Patent ID: 9539182
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: A61C,A61K,C04B

Claim:
1. A method of making a coated dental article, the method comprising: providing a dental article having an outer surface; and depositing on at least a portion of the outer surface a coating comprising zirconia that is at least partially stabilized by an alloying compound selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide and combinations thereof, wherein depositing the coating takes place at a pressure of 10 millitorr or less; and heat-treating the coating in an oxygenated environment at a temperature ranging from 300 to 700 degrees Celsius, wherein the coating has a layer thickness ranging from 400 to 700 nanometers wherein the coating after heat-treating exhibits enhanced abrasion resistance as evidenced by a lack of chipping after 16000 cycles of the Abrasion Resistance Test; and wherein the dental article is an orthodontic bracket having an archwire slot, and wherein the coating is deposited on a least a portion of the archwire slot.