Light curing impression system

Abstract

A light curing dental system comprising a light emitting tray that precisely distributes an optimal amount of curing light energy to internal, external and extra oral portions of the dental arch to cure a dental material. The light curing dental system generally includes a light source, a light emitting dental tray, an activation module and a photocurable dental material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A reusable dental impression tray, comprising:
 a body having a channel for receiving a disposable inner tray lining,   at least one illuminator placed in the body of the impression tray,   wherein the disposable inner tray lining is pre-loaded with an impression material,   wherein the at least one illuminator is a light source or the at least one illuminator is a light conductor that transmits light energy from a separate light source not found in the reusable dental impression tray,   wherein the impression tray further includes a liner that is pre-filled with the photocurable dental impression material and the liner is placed into the channel, and wherein the liner has at least one mechanical retention feature capable of retaining a majority of the impression material upon exposure to light and curing.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein impression layers having one layer of at least one a heavy body material and a second layer of a light body material. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable dental impression tray of  claim 2 , wherein the impression tray further includes a liner that is pre-filled with the photocurable dental impression material and the liner is placed into the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , comprising a first half and second half that form the body of the dental impression tray. 
     
     
         5 . The dental impression tray of  claim 3 , wherein the first half has a groove to hold the at least one illuminator. 
     
     
         6 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one illuminator is a light conductor. 
     
     
         7 . The dental impression tray of  claim 6 , wherein the light conductor is a light pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one illuminator is at least one light source. 
     
     
         9 . The dental impression material of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         10 . The dental impression tray of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one light source is a flexible light emitting diode strip. 
     
     
         11 . The dental impression tray of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible light emitting diode strip is supported by nitinol wire. 
     
     
         12 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the reusable dental impression tray is a full arch tray. 
     
     
         13 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the dental impression tray is a double tray. 
     
     
         14 . The dental impression tray of  claim 13 , wherein the double arch tray includes two opposing channels. 
     
     
         15 . The dental impression tray of  claim 14 , wherein the light conductor is placed between the two channels. 
     
     
         16 . The dental impression tray of  claim 14 , wherein a spacer is placed between the two channels. 
     
     
         17 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes dispersing features that assist the light conductor in dispersing light throughout the photocurable dental impression material. 
     
     
         18 . The dental impression tray of  claim 16 , wherein the spacer is a translucent occlusal substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The dental impression tray of  claim 1 , wherein the liner has a non-stick release cover over the impression material for packaging and storage. 
     
     
         20 . The dental impression tray of  claim 19 , wherein the release cover blocks a light range from 380 nm to 500 nm.