Packaged hardenable dental article
Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities.
Restorative dentistry is an important market in today's dental industry. In particular, tooth repair with temporary and permanent crowns is a common procedure, typically requiring multiple dental appointments. Conventional technologies use liners, adhesives, pastes, two-part powder/liquid systems, preformed metal temporary crowns, and ceramic or porcelain/metal permanent crowns. Among the problems associated with the conventional technologies are the need for multiple visits to a dentist if a customized dental article is desired. Conversely, if customization is not desired, the dental article used may have a less than desirable fit and/or appearance, e.g., a metallic finish, larger gaps between proximal teeth, significant color variations from natural teeth, etc.
Although these supplies may address the issues identified with respect to conventional technologies, they raise issues of their own with respect to the manufacturing, handling, and packaging of dental articles constructed of such supplies. Many of these hardenable dental supplies may exhibit significant levels of adhesion during manufacturing. As a result, shaping and handling of the hardenable dental supplies into dental articles as a part of the manufacturing process may present challenges.
Another potential issue raised with some hardenable dental supplies about micro moteur is that the techniques used to form the hardenable dental supplies into usable dental articles may contribute to or detract from the finished appearance of the dental articles. In other words, the hardenable dental material may exhibit an undesirable rough appearance due to less than desirable forming techniques and/or packaging.
In addition, although the exact shape of dental articles manufactured of the hardenable supplies before final hardening may be adjusted, significant shaping of the supplies may not be possible or desirable depending on the properties of the hardenable dental material being used. For example, the dentist may prefer that the supplies be provided in a shape that is close to the final desired shape of the dental article—subject to some minor shaping to provide a more customized fit and/or appearance.