Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for pressure casting ceramic bodies. Methods and apparatus are provided for rapid ejection of cast ceramic bodies from a mold. A mold is described that has an impermeable cavity surface to provide dry release of the cast body. Ceramic bodies produced by the methods and apparatus have smooth, non-tacky surfaces after ejection from the mold.

Abstract: A method for making a ceramic body comprised of a ceramic material having an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth is provided. A dental prosthesis may be made of a ceramic material that comprises a molybdenum-containing component on a portion of the prosthesis that contacts the gingival surface of a patient. In one method, a porous zirconia ceramic structure is shaped in the form of a dental prosthesis, and then infiltrated with a molybdenum-containing composition, before sintering to densify the ceramic structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of recognizing dental information associated with a dental model of dentition includes training a deep neural network to map a plurality of training dental models representing at least a portion of each one of a plurality of patients' dentitions to a probability vector including probability of the at least a portion of the dentition belonging to each one of a set of multiple categories. The category of the at least a portion of the dentition represented by the training dental model corresponds to the highest probability in the probability vector. The method includes receiving a dental model representing at least a portion of a patient's dentition and recognizing dental information associated with the dental model by applying the trained deep neural network to determine a category of the at least a portion of the patient's dentition represented by the received dental model.

Abstract: A method is provided for shaping a custom dental restoration from a preform, wherein the preform comprises a preform body and a preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating one or more nesting positions for the restoration design within the geometry of the preform body relative to the position of the preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating machining instructions based on the selected nesting position to optimize machining for chair-side applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for automatically spraying a glaze solution onto a dental prosthesis. The automated spray glazing system includes: a first spray gun; a controller, and a gripper configured to hold the dental prosthesis and to rotate the dental prosthesis about an axis. The controller is configured to rotate the gripper and spray a glaze solution from the first spray gun using a glazing profile based at least in part on a type of the dental prosthesis. The glazing profile is selected such that a cross-sectional thickness of a resulting-glazed material of the dental prosthesis has an average thickness range between 15 to 63 ?m and a standard deviation of less than 6 ?m when measured at locations in an upper half of the dental prosthesis.

Abstract: A method for enhancing optical properties of sintered, zirconia ceramic bodies and zirconia ceramic dental restorations is provided. The porous or pre-sintered stage of a ceramic body is treated with two different yttrium-containing compositions and sintered, resulting in sintered ceramic bodies having enhanced optical properties. The enhanced optical properties may be substantially permanent, remaining for the useful life of the sintered ceramic body.

Abstract: A custom oral device is provided that fits on the maxillary or mandibular arch of a wearer. The oral device comprises a tray that corresponds with the shape and size of a wearer's oral anatomy. A soft liner is disposed within an occlusal channel of the tray having an upper surface that comprises an impression having features that correspond to at least a portion of the wearer's dentition and in which the wearer's teeth align. An apparatus and a method for making the custom oral device are provided.

Abstract: A system and method of processing a CT scan includes receiving a plurality of radiographs and determining an axis of rotation per scan from the plurality of radiographs prior to CT reconstruction.

Abstract: Disclosed are example embodiments of methods and systems for identifying and quantifying manufacturing defects of a manufactured dental prosthesis. Certain embodiments of the system for performing quality control on manufactured dental prostheses includes: a quality control module configured to determine whether the dental prosthesis is a good or a defective product based at least on a differences model generated by comparing a design model and a scanned model of the manufactured dental prosthesis.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of designing dental restorations and systems for performing the described methods are provided. In an embodiment, a method includes providing a virtual three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the patient's dentition that includes at least one preparation tooth, identifying a preparation margin on the virtual three dimensional representation, placing an arch form of a virtual tooth library in alignment with the virtual three dimensional representation, and proposing an initial restoration design based upon a tooth design obtained from the virtual tooth library.

Abstract: A zirconia ceramic material for use in dental applications is provided comprising an yttria-stabilized zirconia material stabilized with 5 mol % yttria to 8 mol % yttria, and methods for making a sintered body from the ceramic material. The zirconia ceramic materials exhibit both enhanced translucency and a flexural strength of at least 300 MPa, or at least 500 MPa, when fully sintered.

Abstract: A method is provided for making ceramic bodies having improved properties, such as optical and/or strength properties in which the ceramic bodies are densified by new sintering processes. The sintering profiles may have shorter run times than conventional sintering processes. Ceramic bodies made by these methods are suitable for use in dental applications, for example, as crowns.

Abstract: Disclosed are example embodiments of methods and systems for identifying and quantifying manufacturing defects of a manufactured dental prosthesis. Certain embodiments of the system for performing quality control on manufactured dental prostheses includes: an analysis module to best fit a scanned 3D data model of a manufactured dental prosthesis with a computer-aided design (CAD) model of the same manufactured dental prosthesis and to generate a differences model; and a quality controller to determine whether the manufactured dental prosthesis is a good or a defective product based on a statistical characteristic of the differences model.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of designing a dental restoration at a display includes providing a virtual three dimensional representation of at least a portion of the patient's dental situation. The method includes displaying a virtual three dimensional dental restoration model in an alignment with the virtual three dimensional representation. The method also includes providing a design tool selectable to deform at least a portion of the three dimensional dental restoration model. The design tool, when selected, enables a line to be drawn on a surface of the three dimensional dental restoration model.

Abstract: A machinable preform for shaping into dental restorations is described that comprises material having suitable strength for use in dental applications without requiring further processing after shaping to strengthen the material (such as sintering). In one embodiment, a preform is comprised of a machinable dental material having a Vickers hardness value in the range of 4HV GPa to 20HV GPa, and comprises a body and a stem that extends from the outer surface of the body that supports the body during shaping. A method for making the machinable preform, and a kit comprising a machinable preform and a grinding tool, are also described.

Abstract: Taking a digital implant or abutment level digital impression by means of intra-oral, computed tomography or other imaging method provides the restorative doctor and laboratory accurate and effective data for determining the implant position, angulation and locking feature orientation without a physical impression. Such data is correlated with a digital library to produce an output which enables design and fabrication of an accurate restorative device such as a prosthetic tooth or crown. In this way the time-consuming, costly and error prone mechanical replication of the relevant dental anatomy is obviated.

Abstract: Two-part dual-curing dental compositions containing a hydroperoxide, a thiourea derivative and an acetylacetonate salt as redox radical initiator system, are provided. The dental compositions may contain an acidic monomer for use as a self-adhesive cement. The dental compositions possess enhanced shelf-life stability for working/setting time, bonding strength, color stability, slump, flexural strength/modulus, and when kept at 50° C. for more than 16 weeks.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for generating a 3D dental prosthesis model are disclosed herein. The methods comprise training a deep neural network to generate a first 3D dental prosthesis model using a training data set; receiving a patient scan data representing at least a portion of a patient's dentition; and generating, using the trained deep neural network, the first 3D dental prosthesis model based on the received patient scan data.

Abstract: A method is provided for shaping a custom dental restoration from a preform, wherein the preform comprises a preform body and a preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating one or more nesting positions for the restoration design within the geometry of the preform body relative to the position of the preform stem. A method is further disclosed for generating machining instructions based on the selected nesting position to optimize machining for chair-side applications.