Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.

Abstract: A microwave furnace has a furnace chamber formed between a chamber housing and a sintering platform for an object to be sintered. A microwave source is arranged for emitting microwaves into the furnace chamber. The microwave furnace further has a susceptor that comprises a material which over a temperature range of the material of at least 23 C to 700 C couples into microwaves. The susceptor and the furnace chamber are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which the susceptor is positioned relative to the furnace chamber, and a second position in which the susceptor is positioned further retracted from the furnace chamber relative to the first position. The invention helps providing a zirconia material with a relative homogeneous material structure.

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: The invention relates to a glazing composition suitable for glazing the surface a dental zirconia article. The glazing composition comprises a liquid, glass particles, and hydrophilic silica nano-particles. The invention also relates to a process for sintering a porous dental zirconia article with a glazing composition on its surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glazing composition for a porous dental zirconia article, the glazing composition comprising liquid, glass particles, fluorescing component(s) comprising europium, optionally hydrophilic silica nano-particles, and optionally hydrophobic silica nano-particles, wherein the fluorescing component(s) can be contained in the glass particles or as separate component. The invention also relates to a process for sintering a porous dental zirconia article with a glazing composition on its surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of sintering a dental zirconia restoration, the process comprising a first step of heat-treating a porous dental zirconia article with a heating rate of at least 3 K/sec until a temperature level of 75 to 90% of the final sintering temperature is achieved to obtain a partially sintered dental zirconia article, the porous dental zirconia article having a BET surface of 5 to 12 m2/g and being composed of a 4 mol % yttria stabilized zirconia material and having an alumina content of utmost 0.15 wt. %.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of producing a dental zirconia restoration, the dental zirconia restoration having an outer and an inner surface, the process comprising the step of firing a porous dental zirconia restoration and a glass until the porous dental zirconia restoration is sintered, the glass being located during the firing step on at least a portion of the outer surface of the porous dental zirconia restoration, wherein the zirconia material of the porous dental zirconia restoration and the glass are selected such that during the firing step the glass infiltrates the pores of the porous dental zirconia restoration to an extent of not more than 5 ?m in depth. The invention also relates to a sintered dental zirconia restoration obtainable by such a process and a kit of parts comprising a porous dental zirconia mill blank and a surface treating agent containing a glass for use in 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: A microwave furnace has a furnace chamber formed between a chamber housing and a sintering platform for an object to be sintered. A microwave source is arranged for emitting microwaves into the furnace chamber. The microwave furnace further has a susceptor that comprises a material which over a temperature range of the material of at least 23 C to 700 C couples into microwaves. The susceptor and the furnace chamber are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which the susceptor is positioned relative to the furnace chamber, and a second position in which the susceptor is positioned further retracted from the furnace chamber relative to the first position. The invention helps providing a zirconia material with a relative homogeneous material structure.

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: A dental article includes a shell defining a volume, the shell including a circumferential base and an incisal/occlusal region distal from the circumferential base. A hardenable dental composition is located within the volume of the shell, and an isolation film is located at the circumferential base of the shell.

Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.

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: The invention relates to a porous dental milling block comprising at least two geometrically defined Material Sections A and B, Material Section A comprising a tetragonal zirconia crystal phase in an amount A-T in % and a cubic zirconia crystal phase in an amount A-C in %, Material Section B comprising cubic zirconia crystal phase in an amount B-T in % and cubic zirconia crystal phase in an amount B-C in %, wherein (amount of tetragonal phase A-T in %)/(amount of cubic phase content A-C in %)>1 and (amount of tetragonal phase content B-T in %)/(amount of cubic phase content B-C in %)<1. The invention also relates to a process of production of the porous dental milling block and its use for producing a dental article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a porous dental milling block comprising at least two geometrically defined Material Sections A and B, Material Section A comprising a tetragonal zirconia crystal phase in an amount A-T in % and a cubic zirconia crystal phase in an amount A-C in %, Material Section B comprising tetragonal zirconia crystal phase in an amount B-T in % and cubic zirconia crystal phase in an amount B-C in %, wherein (amount of tetragonal phase A-T in %)/(amount of cubic phase content A-C in %)>1 and (amount of tetragonal phase content B-T in %)/(amount of cubic phase content B-C in %)<1. The invention also relates to a process of production of the porous dental milling block and its use for producing a dental article.

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.