Patent ID: 7445440

Claim:
A polymerization temperature test element for a polymerization device for polymerizing a dental restoration product, the polymerization device having an energy source for irradiating the dental restoration product with one or both of light radiation and thermal radiation to effect polymerization of the dental restoration product; comprising: a bowl shaped base element ( 20 ) having a circumferential wall ( 28 ) and a floor surface ( 26 ); a centrally located receipt region ( 12 ) carried by the base element ( 20 ) and extending beyond the floor surface, the receipt region being operable to receive a dental restoration product to be polymerized in response to the application of energy from the irradiating source, the base element ( 20 ) and the receipt region ( 12 ) being configured so as to be subjected to the respective light and thermal radiation emitted by the energy source to effect polymerization of the dental restoration product received by the receipt region ( 12 ), the receipt region being configured in the manner of a centrally disposed hub; and irreversible temperature indicating means carried by the inner side of the circumferential wall of the base element and spaced away from the receipt region a distance sufficiently great so that the temperature indicating means cannot be in contact with the dental restoration product to be polymerized, the temperature indicating means indicating that at least one discrete temperature has been reached during irradiation of the dental restoration product.