Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming a dental restoration base, selecting a decal representing a natural oral cavity characteristic, and attaching the selected decal to the base. Thereafter, the decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned to create a finished dental restoration having desired oral cavity color and characteristics such as teeth, enamel, dentin, crazing lines, stains, veins, blood vessels, bony coloration, hyper-calcification, mucosal tissue or gum tissue. In an alternative embodiment, the process may include placing a sealant over the decal and at least a portion of the dental restoration base. Additionally, a secondary decal may be attached over the sealant, followed by glazing the secondary decal.

Abstract: The process for duplicating mucosal tissue or tooth structure for use in a prefabricated dental restoration includes first selecting a characterization strip and a base layer having a desired oral cavity color or characteristic. The selected characterization strip is then placed on the selected base layer and the two are rolled together into a composite. The composite is then formed into a portion of a prefabricated dental restoration, wherein the color and characteristics of the composite duplicate mucosal tissue or tooth structure. In this regard, the composite may be bent into a denture base or otherwise shaped into an artificial tooth for use in dentures.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming a dental restoration base, selecting a decal representing a natural oral cavity characteristic, and attaching the selected decal to the base. Thereafter, the decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned to create a finished dental restoration having desired oral cavity color and characteristics such as teeth, enamel, dentin, crazing lines, stains, veins, blood vessels, bony coloration, hyper-calcification, mucosal tissue or gum tissue. In an alternative embodiment, the process may include placing a sealant over the decal and at least a portion of the dental restoration base. Additionally, a secondary decal may be attached over the sealant, followed by glazing the secondary decal.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming a dental restoration base, selecting a decal representing a natural oral cavity characteristic, and attaching the selected decal to the base. Thereafter, the decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned to create a finished dental restoration having desired oral cavity color and characteristics such as teeth, enamel, dentin, crazing lines, stains, veins, blood vessels, bony coloration, hyper-calcification, mucosal tissue or gum tissue. In an alternative embodiment, the process may include placing a sealant over the decal and at least a portion of the dental restoration base. Additionally, a secondary decal may be attached over the sealant, followed by glazing the secondary decal.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming an image which represents a natural oral cavity characteristic. The image may be formed on a computer by an artist or by capturing a photograph of an oral cavity. The computer-based image may be modified with a computer-aided software program. Thereafter, the image is printed as a decal and attached to the dental restoration base. The decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned by a high intensity light or by being fired together in an oven in order to create a finished dental restoration having the desired oral cavity color and characteristics.

Abstract: The process for duplicating mucosal tissue or tooth structure for use in a prefabricated dental restoration includes first selecting a characterization strip and a base layer having a desired oral cavity color or characteristic. The selected characterization strip is then placed on the selected base layer and the two are rolled together into a composite. The composite is then formed into a portion of a prefabricated dental restoration, wherein the color and characteristics of the composite duplicate mucosal tissue or tooth structure. In this regard, the composite may be bent into a denture base or otherwise shaped into an artificial tooth for use in dentures.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a tooth restoration includes mixing a high fusing ceramic material, a low fusing ceramic material and a base material into a viscous liquid. The viscous liquid is applied to a tooth restoration base. Thereafter, the low fusing ceramic material is melted to adhere the high fusing ceramic material to the base. An overlay is then applied the high fusing ceramic material.

Abstract: A process for oral tissue prototyping includes the steps of forming a prototype of an oral cavity and placing a sealer on an oral tissue area of the prototype. Thereafter, the sealer is painted with a tissue-colored paint and any other remaining details are added to the prototype to mimic the anatomical tissue coloration of the oral cavity.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming an image which represents a natural oral cavity characteristic. The image may be formed on a computer by an artist or by capturing a photograph of an oral cavity. The computer-based image may be modified with a computer-aided software program. The image is then transferred to a dental construct base and conditioned by a high intensity light or by being fired together in an oven. Thereafter, a sealant is disposed over at least a portion of the image or the dental construct substrate and finished to create a dental restoration having the desired oral cavity color and characteristics.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming a dental restoration base, selecting a decal representing a natural oral cavity characteristic, and attaching the selected decal to the base. Thereafter, the decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned to create a finished dental restoration having desired oral cavity color and characteristics such as teeth, enamel, dentin, crazing lines, stains, veins, blood vessels, bony coloration, hyper-calcification, mucosal tissue or gum tissue. In an alternative embodiment, the process may include placing a sealant over the decal and at least a portion of the dental restoration base. Additionally, a secondary decal may be attached over the sealant, followed by glazing the secondary decal.

Abstract: A process for making a dental restoration includes forming an image which represents a natural oral cavity characteristic. The image may be formed on a computer by an artist or by capturing a photograph of an oral cavity. The computer-based image may be modified with a computer-aided software program. Thereafter, the image is printed as a decal and attached to the dental restoration base. The decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned by a high intensity light or by being fired together in an oven in order to create a finished dental restoration having the desired oral cavity color and characteristics.

Abstract: An anterior tooth characterization guide includes several sets of anterior tooth samples which each have differing characteristics. The characterization guide is useful in connection with a method for selecting characterizations for an anterior tooth prosthesis and a process for fabricating a characterized tooth prosthesis, which permit a dentist to relay to a laboratory an accurate representation of the tooth prosthesis to be manufactured. In this regard, the characterization guide is utilized to select a dentin color for the tooth prosthesis from several tooth samples in which the incisal color is constant. The body to incisal relation for the tooth prosthesis may also be selected from tooth samples in which the dentin is constant, and the amount of white stain for the tooth prosthesis may be selected from the tooth samples in which the dentin and enamel are constant.

Abstract: An anterior tooth characterization guide includes several sets of anterior tooth samples which each have differing characteristics. The characterization guide is useful in connection with a method for selecting characterizations for an anterior tooth prosthesis, which permits a dentist to relay to a laboratory an accurate representation of the tooth prosthesis to be manufactured. In this regard, the characterization guide is utilized to select a dentin color for the tooth prosthesis from several tooth samples in which the incisal color is constant. The body to incisal relation for the tooth prosthesis may also be selected from tooth samples in which the dentin is constant, and the amount of white stain for the tooth prosthesis may be selected from the tooth samples in which the dentin and enamel are constant.

Abstract: A posterior tooth shade guide includes a plurality of posterior tooth samples each positionable upon a posterior tooth holder and bearing differing tooth characteristics. Several of the tooth samples have differing white stain characteristics, others have differing brown stain characteristics, and still others have differing incisal layer colors. Another set have differing percentages of the incisal that covers the body of the tooth prosthesis. A selector ring is provided to permit the selection of a specific brown stain color. Utilizing the posterior tooth shade guide, a dentist and the laboratory may utilize a method for selecting characterizations of a tooth prosthesis wherein the posterior tooth samples are utilized to select: brown stain characteristics, white stain characteristics, incisal layer color, and the percentage of the incisal that covers the body of the tooth prosthesis.

Abstract: A winged dental bridge includes a flexible bridge framework which is attachable to two abutment teeth, and a relatively hard veneer for placement over an exposed labial surface of the bridge framework. The bridge framework includes a pontic, a first wing extending laterally outwardly therefrom for attachment to a first abutment tooth, and a second wing for attachment to a second abutment tooth. The bridge framework is formed of a laminated resinous composite material including an etchable material which forms the labial surface of the pontic and attachment surfaces of the wings, and a polishable material which entirely covers the lingual surface of the etchable material. In a method for making the winged dental bridge, the uncured resinous composite structure is applied over a separator to a cast taken of the patient's mouth. The uncured bridge framework is light cured on the bridge in a pressurized nitrogen gas environment, and subsequently heat and light cured.