Abstract: A method for masking the appearance of a support structure underlying a highly translucent ceramic dental restoration is provided. The porous form of a zirconia ceramic dental restoration is treated with a liquid masking composition comprising 0.4 wt % to 50 wt % of one or more masking agents. The masking composition is applied to the internal surface of a restoration and a region of the facial surface of the restoration that is opposite the internal surface. After application of the masking compositions, treated zirconia restoration is sintered to greater than 98% theoretical density.

Abstract: A sensor may include a sensing element retained within a storage compartment filled with a storage medium, which may also be used as a calibration medium. The sensing element can include a sensing surface located away from the distal end of the sensing element, such that an inactive section of the sensing element can cooperate with a sealing member such as an O-ring to form part of the seal retaining the storage/calibration medium. The sensing element can be extended and retracted from the storage compartment to expose the sensing surface to a process medium, while preserving the storage medium within the storage compartment for post-measurement validation.

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 an yttrium-containing composition 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 computer-implemented system and method of generating a digital retention mesh with one or more morphable regions, the one or more morphable regions corresponding to one or more removed undercut regions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system of digitally segmenting teeth in a digital model comprises generating a panoramic image from a 3D digital model of a patient's dentition, labeling, using a first trained neural network, the panoramic image to provide a labeled panoramic image, mapping the labeled panoramic image to corresponding coarse digital surface triangle labels in the 3D digital model to provide a labeled 3D digital model, and segmenting the labeled 3D digital model to provide a segmented 3D digital model. A computer-implemented method and system of generating a panoramic image comprises determining, using a trained neural network, digital tooth bounding region(s) corresponding to digital teeth from a 2D depth map of a patient's dentition, connecting digital tooth bounding region(s) by a spline, determining sampled digital surface points from the sampled spline points; and determining associated digital surface points corresponding to each sampled digital surface point.

Abstract: A sterling silver chain and method of manufacturing a sterling silver chain comprising a plurality of chain links. Each of the chain links can comprise a sterling silver wire, the sterling silver wire comprising a first end and a second end. Each of the first end and the second end of each of the plurality of chain links can be joined together through a weld. Each of the plurality of chain links can comprise at least 92.5% by weight silver and at least 6.5% by weight tin.

Abstract: A zirconia ceramic material for use in dental applications is provided comprising an yttria-stabilized zirconia material comprising from 4.5 mol % to 5.1 mol % yttria. Optionally, the zirconia ceramic has a coloring agent that may comprise one or more metals selected from terbium (Tb), chromium (Cr), erbium (Er), and cobalt (Co), and further, may, optionally, comprise alumina, which if present may be in an amount from 0 wt % to 0.25 wt %. The zirconia ceramic materials exhibit both enhanced translucency and a flexural strength of at least 800 MPa when fully sintered.

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: A photo-curable resin composition is suitable for the fabrication of 3D printed objects via digital light processing (DLP) or stereolithography (SLA). The photo-curable resin composition can provide 3D printed objects having lower volumetric shrinkage, high accuracy and favorable mechanical strength for dental application such as building models, implant templates, surgical guides, night guard/occlusal splints, dentures, clear aligners, and temporary restorations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method/system/instructions of automatic margin line proposal includes receiving a 3D digital model of at least a portion of a jaw, the 3D digital model including a digital preparation tooth; determining, using a first trained neural network, an inner representation of the 3D digital model; and determining, using a second trained neural network, a margin line proposal from a base margin line and the inner representation of the 3D digital model.

Abstract: Antimicrobial polymer composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for making oral devices used in dental applications, such as denture bases. Acrylic resin composite materials comprising antimicrobial polymers and antimicrobial fillers provide reduction in common oral microorganisms after long-term aging, with reduced release rate of antimicrobial agents from the composite material. Antimicrobial polymers are prepared from compositions comprising acrylate and/or methacrylate monomers and polymerizable quaternary ammonium silicon-containing compounds.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of automated milling machine calibration includes receiving a calibration alert from a milling machine; performing automated calibration on the milling machine to determine one or more offsets; and automatically updating milling production instructions with the one or more offsets. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions to provide automated milling machine calibration, the computer program instructions including instructions for: receiving a calibration alert from a milling machine; performing automated calibration on the milling machine to determine one or more offsets; and automatically updating milling production instructions with the one or more offsets.

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: A computer-implemented method and system compresses CT reconstruction images and can include: receiving a volumetric density file including one or more voxels; replacing one or more voxel density values below an air density value with the air density value; replacing one or more voxel density values above a material density value with the material density value; determining one or more voxels of interest; replacing one or more non-interesting voxel density values below a material surface density with the air density value; replacing one or more non-interesting voxel density values above the material surface density with the material density value; quantizing all voxels to provide a reduced volume image; and compressing the reduced volume image to provide a compressed volume image.

Abstract: A sensor may include a sensing element retained within a storage compartment filled with a storage medium, which may also be used as a calibration medium. The sensing element can include a sensing surface located away from the distal end of the sensing element, such that an inactive section of the sensing element can cooperate with a sealing member such as an O-ring to form part of the seal retaining the storage/calibration medium. The sensing element can be extended and retracted from the storage compartment to expose the sensing surface to a process medium, while preserving the storage medium within the storage compartment for post-measurement validation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing a digital dental impression includes determining one or more first digital surface regions visible from a first side of the digital dental impression along an occlusion axis and one or more second digital surface regions visible from a second side of the digital dental impression along the occlusion axis, segmenting the digital dental impression into one or more digital segments and determining the one or more digital segments as a first digital segment or a second digital segment based on the majority of digital surface regions in the one or more digital segments.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of routing a dental restoration design case to a user account includes receiving new dental restoration design cases associated with metadata describes design requirements. The method includes parsing the metadata to identify design factors indicating the requirements and storing the new cases in a main queue. The method also includes receiving login information, identifying the user account for the design user and retrieving attribute data associated with the account. The attribute data describes a design skill level of the design user. The method includes evaluating the design factors of the new dental restoration design cases in the main queue based on the attribute data of the account to determine a dental restoration design case in the main queue that satisfies the attribute data of the account and routing the determined dental restoration design case to a user queue associated with the user account.

Abstract: A dispenser actuator assembly (100) for actuating a dispenser (10) is disclosed. The dispenser (10) is in the form of a glass ampoule assembly (10) having a rupturable glass ampoule (12) containing a flowable material (M). The glass ampoule (12) is contained within an outer container (14) wherein the outer container (14) has a distal end segment defining a first open end (22) and a second closed end (24). The dispenser actuator assembly (100) has a base member (102) having an opening (110) configured to mount to the outer container (14). The base member (102) has an outlet aperture (280) configured to be in fluid communication with the outer container (14). The base member (102) has an applicator (250) integrally formed thereon and extending from the base member (102). The applicator is in fluid communication with the outlet aperture (280).

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 physical preform suitable for a screw retained dental restoration (“SRR”) includes a sintered preform and an insert receiving region within at least a portion of the sintered preform. A computer-implemented method of providing a screw retained dental restoration includes receiving a virtual restoration mode and generating one or more virtual spiral toolpaths corresponding to a virtual restoration shape of the virtual restoration model. A computer-implemented method of correcting preform placement during milling includes probing one or more surface points of a preform mounted to a milling machine using a grinding bur of the milling machine and determining one or more preform alignment parameters based on a distance traveled by the grinding bur to the one or more surface points.