EP2083743A1

EP2083743A1 - Thermoplastic material and process for the production of a dental product

Info

Publication number: EP2083743A1
Application number: EP07856317A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alexander Bublewitz; Matthias Suchan; Jens-Peter Reber; Hans Van Capelle
Original assignee: Kettenbach GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Kettenbach GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-11-30
Filing date: 2007-11-30
Publication date: 2009-08-05
Also published as: DE102006056983A1; WO2008064904A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoplastic material (4) for the production of a dental product, and also to a process for the production of a dental product. The dental product is solid at body temperature and is manually plastically deformable at a temperature between body temperature and about 200°C, and has at least one activator and/or receptor matched to an energy source for accelerating the heating process.

Description

Thermoplastic material and method of making a dental product

The invention relates to a thermoplastic material for producing a dental product and to a method for producing a dental product.

Such a dental product can be, for example, a splint as a medicament carrier or a splint for orthodontic treatment, as described in US 2006/0093983 A1. In another embodiment, the dental product may be a dental impression. In DE 103 49 047 B3 a method for producing a dental rail is described, wherein an impression tray is charged with a plastically deformable material on which a thermoplastic film is provided, which together with the plastically deformable material or separately therefrom, for example in a water bath is heated. In this heated state, the thermoplastic film is plastically deformable and can be applied directly into the mouth of a patient for the production of a dental splint. For this purpose, the thermoplastic film is applied to the teeth and / or the gums by means of the plastically moldable material, which is, for example, a kneadable plastic material. Upon cooling of the thermoplastic film to body temperature, it solidifies. The dental splint can easily be removed from the patient's mouth in this state. The heating of the thermoplastic film separate from the impression tray and the stamping material may be considered disadvantageous in some applications, since there is a risk that the thermoplastic film partially cools during application to the impression tray, whereby the deformability during application is deteriorated. On the other hand, heating of the thermoplastic film together with the impression tray and the stamping material is sometimes perceived as unpleasant by patients, depending on the heating temperature. WO 2005/113675 A2 discloses a method for the individual adaptation of a prefabricated dental splint or the like. For this purpose, the dental splint should be heated in a water bath or in a moistened cloth heated in a microwell oven before it is adjusted in the mouth.

Also in US 5,076,791 a method for producing a rail is described, in which a used for example in sports mouthguard made of a thermoplastic material is softened in hot water. This mouthguard can be adapted in the plastically deformable state with the fingers directly on the teeth in the mouth. A similar process for producing a bleaching rail from a thin film, which is heated separately or together with an impression tray, for example in boiling water, is known from US Pat. No. 6,364,665 B1.

In these methods, there is also the risk that an increased heat input through the heated rail or the heated impression tray in the patient's mouth is perceived as unpleasant. On the other hand, sufficient heating of at least the film material forming the rail or the like is necessary to allow optimum adaptation to the contours of the teeth.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a thermoplastic material for the production of a dental product and a corresponding method with which a dental product, in particular a dental splint, can be produced intraorally with high accuracy of fit without this being the case with patients with regard to the heat input is perceived as unpleasant.

This object is achieved by a thermoplastic material for producing a dental product that solid at body temperature and is manually plastically deformable at a temperature between body temperature and about 200 ⁰ C and which is equipped with at least one individually tailored to a defined energy source activator and / or receptor to accelerate the heating.

The invention is based on the idea that it is sufficient only to heat the thermoplastic material which is used to produce the dental product to such an extent that it becomes plastically deformable. If the other agents used for the production of the dental product, for example an impression tray and a stamping compound, are not or only slightly heated, the adaptation of the thermoplastic material in the mouth is not perceived as unpleasant due to the relatively low heat content of the thermoplastic material. By equipping the thermoplastic material with an activator and / or receptor, a faster, more targeted and locally defined entry of energy and thereby switching properties of the surrounding matrix is made possible. The selective heating or activation of the thermoplastic material means that it is already plastically deformable, while other substances exposed together with the thermoplastic material of the energy source are not or at most very little heated. At the same time, the accelerated and targeted heating of the thermoplastic material can also greatly simplify the treatment by a dentist, since only small waiting times are required until the material cools down in the mouth of a patient to produce a dental product. The material can therefore be removed more quickly from the mouth. Regardless, only a relatively short time is required until the material is sufficiently heated. In particular, in the case of treatments which require successive temperature control and adaptation of a plurality of dental products, this leads to a significant shortening of the treatment time. The thermoplastic material according to the invention may, for example, consist of copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylene or a shape memory plastic. Such materials are available, for example, from Dupont, Solvay, Atofina and mnemoScience. Also suitable are polybutenes, styrene-isoprene-styrene or styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, amorphous polyolefins, linear, thermoplastic polyurethanes, copolyesters, polyamide resins, polyamide / EVA copolymers, dimer fatty acid-based polyaminoamides, Polyesteramides or polyetheramides as thermoplastic material. It is also possible to mix these materials together to obtain a suitable thermoplastic material. For example, with a mixture of about 90% by weight of EVA and about 10% by weight of polyurethane, a thermoplastic material suitable for the production of a dental product can be produced, with the polyurethane serving as activator.

The inventive synergy effects in the production of a dental product by the rapid and defined heating of a thermoplastic material occur in particular when the thermoplastic material is combined with a non-manually plastically deformable material at a temperature between body temperature and about 200 ⁰ C and / or at least one a temperature between about 20 ⁰ C and body temperature manually plastically deformable material which is not equipped with an activator and / or receptor to accelerate the heating. The relatively stronger and / or faster heating of the thermoplastic material compared to the at least one other material which is exposed, for example, simultaneously with the thermoplastic material of the same energy source, then has a particularly favorable effect on the temperature load of a patient and the duration of the thermoplastic Material must remain in the patient's mouth to solidify. In terms of handleability, it is preferred if the thermoplastic material is in the form of a tube or the like., In the tube or the like. At least at a temperature between about 20 ⁰ C and body temperature manually plastically deformable material, eg Stempelmasse, is added, which is not equipped with an activator and / or receptor to accelerate the heating.

If the heating of the thermoplastic material by means of microwave radiation as an energy source, it is preferred that the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating from the group consisting of water, OH-containing substances, substances whose molecules have a permanent dipole moment, heat-conducting substances , Metals, metallic or metal compounds, carbon black, graphite, metal alloys, and plastics that are readily heatable by microwave radiation. Under microwave radiation here is an electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 1 mm and 30 cm (millimeter, centimeter, Dezimeterwelle) and frequencies between 1 and 350 GHz (high frequency) to understand. In particular, according to the invention, microwaves are suitable in a frequency range from about 2.425 GHz to about 2.475 GHz.

A thermoplastic material according to the invention, which is equipped with an activator and / or receptor, also comprises plastic mixtures in which a first plastic, for example in the form of a film or a tubular bag, has a second plastic, in particular polyurethane, which is heated more strongly under irradiation by a microwave source , Polycaprolactone or the like. Suitable plastics, mixed. Under such a mixture of plastics is here also understood a application of a plastic to another plastic and / or a sheath of a plastic with another plastic. For heating by means of a light radiation as an energy source, the activator and / or receptor according to a further embodiment from the group consisting of inorganic or organic substances and / or compounds such as dyes, riboflavin, carotenoids, titanium dioxide, camphorquinone, benzoin alkyl ethers, zinc dioxide, benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, diketones, e.g. Benzil, metal-ligand complexes, e.g. As iron-potassium oxalate, manganese gluconate and metal bisphosphonate chelate complexes, phthalocyanine metal complexes and coinitiators and / or accelerators, such as amines and peroxide selected. The light radiation serving as an energy source may comprise an irradiation with UV light, IR light and / or visible light.

Alternatively, the thermoplastic material may also be heated by means of ultrasonic radiation as an energy source. In this case, due to the nature of the heating, it may be possible to dispense completely with an activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating, if appropriate. However, accelerated heating can be achieved, for example, by forming in the thermoplastic material a pocket or the like, for example, between two layers of the thermoplastic material filled with a liquid.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating of the thermoplastic material is tuned to a magnetic or electromagnetic alternating field as an energy source. The activator and / or receptor is preferably selected from the following group:

nanoparticulate ferrites, or barium and / or strontium titanates or other (super) paramagnetic substances, and doped and undoped ferrites,

- Mixed metal oxide M "M ^m O ₄ Mixed oxide selected from ferrites (M ^a _1-x- y M ^b _x Fe y) ^II Fe ^III 2 O ₄ with M ^a = Mn, Co, Ni and M ^b = Zn, Cd

- Me _x Fe _{_2-x} Me'i θ4 x = 0 to 1, _Lii-x Zn _2x Fe ₅ - _x θ8 x = 0 to 1, Me, Me '= Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, V, Mn, Fe , Ni, Co, Cd, Y - Me _x Me'i _-x (Fe ₂ -yMe "y) θ4

- CoFe ₂ O ₄

- metallic, magnetic, piezoelectric, ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic or superparamagnetic particles of Al, Co, Fe, Ni or their alloys, - mixed oxides of the barium hexaferrite type, n-maghemite (γ-Fe ₂ θ ₃ ), n-

Magnetites (Fβ ₃ θ ₄ ) or ferrites of the MeFe ₂ O _{4 type} (with Me divalent metal of Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Mg, Ca, Cd),

- chichroistic nanoscale ferrites, carbon blacks, as well as carbon fiber, intrinsically conductive polymers, graphite, metal powder, metal fibers, metal-coated fillers, metal-coated micro glass spheres, metal-coated textile fibers, quartz, tourmaline, barium titanate, lithium suet, potassium (sodium) tartrate, ethylenediamine tartrate, ferroelectrics with Perovskite structure, especially Pb-Zr-titanate

Magnetic fluids, in particular Ferrofluidic Adventure ^Science® Kit, suspensions of magnetic particles or nanoparticles in suitable

Carrier liquids, such as glycerol or polyols, in particular 1, 2-ethanediol, 1, 2-propanediol, 1, 3-propanediol, mixtures thereof, mixtures with water for color adjustment methylene blue, silicone fluid 345 (Dow Corning) and / or over-coated phase: 1- octanediol.

As activator and / or receptor, for example, nanoparticulate ferrites, or barium and / or strontium titanates or other (super) paramagnetic substances as well as doped and undoped ferrites are particularly suitable. These may be present in amounts between about 0.1 to 70% by weight, in particular about 0.1 to 50% by weight, and preferably between about 0.1 to 20% by weight, in the thermoplastic material. be provided rial. In this case, for the production of a dental product particle sizes of about 2 to 100 nm, in particular from 5 to 15 nm, more preferably between 10 and 30 nm determined by the XRD method or alternatively suitable according to the UPA method. In principle, it is possible to use particles having a size of about 1 to about 5000 nm, in particular particles having a size of less than 500 nm and preferably less than 300 nm, particularly preferably between about 3 to about 30 nm. These particles can be surface modified by treatment with acid anions, acids or silanes.

Nanoscale supermagnetic particles, so-called "single-domain particles", are particularly suitable when using alternating magnetic fields In comparison to conventional known paramagnetic particles, these nanoscale fillers are characterized by the fact that such materials have no hysteresis in that the energy dissipation is not caused by magnetic hysteresis losses, but rather the heat generation is due to oscillations or rotation of the particles in the surrounding matrix induced during the action of an electromagnetic alternating field and thus ultimately to mechanical friction losses Particles and their surrounding matrix.

Of particular importance are magnetic resonance effects in ferrofluids, but in addition to the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) also such resonance phenomena occur, which are due to the mechanical mobility of the magnetic particles in the carrier fluid. In principle, the heating of plastic magnetic particle composites by alternating magnetic fields is achieved not only by the FMR-based process, but also by the remagnetization of the magnetic component in a strong external AC field. In contrast to the FMR-based method, the magnetic hysteresis exploits losses, if one turns around the magnetization of ferromagnetic materials with non-zero coercive force in an external magnetic field. The microscopic mechanism that is effective here is based on the induced migration of Bloch walls between the magnetic domains of opposite magnetization direction within each individual magnetic particle.

Basically, in addition to the FMR method, two types of heat generation of superparamagnetic particles are known. The first is based on the fact that at frequencies above a few MHz each magnetic material has a certain energy absorption, which is several orders of magnitude smaller than the energy absorption by Bloch-wall migration.

The second class of superparamagnetic systems are the Brownian ferrofluids. In this case, the magnetic reversal is effected by the fact that the magnetic particles in the surrounding carrier fluid rotate as a whole under the influence of the changing magnetic field. The reversal of the magnetization and thus the heat generation can therefore not be related to the hysteresis of the magnetic substance component, but depend on the viscous friction of the particles in the carrier fluid. Since the rotation of the magnetic particles is a comparatively slow process, frequencies in the order of a few kilohertz suffice for a clear generation of heat. However, Brownian ferrofluids are less suitable as energy-absorbing additives for heating solid matrices because they lose their superparamagnetic properties in the "solidified" state.

The FMR-based method is applicable to many composites, since the heat generation is not bound to the reorientation of atomic magnetic moments, but only to their gyro precession around an arbitrarily oriented rest direction. Suitable composites are known from DE 100 37 883. In this case, the heating in the FMR method can be controlled by a microwave field superimposed DC field (DC magnetic field). Field variations on the order of 10 kA / m are sufficient to turn microwave absorption on or off. By suitable choice of the field profile of the superimposed magnetic field, one can spatially vary the energy absorption of the plastic magnetic particle composite and generate targeted heating patterns. This is not possible when heating by magnetic reversal.

Since the commercial microwave ovens are subject to certain fluctuations in their performance during operation, it is preferred if the thermoplastic material has a temperature indicator or the like. Temperature display means, in particular a temperature sensor designed as a thermal strip or dye, for example. Such temperature sensors, for example. Temperature sticker RLC series of Newport Electronics GmbH or THERMAX ^® thermal strip and -färben of Kleinfeld GmbH & Co. laboratory technology, allow for easy visual inspection when the thermoplastic material is the ideal processing temperature at which the material is plastically deformed, achieved has and thus secures the extensive independence from device-specific fluctuations, scatters or an age-related power loss of a microwave device. At the same time, the risk of damage to the tissue in the patient's mouth can be minimized if the thermoplastic material is overheated.

The thermoplastic material can also be equipped with a temperature indicator, which is, for example, a substance which changes color when it reaches a certain temperature. The color change allows a dentist to determine if the thermoplastic material is sufficiently warmed to process it into a dental product. When the temperature indicator of the thermoplastic material is selected such that also at cooling down below a defined temperature, a color change or the like takes place, so that a dentist can recognize when the thermoplastic material has cooled down to the extent that it can be removed from the mouth or is no longer suitable for processing into a dental product. Suitable color indicators are known from WO 99/27895 A2.

In order to avoid excessive heating of the thermoplastic material and thus possibly injuries to the patient, it is preferred if the activator and / or receptor is set such that with the energy source associated therewith, heating is possible only up to a defined maximum temperature.

Such overheating protection can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the Curie temperature and the magnetic relaxation time of superpair magnetic, nanoscale particles. The Curie temperature is the maximum temperature at which magnetic particles can be heated by the action of a magnetic or electromagnetic alternating field. The Curie temperature can be adjusted, for example, by suitably selecting the type and amount of different divalent metals.

For the production of a dental splint, it is preferred if the thermoplastic material is in the form of a foil or plate with a layer thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 4 mm, in particular less than 3 mm. For the production of other dental products from the thermoplastic material according to the invention, this may for example be in the form of thicker plates, spheres or the like.

So that the application of the thermoplastic material in the patient's mouth is not perceived as unpleasant by the heat input, it is preferred when the thermoplastic material has a softening temperature between about 40 ⁰ C and about 12O ⁰ C. In particular, the softening temperature is below about 90 ^° C.

In order to facilitate the detachment of a dental splint formed from the thermoplastic material as a dental product from a stamping compound or other auxiliaries for the production of the dental product, the thermoplastic material is selected and / or equipped so that no adhesion forces between the thermoplastic material and the stamping compound or the like - be formed.

For this purpose, between the thermoplastic material and the stamp mass or the like. Be provided in particular as an insulating film, insulating film or insulating insulating layer or an insulating means. In this way it is prevented that the forces during the removal of the dental product formed from the thermoplastic material are so great that plastic deformation of the dental product can occur. Optionally, the thermoplastic material may be provided with at least one substance which acts both as an activator and / or receptor and as an insulating agent or layer.

In contrast, in the production of a dental impression as a dental product usually a good connection between the thermoplastic material and the stamp mass is preferred.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the stamp mass or the like is surrounded by the thermoplastic material. The example. Tubular formed thermoplastic material and / or filled in this stamp mass may be equipped with an insulating agent, which is a detachment of The dental product formed by the thermoplastic material facilitates the stamp mass.

The equipment of e.g. In an injection molding, thermoforming or extrusion process produced thermoplastic material can be effected by the material an activator and / or receptor as a powder, granules, fibers, nanoparticles, e.g. also in the form of an easily homogenized masterbatch before or during the injection molding process, or that the thermoplastic material is coated with an activator and / or receptor. In an extrusion process, the thermoplastic material may be extruded with multiple layers, wherein in one of these layers the activator and / or receptor is contained or embedded. This has the advantage that the activator and / or receptor, which is introduced between two layers, does not come into contact with the oral mucosa and the activator and / or receptor is embedded stable in storage. The equipment of the thermoplastic material with an activator and / or receptor can also take place in that such substances or molecules are co-polymerized or mixed in as co-monomer or polymer in the thermoplastic material. Furthermore, an aqueous, alcoholic surfactant solution can be superficially applied to the thermoplastic material, for example in a dipping, brushing or spraying process.

A kit of the invention for producing a dental product, for example. A dental mold is made of a thermoplastic film and a Impression spoon from a solid at temperatures below 80 ⁰ C, in particular even at temperatures below 14O ⁰ C material, which with an at least between 30 ⁰ C and 60 ⁰ C, in particular between 20 ⁰ C and 8O ⁰ C plastically deformable means for adapting the film is charged. On this plastically deformable means for adapting the film is the moldable to a dental mold thermoplastic film with a layer thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 4 mm arranged, the softening temperature between 40 ⁰ C and about 120 ⁰ C. The thermoplastic film is equipped with an activator and / or receptor which improves the heat input into the thermoplastic film and / or reduces the heat input into the impression tray and / or the means for adapting the film. This allows a defined heating of the thermoplastic film, without introducing a total high heat content by heating the means for adapting the film and / or the impression tray in the patient's mouth.

The thermoplastic film is preferably made of the above-described thermoplastic material. In order to keep the heat input when applying the thermoplastic film together with the means for adapting the film as low as possible, the invention provides that the means for adapting the film and / or the impression tray made of a material that neither water or hydroxyl or amino-containing substances still contains water well absorbed. This may be, for example, a material based on silicone oils, mineral oils, natural and / or synthetic rubber.

The means for adapting the film have the task of applying the thermoplastic material to the teeth and the gums, so that the sheet of thermoplastic material assumes the contour of the teeth and the gums. As a means for adapting the film, therefore, in particular a stamping compound, which flows around the thermoplastic film during adaptation, and / or a for example. From a tube or the like. Formed air- and / or liquid-filled cushion. Also, a foam-like material can be used for this purpose.

In order to facilitate the detachment of a dental splint formed from the thermoplastic film from the stamping compound, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material of the thermoplastic film and the Stamping selected and / or equipped so that no adhesion forces are formed between the thermoplastic film and the stamp mass. For this purpose, an insulating layer or an insulating means, in particular an insulating film, insulating film or insulating solution, can be provided between the thermoplastic film and the stamping compound. In this way it is prevented that the forces during the removal of the dental mold formed from the thermoplastic film are so great that plastic deformation of the dental rail can occur. Optionally, the film may be equipped with at least one substance which acts both as an activator and / or receptor and as an insulating agent or layer.

In contrast, it is preferred for the production of a dental impression as a dental product, if there is a good connection between the impression tray, the stamping material and the thermoplastic material, so that these components taken together as a unit from the patient's mouth and later together with gypsum or the like. can be poured out to create a tooth model. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stamp mass is therefore formulated so sticky and / or equipped with chemical bonding agents or provided that an adhesive bond between the stamp mass and the thermoplastic material is greater than the withdrawal forces occurring during removal of the dental impression from the patient's mouth, the stamp material , Alternatively or additionally, the stamp compound is preferably formulated so sticky and / or equipped with chemical bonding agents or provided that the adhesive bond between the stamp mass and the impression tray is greater than the withdrawal forces occurring during removal of the dental impression from the patient's mouth. In other words, due to the stickiness of the invention, the impression tray, the stamp mass and the defined deformed thermoplastic material can be removed from the patient's mouth without the impression tray and / or the thermoplastic material detaching from the stamp mass. Furthermore, the impression tray and / or the thermoplastic material can be connected to one another by a mechanical retention and / or by an adhesive bond such that the arrangement of the impression tray, the stamping material and the thermoplastic material can be removed as a unit during oral removal. It is particularly preferred if this removal from the patient's mouth is at least substantially without a dimensional change, in particular of the dental impression formed from the thermoplastic material. Consequently, in particular due to the good connection between the impression tray, the stamp mass and the thermoplastic material, the dimensional change is so small that a detailed impression taking and thus the creation of a very accurate tooth model is possible.

The stamp mass may have a viscosity of about 1,000 to about 150,000 Pas, preferably 20,000 to 100,000 Pas, more preferably 20,000 to 80,000 Pas. The viscosity measurement is carried out with a profiled plate / plate 20 mm at a temperature of 23 ° C and a deformation specification of 0.05% at a frequency of 1 Hz.

A simple visual check of when the thermoplastic film has reached the ideal processing temperature and a high degree of independence from device-specific fluctuations, scatters or an age-related power loss of a microwave device can be achieved by the thermoplastic material having means for temperature indication. In the same way, alternatively or additionally, other components of the kit, ie the impression tray, the stamp mass or the like. Means for adapting the film and / or the insulating agent or the insulating layer means for temperature display, in particular a example. As a thermal strip or dye trained temperature sensor. An impression tray suitable for a kit according to the invention consists of a material which is solid at temperatures below 140 ^° C. which, if possible, does not or only slightly warms up under the action of UV radiation, IR radiation, visible radiation, microwave radiation and / or ultrasound radiation ie the material is approximately inert. Thus, there is no unwanted deformation of the impression tray during heating by radiation or during the formation of the dental splint. At the same time, the burden on the patient can be kept low, as well as the spoon absorbs only a small amount of heat.

In order to achieve a good connection between the impression tray and the plastically deformable stamp mass or the like. Means for adapting the film, the impression tray can be provided with adhesives and / or mechanical retention.

The thermoplastic material and / or the kit are particularly suitable for the production of a dental product. This can be, for example, an orthodontic splint, bite block, mini slide rail, crunch bar, dressing plate, bite splint, bite guide rail, fluoridation rail, bleaching rail, transfer rail, a mouthguard, positioner or a medicament carrier made of a thermoplastic material. A dental product may also be a dental impression, i. a negative form of the tooth situation, which is obtained, for example, in the form of a solidified thermoplastic film. From this impression can then analogous to the classical dental impression materials by pouring with a model material, in particular with gypsum, a working model for the further preparation of dentures are made.

In orthodontics, splints are used to gradually correct misaligned teeth with different splints. This The method described in US 2006/0093983 A1 can be carried out in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner using a rail produced from the thermoplastic material according to the invention and / or the kit according to the invention.

Further, an inventive dental product in the form of a medicament carrier, for example, for whitening of teeth is suitable. In this case, it is preferred if the dental product is filled with a medicament and / or a treatment agent, in particular a light-emitting and / or temperature-activatable blanching gel. In this way, if necessary, an activation of the medicament of the treatment agent take place simultaneously with the creation of the dental product.

The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a method for producing a dental product, which comprises in succession the following steps: heating a thermoplastic material to a temperature below 200 ⁰ C, in particular below about 120 ⁰ C, and above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic material, in particular between 4O ⁰ C and 80 ⁰ C, applying the thermoplastic material together with an impression tray in a patient's mouth, which may be charged with an example kneadable material as stamp mass, applying the thermoplastic material to at least one tooth and / or the gum to form a dental product for a period of time until the thermoplastic material has cooled to a temperature below its softening temperature, and removing the impression tray, optionally the stamp mass and the dental product formed from the thermoplastic material kes from the patient's mouth. During the heating, the thermoplastic material rests on or in the impression tray and / or the stamp mass, the thermoplastic material being heated to a greater degree than the impression tray and / or the stamp mass. Although the impression tray, the stamping material and the thermoplastic material are heated together, the impression tray and the stamping material, which both have a relatively high heat content and / or heat capacity, only a very low heat content, since according to the invention mainly the thermoplastic material is heated. In contrast, the heating of the impression tray and the stamp mass can also be so low that they have substantially only room temperature, while the thermoplastic material is heated to, for example, about 60 ⁰ C or about 70 ⁰ C to 80 ° C or even significantly higher. Due to the very low heat capacity or the low heat content of the preferably thin thermoplastic material, the temperature load on the tissue and the teeth of a patient in the application of the thermoplastic material in the patient's mouth in the tolerable range. In addition, the thermoplastic material cools relatively quickly, if this is possibly applied with the stamp mass to the teeth or gums. It is thus possible according to the invention to heat the thermoplastic material to a sufficiently high temperature, which allows the production of a dental splint or the like. With high accuracy of fit, but without generating a high temperature load for tissue and teeth of a patient. Consequently, a dental splint can be produced intraorally with the method according to the invention without it being necessary to produce a plaster model for this purpose.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the thermoplastic material is replaced by an alternating electromagnetic field

Irradiation with UV radiation, IR radiation, radiation in the visible range,

Microwave radiation and / or ultrasonic radiation heats. This makes it possible to specifically heat the thermoplastic material, while the stamp mass and / or the impression tray are significantly less heated, in particular compared to a conventional heating in a water bath. In a further development of this inventive concept, it is provided that the thermoplastic material is equipped before heating with at least one activator and / or receptor, which improves the heat input into the thermoplastic material and / or the heat input into the impression tray and / or in the stamp mass reduced. The equipment may be as described above with reference to the thermoplastic material of the present invention. In this case, the above-mentioned and according to the heat source selected activators and / or receptors can be used.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the impression tray and / or the stamp mass may be equipped with at least one substance prior to heating or consist of a material which reduces the heat input into the impression tray or into the stamp mass. This also ensures that substantially only the thermoplastic material heats up, while the impression tray and the stamping compound remain at a temperature that is not perceived as uncomfortable in the patient's mouth.

When the thermoplastic material is heated by microwave radiation, it is preferred that the stamping compound and / or the impression tray be made of a material which does not contain water or hydroxyl- or amino-containing substances nor absorbs water well. For example, substances such as silicone oils, mineral oils and natural and / or synthetic rubber can be used for the stamping compound. These substances have either by selecting suitable high molecular weights or chain lengths to the desired viscosity for the stamp mass or these can be by Zuformulierung of structure or paste formers such as organic and / or inorganic fillers with no or low water content or OH group Content be brought to the desired viscosity. Due to this deliberate exclusion of water in the stamp mass as well as in the Discharge a stimulation by microwave radiation is largely avoided, so that only a slight warming of the stamp mass and the impression tray takes place.

In other words, the combination of the coordinated material properties of the thermoplastic material, the stamp mass and the impression tray means that at the same time exposure to microwave radiation practically only the thermoplastic material is heated while the stamp mass and the impression tray are heated or at most low. As a result, the perceived temperature or heat content of patients is not perceived as unpleasant during the impression in the patient's mouth to create a dental splint. Due to their small layer thickness of the thermoplastic material preferably formed as a film or plate of introduced heat content of the thermoplastic material is low, while the heat content of the stamp mass and the impression tray is low due to the low heating.

A kit or set according to the invention is understood here to mean the joint provision of an impression tray, a plastically deformable means for adapting, ie, for example, a stamp mass, a thermoplastic material, an insulating agent and / or an activator or receptor. These ingredients may be present in any combination separately or pre-assembled, with a kit or set not necessarily having all of these ingredients. Thus, for example, the impression tray may be reusable, so that the kit or set contains only one stamp material, one thermoplastic material and optionally an insulating agent and / or an activator or receptor. The impression tray can be charged prior to heating with the stamping material and the thermoplastic material. In this case, the thermoplastic material and the stamp mass can be prefabricated together introduced into the impression tray. Alternatively, a kit or set can also have the impression tray, which, for example, is pre-loaded with the stamp mass and the thermoplastic material.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, an insulating layer, in particular an insulating solution is provided between the thermoplastic material and the stamp mass, which preferably contains an activator and / or receptor, such as water and / or OH-containing substances. Such an insulating layer makes it possible, on the one hand, for the solidified dental rail or the like to be easily removable from the stamp mass after cooling, and, on the other hand, for the thermoplastic material to be heated in a targeted manner.

In development of this invention, it is envisaged that the thermoplastic film as a z. B. sausage casing-like hose or the like. Is provided, in which stamp mass is taken as a means for adapting the film. A kit can thus consist of a spoon and a tube of thermoplastic foil filled with the stamp material. In this case, the spoon can be reused and for the production of a dental product each a new filled with stamp mass hose made of thermoplastic film can be provided. The dental product is then cut out of this after cooling of the thermoplastic film.

In the method according to the invention, it is particularly preferred if the heating of the thermoplastic material takes place only up to a defined temperature, by a temperature indicator in and / or on the impression tray or the like. Carrier, the stamping material, the thermoplastic material and / or the insulating layer is indicated in particular by a color change.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the thermoplastic material according to the invention and / or the method according to the invention is used to create a dental impression. After heating and softening of the thermoplastic material, this is applied, for example, with an impression tray loaded with stamping material in the patient's mouth, so that after cooling and removal from the mouth a negative mold of the molded tooth situation in the form of a rigidified thermoplastic film is obtained. From this impression can then analogous to the classical dental impression materials by pouring with a model material, in particular with gypsum, a working model for the further preparation of dentures are made.

Compared to the classic 2-component dental impression materials and impression methods, the material or method according to the invention has the advantage that it does not have to be dosed and mixed as a 1-component system after removal from the outer packaging. This avoids the usual dosing errors and mixed inhomogeneities of classical impression materials. Since in the process according to the invention there is no chemical crosslinking reaction, but rather thermoplastic deformation and solidification, there is no sensitivity to the catalyst poisons which are critical in classical impression materials, such as, for example, Astringents, topical anesthetics, latex materials or the like.

For the production of a dental impression with the microwave-activatable thermoplastic material according to the invention or the method according to the invention, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the impression tray and the stamping compound form a composite which ensures that when removing the arrangement (consisting of impression tray , Stamp mass and thermoplastic film) from the mouth the stamp mass remains in the impression tray, and thus contributes to the fact that this arrangement can be completely removed again after taking the impression from the mouth. A composite here is any suitable possibly detachable connection between the impression tray and the stamp mass, which facilitates the complete removal of all components of the kit according to the invention after taking the impression or only makes it possible. Thus, a (adhesive) bond between the impression tray and the stamp mass can be achieved, for example, by means of mechanical retention intentionally mounted in the impression tray. These are, for example, in particular depressions lying transversely to the withdrawal direction (eg grooves, bores), elevations (eg noses, webs) or recesses (eg holes, slits), as well as surface roughness in the impression tray or surface post-treatments of the impression tray (eg plasma treatment or application of suitable primers or adhesives). Also, the selection of suitable materials by approximating the surface energies / surface tensions of the contacting surfaces of the impression tray and stamp mass can improve the formation of a composite.

Further, it is particularly preferred for the preparation of a dental impression, if between the stamp mass and the thermoplastic material, a composite is formed, which ensures that when removing the assembly (consisting of impression tray, stamp mass and thermoplastic material) from the mouth thermoplastic Material adheres to the stamp mass and helps ensure that this arrangement can be completely removed from the mouth after taking the impression. This (adhesive) bond between the stamping compound and the thermoplastic material can be formed according to the invention as explained above with reference to the bond between the impression tray and the stamping material.

In contrast to the creation of a dental splint, in which after the molding process and after removal from the mouth a slight removability of the molded thermoplastic sheet from the stamp mass is desired, it is preferred for the preparation of a dental impression, if no release agent is provided between the stamp mass and the thermoplastic material. The use of a release agent is for the creation of a Dental impression rather counterproductive, since this can solve the mouth of the arrangement, the thermoplastic material from the stamp material.

The above-described adhesion of the impression tray, the stamping material and the thermoplastic material to each other during and after oral extraction in the preparation of a dental impression is preferred because this complete patterning arrangement can be cast with plaster rather than the molded thermoplastic material alone. The latter may be too unstable from its mechanical properties, so that there is a risk that the thermoplastic material will be deformed by the gypsum slurry during pouring. Therefore, it is preferred that the comparatively rigid arrangement of impression tray, stamp mass and the thermoplastic material is completely filled with gypsum, since thus can not occur due to the supporting character of the impression tray and / or the stamp mass deformation of the thermoplastic film.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, for the production of a dental impression, the stamp mass is formed such that it can form an adhesive bond with the two adjacent materials, ie with the impression tray and with the thermoplastic material. For this purpose, the composition of the stamp mass is formulated sticky. Tackiness in the present sense is understood to mean that the adhesive forces when pulling apart the arrangement consisting of impression tray, stamp mass and thermoplastic material at the interfaces impression tray / stamp mass and stamp mass / thermoplastic material are greater than those occurring when removing the tooth impression from the patient's mouth withdrawal forces. The adhesive forces may preferably also be greater than the internal cohesive forces of the stamp mass, so that it can lead to a tearing within the stamp mass and not at the described interfaces to the stamp mass in a violent pulling apart of the entire arrangement. The inner cohesion of the stamp mass can be determined by selecting the chain length of the polymers and the fillers are adjusted specifically. For the handling of the invention in clinical practice, it is advantageous if the internal forces of the stamp mass are greater than the withdrawal forces upon removal of the impression from the mouth. Investigations have shown that the withdrawal forces of impression materials are between 150 and 260 Newton measured on a jaw model (Hey Hey, AF Boeckler, F. Zschiegner and KE Dette "Experimental investigation on the peel strength of silicone impressions on the phantom model", University of Halle 2006, For these release forces acting on the composite of impression tray, stamping material and thermoplastic material during removal, the stickiness of the stamp material together with further measures, such as chemical and / or mechanical bonding agents, possibly causes the composite is not destroyed and thus can be removed as a unit from the patient's mouth.

The rheological properties of the stamping compound for the embodiment for the preparation of an impression can be adjusted from purely plastic behavior to plastic-elastic behavior as needed. Elastic portions in the stamp mass may assist during and after oral removal to provide elastic recovery of the molded thermoplastic material if it has been deformed during removal of the mouth by incision sites.

In this special case of the preparation of a dental impression, in further development of this idea of the invention, slight temperature differences are utilized, for example, by a slight heating of the stamping compound in the microwave, for example from room temperature to 40 ° C., so that at a higher temperature, for example during impression taking, the elastic forces of the stamp mass are dissolved or at least reduced and at low temperatures, for example during the removal of the mouth, the elastic properties are adjusted or restored. be presented. In this way, the elastic restoring forces only become effective if they are needed for dimensionally accurate imaging, namely during oral extraction. The plastic-elastic behavior of the stamp mass can be achieved by adding eg thermoplastic elastomers or QM resins.

Another measure to improve the integrity of the overall assembly during oral removal is over-anchoring of the thermoplastic material to the impression tray, e.g. by mechanical retention (for example, by engaging in grooves or greater lateral overlap or by embracing the thermoplastic film around the impression tray) or by gluing.

Furthermore, it is preferred in the production of a dental impression according to the invention if the thermoplastic film used for thermoplastic impression taking by microwave activation fulfills special requirements. Thus, after solidification, the thermoplastic film preferably has elastic recovery properties in order to map dimensionally true after the removal of the mouth even underneath regions of the teeth. In the thermoplastic state, however, the thermoplastic material for the production of a dental impression on a good fluidity in order to reproduce the tooth situation in detail can.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawings.

They show schematically:

1 is a perspective view of an unfilled impression tray, 2 in cross section a filled impression tray according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 in cross section a filled impression tray according to a further embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a dental rail.

1 to 3, an impression tray 1 is shown, for example. A conventional lent impression tray for producing a denture impression with a thickness z. B. of 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1, 0 mm or 1, 5 mm corresponds, from which a plaster model can be created. The impression tray 1 can be made of metal or preferably of a plastic which is inert to microwave radiation and is rigid and essentially not manually deformable, at least at temperatures below 80 ° C., preferably also at temperatures below 120 ° C. If the impression tray 1 is dimensionally stable even at temperatures below 140 ° C, it can be sterilized in an autoclave. The impression tray 1 is modeled horseshoe-shaped the contours of a dentition and has a U-shaped cross-section in the embodiment shown.

For producing a dental splint 2 shown in FIG. 4, the impression tray 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided with a kneadable, plastically deformable material as a stamping compound 3 having an initial viscosity at 23 ° C. and / or a viscosity during processing of more than 20,000 Pas, preferably 20,000 to 150,000 Pas, in particular between 20,000 and 100,000 Pas, particularly preferably 20,000 to 80,000 Pas filled. Next, a thermoplastic film 4 is placed on or in the stamp mass 3. The thermoplastic film 4 has a layer thickness between 0.1 mm and about 4 mm, for example about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. At body temperature and at room temperature, the thermoplastic film 4 is solid. Only at temperatures above the body temperature, ie between 40 ° C and 80 ° C or up to about 120 ° C, the thermoplastic film 4 is plastically deformable. The kneadable material of the stamping compound 3 undergoes no or only slight changes in viscosity at these temperatures or may have a tougher consistency at room temperature in the initial state and obtain a kneadable consistency only at the above-lying processing temperatures.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the thermoplastic film 4 is approximately formed as a flat plate which can protrude beyond the impression tray 1 or can be substantially tailored to the contour of the impression tray 1, cut to a horseshoe shape. Alternatively, it is also possible that the thermoplastic film 4 is placed on the stamp mass 3 and in the impression tray 1, that they, as shown in Fig. 3, in cross section is approximately U-shaped.

The thermoplastic film 4 is heated to produce a dental splint 2 to a processing temperature, which may be, for example, between 40 ° C and 80 ° C. In this case, the impression tray 1 is warmed up together with the stamping compound 3 and the thermoplastic film 4 by microwave radiation or the like. Alternatively, at least the thermoplastic film 4 can also be heated by irradiation with UV radiation, IR radiation, radiation in the visible range and / or ultrasound radiation.

In order to achieve a defined heating of the thermoplastic film 4, without strongly heating the stamping compound 3 or the impression tray 1, the film 4 is provided with an activator and / or receptor, for example with water and / or at least one OH-containing substance, equipped. At the same time, the stamping compound 3 consists of a material which contains no water and / or absorbs water only poorly, so that the heat input into the stamping compound 3 is reduced, if these together with the thermoplastic film, for example Be exposed to microwave radiation. At the same time, a material is preferably selected for the spoon, for example polyethylene, which allows little or no heat input into the impression tray 1 when it is irradiated with a microwave.

To produce a dental splint 2, the thermoplastic film 4 provided with activator and / or receptor or containing the activator and / or receptor and / or provided with insulating agent or an insulating layer is warmed up by microwave radiation or the like. Subsequently, the plasticized film can be applied directly in the mouth of a patient. For this purpose, the thermoplastic film 4 is applied together with the impression tray 1 and the stamp mass 3 on a row of teeth or individual teeth. When the rigid impression tray 1 filled with kneadable material is pressed against the row of teeth, the thermoplastic film 4 deforms according to the contours of the teeth, the stamping compound 3 exerting uniform pressure on the thermoplastic film 4 on all sides. In order not to cause any large changes in the layer thickness of the thermoplastic film 4 or even a tearing of the film, the film 4 is preferably designed as shown in Fig. 3 in cross-section approximately U-shaped. In this way, a sufficiently thick dental rail 2 is formed from the plastically deformable foil 4, which solidifies after cooling to body temperature.

The impression tray 1 can then be removed together with the stamp mass 3 and the dental splint 2 from the mouth. The materials of the stamp mass 3 and the rail 2 are chosen so that they do not connect to each other at the processing temperature and can be easily removed from each other. In particular, between these an insulating layer (not shown in the figures) may be provided, which optionally simultaneously serves as an activator and / or receptor and in particular allows easy detachment of the stamp mass 3 of the dental splint 2, without damaging them. Age- natively, first the impression tray 1 with the stamp mass 3 can be removed from the mouth, while the dental splint 2 remains in the mouth and is removed separately. Here, the impression tray 1 may be provided with adhesives and / or mechanical retention, so that the stamp mass 3 is easier to remove together with the impression tray 1 from the mouth.

Following any necessary trimming or other post-treatment, the dental splint 2 directly created in the patient's mouth can be used as an orthodontic splint, bite splint, mini cast bar, crunch bar, dressing plate, bite splint, bite guide bar, fluoridation splint, bleaching splint, transfer splint, mouthguard, positioner, medicament carrier or the like . are used.

Due to the increased heating of the thermoplastic film 4 in comparison to the impression tray 1 or stamping compound 3, the heat input into the patient's mouth is generally lower than when the film, the stamping material and the spoon are evenly heated, even if the thermoplastic film is in the process according to the invention should be heated to higher temperatures. The production of a dental splint is thus not associated with excessively high temperature loads in the patient's mouth, which can be perceived as uncomfortable by patients.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to examples:

1st stamp mass

example 1

In a kneader 43 wt% of a Trimethylsilylendgestoppten polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity at 20 ⁰ C of 2,000,000 mPas, 49 wt% of a Polyethylene powder (LDPE) with a mean particle size of 17 microns and 8 wt% of a white oil with a viscosity of 200 mPas homogeneously mixed.

This gives a white, kneadable paste having a consistency of 24 mm (measured in accordance with ISO 4823), which undergoes heating in the microwave when using 800 W for 90 s at 37 ° C.

This stamp material forms a plastically deformable means for adapting a film and, owing to its tough consistency and its relatively low degree of heating in the microwave, can be used as a functional system component in a set or kit according to the invention for producing a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic splint. The stamp material is also suitable for the process according to the invention for the production of a dental product, in particular the direct production of rails in the mouth by microwave activation.

Example 2

In a kneader, 43% by weight of methyl siloxane to a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microns of a trimethylsilyl polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity at 2O ⁰ C of 1,000,000 mPa · s, 52.5% by weight with an average grain size of 12 and 4.5 wt% of a white oil homogeneously mixed with a viscosity of 200 mPas.

This stamp mass forms a plastically deformable means for adapting a film and, due to its tough consistency, its relatively low heating in the microwave and because of their high separation effect to the thermoplastic rail plastic (EVA) as a functional system component in a set or kit according to the invention for producing a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic rail, are used. The stamp material is also suitable for the process according to the invention for the production of a dental product, in particular the direct production of rails in the mouth by microwave activation.

Example 3

In a kneader, 60% by weight of a trimethylsilyl polydimethylsiloxane are mixed methyl siloxane microns homogeneous having a viscosity at 20 ⁰ C of 1,000,000 mPa · s and 40% by weight of a polypropylene powder (PP) with an average particle size of 38th

A white kneadable paste is obtained which has a consistency of 22 mm (measured on the basis of ISO 4823), which undergoes heating in the microwave when 800 W are applied for 90 s at 40 ^° C.

This stamp mass forms a plastically deformable means for adapting a film and, because of their tough consistency, their relatively low heating in the microwave, because of their high dimensional stability and their low propensity for oil separation during storage as a functional system component in a set or kit according to the invention a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic rail, are used. The stamp material is also suitable for the process according to the invention for the production of a dental product, in particular the direct production of rails in the mouth by microwave activation. Comparative Example 1

In a kneader, 85% by weight of a trimethylsilyl polydimethylsiloxane are methyl siloxane having a viscosity at 20 ⁰ C of 1,000,000 mPa · s, 10 wt% of a hochsispersen silica having a BET surface area of 170 m ² / g, and 5 wt% of a white oil with a Viscosity of 200 mPas homogeneously mixed.

A white kneadable paste is obtained which has a consistency of 22 mm (measured in accordance with ISO 4823), which undergoes heating in the microwave when using 800 W for 90 s at 70 ^° C.

This stamp mass can not be used as a functional system component in a set according to the invention for creating a thermoplastic rail due to their strong heating in the microwave, as would be extended by the high heat content of the stamp mass, the cooling of a heated thermoplastic rail sets in the mouth and in particular the oral mucosa of the patient long lasting high temperatures could be damaged.

For this reason, in the production of a stamping compound for producing a dental product according to the invention, the use of water-containing, water-absorbing or polar ingredients which undergo significant heating in the microwave should be avoided.

2. Thermoplastic material (preform as a precursor of an individual thermoplastic dental product)

A preform, as described in the following examples, may be an example of a sheet-like element made of the thermoplastic material. This element may already be one for later manufacture of a dental product have suitable geometry, in particular a substantially horseshoe-like configuration with an approximately U-shaped cross-section.

Example 4

95% by weight of a granulated ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer having a Vinylace- be tata part of 32% and a melting point of 63 ° C with 5% by weight of a polycaprolactone with a mean molecular weight of 80,000 g / mol and a melting point of 59 ⁰ C, which in Granulatform present, homogeneously pre-mixed by hand and introduced via an extruder in an injection molding plant. The injection-molded parts obtained via a corresponding aluminum tool for producing a thermoplastic preform for the later dental splint have a Shore A hardness of 62, an optical transparency for visible light with a layer thickness of 1.7 mm of 86%.

This thermoplastic preform heats up when irradiated with microwave radiation of a household microwave oven (800 W over a period of 90 s) to about 70 ⁰ C, is then thermoplastically deformable and solidifies on cooling to about 37 ⁰ C to a solid flexible shaped body.

A thermoplastic material produced in this way is suitable for the process according to the invention for the production of a dental product, in particular the direct production of rails in the mouth by microwave activation. The thermoplastic material can be used, for example, in a set or kit according to the invention for producing a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic splint. Due to its optical transparency, its mechanical properties at mouth temperature and its plastic behavior after a short stay in the microwave, the material described here can be used, for example, to create a bleaching bar. Example 5

90% by weight of a granulated low molecular weight polyvinyl chloride and 10% by weight of a polycaprolactone having an average molecular weight of 80,000 g / mol and a melting point of 59 ^° C., which is in granular form, are homogeneously premixed by hand and introduced via an extruder into an injection molding plant. The injection-molded parts obtained via a corresponding aluminum tool for producing a thermoplastic preform for the subsequent dental splint have a high rigidity and Shore A hardness and a virtually complete visual transparency for visible light at a layer thickness of 1.7 mm.

This thermoplastic preform heats up when irradiated with microwave radiation of a household microwave oven (800 W over a period of 90 s) to about 65 ⁰ C, is then thermoplastically deformable and solidifies on cooling to about 37 ⁰ C to a solid shaped body.

A thermoplastic material produced in this way is suitable for the process according to the invention for the production of a dental product, in particular the direct production of rails in the mouth by microwave activation. The thermoplastic material can be used, for example, in a set or kit according to the invention for producing a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic splint. Due to its optical transparency, its mechanical properties at mouth temperature and its plastic behavior after a short stay in the microwell, the material described here can be used, for example, to create a dental splint of high mechanical strength. Comparative Example 2

A granulated ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 32% and a melting point of 63 ° C. is introduced via an extruder into an injection molding plant. The injection-molded parts obtained via a corresponding aluminum tool for producing a thermoplastic preform for the subsequent dental splint have a Shore A hardness of 60 and an optical transparency for visible light with a layer thickness of 1.7 mm of 93%.

This thermoplastic preform warmed by irradiation with microwave radiation of a household microwave oven (800 W) only after about 10 minutes to a temperature above the softening point. This thermoplastic is not suitable for the inventive method of direct rail preparation in the mouth by microwave activation. The material can not be used to create a dental splint according to the invention because of its long residence time required for plasticization since the other components of the thermoplastic splint set would heat up to temperatures that are unacceptable to the patient at such long times in the microwave.

This example shows that a plastic used in itself for the production of dental splints without special microwave activator for the described method for producing a dental splint is not suitable.

Comparative Example 3

A granulated polycaprolactone having an average molecular weight of 80,000 g / mol and a melting point of 59 ⁰ C is introduced via an extruder in an injection molding plant. The obtained via a corresponding aluminum tool for the production of a thermoplastic preform for the subsequent dental splint Injection molded parts have a Shore D hardness of 60 and no optical transparency for visible light with a layer thickness of 1.7 mm.

This thermoplastic preform heats up to temperatures above the softening point when irradiated with microwave radiation from a household microwave oven (800 W) within a few seconds. This thermoplastic is not suitable for the inventive method of direct rail preparation in the mouth by microwave activation. The material can not be used for the creation of a dental splint according to the invention because of its very short long residence time required for plasticization since short microwave times are difficult to control and the risk of overheating and damage to the oral mucosa exists. In addition, because of its high hardness and opacity, the material is unsuitable for most thermoplastic rail applications.

3. release agent

When constructing a kit for the production of a dental product, in particular a thermoplastic bar, consisting of a rigid base, a stamping compound filled therein and the thermoplastic rail material (preform), a release agent can be introduced between the stamp mass and the thermoplastic bar material, which is shown in Examples 6 and 7.

Example 6

A microwave-resistant polyethylene film (e.g., household foil Melitta Toppits

2in1), which rests on the underside directly on the stamp mass and on the upper side with a thin film of a trimethylsilylendgestoppten polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity at 20 ⁰ C of 10,000 mPas is coated and with this coated side in contact with the underside of the thermoplastic rail material.

With this arrangement, after applying the thermoplastic rail set in the mouth, it is possible to achieve a very easy, deformation-free and residue-free removal of the molded dental splint from the stamp material.

Example 7

It is an irreversibly plastically deformable film Hytrel 5556 used by Dupont in the layer thickness 50 microns, which rests directly on the bottom of the stamp mass and on top with a thin film of trimethylsilylend- stopped polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity at 20 ⁰ C of 10,000 mPas is coated and in contact with the underside of the thermoplastic rail material in contact. With this arrangement, after application of the thermoplastic splint set in the mouth, very easy removal of the molded dental splint from the stamp material without deformation and residue can be achieved, the film used having the advantage of being plastic in the mouth together with the thermoplastic splint art deformed and thus no elastic restoring forces applied, which could lead to a poorly contoured and thus poorly seated dental splint.

4. Entire system (kit for manufacturing a dental product)

Example 8

A thermoplastic rail set, ie a kit for producing a dental product, is constructed, consisting of a rigid base spoon made of polypropylene produced by injection molding, a stamp mass filled in according to Example 3, a separating layer arranged above the stamp mass according to FIGS. game 6 and an attached thermoplastic preform according to Example 4.

This tempered at 23 ⁰ C arrangement is irradiated for 90 s in a household microwave oven with a power of 800 W. In this case, the thermoplastic film is heated selectively to a temperature of 65 ° C and thus becomes plastically deformable. After this microwave irradiation, the temperature of the other system components is much lower. The impression tray has 37 ° C and the stamp mass 40 ⁰ C.

This selectively heated in the microwave rail set is applied in a subject on the lower jaw by pressing on the row of teeth. After a short cooling period of about one minute, the rail set is removed from the mouth. The contours of the teeth have been clearly shaped in the thermoplastic splint by the uniform contact pressure of the stamping compound. The thermoplastic rail is subtracted from the base spoon and the stamp mass, the previously introduced according to Example 6 release agent allows distortion and residue-free removal. The peeled thermoplastic molded film is cut along the imaged gingival margin with scissors and adjusted to a finished splint. When repositioning on the row of teeth, the created splint sits snugly on the teeth.

Due to the high optical transparency, the aesthetics of the teeth are only slightly affected in the patient. Because of its low Shore A hardness and flexibility, the splint produced according to this example according to the invention can preferably be used as a whitening splint for whitening teeth. 5. Creation of dental impressions

Example 9 (sticky stamp mass)

In a kneader, 50% by weight of a trimethylsilyl polydimethylsiloxane are methyl siloxane microns with a viscosity at 2O ⁰ C of 1,000,000 mPa · s, 40 wt% of a polyethylene powder (LDPE) having a mean grain size of 17 and 10 wt% of an intensively dried before use, fumed silica with a BET surface area of 170 m ² / g homogeneously mixed.

This gives a white, kneadable paste having a consistency of 24 mm (measured on the basis of ISO 4823), which undergoes heating in the microwave when using 800 W for 90 s at 40 ⁰ C. Through the use of highly dispersed silicic acid, the stamping compound obtains high tack compared to polypropylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The good stickiness also manifests itself in the fact that the stamp mass can be removed from the contact surface only with tools or with solvent.

Example 10 Thermoplastic Preform as Precursor for Impression

95% by weight of a granulated ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 32% and a melting point of 63 ° C. are mixed with 5% by weight of a polycaprolactone having an average molar mass of 80,000 g / mol and a melting point of 59 ° C. Granular form is present, homogeneously premixed by hand and introduced via an extruder in an injection molding plant. The injection-molded parts obtained via a corresponding aluminum tool for producing a thermoplastic preform for the subsequent impression have a Shore A hardness of 62, an optical transparency for visible light with a layer thickness of 1.7 mm of 86%. This thermoplastic preform heats up when irradiated with microwave radiation of a household microwave oven (800 W over a period of 90 s) to about 70 ⁰ C, is then thermoplastically deformable and solidifies on cooling to about 37 ° C to a solid flexible molded body.

A thermoplastic produced in this way is suitable for the method according to the invention for microwave activation and impression taking in the mouth.

Example 11 (Entire system of a thermoplastic impression material)

A thermoplastic impression set is built up, consisting of a rigid base spoon made of injection molded polypropylene, a stamping compound filled in accordance with Example 9 and an overlying thermoplastic preform according to Example 10. This tempered to 23 ° C arrangement is 90 s in a Household microwave oven with a power of 800 W irradiated. In this case, the thermoplastic film is heated selectively to a temperature of 65 ° C and thus becomes plastically deformable. After this microwave irradiation, the temperature of the other system components is much lower. The Abformlöf- fei has 37 ° C and the stamp mass 40 ⁰ C. This selectively heated in the microwave rail set is applied in a subject on the lower jaw by pressing on the row of teeth. After a short cooling period of about one minute, the impression set is removed from the mouth.

The tooth contours have been precisely shaped in the thermoplastic film by the uniform contact pressure of the stamp mass. The complete set is filled with gypsum in accordance with standard dental procedures. A plaster model is obtained as an identical image of the molded tooth situation of the lower jaw, on the basis of which the dentures can be made as a result.

Claims

Claims:

1. A thermoplastic material for producing a dental product which is fixed at body temperature and at a temperature between body temperature and about 200 ⁰ C manually plastically deformable and which is equipped with at least one tuned to an energy source activator and / or receptor to accelerate the heating.

2. Thermoplastic material according to claim 1 combined with a at a temperature between body temperature and about 200 ⁰ C not manually plastically deformable material and / or at least at a temperature between about 20 ⁰ C and body temperature manually plastically deformable ma- material, which does not an activator and / or receptor is equipped to accelerate the heating.

3. Thermoplastic material according to claim 1 or 2, which is in the form of a hose or the like. Enveloping, wherein in the hose or the like. At least at a temperature between about 20 ⁰ C and body temperature manually plastically deformable material, for example. is included, which is not equipped with an activator and / or receptor to accelerate the heating.

4. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating by means of microwave radiation as an energy source from the group consisting of water, OH-containing substances, substances whose molecules have a permanent dipole moment, thermally conductive substandard zen, metals, metallic or metal compounds, carbon black, graphite, metal alloys and well heatable by microwave radiation plastics is selected.

5. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating by means of a light radiation as an energy source from the group consisting of inorganic or organic substances and / or compounds such. Dyes, ribavavin, carotenoids, titanium dioxide, camphorquinone, benzoin alkyl ethers, zinc dioxide, benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, diketones, eg. Benzil, metal-ligand complexes, e.g. As iron-potassium oxalate, manganese gluconate and metal bisphosphonate chelate complexes, phthalocyanine metal complexes and coinitiators and / or accelerators, such as amines and peroxide is selected.

6. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating by means of ultrasonic radiation as an energy source is a liquid.

7. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor for accelerated heating by means of an electromagnetic alternating field as an energy source from the group consisting of

- Mixed metal oxide M "M ^m O ₄

- Mixed oxide selected from ferrites (M ^a i _-x - _y M ^b _x Fey) ^ll Fe " ^l ₂ θ ₄ with M ^a = Mn, Co, Ni and M ^b = Zn, Cd - Me _x Me ' _1-x Fe 2 O 4 x = 0 to 1, Lii. _x Zn2χFe _5-x θ ₈ x = 0 to 1 Me ₁ Me '= Mg ₁ Ca, Cu, Zn, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cd, Y

Me _x Me ' _1-x (Fe 2-y Me y) O ₄

CoFe ₂ O ₄ - metallic, magnetic, piezoelectric, ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic or superparamagnetic particles of Al, Co, Fe, Ni or their alloys,

- mixed oxides of the barium hexaferrite type, n-maghemite (Y-Fe ₂ O ₃ ), n-magnetite (Fe ₃ O ₄ ) or ferrite of the MeFe ₂ O _{4 type} (with Me divalent metal of Mn, Cu, Zn, Co , Ni, Mg, Ca, Cd),

chichroistic nanoscale ferrites, carbon blacks, carbon fibers, intrinsically conductive polymers, graphite, metal powders, metal fibers, metal-coated fillers, metal-coated microglass spheres, metal-coated textile fibers, quartz, tourmaline, barium titanate, lithium sulphate, potassium (sodium) tartrate, ethylenediamine tartrate, ferroelectrics Perovskite structure, especially

Pb-Zr-titanate

Magnetic liquids, in particular Ferrofluidic Adventure ^Science® Kit, suspensions of magnetic particles or nanoparticles in suitable carrier liquids, such as glycerol or polyols, in particular 1, 2-ethanediol, 1, 2-propanediol, 1, 3-propanediol, mixtures thereof, mixtures with water for color adjustment methylene blue, silicone fluid 345 (Dow Corning) and / or overcoated phase: 1-octanediol

is selected.

8. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with a temperature indicator.

9. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor is so incorporated is that with the associated energy source heating only up to a defined maximum temperature is possible.

10. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims in the form of a film or plate with a layer thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 4 mm, in particular less than 3 mm.

11. A thermoplastic material according to any preceding claim in the form of a film or sheet having a softening temperature between about 40 ° C and about 120 ° C.

12. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with at least one substance which serves both as an activator and / or receptor and as an insulating agent.

13. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with at least one activator and / or receptor and at least one insulating agent.

14. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor and / or the insulating agent is admixed with the thermoplastic material.

15. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, which is coated with the activator and / or receptor and / or the insulating agent.

16. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activator and / or receptor and / or the Insulating agent is embedded by an extrusion process between layers of the thermoplastic material.

17. Thermoplastic material according to one of the preceding claims, which is selected from the following group:

Copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylenes, polybutenes, styrene-isoprene-styrene or styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, amorphous polyolefins, linear thermoplastic polyurethanes, copolyesters, polyamide resins, polyamide / EVA copolymers, polyaminoamides based on dimer fatty acids, polyester amides, polyether amides or a shape memory plastic.

18. Kit for producing a dental product with a thermoplastic film and with an impression tray or the like. Carrier, wherein the thermoplastic

Foil (4) is a thermoplastic material according to one of claims 1 to 17.

19. Kit, in particular according to claim 18, wherein the impression tray or the like. Carrier consists of a solid material at temperatures below 140 ° C and with at least at temperatures between 30 ° C and 80 ° C plastically deformable means (3) for adapting the Film (4) is loaded on at least one tooth, wherein on the plastically deformable means (3) to a rail-like dental product (2) moldable thermoplastic film (4) is arranged with a layer thickness between about 0.1 mm and about 4 mm the ER- softening temperature between about 40 ⁰ C and 200 ⁰ C, and wherein the thermoplastic film (4) is equipped with an activator and / or receptor, which improves the heat transfer to the thermoplastic sheet (4) and / or the heat input into reduces the impression tray (1) and / or in the means (3) for adapting the film.

20. Kit according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that a stamp mass (3) as a means for adapting the film (4) to at least one tooth on and / or in the impression tray (1) or the like. Carrier is provided, and that the stamp mass (3) consists of a material which contains neither water or hydroxyl- or amino-containing substances nor absorbs water well, in particular consists of a material based on silicone oils, mineral oils, natural and / or synthetic rubber.

21. Kit according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that at least one filled with a gas and / or a liquid hose or bag as a means (3) for adapting the film (4) to at least one tooth on and / or in the impression tray (1) or the like. Carrier is provided.

22. Kit according to any one of claims 18 to 21, in particular for the production of a dental splint, characterized in that the material of the thermoplastic film (4) and / or the means (3) for adapting the film (4) is selected and / or equipped is that between the thermoplastic film (4) and the stamp mass (3) no adhesion forces are formed.

23. Kit according to one of claims 18 to 22, in particular for producing a dental splint, characterized in that between the thermoplastic film (4) and the means (3) for adapting the film (4) one in particular as an insulating film, insulating film and / or Insulating solution formed insulating layer is provided.

24. Kit according to any one of claims 18 to 21, in particular for the production of a dental impression, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) is formulated so sticky and / or equipped with chemical bonding agents or provided that the adhesive bond between the stamp mass ( 3) and the thermoplastic material (4) is greater than the withdrawal forces occurring during removal of the dental impression (2) from the patient's mouth.

25. Kit according to any one of claims 18 to 21 or 24, in particular for the production of a dental impression, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) is formulated so sticky and / or equipped with chemical bonding agents or provided that the adhesive bond between the Stamp mass (3) and the impression tray (1) is greater than the withdrawal forces occurring during the removal of the dental impression (2) from the patient's mouth.

26. Kit according to any one of claims 18 to 21 or 24 to 25, in particular for the production of a dental impression, characterized in that the impression tray (1) and / or the thermoplastic material (4) by a mechanical retention and / or by an adhesive bond connected to each other.

27. Kit according to any one of claims 20 to 26, characterized in that the stamp mass has a viscosity of about about 20,000 Pas, preferably 20,000 to 150,000 Pas.

28. Kit according to one of claims 18 to 27, characterized in that the impression tray (1) or the like. Carrier, the means (3) for adapting the film (4), the thermoplastic film (4) and / or the insulating means or in that the insulating layer has means for indicating the temperature, in particular a temperature sensor formed, for example, as a thermal strip or dye.

29. Kit according to one of claims 18 to 28, characterized in that the thermoplastic film (4) is provided as a sausage casing-like tube, in which stamp mass as a means (3) for adapting the film (4) is taken.

30. impression tray, in particular as part of a kit according to any one of claims 18 to 29, which consists of a solid material at temperatures below 140 ° C, characterized in that the material of the impression tray (1) under irradiation with UV radiation, IR Radiation, radiation in the visible range, microwave radiation and / or ultrasonic radiation substantially not heated.

31. impression tray according to claim 30, characterized in that the impression tray (1) is provided with adhesives and / or mechanical retention.

32. Dental product, in particular in the form of an orthodontic splint, bite template, mini slide bar, crunch bar, dressing plate, bite splint, bite guide bar, fluoridation splint, bleaching splint, transfer splint, mouthguard, positioner, medicament carrier or dental impression, of a thermoplastic material according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

33. Dental product according to claim 30, which is filled with a medicament and / or a treatment agent, in particular a light and / or temperature activatable bleaching gel.

34. A method of making a dental product, comprising the following steps:

a) heating a thermoplastic material (4) to a temperature which is below 200 ° C and above the softening temperature of the thermoplastic material (4), in particular between about 40 ° C and 80 ° C, b) applying the thermoplastic material (4) with an impression tray (1) possibly loaded with an eg kneadable material as a stamping compound (3) into a patient's mouth,

c) applying the thermoplastic material (4) to at least one tooth and / or the gums to form a dental product (2) for a period of time until the thermoplastic material (4) has cooled to a temperature below its softening temperature, and

d) removing the impression tray (1), optionally the stamp mass (3) and the dental product (2) formed from the thermoplastic material (4) from the patient's mouth,

characterized in that the thermoplastic material (4) in step a) on or in the impression tray (1) and / or the stamp mass (3), wherein the thermoplastic material (4) is heated more than the impression tray (1) and / or the stamp mass (3).

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that at least the thermoplastic material (4) is heated in step a) by an electromagnetic alternating field, by irradiation with UV radiation, IR radiation, radiation in the visible range, microwave radiation and / or ultrasound radiation ,

36. The method according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that the thermoplastic material (4) is equipped prior to step a) with at least one activator and / or receptor, which improves the heat input into the thermoplastic material (4) and / or the Heat input into the impression tray (1) and / or into the stamp mass (3) is reduced.

37. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 36, characterized in that the dental product (2) is produced from a plate or foil of a thermoplastic material (4) according to one of claims 1 to 17.

38. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 37, characterized in that the impression tray (1) and / or the stamp mass (3) is equipped prior to step a) with at least one substance and / or consists of a substance that the heat input reduced in the impression tray (1) and / or in the stamp mass (3).

39. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 38, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) and / or the impression tray (1) consists of a material which contains neither water or hydroxyl- or amino-containing substances nor water absorbs well ,

40. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 39, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) consists of a material based on silicone oils, mineral oils, natural and / or synthetic rubber.

41. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 40, characterized in that the impression tray (1) prior to heating with the stamp mass (3) and the thermoplastic material (4) is charged, in particular that the thermoplastic material (4) and the stamp mass (3) Pre-assembled together before or after heating into the impression tray (1).

42. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 41, characterized in that between the thermoplastic material (4) and the stamp mass (3) an insulating layer, in particular an insulating solution, is provided.

43. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 42, characterized in that the particular provided in the insulating layer activator and / or receptor is selected from one of the following groups:

A) water, OH-containing substances, substances whose molecules have a permanent dipole moment, heat-conducting substances, metals, metallic or metal compounds, carbon black, graphite, metal alloys, if the heating in step a) is effected by microwave radiation;

B) inorganic or organic substances and / or compounds, such as e.g. Dyes, riboflavin, carotenoids, titanium dioxide, camphorquinone, benzoin alkyl ethers, zinc dioxide, benzophenone derivatives, benzotriazole derivatives, diketones, eg. Benzil, metal-ligand complexes, e.g. As iron-potassium oxalate, manganese gluconate and metal bisphosphonate chelate complexes, phthalocyanine metal complexes and coinitiators and / or accelerators, such as amines and peroxide, when the heating in step a) by irradiation with UV Radiation, IR radiation, visible radiation;

C) a liquid, if the heating in step a) takes place by ultrasonic radiation;

D) nanoparticular ferrites, or barium and / or strontium titanates or other (super) paramagnetic substances, and doped and undoped ferrites,

- Mixed metal oxide M "M ¹ " O ₄

- Mixed oxide selected from ferrites (M ^a i _-x .yM ^b χFe _y ) ^ll Fe ^l " ₂ θ ₄ with M ^a = Mn, Co, Ni and M ^b = Zn, Cd

- Me _x Me'i _-x Fe2O4 x = 0 to 1, Lii _-x Zn2χFe ₅ . _x θ8 x = 0 to 1 Me ₁ Me ¹ = Mg ₁ Ca, Cu, Zn, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cd, Y Me _x Me ' _1-x (Fe ₂ yMe " _y ) θ 4

- CoFe ₂ O ₄

- metallic, magnetic, piezoelectric, ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic or superparamagnetic particles of Al, Co, Fe, Ni or their alloys,

Mixed oxides of the barium hexaform type, n-maghemite (Y-Fe ₂ O ₃ ), n-magnetites (Fe ₃ O ₄ ) or ferrites of the MeFe ₂ O _{4 type} (with Me divalent metal of Mn, Cu, Zn, Co , Ni, Mg, Ca, Cd),

- chichroistic nanoscale ferrites, carbon blacks, as well as carbon fiber, intrinsically conductive polymers, graphite, metal powders, metal fibers, metal-coated

Fillers, metal-coated glass microspheres, metal-coated textile felts, quartz, tourmaline, barium titanate, lithium suet, potassium (sodium) tartrate, ethylenediamine tartrate, perovskite ferroelectrics, especially Pb-Zr titanate magnetic fluids, especially Ferrofluidic Adventure ^Science®

Kit, suspensions of magnetic particles or nanoparticles in suitable carrier liquids, such as glycerol or polyols, in particular 1, 2-ethanediol, 1, 2-propanediol, 1, 3-propanediol, mixtures thereof, mixtures with water for color adjustment Methylene Blue, silicone fluid 345 (Dow Corning ) and / or over-coated phase: 1-octanediol, if the heating in step a) is effected by an alternating electromagnetic field.

44. Method according to claim 34, characterized in that the heating in step a) takes place only up to a defined temperature which is determined by a temperature indicator in and / or on the impression tray (1) or the like. the stamp mass (3), the thermoplastic material (4) and / or the insulating layer is indicated in particular by a color change.

45. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 44, characterized in that the thermoplastic film (4) is provided as a sausage casing-like tube, in which stamp mass as means (3) for adapting the film (4) is added, wherein the dental product after the cooling of the thermoplastic film (4) is cut out of this.

46. A method for producing a dental impression as a dental product according to any one of claims 34 to 41 and 43 to 45, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) is formulated so sticky that the adhesive bond between see stamp mass (3) and thermoplastic material (4 ) is greater than the withdrawal forces occurring during the removal of the dental product (2) from the patient's mouth.

47. A method for producing a dental impression as a dental product according to any one of claims 34 to 41 and 43 to 46, characterized in that the stamp mass (3) is formulated so sticky that the adhesive bond between the stamp mass (3) and impression tray (1) is greater as the withdrawal forces occurring during removal of the dental product (2) from the patient's mouth.

48. The method according to any one of claims 46 or 47, characterized in that in step d) of the impression tray (1), the stamp mass (3) and of the thermoplastic material (4) formed dental impression (2) together as a unit of the Patient mouth are removed and the resulting dental impression (2) is then filled with a model material, in particular with gypsum, to form a positive tooth model.

49. Use of a thermoplastic material according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and / or a kit according to any one of claims 18 to 31 for the production of a dental product.