Side-Covered Dental Block Coloring for Surface Flatness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental blocks with colored surfaces tend to curve, leading to a deterioration in aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A method of coloring dental blocks by covering at least a portion of the side surface with a covering material, exposing the top and bottom surfaces, and allowing the coloring liquid to penetrate from either the top or bottom surface to prevent curvature of the colored surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the coloring liquid penetrates from the side surface of the dental block, then the coloring process is simple, but the colored surface becomes curved and aesthetics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloring process simplicityVSAvoidcolored surface flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the coloring process into two distinct stages: first penetrating the coloring liquid from the side surface to achieve uniform color distribution, then covering the side surface and penetrating from the top surface to flatten the colored surface. This segmentation of the coloring process resolves the contradiction between simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary coloring from the side surface before the final top-surface penetration. This preliminary action ensures the coloring liquid is already distributed throughout the block, so the subsequent top-surface penetration only needs to flatten the surface without worrying about color uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the coloring liquid penetrates from the top surface only, then the colored surface remains flat, but the coloring process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolored surface flatnessVSAvoidcoloring process efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coloring process into two efficient stages: rapid side-surface penetration for color distribution, followed by top-surface penetration for flattening. This segmentation maintains productivity by using the most efficient penetration method for each specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different penetration approaches to different surfaces based on their specific requirements: side surface penetration for color distribution and top surface penetration for surface flatness. This local quality approach optimizes the overall process efficiency while achieving the desired result.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method results in a dental block with a colored surface that does not readily curve, thereby maintaining aesthetic quality.

Implementation Method 1

causing the coloring liquid to penetrate from the top surface or the bottom surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPenetration: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

covering at least a portion of the side surface with a covering material over an entire circumference of the portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS12419726B2Method of coloring dental block and dental block

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 GC CORP

AI summary

In a method of coloring a dental block by which a coloring liquid penetrates into the dental block including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface, the method includes covering at least a portion of the side surface with a covering material over an entire circumference of the portion, exposing the top surface and the bottom surface, and causing the coloring liquid to penetrate from the top surface or the bottom surface.