Abstract: The invention relates to a preformed dental composite crown being characterized by its shape and chemical composition, the shape being characterized as follows: having an occlusal top surface and depending buccal, mesial, distal and lingual side surfaces, the side surfaces being connected to each other and forming a crown cervix, the wall thickness of the crown at the crown cervix being lower than 0.6 mm; at least two of opposing depending side surfaces having a concave shape; the chemical composition of the material the preformed dental composite crown is made of being a hardened composition comprising the following components: nano-filler(s) in an amount from 20 to 70 wt. %, resin matrix in an amount from 20 to 75 wt. %, wt. % with respect to the weight of the chemical composition, the resin matrix comprising urethane(meth)acrylate(s) and (meth)acrylate(s) not comprising a urethane moiety.

Abstract: A method of making a dental restoration has the steps of: determining a virtual space available for accommodation of a dental restoration for a tooth to be restored; retrieving a predefined virtual master dental restoration surface from a database; fitting the virtual master dental restoration surface in the space to provide a virtual outer dental restoration surface; creating a virtual inner dental restoration surface independent of a shape of the tooth to be restored; providing a virtual model of a dental restoration based on a combination of the virtual outer dental restoration surface and the virtual inner dental restoration surface; and fabricating the dental restoration based on the dental restoration model.

Abstract: A dental coloring stamp has a transfer pad for transferring a dental coloring solution to a precursor of a dental restoration. The transfer pad is at least partially formed of an open-celled elastic sponge and has a free transfer surface. The cross-section of the transfer pad is greater than a circular area of 10 mm in diameter so that a side of a dental restoration precursor can be stamped and thus colored. The invention helps facilitating the coloring of dental restorations.

Abstract: The method of making a three-dimensional article includes heating a composition comprising a fluoropolymer and inorganic filler, extruding the composition in molten form from an extrusion head to provide at least a portion of a first layer of the three-dimensional article, and extruding at least a second layer of the composition in molten form from the extrusion head onto at least the portion of the first layer to make at least a portion of the three-dimensional article. Three-dimensional articles are also described. A composition including a fluoropolymer and inorganic fillers is also described. The composition may be a filament. The composition can be useful, for example, in melt extrusion additive manufacturing. The fluoropolymer is semi-crystalline with a melting point of up to 325° C. and less than 50 percent by weight interpolymerized units of vinylidene fluoride or amorphous with a glass transition temperature of up to 280° C.

Abstract: The method of making a three-dimensional article includes heating a composition comprising a polymer and hollow ceramic microspheres, extruding the composition in molten form from an extrusion head to provide at least a portion of a first layer of the three-dimensional article, and extruding at least a second layer of the composition in molten form from the extrusion head onto at least the portion of the first layer to make at least a portion of the three-dimensional article. Three-dimensional articles are also described. A composition including a polymer and hollow ceramic microspheres is also described. The composition may be a filament. The polymer is at least one of a low-surface-energy polymer or polyolefin. The composition can be useful, for example, in melt extrusion additive manufacturing, for example, fused filament fabrication.

Abstract: A device for progressively building up an object from a light hardenable material. The device has a perforated build platform for the object. The build platform forms a build surface that faces a light source. The build platform and the light source are positionable relative to each other by computer control. The device is further configured for supplying the light hardenable material through the perforation of the build platform for building up the object. The invention enables the making of colored objects by stereolithography.

Abstract: A method of making a customized dental blank. The method has steps of obtaining from a dental practitioner a first color scheme and a different second color scheme as well as a first dimensional information for the first color scheme and a different second dimensional information for the second color scheme. The first and second dimensional information each relate to a size and/or a location within dimensions of the dental blank. The method further has the step of manufacturing the customized dental blank which has a first portion based on the first dimensional information according to the first color scheme and a second portion based on the second dimensional information according to the second color. Further the method has the step of providing the dental practitioner with the customized dental blank. The method helps facilitating the making of a dental restoration from a blank.

Abstract: Provided are methods for making shaped fluoropolymer by additive processing using a polymerizable binder. Also are 3D printable compositions for making shaped fluoropolymer articles and articles comprising a shaped fluoropolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preformed dental composite crown being characterized by its shape and chemical composition, the shape being characterized as follows: having an occlusal top surface and depending buccal, mesial, distal and lingual side surfaces, the side surfaces being connected to each other and forming a crown cervix, the wall thickness of the crown at the crown cervix being lower than 0.6 mm; at least two of opposing depending side surfaces having a concave shape; the chemical composition of the material the preformed dental composite crown is made of being a hardened composition comprising the following components: nano-filler(s) in an amount from 20 to 70 wt. %, resin matrix in an amount from 20 to 75 wt. %, wt. % with respect to the weight of the chemical composition, the resin matrix comprising urethane(meth)acrylate(s) and (meth)acrylate(s) not comprising a urethane moiety.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coloring solution for coloring a dental ceramic article, the solution comprising: a solvent and a coloring agent, comprising rare earth element metals or ions being present in the solution in an amount of at least about 0.05 mol/1 solvent and transition metals or ions being present in the solution in an amount of about 0.00001 to about 0.05 mol/1 solvent. The invention also relates to a process for coloring dental ceramic articles, dental ceramic articles treated either with the coloring solution or obtainable by a process comprising the step of firing the dental ceramic articles.

Abstract: Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

Abstract: A method of capturing data from a patient's dentition with the steps of positioning a first optical sensor relative to patient's dentition, capturing the shape of a tooth in the patient's dentition, independent from capturing the shape, measuring a color at a location on the tooth, and providing a correlation between the location of the color and a coordinate in the captured shape. The invention helps providing a dental restoration at a relatively high optical, mechanical, and geometric quality.

Abstract: Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a ceramic article, the process comprising the steps of providing a printing sol, the printing sol comprising solvent, nano-sized particles, radiation curable monomer(s) and photoinitiator, the printing sol having a viscosity of less than 500 mPa*s at 23° C., processing the printing sol as construction material in an additive manufacturing process to obtain a 3-dim article being in a gel state, the 3-dim article having a Volume A, transferring the 3-dim article being in a gel state to a 3-dim article being in an aerogel state, heat treating the 3-dim article to obtain a sintered 3-dim ceramic article, the ceramic article having a Volume F, Volume A of the 3-dim article in a gel state being more than 500% of Volume F of the ceramic article in its sintered state. The invention also relates to a ceramic article obtainable according to such a process. The ceramic article can have the shape of a dental or orthodontic article.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a printing sol as construction material in an additive manufacturing process for producing a 3-dim article, the printing sol comprising solvent(s), nano-sized crystalline zirconia particles in an amount from 2 to 25 vol.-% with respect to the volume of the sol, the average primary particle size of the nano-sized crystalline zirconia particles being in a range up to 50 nm, a first monomer being a polymerizable surface modification agent represented by formula A-B, with A being capable of attaching to the surface of the nano-sized crystalline zirconia particles and B being a radiation curable group, optionally a second monomer, the second monomer comprising at least one radiation curable moiety but no acidic or silane group(s), photo initiator(s). The invention also relates to a ceramic article obtainable according to such a process.

Abstract: A method and system for making a dental restoration are provided. The method comprises the step of providing a computer model of a three-dimensional reference surface that is based for example on a tooth structure of a tooth to be restored in a patient's dentition. The method further comprises the steps of visualizing the three-dimensional reference surface, providing a user operable virtual material deposition tool, and using the virtual material deposition tool to deposit a plurality of differently colored layers on the reference surface. The system provides functionality to perform the method of the invention. The invention preferably helps maximizing optical and geometrical quality in a dental restoration.

Abstract: Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

Abstract: A method and system for making a dental restoration are provided. The method comprises the step of providing a computer model of a three-dimensional reference surface that is based for example on a tooth structure of a tooth to be restored in a patient's dentition. The method further comprises the steps of visualizing the three-dimensional reference surface, providing a user operable virtual material deposition tool, and using the virtual material deposition tool to deposit a plurality of differently colored layers on the reference surface. The system provides functionality to perform the method of the invention. The invention preferably helps maximizing optical and geometrical quality in a dental restoration.

Abstract: A dental coloring stamp has a transfer pad for transferring a dental coloring solution to a precursor of a dental restoration. The transfer pad is at least partially formed of an open-celled elastic sponge and has a free transfer surface. The cross-section of the transfer pad is greater than a circular area of 10 mm in diameter so that a side of a dental restoration precursor can be stamped and thus colored. The invention helps facilitating the coloring of dental restorations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dental ceramic article comprising ceramic components, the ceramic components having ZrO2 and Al2O3 and at least one component comprising Mn, Er or mixtures thereof, Al2O3 being present in an amount below about 0.15 wt.-% with respect to the weight of the ceramic article. The present disclosure relates also to kit of parts comprising a ceramic article and a coloring solution and processes for producing a dental ceramic article.