System for fabrication of indirect dental restorations incorporating optical enhancement

摘要

The invention provides for a system where a viscous material such as dental composite is heated by various means and is injected into a mold of optically clear self curing material such as silicone or polyvinylsiloxane. This mold is contained in an optically clear glass or other such optically clear retention device that is keyed to allow for the sections of the mold to come together such that there is not rotation or gap between the sections. This will allow that no distortion of the finished product will occur. The outer surface of the retention device is formed in a manner of a focusing lens that will direct the curing light energy directly upon the material contained within the mold. The shape of the retention device can be of any shape from a sphere to any parabolic shape or configuration with the intention of the invention, such that when light energy is in use, it will focus on the mold with the greatest intensity. This will enhance the rate at which the material is cured and for the material to be cured from the outside inward. This will allow for complete curing to the surface and prevent the “oxygen inhibited layer” from forming. By using intermittent light pulses of an appropriate duration and wavelength, the composite shrinks at a prescribed rate. ;The shrinkage of the material is compensated by feeder tubes filled with composite and fabricated of a material that is impervious to the light energy and thus is not cured when the light is focused on the material being molded. The feeder tubes are under pressure of at least 50-150 lbs./sq. in. This will allow for the material in the tubes to be forced into the main mold as the curing takes place and compensates for the shrinkage that is inherent to the material. ;The mold and the retention device along with the material within the mold and feeder tubes is heated to a temperature that will maximize the reduction in viscosity for each material used in the process. This heat is maintained prior to being placed within the pressure chamber. ;Once the initial light curing has taken place, the restoration is removed from the clear mold and is place in an oven under vacuum and heated to a temperature of 200-250 degrees F. for approximately 15 minutes. This process removes any volatile molecules and strengthens the finished restoration.