Patent ID: 7686989

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a dental restoration, comprising the steps of: determining an external form and dimensions available for a completed restoration; obtaining an image of a natural tooth to be replaced with the restoration or a tooth corresponding therewith, wherein the image comprises at least the external surface visible in use of the to be replaced or corresponding tooth, with variations in the appearance therein; defining locally on and at least to a visible depth below the surface of appearance-determining properties of at least one material to be applied for the restoration in accordance with the obtained image and the variations in the appearance therein; and constructing the restoration, including the steps of: repeatedly providing layers of at least one material to be applied in non-cohesive form; and for each layer providing cohesion to the layer of at least one material with previous layers in accordance with the available form and dimensions, where the step of providing at least one material to be applied includes: varying the at least one material to be applied in accordance with variations in the image in a plane defined by each of the layers around the periphery of the surface of a layer cross section of the dental restoration to be formed, wherein the at least one material is in powder form including an additive configured to bring the appearance of the restoration to be formed into accordance with the image, the additive comprising at least one of the following: erbium oxide (Er 2 O 3 ), iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), praseodymium oxide (Pr 2 O 3 ) and manganese oxide (Mn 2 O 3 ), wherein the step of applying the cohesion is performed by sintering of the powder without the use of a binding additive and by an action of a laser.