New teeth: Improved dentures, high-strength and ready-to-use

New and improved glass-ceramic dental restorations developed

Almost every person in Germany has to fight over his life with tooth problems and often teeth need to be replaced, respectively, with a so-called crown are coated. Until a few years ago an elaborate process, which has now been improved, however, thanks to modern technology and new materials is essential. So Researchers have developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for silicate research ISC in a new tooth replacement that looks, of course, is particularly resistant and in a relatively short session at the dentist can be.

In principle, the requirements of a dental prosthesis are high, stress the researchers, in a communication of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. So this had to look natural, and preferably resilient, so that he is able to withstand, for example, accidental bites to a cherry core. In addition, the persons Concerned should be able to wait in the dentist’s chair, while the tooth is milled set individually and used. This was with the new teeth set is now possible. For the development of the researchers with the Fraunhofer award “technology for people”.

Glass-ceramic dental prostheses seems the most natural

Severely damaged teeth need to be repaired or replaced, the dental to different materials, wherein a glass ceramics form a frequently used variant. Because a glass-ceramic dental prostheses seems the most natural and can be done directly in the practice, explain the researchers.

Color can change

For the preparation of a glass-ceramic dental prosthesis is not included initially, the dental situation in the mouth cavity of the patient via a pen camera and a Software calculates the individual CAD data, which are transmitted to a milling unit, the crown, which cuts via the CAM automatically and accurately manage, report of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The resulting blank is then cured at a minimum of 800 degrees Celsius, which was a time-consuming step, due to the heating, the color of the crown can change.

The color of the dental prosthesis can be optimally adjusted

So the prosthesis fits, where appropriate, the colour is not perfect to the rest of the teeth and must be adjusted by a delusion again. The last glass-ceramics were irritating in dentistry as, however, the new development will lead the Material in the future, the communication of the Fraunhofer society. The new Material &#8211 let; unlike conventional glass-ceramics – the color of the dental prosthesis optimally to the tooth color and the Patient could wait in the dentist’s chair, until the customization is completed.

Particularly resistant Material

Was developed the dentures from Dr. Bernhard Durschang and Dr. Jörn Probst from the Fraunhofer Institute for silicate research ISC, together with the company VITA Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH & Co. KG and Degu-Dent GmbH. The new Material is considerably more resistant than previous products. “Our glass-ceramic is more than 500 MPa, significantly stronger and more robust than conventional glass ceramics, which come to around 350 MPa,” says Dr. Probst.

Novel glass-ceramics already in use

Also can be omitted when the new dentures, the Post-curing in the oven and “the glass-ceramic has, in all different shades of color with their enamel-like translucency excellent optics,” explains Probst. So the dental prosthesis can be optimally selected according to the tooth color of the patient and acting completely natural. The project got far enough on the actual material development. The two partner companies had “from the first idea up to CE-certified production plant” everything from one Hand. In the meantime, the novel glass-ceramics had already been to many dentists in the use and the turnover of the product, the partner companies spent already in the double-digit million range. (fp)