Patent ID: 7677296
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: A61C,B23B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a dental instrument adapted for the shaping and/or removal of tooth structure, said instrument comprising a shaft having a shank portion and a working portion, said working portion having one or more sharp cutting features thereon adapted for the removal of said tooth structure upon rotation and/or reciprocation of the instrument, said method comprising forming the dental instrument by pouring or injecting a metal alloy in a molten or liquid state into a die or mold with a desired instrument shape including said cutting features and then cooling the metal alloy to form an integral as-molded instrument having said one or more sharp cutting features, wherein said cooling step comprises rapidly cooling said alloy from its molten state to a solid state in such a manner that a glassy metal alloy substantially without an ordered crystalline structure is formed.