Method and arrangement for forming a dental bridge

{
  "publication_number": "US2010291509A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Method and arrangement for forming a dental bridge",
  "abstract": "Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a method of manufacturing a dental bridge. In certain embodiments of the method, a pre-sintered blank made from a green body of ceramic material is subjected to a machining operation that transforms the blank into an intermediate product with a bridge structure and a support body linked to the bridge structure by one or several retaining sections that extend from the support body to the bridge structure. In certain embodiments, a sintering operation is then performed on the intermediate product while the retaining section(s) still link(s) the support body to the bridge structure.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of manufacturing a dental bridge, the method comprising: providing a blank made from a green body of ceramic material; performing a machining operation on the blank that transforms it into an intermediate product comprising a bridge structure and a support body linked to the bridge structure by at least one retaining section that extends from the support body to the bridge structure; and performing a sintering operation on the intermediate product while the at least one retaining section still links the support body to the bridge structure. 2. A method according to claim 1, in which, during the sintering operation performed on the intermediate product, the intermediate product is provided with the at least one retaining section extending at least partially in a vertical direction. 3. A method according to claim 1, in which the at least one retaining section is removed from the bridge structure after the sintering operation. 4. A method according to claim 1, in which the bridge structure is supported only by the at least one retaining section during the sintering operation. 5. A method according to claim 1, in which the bridge structure forms an arch and the intermediate product comprises a plurality of retaining sections that connect the support body to the bridge structure. 6. A method according to claim 1, in which a plurality of retaining sections are shaped as spokes that extend from the bridge structure towards a common hub in the support body. 7. A method according to claim 1, in which a part of the support body of the intermediate product has an exterior surface that forms a circular arc. 8. A method according to claim 7, in which, during the sintering operation, the support body is resting on a V-block in such a way that an exterior surface of the support body abuts the V-block at two places along the circular arc. 9. A method according to claim 1, in which, during the sintering operation, the intermediate product is resting against a surface that is slanted relative to the horizontal plane. 10. A method according to claim 1, in which the intermediate product has several retaining sections and wherein, during the sintering operation, the intermediate product is placed such that at least one retaining section extends in an essentially vertical direction. 11. A method according to claim 1, in which, during the sintering operation, the intermediate product is resting on elements shaped as solids of revolution. 12. A method according to claim 1, in which the method includes machining the blank to such a shape that, in the intermediate product, the bridge structure will have at least one part shaped to define a dental interface. 13. A method according to claim 12, in which the at least one retaining section extends from the support body to the bridge structure such that the at least one retaining section is associated with the at least one part that is shaped to define a dental interface. 14. A method according to claim 12, in which the bridge structure comprises a plurality of parts shaped to define dental interfaces and each part shaped to define a dental interface has at least one associated retaining section. 15. A method according to claim 1, in which there are a plurality of retaining sections and at least one of the retaining sections has a reduced cross section where it meets at least one of the support body and the bridge structure. 16. A method according to claim 1, in which the blank comprises Zirconia. 17. A method according to claim 1, in which the blank comprises Aluminium Oxide. 18. A method according to claim 1, in which the machining operation is performed on a pre-sintered blank. 19. A sintered product suitable for making a dental bridge, and which has been created by machining a pre-sintered blank to a desired shape and subsequently sintering the machined blank, the sintered product having a density in the range of about 6.0-6.1 g/cm 3, the sintered product comprising a bridge structure and a support body linked to the bridge structure by at least one retaining section that extends from the support body to the bridge structure. 20. An arrangement for manufacturing a dental bridge, the arrangement comprising at least one heating furnace in which a ceramic material may undergo a sintering operation, the arrangement further comprising a sintering support on which a previously formed intermediate product may rest during the sintering operation. 21. (canceled) 22. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the sintering support which, when placed in the at least one heating furnace, may present at least one surface that is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. 23. An arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the sintering support is a V-block. 24. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the sintering support comprises a plurality of elements shaped as bodies of revolution. 25. A method according to claim 12, in which the dental interface is for a dental implant, an implant supported abutment, or a dental preparation."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present application relates to a method and an arrangement for manufacturing a dental bridge of the kind used to replace missing teeth in the mouth of a patient. The application also relates to an intermediate product used in the process of manufacturing such a dental bridge.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nDental bridges are used to replace missing teeth on a patient's jaw. Such a bridge may be manufactured in a process that includes sintering of powder into a body that may subsequently be formed in a machining operation that may include, for example, milling, turning, grinding or drilling. An example of such a method is disclosed in WO 2006/025778. In that document, a method for producing a bridge structure from a ceramic blank is disclosed. The document discloses, inter alia, that machining of a bridge structure may be performed on material that is in a pre-sintered state. When a dental bridge structure is manufactured, it is desirable that the bridge structure can be made with a high degree of precision since it is normally made to fit a specific patient. Therefore, it is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method that is capable of achieving a high precision. It is also an object to provide an arrangement for carrying out such a method. A further object is to provide an intermediate product suitable for making a dental bridge.\n\nThe present application relates to a method of manufacturing a dental bridge.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61C 13/0022",
    "A61C 13/0003",
    "A61C 13/12",
    "Y10T 29/49567"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61C 13/003",
    "A61C 5/77",
    "A61C 13/00",
    "C04B 35/64"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Nobel Biocare Services AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Carina Berggren",
    "Lars Jörneus",
    "Ulf Johansson",
    "Petrus Brännvall",
    "Olof Vogel"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-05-29",
  "publication_date": "2010-11-18",
  "priority_date": "2007-06-07",
  "application_number": "US-66351608-A",
  "family_id": "38743379",
  "cited_by_count": 38,
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}