A tool for forming a dental restoration includes a mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of a patient. In some examples, the mold body defines an aperture configured to align with a portion of a surface of a tooth. The aperture is sufficiently large to allow placement and flow of restorative material over the desired portion of the surface of the tooth to be restored. The mold body is configured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to be restored.

A tool for forming a dental restoration includes a mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of a patient. In some examples, the mold body defines an aperture configured to align with a portion of a surface of a tooth. The aperture is sufficiently large to allow placement and flow of restorative material over the desired portion of the surface of the tooth to be restored. The mold body is configured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to be restored.

An orthodontic bracket and archform system that uses friction-free mechanics are disclosed. The archform can have a male fastener that can be retained within an orthodontic bracket. The orthodontic bracket can have varying locking mechanism, such as deflectable tabs, springs, locking pins, and others, that can cooperate with features of the male fastener to prevent sliding between the archform and the bracket.

The present invention relates to orthodontic positioning appliances that represent teeth in desired positions and related systems and methods. An appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. An appliance can include an outer component having a surface representing teeth in desired positions. An outer component can be integral with an appliance. An outer component can be separate and configured to couple with an appliance main body.

The invention relates to a dental material comprising a polymer resin, particulate fillers and randomly oriented inorganic fibres, wherein an average largest dimension of the particulate fillers is 0.3-1.2 μm, the inorganic fibres have a diameter of 4-8 micrometre and an aspect ratio of 20-80 based on an average length of the inorganic fibres and the dental material is void of other fibres. Additionally, the total amount of particulate fillers and inorganic fibres is 70-85 wt-% of the total weight of the material, and the amount of inorganic fibres is 20-35 wt-% of the total amount of particulate fillers and inorganic fibres.

The invention relates to a dental material comprising a polymer resin, particulate fillers and randomly oriented inorganic fibres, wherein an average largest dimension of the particulate fillers is 0.3-1.2 μm, the inorganic fibres have a diameter of 4-8 micrometre and an aspect ratio of 20-80 based on an average length of the inorganic fibres and the dental material is void of other fibres. Additionally, the total amount of particulate fillers and inorganic fibres is 70-85 wt-% of the total weight of the material, and the amount of inorganic fibres is 20-35 wt-% of the total amount of particulate fillers and inorganic fibres.

Techniques are described for automating the design and manufacture a dental restoration appliance for restoring the dental anatomy of a patient. For example, a system processes a digital three-dimensional (3D) model of a future (desired) dental anatomy of a patient, the future dental anatomy representing an intended shape of at least one tooth of the patient. The system includes a landmark identifier configured to automatically compute, based on the digital 3D model of the future dental anatomy of the patient, one or more landmarks of the future dental anatomy of the patient. The system also includes a custom feature generator configured to automatically generate, based on the one or more landmarks, one or more custom appliance features for a dental appliance for restoring the at least one tooth of the patient. The system further includes a memory device configured to store a digital model of the dental appliance.

A removable cosmetic dental structure and a method of fabricating the removable cosmetic dental structure is provided. The removable cosmetic dental structure includes a removable veneer body, having a front side and a rear side, sized to cover at least a portion of a facial surface of a tooth structure. The front side of the removable veneer body is shaped to resemble a tooth surface and the rear side of the removable veneer body covers the facial surface of the tooth structure. The removable cosmetic dental structure further includes one or more magnetic layers integrated on the rear side of the removable veneer body. The magnetic layers are configured to hold the removable veneer body to the facial surface of the tooth structure.

A dental matrix includes an outwardly extending column, which is engaged by an instrument, allowing the dentist to move the instrument and maneuver the matrix into position on the operative tooth to create a cavity for the veneer. The cavity is filled with curable material, which is cured by light, such as ultraviolet light, and once curing is complete, the matrix is removed from the tooth, which now has the veneer formed thereon.

A removable cosmetic dental structure and a method of fabricating the removable cosmetic dental structure is provided. The removable cosmetic dental structure includes a removable veneer body, having a front side and a rear side, sized to cover at least a portion of a facial surface of a tooth structure. The front side of the removable veneer body is shaped to resemble a tooth surface and the rear side of the removable veneer body covers the facial surface of the tooth structure. The removable cosmetic dental structure further includes one or more magnetic layers integrated on the rear side of the removable veneer body. The magnetic layers are configured to hold the removable veneer body to the facial surface of the tooth structure.