a half-finished monolithic fixed crown or a half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) having finished shape and fit, adjusted specifically to a patient, but an unfinished facial surface (111) to a handle bar (600);- carving / polishing the unfinished facial surface (111) so as to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500); detaching the finished monolithic fixed crown or the finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) from the handle bar (600).

10. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to claim 9, wherein the unfinished facial surface (111) comprises a workpiece layer (510) having a thickness between 0.1 mm and 5 mm for creating the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) on the workpiece layer (510) via carving / polishing.

11. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is attached by a glue (700) or a hot wax to the handle bar (600).

12. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of claim 10-11, comprising the steps of;- attaching the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) having a protrusion (520) protruding from theunfinished facial surface (111), to a fixing bar (800) having an inlet (810) at least one end of the fixing bar (800) for receiving the protrusion (520) via engaging the protrusion (520) with the inlet (810);- placing the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600) to an aligning dock (900) which is adapted to concentrically position the fixing bar (800) and the handle bar (600) wherein the attached half-finished monolithic fixed crown or half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) is positioned between the end of the fixing bar (800) and end of the handle bar (600); attaching the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500) to the handle bar (600); detaching the fixing bar (800) from the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500);- carving / polishing unfinished facial surface (111) so as to cut up the protrusion (520) and to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500);- detaching the finished monolithic fixed crown or the finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (100) from the handle bar (600).

13. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of claim 9-12, the aligning dock (900) comprises at least one fixing bar busch (910) for providing a bedding to the fixing bar (800) and handle bar busch (920) for providing a bedding to the handle bar (600).

14. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to any of claim 9-13, wherein the step of- carving / polishing the unfinished facial surface (111) so as to create the plurality of reflective flat surface portions (200) for finishing the half-finished monolithic fixed crown or the half-finished monolithic fixed veneer prosthesis (500); is made by a table grinder.

15. The method for producing the monolithic fixed crown or veneer prosthesis (100) according to claim 14, wherein the handle bar (600) comprises an articulated end for connecting a fixed anchor wherein the articulated end limits mobility of the handle bar (600) in one degree of freedom.

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