HEATING DEVICE FOR HEATING DENTAL MATERIAL, SYSTEM FOR APPLYING DENTAL MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF A DENTAL MATERIAL

1 . A heating device for heating a dental material, the heating device comprising:

a body having an opening formed therein configured to at least partially receive a container housing the dental material to be heated,

at least one light emitting diode configured to emit infrared light having a wavelength in the range of 500 nm-2000 nm, preferably in the range of 800 nm-1500 nm, onto an outer surface of the container housing the dental material once received in the opening;

at least one temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the outer surface of the container once received in the opening, and

a controller having a control circuitry configured to communicate with the temperature sensor and the at least one light emitting diode and to control the temperature of the outer surface of the container based on the temperature of the outer surface of the container determined by the temperature sensor by controlling the amount of infrared light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode.

2 . The heating device according to the preceding claim further comprising at least one or at least two adapters with a length L being at least partially received within the opening of the body along its length L and having a wall defining a receptacle configured to removably receive the container housing the dental material to be heated, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is arranged outside of the adapter and along its length L and wherein the adapter is, at least in sections, at least partially transmissive for infrared light along the length L.

3 . The heating device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the amount of infrared light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode by intermittently interrupting and reactivating the emission of infrared light or by controlling a current provided to the at least one light emitting diode.

4 . The heating device according to claim 1 , further including at least one optics configured and positioned to focus the infrared light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode onto the outer surface of the container housing the dental material once received in the opening of the body.

5 . The heating device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one optics is integrally formed on the adapter such that the at least one optics and the adapter constitute a one-piece component made of the same material.

6 . A heating device for heating a dental material, the heating device comprising:

a body having an opening formed therein configured to at least partially receive a container housing the dental material to be heated,

at least one light emitting diode configured to emit infrared light onto an outer surface of the container housing the dental material once received in the opening of the body;

at least one optics configured and positioned to focus the infrared light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode onto the outer surface of the container housing the dental material once received in the opening of the body.

7 . The heating device 19 ; according to claim 6 , wherein the heating device is configured as a portable table top device, and wherein preferably the opening a extends into the body by a length of less than 20 cm, preferably less than 16 cm, more preferably less than 14 cm, more preferably less than 10 cm.

8 . The heating device according to claim 6 , further comprising an adapter with a length L being at least partially received within the opening of the body along its Length L and having a wall defining a receptacle configured to removably receive the container housing the dental material to be heated, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is arranged outside of the adapter and along its length L and wherein the adapter is, at least in sections, at least partially transmissive for infrared light along the length L.

9 . A system for applying dental material, comprising the heating device of claim 1 and a container housing a dental material.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the container includes a chamber for housing the dental material, a dispensing nozzle connected to the chamber for dispensing the dental material and a piston arranged in the chamber for urging the dental material toward the dispensing nozzle.

11 - 15 . (canceled)