Patent ID: 7162321

Claim:
Method for producing high strength ceramic dental restorations including inlays, onlays, partial crowns, crowns, FPDs and superstructures for implant retained prosthesis, that can be fitted onto at least one prepared surface of a tooth stump or artificial abutment, said restoration having an internal geometry determined by a border surface occurring between said prepared surface and said restoration, and an external geometry, said method comprising making data available to define said internal geometry by means of digitization of the prepared surface and using said data to form the inner shape of said restoration and using digitization to obtain data defining a negative form of neighboring and antagonistic teeth and masticatory faces of said restoration as said external geometry, and using said latter data to construct a mold, and utilizing said mold to form the outer shape of said restoration, said method steps resulting in the forming of said dental restoration consisting throughout of said high strength ceramic for its final shape.