Nanophase dental prosthetics and method

Nanophase dental prosthetics and method
USPTO Patent Full-Text and Database
Prestipino , et al.
US Patent Number: 6,669,476
Publication Date: December 30, 2003
Inventors: Prestipino; David Michael (521 Bushy Ridge Dr., Star Tannery, VA 22654); Prestipino; Vincent Joseph (14633 Crossway Rd., Rockville, MD 20853)
Appl. No.: 983162
Filed: October 25, 2001
Abstract:
Dental prosthetics, including implants, crowns and bridges, made from nanophase materials. The nanophase materials are generally manufactured by evaporating a metal or other solid substrate by heating it to a temperature at or above its boiling point in a vacuum to form a vapor. The vapor is then condensed back to a solid state through contact with a cold gas. In a first method, the nanophase material is heated until it is in a fluid state, then it is poured into a mold and cooled to form all or part of a dental prosthetic. In a second method, the nanophase material is placed into the mold in a powdered form, then heated so that the grains form a solid mass. Nanophase crowns and bridges should generally be formed in one piece, but the upper surface of a nanophase prosthetic will usually be covered with porcelain or another non-nanophase material.