Method for producing dentures comprising shortening by machining of pre-fabricated tooth blanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9907630-B2
Application number	US-201314390299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2013
Priority date	Apr 19, 2012
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A method produces one or more dentures wherein the dentures have a base element that holds at least two tooth blanks. The method comprises producing a negative mold by machining on the basis of a digital image of a tooth situation and shortening, by machining, a length dimension of the tooth blanks that are preassembled and held in the negative mold from a basal side in order to achieve a tooth line adapted to the tooth situation. The method also comprises connecting the base element and the shortened tooth blanks to form the dentures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing a denture, wherein the denture comprises a base element that supports at least two tooth blanks, the method comprising:
a. preparing the digital image of the tooth situation;
b. computer-based generating of a digital model of the denture based on the digital image;
by means of using and selecting digital representations of pre-fabricated tooth blanks;
wherein the pre-fabricated tooth blanks have a defined length dimension;

c. calculating a length difference data set, prepared from the defined length dimension and an insertion depth of the at least two pre-fabricated tooth blanks in the base element,
d. building-up a digital image of a negative mould, in which the at least two prefabricated tooth blanks form the positive, wherein the negative mould encodes a position of the at least two pre-fabricated tooth blanks on the base element;
e. producing, by machining, the negative mould by means of the digital image of the negative mould;
f. inserting the pre-fabricated tooth blanks into the negative mould;
g. shortening, by machining, the length dimension of the pre-fabricated tooth blanks from the basal side based on the length difference data set in order to produce the shortened tooth blanks; and
h. connecting the base element and the shortened tooth blanks to form the denture.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, for preparing the negative mould, a computer-based up-building production method is utilized.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the computer-based up-building production method is selected from the group consisting of rapid prototyping, SD lithography, selective laser melting, 3D stereolithography, 3D inkjet, fused deposition modelling, 3D laser lithography and a combination of at least two thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-fabricated tooth blanks are held in the negative mould in at least one of a nonpositive fit manner, a form closure manner and a material bonded manner.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
preparing an attachment means for connecting the shortened tooth blanks to the base element, wherein the attachment means comprises a first coding means facilitating definite spatial positioning of the shortened tooth blank in the base part.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the negative moulds are provided with at least one second coding means facilitating definite spatial positioning of the pre-fabricated tooth blank in the negative mould.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in step c, the selected digital representations of the tooth blanks are arranged on a crown side along a tooth line based on at least one of the tooth situation and a pre-defined tooth arrangement.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, after step b:
adapting a height position of the digital representations of the pre-fabricated tooth blanks in the digital model of the denture.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
computer-based splitting of the digital model of the denture into a digital image of the base element and a digital image of the at least two tooth blanks.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
fabricating, by machining, the base element based on the digital image of the base element.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of an ablating computer-based production method and an up-building computer-based production method is utilized in the method, wherein the at least one of the ablating computer-based production method and the up-building computer-based production method is selected from the group consisting of preparing the negative mould by machining and fabricating the base element by machining.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a digital image of a tooth situation that reflects a shape of a gingival area of a patient is utilized for shaping the digital model of the denture.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising instructions that enables a computer to execute the method according to claim 1 .

14. A computer comprising the non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium according to claim 13 .

Assignees

• Heraeus Kulzer Gmbh
• Kulzer & Co Gmbh

Inventors

• Beyer Mario
• Boehm Uwe

Classifications

• A61C13/20

  Methods or devices for soldering, casting, moulding or melting {(A61C13/04, A61C13/081 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A61C13/00 Primary

  Dental prostheses; Making same (tooth crowns for capping teeth A61C5/70; dental implants A61C8/00) · CPC title

• A61C13/0022

  Blanks or green, unfinished dental restoration parts · CPC title

• G16H20/40

  relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture · CPC title

• A61C13/0013

  using stereolithographic techniques · CPC title