Abstract: A method of applying a surface glaze to a dental construct. The method includes associating glazing material with a carrier composed of a highly flexible and removable material, assembling the construct and carrier with the construct positioned within the carrier, forcing the carrier onto the construct by differential fluid pressure, removing the carrier, and maturing the glazing material to a glaze. The method finds particular application in applying coloration, either uniformly or in a pattern, to a dental construct.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of artificial teeth, either replacement whole teeth or crowns, whereby a tooth is produced by machining from a layered block of synthetic plastics materials, the layers being of predetermined varying color (hue), chroma, value and translucency to simulate the pulp, dentine and enamel layers in a real tooth, thereby providing an artificial tooth with the distribution and depth of color of a real tooth. The process provides for varying the tooth color by milling the tooth from a different section of the layered block to vary the thicknesses of the layers, at least at the labial, mesial, distal and occlusal surfaces, so as to obtain a custom tooth matched very closely to a patient's real tooth color and pattern. The process permits the manufacture of an artificial tooth from materials with a hardness closely matching that of a real tooth to provide similar wear properties.

Abstract: A taxidermic specimen and a method of formation thereof is disclosed. A preliminary negative mold (28) is formed by applying an alginate material to the jaw structure of the animal carcass. Fibers (50) are disposed within the depressions (30, 32 and 34) to provide tooth stains. Tooth-colored acrylic material is alternately poured in layers into the teeth depressions (30, 32 and 34) of the preliminary mold (28). The hardened acrylic teeth (44, 46, 48) are removed and chamfered around the gingival line (40). The teeth are reinserted into the preliminary mold (28) and covered by palate and gum forming fiberglass. Natural appearing colorations are provided comprising selected colored threads (52) near the surface of the gum structure. The composite tooth, gum and palate structure forms the master mold (54). From the master mold (54) a final rubber production mold is formed which is used to construct additional production taxidermic specimens in the same manner in which the master mold (54) was formed.

Abstract: Two dispersant compositions are disclosed for use in the fabrication of a dental prosthesis, the compositions serving for the dispersion and deposition of an opacifier layer and a porcelain color layer over the opacifier layer. The dispersants are so formulated that only a single firing is used to produce both the opaque and porcelain bisque simultaneously, whereas prior methods required firing of the opaque layer prior to application of the porcelain color layer. A method of application to insure effective hiding of the metallic substrate, especially near the gingival portion, is disclosed.

Abstract: Method of using a tristimulus colorimeter including a modified dual slope integrator digital voltmeter which measures the red, blue and green light reflected from a sample and displays the same in digital form as optical density units. The colorimeter includes a light conducting probe with a diffusing member and a movable collar for blocking ambient light, and a rotating color filter wheel is synchronized with the voltmeter for effecting a continuous update of the data displayed thereby. Moreover, a color averaging method provides for prediction of the ultimate color of a mixture of two differently colored porcelains or the like especially used in the construction of artificial teeth or the like.