Abstract: A delivery system for dispensing liquid dental materials is provided which enables a dentist or dental technician to efficiently store and safely apply materials such as etchants and adhesives through use of a modified syringe assembly. The liquid dental material for application to a tooth surface and a protective gas bubble are carried within a carpule assembly which includes a plunger extending rearwardly from a glass carpule. A needle preferably having a blunt application tip is mounted in fluidic communication with the liquid and passes through the liquid delivery end of the carpule. The carpule is sealed to prevent the entry of air therein or the inadvertent expression of liquid therefrom and is adapted for use with a series of disposable needles. In one embodiment, the invention is provided with a syringe barrel and an application needle is removably mounted thereon.

Abstract: Improved dental porcelain compositions and resultant fused porcelain dental restorations are provided which exhibit enhanced strength properties as compared with conventional porcelains. The fiber-filled porcelain compositions of the invention are supplemented with zirconium oxide ceramic fibers in relatively minor amounts of less than 5% by weight. The reinforcing fibers are advantageously predominantly zirconium oxide, and have a relatively short average length of from about 1/32 to 1/4 of an inch. These fibers are normally randomly oriented and homogeneously dispersed throughout the fiber-filled porcelain composition, in order to give a reinforcing fiber network. A completed restoration in accordance with the invention would typically include a core portion formed of the fiber filled porcelain, with the outer portion of the restoration being fabricated from conventional non-fiber reinforced porcelain.

Abstract: An improved method of porcelain dental restoration is provided which gives strong, aesthetically pleasing restorations in a wide variety of contexts such as inlays, onlays or overlays. The method involves first preparing a tooth requiring restoration by removing the decayed portions and exposing dentin surface, whereupon a lining material (e.g. a glass ionomer) is applied to the exposed dentin. An impression of the patient's teeth is next taken, whereupon a refractory positive impression of the prepared tooth is fabricated. Next, a porcelain restoration is produced by appropriate layering and firing to give a restoration piece which substantially conforms to the shape of the originally decayed portion of the tooth. Finally, the porcelain restoration is fused to the natural tooth by means of fusing cement system which mechanically and chemcially bonds to porcelain, lining cement and adjacent enamel surfaces.