Abstract: Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities.

Abstract: A dental mill blank is formed from a number of different self-supporting, malleable, curable (SMC) materials distributed within the blank so that a dental article machined from the blank closely resembles natural dentition in appearance or function. When in an uncured state, a single mill blank can be adapted to fit a variety of different tooth sizes and shapes, thus reducing the inventory of mill blank types required for fabrication of the range of possible tooth shapes and sizes.

Abstract: A dental article is fabricated from an SMC material using three-dimensional data captured from natural dentition to guide a computer-controlled milling machine. The three-dimensional data may include scans of an original tooth structure and a prepared tooth surface to characterize all surfaces of a dental article, or certain features may be created within a computer-assisted design environment taking account of occlusion, proximal contacts, and the like. In addition the model applied to a computer-controlled milling machine may account for shrinkage of the SMC material during any post-milling curing steps in order to ensure an accurate fit to the prepared tooth surface.

Abstract: Compositions, particularly for forming dental products, having a hardenable self-supporting structure with sufficient malleability to be subsequently customized into a second shape and then hardened, and methods.

Abstract: A digital painting process provides computer-controlled finishing of dental articles. The process can selectively apply different materials over portions of a dental article in one or more layers to achieve a multi-chromatic finish having a variety of colors, finishes, and surface properties that closely match the appearance and function of human dentition.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities.

Abstract: A dental article such as a crown is fabricating by layering one or more preformed shells of SMC material onto an understructure. The understructure may be fabricated from any suitably strong material for use in replacing dentition. At the same time, a number of SMC shells may be used to provide a finished dental article having a natural-looking, multi-chromatic appearance. The SMC material(s) may be cured to provide an exterior hardness suitable for use in dental applications.

Abstract: By capturing a highly detailed three-dimensional digital model of dentition, a suitable replacement dental article be fabricated with a combination of digitally-controlled reductive processes such as milling and digitally-controlled additive processes such as digital painting. A dental article so-manufactured can provide an aesthetically pleasing, multi-chromatic appearance that closely matches surrounding dentition.

Abstract: A dental article includes an external layer formed of a self-supporting hardenable preformed material having a dental article shape defined by an external layer surface. The external layer defines an interior volume. An interior material is disposed within the interior volume. The interior material is different than the external hardenable preformed material and the interior material has a yield stress value of 100 dyn/cm2 or greater.

Abstract: Compositions, particularly for forming dental products, having a hardenable self-supporting structure with sufficient malleability to be subsequently customized into a second shape and then hardened, and methods.

Abstract: Dental crown forms and methods of using them are disclosed. The dental crown forms may include one or more of the following features: a handle attached to the dental crown form at a location removed from the base of the dental crown form; a vented handle through which excess amounts of hardenable dental material can pass during placement of the crown form; and one or more lines of weakness that may be separated to remove a dental crown form from hardenable dental material after placement of the filled crown form. The dental crown forms may also be located in packages with hardenable dental material located within the dental crown forms as packaged.

Abstract: A hardenable dental composition that includes a polymerizable component and an organogelator.

Abstract: A solid dental crown and methods of using the solid dental crown are disclosed. The solid dental crown includes, a self-supporting solid hardenable preformed dental crown having an external crown shape defined by an external crown surface. The external crown surface defines a crown volume that is substantially filled with a hardenable composition. The hardenable composition has sufficient malleability so that the solid preformed dental crown can be pressed onto a prepared tooth surface to form a recess in the solid preformed dental crown defined by a recess surface that is complimentary to the prepared tooth surface.

Abstract: Compositions, particularly for forming dental products, having a hardenable self-supporting structure with sufficient malleability to be subsequently customized into a second shape and then hardened, and methods.

Abstract: Preformed malleable dental crowns with a side-generic external shape with a plane of symmetry in the facial-lingual direction and/or a plane of symmetry in the mesial-distal direction. The preformed dental crowns also include a hardenable composition that has sufficient malleability such that the side-generic external shape can be formed into, e.g., a left-side specific or right-side specific adjusted external shape. Methods of the invention may include fitting the dental crowns by adjusting or forming them to provide side-specific features, followed by hardening of the hardenable composition.

Abstract: Carbosilane-containing polymers (including oligomers) having the following structural features: greater than one repeat unit; at least 4 Si-arylene bonds; at least 1 (meth)acrylate moiety, Si—H moiety, or both; no Si—O bonds; preferably at least 4 silicon atoms; wherein 2 silicon atoms are separated by one arylene group in each repeat unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental material that includes a hardenable resin system and a first initiator system capable of hardening the hardenable resin.

Abstract: The invention features a dental mill blank constructed from an uncured, self-supporting, hardenable organic composition. The invention also provides a method of making a dental appliance. The method involves machining an uncured dental mill blank into an uncured shaped article and then at least partially curing the shaped article. The shaped article may be cured in multiple steps with or without additional machining steps in between the curing steps.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities.

Abstract: Compositions, particularly for forming dental article forms, having a self-supporting structure with sufficient malleability to be subsequently customized into a second shape and then optionally cured, and methods.