Back casting prefabricated incisal veneers
View Patent ↗An improved lost wax method for fabricating dental devices, a prefabricated incisal veneer ( 1 ) is selected from among a group of said veneers having predetermined shapes, shades, and sizes. Wax is applied ( 2 and 3 ) to the incisal veneer to create a wax buildup onto a model ( 4 ) or prefabricated coping ( 5 ). Subsequently, a sprue is attached to the applied wax ( 2 and 3 ) and the wax buildup is removed from the model ( 4 ) for investing and burnout to create a lost wax mold. For a crown with a substructure, the incisal veneer ( 1 ) and the coping ( 5 ) are both cast in place with press ceramic, press thermoplastic material, or by injecting a curable resin, composite, or epoxy material into the lost wax mold.
1. A method for making a press ceramic dental restorative device in the nature of a crown or a bridge, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a prefabricated ceramic incisal veneer of press ceramic or powdered ceramic that is formed and fired;
b) applying wax to said incisal veneer to fabricate a wax buildup;
c) attaching a sprue to said wax buildup; and,
d) back casting said incisal veneer in a lost wax mold with press ceramic to fabricate said device with said incisal veneer cast in place by:
1) investing the applied wax;
2) burning out the wax to create a lost wax mold; and
3) pressing molten ceramic into the lost wax mold against the veneer.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of providing a prefabricated incisal veneer further includes a step of selecting said incisal veneer from among a group of prefabricated incisal veneers having predetermined shapes, shades, and sizes.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein wax is pre-applied to said group of prefabricated incisal veneers having predetermined shapes and sizes.
4. A method according to claim 1 , further including the step of:
providing a prefabricated understructure before step d) and casting in place said understructure together with said incisal veneer.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said understructure is a ceramic material.
6. A method according to claim 4 wherein said understructure is a bulk metallic glass material.
7. A method according to claim 4 wherein said understructure is a mesh design.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said wax is a polymerizable wax.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of providing a prefabricated incisal veneer further includes a step of selecting, applying and firing pigment or colored ceramic paste to the underside of said incisal veneer before step b).
10. A method for making a dental restorative device in the nature of a crown or a bridge, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a prefabricated ceramic incisal veneer of press ceramic or powdered ceramic that is formed and fired;
b) applying wax to said incisal veneer to fabricate a wax buildup;
c) attaching a sprue to said wax buildup; and,
d) back casting said incisal veneer in a lost wax mold with press thermoplastic material to fabricate said device with said incisal veneer cast in place by:
1) investing the applied wax;
2) burning out the wax to create a lost wax mold; and
3) pressing molten ceramic into the lost wax mold against the veneer.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said step of providing a prefabricated incisal veneer further includes a step of selecting said incisal veneer from among a group of prefabricated incisal veneers having predetermined shapes, shades, and sizes.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein wax is pre-applied to said group of prefabricated incisal veneers having predetermined shapes and sizes.
13. A method according to claim 10 , further including the step of:
providing a prefabricated metal understructure before step d) and casting in place said understructure together with said incisal veneer.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said understructure is zirconia.
15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said understructure is a bulk metallic glass material.
16. A method according to claim 13 wherein said understructure is a mesh design.
17. A method according to claim 10 wherein said wax is a polymerizable wax.
18. A method according to claim 10 wherein said step of providing a prefabricated incisal veneer further includes a step of selecting, applying and firing pigment or colored ceramic paste to the underside of said incisal veneer before step b).
19. A method for making a dental restorative device in the nature of a crown or a bridge, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a prefabricated ceramic incisal veneer of press ceramic or powdered ceramic that is formed and fired;
b) applying wax to said incisal veneer to fabricate a wax buildup;
c) attaching a sprue to said wax buildup; and,
d) back casting said incisal veneer in a lost wax mold by injecting a curable resin, composite or epoxy material into said mold to fabricate said device with said incisal veneer cast in place by:
1) investing the applied wax;
2) burning out the wax to create a lost wax mold; and
3) injecting a curable resin, composite or epoxy material into said-lost was mold against the veneer.
20. A method according to claim 19 , further including the step of:
providing a prefabricated metal understructure before step d) and casting in place said understructure together with said incisal veneer.
21. A method according to claim 5 wherein said ceramic material is zirconia.
22. A method according to claim 4 wherein said understructure is a metal.
23. A method according to claim 13 wherein said understructure is a metal.