Additive Manufactured Ceramic Dental Support with Pressed Veneer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental restoration methods face challenges in producing bridges with ceramic reinforcement elements, as they are difficult to manufacture and require careful production of different shapes, leading to variations and tolerances that affect mechanical strength and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A finely structured net or frame support structure made from oxide ceramics using additive manufacturing, with a translucent glass ceramic veneer produced by CAD design and muffle pressing, which enhances strength-to-volume ratio and reduces material requirements, allowing for load-dependent reinforcement and improved connection with the veneer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ceramic reinforcement elements are used to mechanically stabilize the dental restoration, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the production difficulty increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates due to the complexity of producing different shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the production method parameter from traditional multi-step ceramic processing to additive manufacturing (RPT), enabling complex reinforcement element geometries to be produced with high precision and reproducibility, eliminating the manufacturing precision deterioration associated with complex shapes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the dental restoration into distinct functional components: a support structure made by additive manufacturing and a separate veneer applied subsequently. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining high manufacturing precision
2Strength
If traditional multi-layer technique is used with ceramic reinforcement elements, then mechanical stabilization is achieved, but the production time and complexity increase due to careful production of different shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-fabricating the support structure with the exact geometry needed for mechanical stabilization using additive manufacturing before veneer application. This eliminates the need for careful subsequent shaping and reduces production time significantly
3Strength
If oxide ceramic material is used for the support structure, then mechanical strength is improved, but the aesthetics deteriorate due to lower translucency compared to glass ceramic veneer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using different ceramic materials with optimized properties for specific locations: opaque oxide ceramic for the internal support structure requiring strength, and translucent glass ceramic for the external veneer requiring aesthetics. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and translucency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved mechanical strength, reduced material usage, and enhanced aesthetics by creating a strong connection between the support structure and veneer, while minimizing the risk of ceramic detachment due to thermal expansion differences.
Implementation Method 1
a support structure which is made from oxide or glass ceramic materials by additive manufacturing, such as by rapid prototyping
Implementation Method 2
the veneer is produced in a method such as by means of muffle presses, from a glass ceramic material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a single- or multi-unit dental restoration, which consists of a support structure and a veneer, which support structure is in particular made from oxide ceramics by means of additive manufacturing, particularly preferably by means of rapid prototyping, wherein the veneer is produced by pressing a ceramic material, such as a glass ceramic or composite material, which is more translucent than the support structure, characterized in that the veneer fills and/or penetrates recesses of the support structure (12) configured as a net or frame structure or as a reinforcement, wherein it is particularly provided that the recesses penetrate through the support structure (12).