Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of making a vitreous bond abrasive article and a metal bond abrasive article. The methods include sequential steps. Step a) includes a subprocess including sequentially: i) depositing a layer of loose powder particles in a confined region; and ii) selectively applying heat via conduction or irradiation, to heat treat an area of the layer of loose powder particles. The loose powder particles include abrasive particles and organic compound particles, as well as vitreous bond precursor particles or metal particles. The layer of loose powder particles has substantially uniform thickness. Step b) includes independently carrying out step a) a number of times to generate an abrasive article preform comprising the bonded powder particles and remaining loose powder particles. Step c) includes separating remaining loose powder particles from the abrasive article preform.

Abstract: A method of making a customized dental blank comprises the steps of providing individual tooth color information, forming an open-celled dental blank precursor, providing the open-celled dental blank precursor with color in accordance with the individual tooth color information, and compressing the dental blank precursor. The method helps maximizing the optical quality of dental restoration at minimized costs.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a light permeable base (2), a build carrier (4) for holding a workpiece (100) and a light source (5) which is arranged to emit light through the light permeable base (2). The light permeable base (2) and the build carrier (4) are positionable relative to each other in a build dimension in which the workpiece (100) is built up. The system further has a resin vat (3) in which the light permeable base (2) forms a wall portion thereof. The system further comprises a plurality of resin supplies (13, 15) for supplying different light hardenable resins in direct contact with each other in said vat (3). The system facilitates the rapid manufacturing of a dental restoration having a color gradation.

Abstract: A method of building up a dental object includes steps of (i) determining the three-dimensional shape of the object; (ii) mixing at least a first and a second component to form a hardenable composition; (iii) depositing the hardenable composition through a nozzle; (iv) performing steps (ii) and (iii) in combination with moving the nozzle by computer control based on said data. The invention helps providing an object like a dental restoration at maximized geometric and optical quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a dental restoration from a partially-sintered or non-sintered blank using a three-dimensional dental restoration model, comprising the steps of: generating at least one or more first milling path for rough and/or fine milling; determining areas or zones of increased stress in the three-dimensional dental restoration model and generating at least one modified milling path; machining the blank by milling utilizing one or more first milling paths; selectively machining parts of the blank utilizing at least one modified milling path; and sintering the machined blank.

Abstract: A method of making a dental article, has steps of (i) providing a layer of sinter powder, (ii) providing a solidifiable binder to form a circumferential fixation zone (114) which encloses a portion of the powder layer. The method further has the step of repeating steps (i) and (ii) with each fixation zone (114) of one layer being in contact with a fixation zone (114) of an adjacent layer such that a plurality of the fixation zones (114) together form a coherent hollow sleeve (116) extending across the layers. The corresponding plurality of powder portions in combination form a contiguous batch (118) of powder captured in the sleeve. The method facilitates the manufacturing of sintered dental articles.

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: 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: 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 method of making a dental restoration has the steps of capturing an image of a tooth, posterizing the image, determining a tooth color structure, providing information about a multicolored block having a block color structure, matching the tooth color structure and the block color structure, based on the matching, determining a position within the block in which the tooth color structure and the block color structure match, and machining the dental restoration from the block at the determined position. The invention helps facilitating the making of dental restorations at maximized aesthetics.

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: A device for powder based additive material manufacturing of dental appliances. The device has a recoater (10) for providing a powder layer to a build area. The recoater (10) has a slide (11) and is adapted for dispensing of the powder to the build area. The recoater (10) has further at least two powder supplies for individually supplying a first and a second powder on the slide (11) and a powder transport section in which the first and second powder are brought in touch with each other for at least partially merging. The invention is advantageous in that it allows providing dental blanks having color gradients in all three dimensions.

Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a process for producing a dental article comprising at least two parts, Part A (e.g. coping) and Part B (e.g. veneer), Part A and Part B each having a 3-dim. structure and an outer and an inner surface, the outer surface of Part A having a shape which essentially corresponds to the shape of the inner surface of Part B, Part B comprising a material with a porous section and being produced with the aid of a rapid-prototyping technique, the process comprising a first heating step, wherein Part A is serving as support structure for Part B during said heating step.

Abstract: A system having at least one dental blank and an associated shade guide. The dental blank exhibits a non-uniform color shading, and the shade guide comprises a plurality of shade specimens each exhibiting a particular color shading representing the same color shading present in a partial area within the dental blank. A method of making a dental restoration includes the use of the system. The invention facilitates making a dental restoration having a color shading resembling the color shading of a natural tooth.

Abstract: A method in the preparation of a dental restoration, in which the dental restoration has an implant unit and a head structure interconnectible with one another, comprises the steps of providing an auxiliary material, providing a computerized head receiving surface representation (A?), manufacturing from the auxiliary material a measuring element having a measuring surface (M) and an implant unit coupling surface (X). The measuring surface (M) is adapted such that it can be captured by an optical measuring device, and the measuring element coupling surface (X) is adapted for mating with the head receiving surface (A). The method may help making the preparation of a dental restoration more time and cost efficient.

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: The present disclosure is directed, inter alia, to a system that comprises a rapid prototyping device and a material cartridge. The rapid prototyping device comprises a chamber for building up the object. The cartridge comprises a body into which a channel extends. A support is adapted to be movably arranged within the channel. The cartridge is adapted to be removably placed in the rapid prototyping device, and the rapid prototyping device can move the support of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the system helps minimizing costs in the manufacturing of dental restorations by rapid prototyping techniques.

Abstract: A method of making a customized dental blank comprises the steps of providing individual tooth color information, forming an open-celled dental blank precursor, providing the open-celled dental blank precursor with color in accordance with the individual tooth color information, and compressing the dental blank precursor. The method helps maximizing the optical quality of dental restoration at minimized costs.