Dental prosthesis fabrication and placement system and associated methods

Abstract

A dental prosthesis fabrication and placement method is adapted for completion in one appointment. The dental prosthesis, such as a crown or short-span bridge, is a prefabricated composite shell that is modified by the addition of composite material and cured on-site to form a custom-modified device.

1 . A method for fabricating a dental prosthesis comprising the steps of: 
 placing a prefabricated prosthesis shell over a tooth;    trimming the shell to achieve desired seating on the tooth and optimal occlusion;    removing the shell from the tooth;    adding an uncured composite material to an interior space of the shell;    positioning the shell over the tooth;    partially curing the composite material in situ;    removing the shell from the tooth; and    fully curing the composite material.    
   
   
       2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 making a model of a mouth of the patient;    preparing a tooth in the model mouth corresponding to the tooth for which the prosthesis is intended; and    prefabricating the prosthesis shell commensurate with the prepared model tooth.    
   
   
       3 . The method recited in  claim 2 , wherein the prefabricating step comprises reflecting at least one mouth conformation parameter selected from a group consisting of bite registration, occlusion, contour, gingival finish line, and interproximal contacts.  
   
   
       4 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a thickness measured between an external surface and the interior surface in a range of 0.3-1.5 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a polyacrylic glass composite.  
   
   
       6 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shell is selected from a plurality of premanufactured crown shells.  
   
   
       7 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shell is selected from a group consisting of a single crown shell and a short-span bridge.  
   
   
       8 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step, prior to the placing step, of preparing the tooth with at least one of a shoulder and a prominent chamfer gingival margin.  
   
   
       9 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the preparing step further comprises removing extant amalgam and bases from the tooth.  
   
   
       10 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the preparing step further comprises eliminating any extant undercuts in the tooth.  
   
   
       11 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps, following the placing and the trimming steps, and prior to the uncured composite material adding step, of: 
 examining the fit of the shell to ensure correct interproximal contacts; and    if the fit is incomplete, relieving the interproximal contacts, gingival margins, and an internal aspect of the shell as determined by the fit examining step.    
   
   
       12 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the adding step comprises adding soft uncured composite material to a level of approximately half-full.  
   
   
       13 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the uncured composite material comprises a substantially same material as the prefabricated prosthesis shell.  
   
   
       14 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, following the shell removing step, of modifying the shell as desired to achieve an optimal conformation, by filling any voids with uncured composite material, again positioning the shell over the tooth, and again partially curing the composite material in situ.  
   
   
       15 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, following the shell removing step, of modifying the shell as desired to achieve an optimal conformation, by correcting for insufficient interproximal contacts by bonding additional composite material to an external surface of the shell.  
   
   
       16 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of trimming the fully light shell to establish desired contours and to eliminate any gingival margin overhang.  
   
   
       17 . A method of fabricating a dental prosthesis comprising the steps of: 
 trimming a prefabricated prosthesis shell to achieve desired seating on a tooth and optimal occlusion;    adding an uncured composite material to an interior space of the shell;    partially curing the composite material;    modifying the shell as desired to achieve optimal conformation by filling any voids with uncured composite material and again partially curing the composite material in situ; and    fully curing the composite material.    
   
   
       18 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the shell comprises a polyacrylic glass composite.  
   
   
       19 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the shell is selected from a plurality of premanufactured crown shells.  
   
   
       20 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the shell is selected from a group consisting of a single crown shell and a short-span bridge.