Dental alloys

Abstract

The dental alloys herein are formulated from a combination of palladium, silver and platinum and a small amount of one or more of indium, gallium, tin, germanium, zinc and manganese. The alloys may also contain one or more of gold, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, rhenium, titanium, aluminum, silicon, hafnium, boron, and/or calcium. The alloys are particularly useful as substrate components for dental restorative materials including, but not limited to, orthodontic appliances, bridges, space maintainers, tooth replacement appliances, splints, crowns, partial crowns, dentures, posts, teeth, jackets, inlays, onlays, facing, veneers, facets, implants, abutments, cylinders, and connectors. The substrate may be defined as a main component of the dental restoration having one or more layers of material thereon, or as the complete restoration with no other material thereon.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dental alloy comprising in weight percent: 
 about 15 to about 75% Ag;    about 10 to about 50% Pd;    about 6 to about 25% Pt;    up to about 10% In;    up to about 10% Ga;    up to about 10% Sn;    up to about 10% Ge;    up to about 10% Zn; and    up to about 10% Mn;    wherein one or more of In, Ga, Sn, Ge, Zn and Mn is present in the amount of about 0.1 to about I0%.    
     
     
         2 . The dental alloy of  claim 1  further comprising in weight percent: 
 up to about 55% Au;  
 up to about 3% Ir;  
 up to about 3% Ru;  
 up to about 3% Rh;  
 up to about 3% Re;  
 wherein one or more of Ir, Ru, Rh, and Re is present is the amount up to about 3%;  
 up to about 1% Ti;  
 up to about 0.25% Al;  
 up to about 0.25% Si;  
 up to about 0.25% Hf;  
 up to about 0.25% B; and  
 up to about 0.25% Ca;  
 wherein one or more of Ti, Al, Si, Hf, B and Ca is present in an amount up to about 1%.  
 
     
     
         3 . The dental alloy of  claim 1  having a coefficient of thermal expansion from 25° to 500° C. in the range of 8 to 18×10 −6/ ° C.  
     
     
         4 . The dental alloy of  claim 1  having a melting temperature in the range from about 800 to about 1500° C.  
     
     
         5 . A dental restoration comprising: 
 the alloy of claim  1 ; and    a low-melting dental ceramic having a coefficient of thermal expansion from 25° to 500° C. in the range of 6 to 16×10 −6 /° C.    
     
     
         6 . A dental alloy comprising in weight percent: 
 about 15 to about 70% Ag;    about 15 to about 50% Pd;    about 8 to about 20% Pt;    about 2 to about 52% Au;    up to about 10% In;    up to about 10% Ga;    up to about 10% Sn;    up to about 10% Ge;    up to about 10% Zn;    up to about 10% Mn;    wherein one or more of In, Ga, Sn, Ge, Zn and Mn is present in the amount of about 3 to about 10%;    up to about 1% Ir;    up to about 3% Ru;    up to about 3% Rh; and    up to about 1% Re;    wherein one or more of Ir, Ru, Rh, and Re is present is the amount from about 0.1 to about 3%.    
     
     
         7 . The dental alloy of  claim 1  further comprising in weight percent: 
 up to about 0.25% Ti;  
 up to about 0.25% Al;  
 up to about 0.25% Si;  
 up to about 0.25% Hf;  
 up to about 0.25% B; and  
 up to about 0.25% Ca;  
 wherein one or more of Ti, Al, Si, Hf, B and Ca is present in an amount up to about 1%.  
 
     
     
         8 . The dental alloy of  claim 6  having a coefficient of thermal expansion from 25° to 500° C. in the range of 8 to 18×10 −6 /° C.  
     
     
         9 . The dental alloy of  claim 6  having a melting temperature in the range from about 1000 to about 1500° C.  
     
     
         10 . A dental restoration comprising: 
 the alloy of claim  6 ; and    a low-melting dental ceramic having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the range from 25° to 500° C. in the range of 6 to 16×10 −6 /° C.