Method of manufacturing dental restorations

Abstract

Dental restorations are manufactured herein wherein a veneer is applied to a dental substructure and the adherence strength of the veneer to the dental substructure is very high. The veneer is adhered to the dental substructure by applying one or more corona of plasma treatments to the surface of the dental substructure and thereafter applying the veneer to tie dental substructure. The surface of the dental substructure is modified by the corona or plasma process to create a highly adherent surface for the application of the veneer thereto.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method making a dental restoration comprising a veneer bonded to a dental understructure comprising: 
 applying a corona or plasma treatment to the surface of the dental understructure; and    applying the veneer to the surface-treated dental understructure.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the dental understructure is fabricated of a metal, plastic, ceramic, or a composite material.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the composite material comprises fiber reinforced composite material, particulate reinforced composite material, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the veneer material comprises a resin composite material.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the resin composite material comprises fiber reinforced composite material, particulate reinforced composite material, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the corona treatment takes place in atmospheric air at room temperature.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the plasma treatment takes place in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, nitrous oxide, helium, tetrafluoromethane, tetrafluoride, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the plasma treatment takes place in an atmosphere containing a mixture of oxygen and carbon tetrafluoride.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the corona treatment takes place in the range of about a few seconds to about two hours.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the plasma treatment takes place in the range of about a few seconds to about two hours.  
   
   
       45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . A dental restoration formed by the method of  claim 35 .  
   
   
       47 . The dental restoration of  claim 46  wherein the veneer is bonded to the dental understructure at a bond strength greater than about 2.3 MPa.