A custom denture tray for fabricating a set of dentures that includes an upper tray that includes a baseplate. The baseplate has a top side configured to hold material for capturing a dental impression. A bite block is attached to a bottom side of the baseplate. The bite block is made of a relatively soft material which can be marked to show positions for artificial teeth to be placed in the dentures. In particular embodiments, the denture tray includes a removable handle configured to be attached to a front portion of the mouthpiece. The removable handle may be attached so that it protrudes from a user's mouth when the mouthpiece is in the user's mouth.

Systems and methods including an abutment blank clamping system for securing a abutment blank are disclosed. According to one example, the abutment blank clamping system includes an abutment holder including a base portion and an elongate clamping portion extending from a first end adjacent the base portion to a second end. The elongate clamping portion includes at least one bore extending from a first side surface defining a first opening to a second side surface defining a second opening, and at least one projection extending from the second side surface positioned adjacent to the second opening, the at least one projection configured to engage with the abutment blank.

The invention relates to a process of sintering a dental zirconia restoration, the process comprising a first step of heat-treating a porous dental zirconia article with a heating rate of at least 3 K/sec until a temperature level of 75 to 90% of the final sintering temperature is achieved to obtain a partially sintered dental zirconia article, the porous dental zirconia article having a BET surface of 5 to 12 m.sup.2/g and being composed of a 4 mol % yttria stabilized zirconia material and having an alumina content of utmost 0.15 wt. %.

A resin block suitable for dental cutting work may include a resin matrix (A) and spherical filler (B) whose average particle size ranges from 230 to 1000 nm. When 10 mm thick and measured with a colorimeter, the lightness (V) is less than 5.0 and the saturation (C) is less than 2.0 in a Munsell color system of colored light on a black background and a white background. When 1 mm thick, the lightness (V) is less than 5.0 and the saturation (C) is 0.05 or more on a black background, but on a white background, the lightness (V) is 6.0 or more and the saturation (C) is less than 2.0 for Munsell colored light. Resin blocks can be used for dental restoration such that dental prostheses produced from the block not using a pigment/dye are compatible with natural teeth color tone, and the color tone compatibility endures.

A resin-retained denture bridge having an improved bonding between a false tooth or teeth of the bridge and a retainer wire of the bridge is provided in the present invention, wherein a coupling recess is formed on a lingual side of the false tooth and a protrusion or an omega-shaped bend is formed on the retainer wire. The protrusion or omega-shaped bend is received in the coupling recess of the false tooth after or prior to a resin being filled in the coupling recess, which is then cured to form a secure engagement, so that the false tooth is bonded to the retainer with the end portions of the retainer wire extending laterally from the false tooth.

The invention provides a method for creating a physical teeth model. The method comprises the following steps: providing a virtual three dimensional (3D) representation of a patient's dentition that comprises at least a region of the teeth that includes a tooth stump on which a crown is to be fitted or a region on to which a bridge is to be fitted; and preparing a physical model of the jaws of a subject from a blank, based on information from said virtual 3D image.

A method is provided for designing and fabricating a removable partial denture (RPD) framework including clasp retainers configured for removable engagement with abutment teeth of a patient. The method includes obtaining an initial digital model of the RPD framework based on patient image data. For each clasp retainer, a set of relevant geometric parameters is identified, each relevant geometric parameter being provided with a nominal value, and a target value of dislodging force is provided. The method further includes performing a force analysis on the initial digital model to determine corrected values for the relevant geometric parameters of each clasp retainer such that when the corrected values are assigned to the relevant geometric parameters, the dislodging force matches its target value. The method also includes obtaining a corrected digital model based on the corrected values, and fabricating the RPD framework based on the corrected digital model.

A scaffold for regenerating a pulp of a root canal includes a body that has a pre-formed contour that closely matches a contour of the root canal. A method of making a customized regenerative scaffold includes generating a three-dimensional image of a root canal. The method also includes manufacturing the customized regenerative scaffold based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal.

Described herein are systems and methods for hybrid denture fabrication. The systems and methods improve the efficiency of the fabrication process for both the dental service provider (e.g., dentist, dental surgeon, etc.) and the patient. A permanent hybrid prosthesis (e.g., the bridge and its reinforcing bar) can be fabricated within 24 hours of the surgical procedure using the systems and methods described herein. This makes it possible to deliverer the permanent hybrid prosthesis within 48 hours (or even within 24 hours) of the surgical procedure. Additionally, the system and methods eliminate the need to provide the patient with a temporary denture following the surgery. Further, the systems and methods substantially reduce the patients chair-time and/or the number of patient visits.

The invention relates to a milling machine (10), having a milling spindle (12) and a workpiece holder (24) which is mounted so as to move with respect to the milling spindle (12) in at least 3 or 4 spatial directions, having a workpiece which is held in a clamped manner on the workpiece holder (24), having a sensor, relative to which the workpiece can be brought into contact and relative to which workpiece the sensor can be moved to sense the workpiece, wherein the sensor is designed as a sensing probe (18), having a deflection and detection of a deflection of its sensing element (30) in at least 1 spatial direction, or in 2 or 3 spatial directions.