Method of manufacture of dental prostheses and auxiliary elements

Dentures such as crowns, bridges, inlays and. Like., Regularly consists complex Moldings which usually get one hand the spatial configuration retarded Toothed parts (stumps), lost teeth or entire parts of the jaw and on the other hand the spatial situation with respect to adjacent and / or antagonist must consider teeth individually. According to the prior Technology is such dentures manufactured in expensive processes. weal widespread is the production of the required molding - mostly from Precious or non-precious metal alloys and pure metals - in a multistage molding and casting processes. but became famous also data-driven milling such moldings from the solid material, which inevitably substantial waste has the consequence of be reprocessed consuming causes must or high costs.

The aim of the invention is to provide a different, more advantageous way to prepare such Moldings (and especially required in implantology dental auxiliary parts) show. It makes use of to an otherwise, namely for manufacturing of complex tools or components under the name "Rapid Prototyping" become known method in which the molded bodies of a sinterable Powders are built up in layers by successively each layer of exposed to powder one leading to local sintering energy of a laser beam is, the guiding of the laser beam over the respective powder layer of the Control by data subject, which in the configuration of the molding this layer represent. By the power supply to each affected Powder ingredients superficially melted and go each one stable bond. Due to the close focusing the laser beam can be - High density - configure the power supply very accurate and accordingly in accordance with the stored spatial data of the desired molded article control.

The invention further provides that the powder consists of a biocompatible material consists of different grain size between 0 and 50 microns. Unlike the previous application of the laser-sintering process for technical applications is to ensure in this way that the for dental purposes certain moldings with human tissue can withstand (see. <i>Hoffmann-Axthelm,</i>Dictionary of Dentistry, 6./11. Ed., P 97 and<i>Reuling,</i> biocompatibility dental alloys). The grain size curve ensures a particularly sintering density with the advantage of a high compressive strength of the shaped body and less formation of voids, which for the emergence of bacterial cultures vulnerable would; He also sets the size and fit of the restoration firmly.

However, it is also possible for the precise local compacting the powdered Feedstock to other make way, whether by other types Power supply or - in the case of plastics as a raw material - through locally limited polymerization control. In general, however, an optically focusable electromagnetic radiation other measures - such as the Vacuum be made corpuscular - for power transmission be preferable.

The sintered surface of the molding according to the invention is suitable due to their certain roughness particularly well suited for the often desired veneering by means of ceramic or other materials, as for example in Crowns or bridges is the case. Further, it is easily possible as a result of Influencing the - control brings about - possible file corrections make configuration of the molding, the variety of the Reasons seem desirable (compared to the sampled result) to like.

Preferably, the powder consists of an alloy with substantially the same Shares of the alloy constituents in each powder grain. This is a big Advantage of over the conventional production of dental moldings molten alloys is because there is no risk of segregation of the alloy components consists in the melt and / or the molded molding. Moreover, the manufacture of semi-finished products from certain alloys, which are particularly advantageously used for dental purposes, complicated and expensive process measures, such as the Saugguß while pulverizing such alloys is much less complex. But while one of such powder produced melt (for subsequent production of cast moldings) in turn the risk of separation and thus inhomogeneity subject, retains an inventively sintered moldings his uniform Distribution of the alloy components.

has for use in the present process, a metal powder following composition proved without the method limited would: Ni61, 4Cr22, 9M08, 8Nb3, 9Fe2, 5Mn0,4Ti0,1