Next-Generation Dental Composition with Hierarchical Glass Flakes

A novel dental composition featuring silanated glass flakes with a hierarchical structure, enabling improved mechanical properties and adaptability for 3D printing and dental restoration procedures.

The original patent disclosed a dental composition with silanated glass flakes, offering excellent esthetic appearance and gloss retention. However, the limitations of this technology lie in its inability to provide enhanced mechanical properties and adaptability for emerging dental applications. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing hierarchical glass flakes, which can be tailored for specific dental procedures.

The next-generation dental composition comprises silanated glass flakes with a hierarchical structure, consisting of a primary structure of glass flakes with an average thickness between 50 nm and 1000 nm and a secondary structure of nanoparticles with an average particle size of from 1 to 10 nm. This hierarchical structure enables improved mechanical properties, such as increased strength and toughness, while maintaining the excellent esthetic appearance and gloss retention of the original patent. The silanated glass flakes can be adapted for use in 3D printing processes, allowing for rapid prototyping and fabrication of dental restorations. Additionally, the dental composition can be tailored for specific dental procedures, such as dental restoration, by modifying the hierarchical structure and particle size distribution.

The new claims introduce the concept of hierarchical glass flakes, which is a significant departure from the original patent's silanated glass flakes. The hierarchical structure enables improved mechanical properties and adaptability for emerging dental applications, making the new inventive concept novel and non-obvious compared to the original patent.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept include modifying the particle size distribution and hierarchical structure of the glass flakes to optimize their performance in specific dental procedures. For example, the hierarchical structure could be tailored for use in dental implant procedures or orthodontic applications. Additionally, the dental composition could be formulated with different polymerizable resins to enhance its mechanical properties or biocompatibility.

The next-generation dental composition has significant commercial potential in the dental industry, particularly in the growing markets of 3D printing and digital dentistry. The ability to tailor the dental composition for specific dental procedures and applications will enable companies to offer customized solutions, increasing their market share and competitiveness. The potential market for this technology includes dental manufacturers, dental laboratories, and dental clinics.