High strength substructure reinforcement for crowns and bridges

Abstract

A reinforcement for a dental restoration substructure is provided. The reinforcement is a generally annular structure that protrudes from the body of the substructure generally near an occlusal portion of the restoration. The annular structure provides a support for veneering porcelain at the location of the greatest thickness of the porcelain and at the location where occlusal stress is applied, and fractures of veneering porcelain are commonly experienced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A substructure body for a dental restoration, said body comprising:
 a side wall including an outer surface; and   a support structure located along said sidewall generally near an occlusal portion of the restoration; and   an outer layer formed over and contacting an outer surface of said side wall and an outer surface of said support structure;   wherein said support structure is purposefully placed and rationalized with the general structure and form of the body to provide support for said outer layer in a manner that reduces the shear stress exerted on said outer layer.   
     
     
         2 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure protrudes from said outer surface of said side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure and said side wall form a generally “door-knob” shape for said body. 
     
     
         4 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure and said side wall form a generally “coke-bottle” shape for said body. 
     
     
         5 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a bulge. 
     
     
         6 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a power-swell. The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a tumor. 
     
     
         8 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a bump. 
     
     
         9 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a blob. 
     
     
         10 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a raised protuberance. 
     
     
         11 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure and said side wall are formed as a single unit. 
     
     
         12 . The body as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said support structure is a component that is attached to said side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The body as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said support structure is formed into said side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said outer layer comprises a veneer. 
     
     
         15 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, other than said support structure, said outer surface of said side wall does not include any significant variations in contour from the contour of a restoration for which said substructure body is designed to be utilized. 
     
     
         16 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure protrudes from said side wall in a direction generally perpendicular to said outer surface of said side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure is made of a non-metal material. 
     
     
         18 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said body is adapted to be positioned over a preparation. 
     
     
         19 . The body as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said preparation is a tooth. 
     
     
         20 . The body as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said preparation is an abutment portion of an implant 
     
     
         21 . The body as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the body includes at least one opening at one end for receiving the preparation. 
     
     
         22 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said body comprises an abutment portion of an implant. 
     
     
         23 . The body as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said support structure is located generally proximate to a location of greatest occlusal stress.