Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for the construction of a dental appliance for use in an oral environment comprising: (a) providing a shaped underlayment of a first metallic species generally inert with respect to the oral environment; (b) plating onto at least a portion of the underlayment a layer of a second metallic species; (c) oxidizing a surface portion of said layer to produce an oxide layer overlaying a subsurface layer of said second metallic species, said oxidizing step being capable of performance intraorally; (d) applying a polymerizable opaqueing agent to said surface portion in an amount sufficient to substantially obscure the oxide layer; and (e) polymerizing said opaqueing agent, at least one of steps (c), (d) or (e) being performed intraorally.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for the construction of a dental appliance for use in an oral environment comprising: (a) providing a shaped underlayment of a first metallic species generally inert with respect to the oral environment; (b) plating onto at least a portion of the underlayment a layer of a second metallic species; (c) oxidizing a surface portion of said layer to produce an oxide layer overlaying a subsurface layer of said second metallic species, said oxidizing step being capable of performance intraorally; (d) applying a polymerizable opaqueing agent to said surface portion in an amount sufficient to substantially obscure the oxide layer; and (e) polymerizing said opaqueing agent, at least one of steps (c), (d) or (e) being performed intraorally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: treating said layer with an adhesion promoter prior to said applying step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said promoter has the formula (X) m --R--(Y) n , wherein; R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; X is selected from the group consisting of ionic functionalities capable of forming inoganic ester bonds with said second metallic species, silicon species capable of forming siloxy bonds with said second metallic species, or ligand functionalities capable of forming coordination bonds with said second metallic species, Y is an ethylenically polymerizable group, and n and m are integers from 1 to about 3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising: applying to the obscured layer a pre-formed dental veneer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: applying to the obscured layer a pre-formed dental veneer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a polymerizable veneering composition to said opaqueing agent prior to said polymerizing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plating comprises electroplating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said opaqueing agent comprises a composition polymerizable through exposure to actinic light.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claims 1 or 8 wherein said opaqueing agent comprises a blend of a monofuctional monomer and a di- or polyfunctional crosslinking agent for said monomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a polymerization catalyst is applied to the opaqueing layer subsequent to said application step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) and all following steps are performed intraorally.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said construction is a reconstruction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said construction is a repair.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for the construction of a dental appliance for use in an oral environment comprising: (a) providing a shaped underlayment of a first metallic species generally inert with respect to the oral environment; (b) plating onto at least a portion of the underlayment a layer of a second metallic species; (c) oxidizing a surface portion of said layer to produce an oxide layer overlaying a subsurface layer of said second metallic species, said oxidizing step being capable of performance intraorally; (d) applying to said surface portion a polymerizable agent for adhering; and (e) polymerizing said agent, at least one of steps (c), (d) or (e) being performed intraorally, and the second metallic species having a greater tendency to bond with the polymerizable adhering agent than does the first metallic species.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for the construction of a dental appliance for use in an oral environment comprising: (a) providing a shaped underlayment of a first metallic species generally inert with respect to the oral environment; (b) plating onto at least a portion of the underlayment a layer of a second metallic species; (c) oxidizing a surface portion of said layer to produce an oxide layer overlaying a subsurface layer of said second metallic species, said oxidizing step being capable of performance intraorally; (d) applying to said surface portion a polymerizable agent for adhering; and (e) polymerizing said agent, at least one of steps (c), (d) or (e) being performed intraorally, and the second metallic species having a greater tendency to bond with the polymerizable adhering agent than does the first metallic species.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising treating said layer with an adhesion promoter prior to said applying step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said promoter has the formula (X) m --R--(Y) n , wherein: R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; X is selected from the group consisting of ionic functionalities capable of forming inorganic ester bonds with said second metallic species, silicon species capable of forming siloxy bonds with said second metallic species, or ligand functionalities capable of forming coordination bonds with said second metallic species; Y is an ethylenically polymerizable group; and n and m are integers from 1 to about 3.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said promoter has the formula (X) m --R--(Y) n , wherein: R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; X is selected from the group consisting of ionic functionalities capable of forming inorganic ester bonds with said oxidized surface, silicon species capable of forming siloxy bonds with said oxidized surface, or ligand functionalities capable of forming coordination bonds with said oxidized surface; Y is an ethylenically polymerizable group; and n and m are integers from 1 to 3.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said adhesion promoter is a di- or polyfunctional material having two types of functionalities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising applying a polymerizable composition to said agent prior to said polymerizing step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising applying to the polymerized adhering agent a performed dental veneer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising applying a polymerizable veneering composition to said adhering agent prior to said polymerizing step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said plating comprises electroplating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein a polymerization catalyst is applied to the polymerizable adhering agent subsequent to said application step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein step (b) and all following steps are performed intraorally.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said construction is a reconstruction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said construction is a repair.