Method and Device for the Vibrational Mechanical Activation of Composite Materials

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of dentistry and is used for reinforcing composite materials to eliminate various defects of dental hard tissues of carious and non-carious origin in the process of direct/indirect and reinforced/non-reinforced composite restorations. The claimed method includes vibrational mechanical activation of composite materials by vibrationally acting upon portions of composite material shaped by manual mechanical activation (e.g., roll/ball) and applied layer-by-layer to the region of a defect. A device for vibrational mechanical activation of a composite material includes at least one working portion for applying a composite material to the region of a defect, the working portion fixedly attached to a handle, which is connected by a framework to a micromotor that creates vibrations which are transferred via the working portion to a layer of composite material by distributing the same across the entire surface of the defect and achieving the simultaneous surface plastic deformation thereof.

Claims

1. A method of vibration-based mechanical activation of a composite material in a direct or indirect layered composite restoration of a defect area of a tooth, the method comprising: subjecting a portion of the composite material to manual mechanical activation that forms a shaped portion of the composite material; placing the shaped portion atop a portion of polymerized material disposed in the defect area that forms an oxygen-inhibited layer between the shaped portion and the portion of polymerized material in the defect area; applying a vibrational impact to the shaped portion of the composite material such that the shaped portion is distributed in the defect area as a thin layer that undergoes plastic deformation atop the portion of polymerized material and eliminates the oxygen-inhibited layer; and polymerizing the thin layer of the composite material that in combination with the portion of polymerized material forms a monolithic composite structure in the defect area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vibrational impact to the shaped portion of the composite material is applied with an oscillation frequency up to 1000 Hz.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shaped portion of the composite material is subjected to the vibrational impact for at least 20 seconds.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shaped portion of the composite material is a roll or a ball.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying the vibrational impact to the shaped portion of the composite material perpendicularly to a surface of the portion of polymerized material.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymerized material disposed in the defect area is a polymerized adhesive or a polymerized portion of the composite material.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: disposing an adhesive in the defect area of the tooth; and polymerizing the adhesive that forms the portion of polymerized material disposed in the defect area.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: disposing a first portion of the composite material in the defect area of the tooth; and polymerizing the first portion that forms the portion of polymerized material disposed in the defect area.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: disposing an adhesive in the defect area of the tooth; polymerizing the adhesive to form a polymerized adhesive disposed in the defect area; disposing a first portion of the composite material as a first thin layer atop the polymerized adhesive; and polymerizing the first thin layer that forms the portion of polymerized material disposed in the defect area.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein disposing the first portion of the composite material comprises: subjecting the first portion of the composite material to manual mechanical activation that forms a first shaped portion of the composite material; placing the first shaped portion atop the polymerized adhesive disposed in the defect area that forms a first oxygen-inhibited layer between the first shaped portion and the adhesive in the defect area; and applying a first vibrational impact to the first shaped portion of the composite material such that the first shaped portion is distributed in the defect area as the first thin layer that undergoes plastic deformation atop the polymerized adhesive and eliminates the first oxygen-inhibited layer.

11. A device for vibration-based mechanical activation of a composite material in a direct or indirect layered composite restoration of a defect area of a tooth, the device comprising: a dental plastic filling instrument comprising a handle and at least one working part, the handle having a tubular body, the at least one working part configured to at least place a shaped portion of the composite material to a defect area of the tooth; and a framework fixedly attached to the handle, the framework comprising a battery power supply, a micromotor, and an activating element, the activating element capable of actuating the battery power supply, the battery power supply electrically connected to the micromotor, the micromotor capable of generating a vibrational impact applied via the at least one working part to the shaped portion of the composite material placed atop a portion of polymerized material disposed in the defect area that causes distribution of the shaped portion in the defect area as a thin layer that undergoes plastic deformation atop the portion of polymerized material and eliminates an oxygen-inhibited layer between the shaped portion and the portion of polymerized material, wherein the thin layer as polymerized and in combination with the portion of polymerized material forms a monolithic composite structure in the defect area.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the battery power supply and the micromotor are placed in the framework, the framework fixedly attached to the handle with capability of removal from the handle.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the battery power supply and the micromotor are placed in the framework, the framework fixedly attached inside the handle with capability of removal from the handle.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the dental plastic filling instrument is metal.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one working part of the dental plastic filling instrument is metal.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one working part is fixedly attached to at least one terminal end of the handle.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one working part comprises a ball or a paddle.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the vibrational impact has an oscillation frequency up to 1000 Hz.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0137] A better understanding of this invention will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the special device for vibrational mechanical activation of the composite material crowns in accord with the present invention; and

[0138] FIG. 2 is a view of a second embodiment of the special device for vibrational mechanical activation of the composite material crowns in accord with the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0139] The device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a handle 1, for example, in the form of a tubular body, at one end or at both ends of which one or two working elements 2 are fixedly attached and used for applying a portion of the composite material to the defect area of the crown part of the tooth and its distribution over the defect surface using vibrational impact. The design of the device and the working elements 2 are similar to the known dental plastic filling instrument, wherein the device or one or two working elements 2 can be made of metal. As illustrated in the figures, the dental plastic filling instrument is double-ended, with a first working element 2 in a shape of a ball and an opposite second working element 2 in a shape of a paddle.

[0140] The handle 1 includes a fixing device—a removable framework 3—for fixating the battery power supply 6 and a micro-motor 5, which is connected to the power supply 6 and generates vibration. There is a button 4 of the actuating element placed on the handle 1 for switching the power supply 6 on/off by pressing the button 4.

[0141] The embodiments of the device provide for placing the power supply 6 and the micro-motor 5 outside the handle 1 (FIG. 1) or inside the tubular body of the handle 1 (FIG. 2).

[0142] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, in order to fix the power supply 6 and the micro-motor 5 outside the tubular body, the removable framework 3 with finger grips is used as the fixing device. The battery power supply 6 and the micro-motor 5 are fixed internally to the framework 3.

[0143] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, with the location of the framework 3 inside the tubular body of handle 1, a window may be provided in the inner wall of the tubular body, for the internal placement of the battery power supply 6 and of the micro-motor 5. The framework 3 is fixed in an opening to the window by interference fit.

[0144] In cases of the internal and external placement of the removable framework 3, the framework 3 serves as a cover that insulates the battery power supply 6 and the micro-motor 5 from the external environment. In case the battery power supply 6 should be replaced, the framework 3 is taken off or out, the spent battery is removed and replaced with a new one.

[0145] The device for vibrational mechanical activation of the composite material operates as follows.

[0146] A portion of the composite material is applied, using the working element 2, to the surface in the area of the defect of the crown part of the tooth.

[0147] Using button 4 of the actuating element, the power supply 6 is switched on and electrically connected to the micro-motor 5. The activated micro-motor 5 generates vibrations that are transmitted to the working element 2, whereby vibrational mechanical activation of the deposited layer of the composite material is performed. The composite material is distributed under the impact of this vibration over the entire surface of the defect and is simultaneously subjected to surface plastic deformation for no less than 20 seconds. Then, using button 4 of the actuating element, the power supply 6 is switched off. The device returns to the static condition and is ready for the application of the next portion of the composite material.

[0148] After the vibrational impact has been completed, the layer of the composite material that has been subjected to the vibrational mechanical activation is polymerized in a conventional manner.

[0149] Then, a new portion of the composite material is applied, which is subjected to vibrational mechanical activation in accordance with the procedure described above. The operations of applying portions of the composite material, the vibrational impact, and polymerization are repeated until the full restoration of the integrity of the hard tissues of the tooth.

[0150] While the invention has been particularly shown and described as referenced to the embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.