An exposure apparatus (100) for illuminating a dental object (101), including a chamber (103) for receiving the dental object (101); and a radiation source (105) for emitting radiation having a wavelength shorter than 350 nm into the chamber (103).

An oven (100) for heating a dental object (101), having a chamber (103) for receiving the dental object (101); a radiation source (105) for emitting radiation having a wavelength smaller than 350 nm into the chamber (103); and heating means (113) for heating the dental object (101) in the chamber (103).

The invention relates to the application of photon energy to energize dental materials to enhance their physical handling characteristics, efficacy, ability to be delivered, reactivity, polymerization, and/or post-cure mechanical properties, among other attributes.

The invention relates to the application of photon energy to energize dental materials to enhance their physical handling characteristics, efficacy, ability to be delivered, reactivity, polymerization, and/or post-cure mechanical properties, among other attributes.

A polymerization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light irradiator; and a polymerization vessel. The light irradiator includes a first casing and a light source assembly. The first casing includes a light source chamber defined by cylindrical side walls, a ceiling, and a floor including a light-transmissive window member. The light source assembly includes a base having a light-emitting surface on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes is disposed in a predetermined pattern and a heat-dissipating surface to which a heat sink is joined, and the light source assembly is disposed within the light source chamber so that the light-emitting surface faces the light-transmissive window member. The polymerization vessel includes a polymerization cup and a second casing. The polymerization cup has a frustoconical or substantially frustoconical shape that opens upward and increases in diameter upward, and is capable of housing an object therein. The second casing is a bottomed cylindrical or box-shaped casing having an opening at the apex thereof, the polymerization cup being attachably/detachably housed in the second casing via the opening. In this polymerization apparatus, light that has been emitted by the plurality of light-emitting diodes of the light irradiator and has passed through the light-transmissive window member is applied to the inside of the polymerization cup of the polymerization vessel.

The invention relates to the application of photon energy to energize dental materials to enhance their physical handling characteristics, efficacy, ability to be delivered, reactivity, polymerization, and/or post-cure mechanical properties, among other attributes.

The invention relates to the application of photon energy to energize dental materials to enhance their physical handling characteristics, efficacy, ability to be delivered, reactivity, polymerization, and/or post-cure mechanical properties, among other attributes.

Methods produce a three-dimensional dental block of material from a dental, polymerizable material. The methods include at least: transferring the polymerizable dental material into a radiolucent three-dimensional casting or press mold; irradiating the polymerizable dental material substantially from all sides with light in the UV/Vis spectral region forming polymerized outer surfaces of the dental material in the form of a solid outer shell of the dental material, wherein the shell is present in the defined three-dimensional geometry of the material whilst the inner region of the material is not polymerized or partially polymerized; heating the material with solid shell being present in defined three-dimensional geometry, to 60° C. to 150° C. for at least 90 minutes; and obtaining a dental, polymerized block of material having defined three-dimensional geometry.

Methods produce a three-dimensional dental block of material from a dental, polymerizable material. The methods include at least: transferring the polymerizable dental material into a radiolucent three-dimensional casting or press mold; irradiating the polymerizable dental material substantially from all sides with light in the UV/Vis spectral region forming polymerized outer surfaces of the dental material in the form of a solid outer shell of the dental material, wherein the shell is present in the defined three-dimensional geometry of the material whilst the inner region of the material is not polymerized or partially polymerized; heating the material with solid shell being present in defined three-dimensional geometry, to 60° C. to 150° C. for at least 90 minutes; and obtaining a dental, polymerized block of material having defined three-dimensional geometry.

[Abstract] A polymerization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light irradiator; and a polymerization vessel. The light irradiator includes a first casing and a light source assembly. The first casing includes a light source chamber defined by cylindrical side walls, a ceiling, and a floor including a light-transmissive window member. The light source assembly includes a base having a light-emitting surface on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes is disposed in a predetermined pattern and a heat-dissipating surface to which a heat sink is joined, and the light source assembly is disposed within the light source chamber so that the light-emitting surface faces the light-transmissive window member. The polymerization vessel includes a polymerization cup and a second casing. The polymerization cup has a frustoconical or substantially frustoconical shape that opens upward and increases in diameter upward, and is capable of housing an object therein. The second casing is a bottomed cylindrical or box-shaped casing having an opening at the apex thereof, the polymerization cup being attachably/detachably housed in the second casing via the opening. In this polymerization apparatus, light that has been emitted by the plurality of light-emitting diodes of the light irradiator and has passed through the light-transmissive window member is applied to the inside of the polymerization cup of the polymerization vessel.