Thomas W Day

US Patent:

20070015110, Jan 18, 2007

Filed:

May 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/420024

Inventors:

Kai Zhang - Warsaw IN, US
Ryan Donahoe - San Diego CA, US
Thomas Day - Carlsbad CA, US
Hallie Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Jeffrey Bassett - Vista CA, US

Assignee:

ZIMMER DENTAL, INC. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61C 8/00

US Classification:

433173000, 433201100

Abstract:

A prosthetic dental device comprised of a composite material including a polymer material and a ceramic material mixed within the polymer material. In one embodiment, the ceramic fillers are substantially, homogeneously dispersed within the polymer material. In one embodiment, the ceramic material is bonded to the polymer material through a coupling agent. In addition, the prosthetic dental device can be comprised of a different composite material. This composite material includes a ceramic matrix having pores and an organic material infiltrated into the pores. To construct the ceramic matrix, ceramic particles, a binder material, and a porogen material are mixed to create a composite material which is then molded and heated to create a substantially rigid ceramic structure. At least some of the binder material and the porogen material are evaporated during the heating step to create pores in the matrix which are filled with the organic material.