Abstract: The invention relates to a method for ascertaining material characteristics of an object, in particular optical properties of preferably semi-transparent objects. The aim of the invention is to obtain material characteristics without complex measuring methods. This is achieved in that spectrally resolved data from measured data of the object are calculated with spectrally resolved data of a reference body in order to ascertain the material characteristics, the measured data being ascertained with a confocal 3D measuring system.

Abstract: A process for determining 3-D data of at least one prepared jaw area, such as a prepared tooth stump, by mechanically scanning the jaw area and digitizing the measured values determined during the scanning. The jaw area is prepared with a dental instrument having positions which are optically measured during the preparation, and the 3-D data is determined from the positions of the dental instrument that are associated with the prepared jaw area.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for transmitting radiation emitted by LEDs operated in pulsed operation via at least one optical waveguide, wherein a first optical waveguide having first and second coupling surfaces is assigned to each LED, the first optical waveguides are in each case aligned, by their first coupling surfaces, with an assigned stationary LED, the second coupling surfaces are arranged on a closed path and a coupling surface of a second optical waveguide is assigned to the second coupling surfaces. In order that a high light power can be coupled into the second optical waveguide by means of the LEDs, it is provided that the second optical waveguide, in accordance with the clocking of the switched-on LEDs, can be aligned with the second coupling surface of a first optical waveguide from at least one switched-on LED.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass-ceramics based on the lithium disilicate system which can be mechanically machined easily in an intermediate step of crystallization and, after complete crystallization, represent a very strong, highly-translucent and chemically-stable glass-ceramic. Likewise, the invention relates to a method for the production of these glass-ceramics. The glass-ceramics according to the invention are used as dental material.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing a dental restoration comprising a lithium silicate glass or glass ceramic as well as a dental restoration inself. The invention further refers to a ingot with the same composition having a defined strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass-ceramics based on the lithium silicate system which can be mechanically machined easily in an intermediate step of crystallisation and, after complete crystallisation, represent a very strong, highly-translucent and chemically-stable glass-ceramic. Likewise, the invention relates to a method for the production of these glass-ceramics. The glass-ceramics according to the invention are used as dental material.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass ceramics, which show high strength, high translucency, high chemical stability and which are still mechanically processible. The invention further refers to a method for producing a dental restoration comprising such glass or glass ceramic as well as the dental restoration itself.

Abstract: Method of producing a dental ceramic structure by digitizing a model or partial model of the prosthesis to be produced and generating a CAD data set, cutting each section of the muffle based on the CAD data set to form the cavity, pressing the ceramic into the cavity by way of at least one sprue, removing the hardened ceramic from the cavity with the sprue or flash and removing the sprue or flash based on the CAD data set.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dental restoration for at least one section of a dental arch on the basis of digital overall data which are calculated in relation to individual data, which are based on three-dimensional optical individual measurements that are performed intra-orally of an area that contains at least one section of the dental arch. In order to ensure that the overall data, which have been received from individual measurements, represent the measured section of the dental arch and/or the dental arch in its entirety without any distortions, it is proposed that at least one area of the dental arch be measured together with a reference, which supplies three-dimensional information, and calculated from the individual data while considering the reference of the overall data.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass ceramics based on the lithium metasilicate system (Li2O SiO2 (Li2SiO3)), which are mechanically processible in a simple manner in an intermediate stage of the crystallization and, after complete crystallization, represent a high- strength, highly translucent and chemically stable glass ceramic.

Abstract: A dental alloy with a high gold content that is devoid of palladium and copper. To achieve high mechanical stability, the dental alloy contains between 75 and 95 wt. % Au, between 5 and 20 wt. % Pt, between 0.5 and 3.5 wt. % Zn and/or Sn and/or In, between 0.1 and 0.8 wt. % of an element of a group I, in addition to a single particle refiner of a group II. The weight fraction of the element of group I is between 2 and 6 times that of the single particle refiner of group II, and one element of group I is represented by Nb or Ta or Ti or V and the particle refiner of group II is represented by Ir or Rh.

Abstract: A measuring arrangement and a method for the three-dimensional measurement of at least part of an object includes a light source with a continuous spectrum, a device for generating a multifocal lighting pattern, a lens with a large chromatic aberration for imaging foci of the lighting pattern on the object, a detection unit for generating the wavelength spectrum of the foci that are confocally imaged on the object via the lens, and a spectrum-dispersive device disposed between the confocally imaged foci and the detection device. In order to create a highly accurate surface profile in a relatively short time even in the case of moving objects, the invention proposes that a first hole pattern including first holes be disposed in the plane of the confocally imaged foci, the geometric arrangement of the first holes corresponding to the geometric arrangement of the foci of the multifocal lighting pattern.

Abstract: A procedure for dimensionally accurate sintering of a shaped piece manufactured from a blank of porous ceramic material, in which during the sintering, the shaped piece remains connected via at least one first connection like a rib, with a support that is manufactured from the blank. To ensure with simple procedural steps and simple design measures that the geometry does not change during sintering, the invention provides that the support is manufactured as a section of the blank that at least in sections surrounds the shaped piece by materials removal processing from the blank, and after the manufacture, the support, for one, is connected via the at least one first connection with the shaped piece, and for another, via at least one second connection with the residual blank that in sections is separated from the support.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multipart assembly of sintered oxide ceramic material, including one first component which at least partially surrounds one second component in such a manner that detaching the first component from the second component is not possible without destroying the first and/or second component. The assembly is produced by producing a single-part first shaped part and a single-part second shaped part from an oxide ceramic blank, whereby the first shaped part and the second shaped part are enlarged to compensate for the shrinkage during sintering, and assembling the sintered shaped part as second component with the first shaped part and subsequently sintering them together.

Abstract: Method for measuring the shape of a section of a semi-transparent object such as one section of a tooth, using a light source for generating light with a broadband spectrum in a device for generating a multifocal illumination pattern, a lens with a large chromatic aberration for imaging foci of the illumination pattern onto the object, and a detection device for determining the wavelength spectra of the foci confocally imaged onto the object via the lens, wherein a spectral peak position of each focus is determined from the respective wavelength spectrum, from which position the extent of the object in the direction of the imaging beam (Z coordinate) is calculated.

Abstract: A method for detecting contour data of a three-dimensional object, where a grid of illumination points of a multi-point illumination is projected onto the object using an optical device and the illumination points are then projected back onto a sensor containing pixels. In order to improve signal-noise ratio and reduce background signal, it is proposed that a grid of illumination points of at least two multi-point illuminations are projected onto the object, that the beams of the illuminating points of are modulated in intensity and that a frequency-selective and/or phase-selective detection is performed of mutually associated first and second illumination points back-projected onto the sensor. The first illumination points derive from a first of the multipoint illuminations and the second illumination points derive from a second of the multipoint illuminations.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for transmitting radiation emitted by LEDs operated in pulsed operation via at least one optical waveguide, wherein a first optical waveguide having first and second coupling surfaces is assigned to each LED, the first optical waveguides are in each case aligned, by their first coupling surfaces, with an assigned stationary LED, the second coupling surfaces are arranged on a closed path and a coupling surface of a second optical waveguide is assigned to the second coupling surfaces. In order that a high light power can be coupled into the second optical waveguide by means of the LEDs, it is provided that the second optical waveguide, in accordance with the clocking of the switched-on LEDs, can be aligned with the second coupling surface of a first optical waveguide from at least one switched-on LED.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a physical or virtual dental model as an aid to the production of a dental prosthesis taking account of the shape of at least one tooth stump present in an upper or lower jaw, of points of contact with the teeth adjacent to the at least one tooth stump, and of the occlusal surface of at least one opposing tooth in the region of the field of movement of the dental prosthesis to be disposed on the at least one tooth stump using digital data relating to the upper and lower jaw measured in a contact-free manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for ascertaining material characteristics of an object, in particular optical properties of preferably semi-transparent objects. The aim of the invention is to obtain material characteristics without complex measuring methods. This is achieved in that spectrally resolved data from measured data of the object are calculated with spectrally resolved data of a reference body in order to ascertain the material characteristics, the measured data being ascertained with a confocal 3D measuring system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting properties or alterations in at least one semitransparent layer of a body of a tooth by applying light escaping from at least one light guide via the front thereof to the body, as well as for recording at least one area of the body by means of a camera and subsequently assessing the image determined by the sensor. In order to be able to detect alterations or properties with high accuracy and a high image quality, it is proposed to place the front of the light guide on the body in order to subject the body to the light of the light guide.