Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of making an object suitable for use as an insert in a composite dental restoration comprising (a) preparing a mix consisting of silicon dioxide and at least one other oxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, boron oxide, strontium oxide, calcium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, tantalum oxide and tungsten oxide, so as to provide for an x-ray opacity and visual opacity substantially within the range of human dentin an enamel upon treatment as specified hereinafter; (b) heating the mix to form a liquid or slurry; (c) mixing the liquid or slurry to homogenize it; (d) quenching the liquid or slurry to form cooled objects in assorted sizes and shapes, each of said objects being sized and shaped to fill a typical dental cavity as nearly as possible with a single object; (e) heat treating the quenched objects to obtain objects having a visual opacity substantially within the range of human dentin and enamel, and separate internal phases; (f) etching the objects by treating them with one or more solutions comprising a base or NaF, KF, NH 4 HF 2 or NH 4 F to remove the surface layer and provide an object of rough-textured surface with increased area; and (g) applying an adhesion-promoting compound to the objects to form an insert.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of making an object suitable for use as an insert in a composite dental restoration comprising (a) preparing a mix consisting of silicon dioxide and at least one other oxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, boron oxide, strontium oxide, calcium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, niobium oxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, tantalum oxide and tungsten oxide, so as to provide for an x-ray opacity and visual opacity substantially within the range of human dentin an enamel upon treatment as specified hereinafter; (b) heating the mix to form a liquid or slurry; (c) mixing the liquid or slurry to homogenize it; (d) quenching the liquid or slurry to form cooled objects in assorted sizes and shapes, each of said objects being sized and shaped to fill a typical dental cavity as nearly as possible with a single object; (e) heat treating the quenched objects to obtain objects having a visual opacity substantially within the range of human dentin and enamel, and separate internal phases; (f) etching the objects by treating them with one or more solutions comprising a base or NaF, KF, NH 4 HF 2 or NH 4 F to remove the surface layer and provide an object of rough-textured surface with increased area; and (g) applying an adhesion-promoting compound to the objects to form an insert.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the mix of subpart (a) comprises about 33 to about 80 mole percent silica, about 7 to about 33 mole percent boric oxide, about 1 to about 17 mole percent aluminum oxide and either (1) about 5 to about 25 mole percent zinc oxide, or (2) about 3 to about 33 mole percent strontium oxide, or (3) about 3 to about 33 mole percent of a combination of calcium oxide plus strontium oxide, or (4) about 3 to about 33 mole percent of a combination of calcium oxide plus strontium oxide plus zinc oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the mix of subpart (a) comprises about 58 mole percent silicon dioxide, about 16 mole percent boric oxide, about 5 mole percent aluminum oxide and about 21 mole percent strontium oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the mix of subpart (a) comprises about 60 mole percent silicon dioxide, about 16 mole percent boric oxide, about 5 mole percent aluminum oxide and about 20 mole percent strontium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the mix is melted to form a liquid in step (b).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the mix is quenched in step (d) by pouring it between cooled rollers synchronized and shaped to form objects of assorted sizes and shapes, each of said objects being sized and shaped to fill a typical dental cavity as nearly as possible with a single object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the objects are heat treated in step (e) to a temperature of at least 850° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the objects are etched in step (f) by treatment with a strong aqueous base solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the objects are etched in step (f) by treatment with boiling aqueous sodium hydroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the etching was base, NaF, KF NH 4 HF 2 or NH 4 F is followed by treatment with acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the adhesion-promoting compound of step (g) is an organofunctional silane coupling agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the organofuncitonal silane coupling agent is 3-methacryloxypropyltrismethoxy silane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method for repairing cavities in teeth comprising partially filling the cavities with unhardened composite material, pressing an insert, said insert being sized and shaped to fill a typical dental cavity as nearly as possible with a single insert. prepared by the method of claim 1 into the composite material, removing excess extruded composite material, curing the composite material and contouring the surface of the insert and hardened composite material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the cavity surface is prepared befor the introduction of the composite resin by use of adhesion-promoting formulations and techniques.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the insert is held under pressure in the composite material while the composite material is cured.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the composite material is of the light-curing type and is cured by the application of a curing light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the dentin surfaces are covered with calcium hydroxide and the beveled enamel surfaces are etched with a phosphoric acid etchant gel before the unhardened composite material is placed in the cavity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein a bonding resin is applied to the cavity surfaces before the unhardened composite material is placed in the cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the surface of the insert and hardened composite material are contoured using a high speed rotary diamond instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein the surface of the insert and hardened composite material are polished following contouring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein additional unhardened composite material is applied and cured following insertion of the insert.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dental restoration comprising the product of the method of claim 13.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
131 words
A method for repairing cavities in teeth comprising protecting the teeth adjacent to the tooth containing the cavity from damage by covering them while the cavity is repaired, covering the dentin surfaces with calcium hydroxide and etching the beveled enamel surface with a phosphoric acid etchant gel, applying a bonding resin to the cavity surface, partially filling the cavity with light-curable unhardened composite material, pressing an insert prepared by the method of claim 1 and selected to approximately fill the cavity into the composite material, removing excess extruded composite material, curing the composite material by the application of a curing light, contouring the surface of the insert and hardened composite material using a high speed rotary diamond instrument, and polishing the surface of the insert and hardened composite material following contouring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dental restoration comprising the product of the method of claim 23.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A kit for the repair of cavities in teeth comprising a selection of inserts of various sizes prepared by the method of claim 1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said mix or the product resulting therefrom is in the form of a molten or slurried form of a glass, vitreous multiphase glass or microcrystalline glass.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for repairing cavities in teeth comprising partially filling the cavities with unhardened composite material, pressing an insert prepared by the method of claim 26 into the composite material, removing excess extruded composite material, curing the composite material and contouing the surface of the insert and hardened composite material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dental restoration comprising the product of the method of claim 27.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A kit for the repair of cavities in teeth comprising (a) a selection of inserts of various sizes prepared by the method of claim 26, and (b) unhardened composite material suitable for anchoring an insert in a tooth cavity.