Disclosed are compositions and methods for bleaching and optionally coloring a shaded zirconia, particularly mono-chromatic pre-shaded dental zirconia. The compositions and methods are useful in generating a shade gradient in milled dental restorations. The compositions comprise metal salts or complex dissolved in a solvent.

In a functionalization method for use in dentistry, and a method for same, the application device includes a support for receiving a partially processed shaped dental part for producing a dental restoration, and a dispensing device for the at least partial infiltration of a functionalization material onto the surface of the shaped dental part.

A coating and devices using the coating are provided. The coating is applied in liquid form and dried or otherwise cured to form a durable adherent coating resistant to high temperatures and having optional hydrophobic properties. The coating formulation contains an aqueous formulation of silica, one or more fillers, and sufficient base, (e.g., potassium hydroxide), to have a pH exceeding about 10.5 during at least part of the formulation process. The formulation may contain a compound(s) that affects surface free energy, energy to make the cured coating hydrophobic. Such compounds include silanes containing halogens (e.g., fluorine or chlorine) and in particular silanes containing one or more hydrolyzable groups attached to at least one silicon atom and a group containing one or more halogens (e.g., chlorine or fluorine). A medical instrument (e.g., electrosurgical instrument) may be at least partially covered by a coating using the formulation.

The present invention relates to anodic porous alumina (APA) in the form of microparticles, characterized in that it contains interconnected through nanopores, and to its use in the preparation of a new composite material, which is useful for example in the field of conservative dentistry. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the nanoporous alumina of the invention in microparticles.

A process for producing a non-dense sintered ceramic molded body having at least two layers, wherein a first powdery ceramic material forming a layer is contacted with at least a second powdery material forming at least a second layer; said first powdery material has a presintering temperature T.sub.1 that is higher than the presintering temperature T.sub.s of said at least second powdery ceramic material; the course of a curve of shrinkage S.sub.1 of said at least first powdery ceramic material differs from the course of a curve of shrinkage S.sub.2 of said at least second powdery material, wherein curve of shrinkage S.sub.1 is shifted towards higher temperatures as compared to curve of shrinkage S.sub.2; and the layers are subjected to a common temperature treatment at a presintering temperature T.sub.s that is lower than the presintering temperature T.sub.1 and at least equal to T.sub.3 to cause sintering that remains in a stage of sintering that has not proceeded to the theoretical density; wherein the curve of shrinkage S.sub.1 is modified by admixing at least one component having a curve of shrinkage S.sub.3 which material is compatible with said powdery ceramic material into said first powdery ceramic material, i. e. has a grain size smaller than the first powdery ceramic material, to equalize the curves of shrinkage S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 in the region of the presintering temperature T.sub.s.

A system, method and kit for coloring dental ceramics. The system, method, and kit resulting capable of adjusting the shade of a dental restoration milled from a colored zirconia porcelain block from one color value of the VITA shade guide to a different color value of the VITA shade guide.

To provide a zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining which has excellent machinability in a thin workpiece such as an inlay, an onlay and a veneer, and may impart high strength and high translucency to a zirconia perfect sintered body without a special sintering such as HIP treatment, and a preparing method thereof.

The zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining has a porosity within a range of 15 to 30%.

To provide a zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining which has excellent machinability in a thin workpiece such as an inlay, an onlay and a veneer, and may impart high strength and high translucency to a zirconia perfect sintered body without a special sintering such as HIP treatment, and a preparing method thereof. The zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining has a porosity within a range of 15 to 30%.

The present invention is directed to a porous pre-densified CeO.sub.2-stabilized ZrO.sub.2 ceramic having a density of 50.0 to 95.0%, relative to the theoretical density of zirconia, and an open porosity of 5 to 50% as well as to a densified CeO.sub.2-stabilized ZrO.sub.2 ceramic having a density of 97.0 to 100.0%, relative to the theoretical density of zirconia, and wherein the grains of the ceramic have an average grain size of 50 to 1000 nm, methods for the preparation of the pre-densified and densified ceramics and their use for the manufacture of dental restorations.

The invention relates to a process for selectively treating parts of the surface of a porous dental zirconia article, the process comprising the steps of providing a liquid composition and a porous 3-dimensional dental zirconia article having an outer and inner surface, applying the liquid composition to only a part the outer surface and/or inner surface of the porous dental zirconia article, the liquid composition comprising a whitening agent comprising a phosphorous containing component, the phosphorous containing component comprising a phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety, with the proviso that at least one P-O unit of the phosphate, phosphone or phosphine moiety is dissociable or able to otherwise interact with zirconia.

The invention also relates to a dental zirconia article obtainable or obtained by such a process and a kit of parts comprising a container containing a certain liquid composition and a dental zirconia mill blank useful for producing a porous dental zirconia article.