To provide a process for the formation of a dental restoration material from a glass-ceramic material, and to provide the resulting dental restoration material.
The dental restoration material is prepared by placing the glass-ceramic material in a heat-pressure deformable crucible. Heat is applied to the crucible to bring the glass-ceramic to a working range at temperatures above its liquidus temperature. The crucible has heat-pressure deformation properties which are matched to the working temperature of the glass-ceramic. Once the glass-ceramic is heated to its working temperature, the crucible is brought into contract with a mold having a cavity therein. As the distance between the heated crucible and the mold is decreased, the crucible is deformed to form a seal with the mold, facilitating the injection of the molten glass-ceramic into the cavity.
Nobuhiko Nakajima
Ohara Shizuo