Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A composite laminate dental veneer for attachment to the etched labial enamel surfaces of a human tooth, comprising: (a) an outer lamination composed of stain-resistant, chemical-resistant and erosion-resistant cross-linked polymer material; (b) an inner lamination composed of a non cross-linked polymer material having the capability of efficient bonding to the etched labial enamel surfaces of human teeth and having the capability of permanent bonding to said outer lamination, said inner and outer laminations defining integral mass, said lamination defining incisal, cervical and marginal edges and conforming to the configuration of the labial surface of said human tooth; (c) said outer lamination being translucent and having additive color pigments; and (d) said inner lamination having subtractive color pigments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A composite laminate dental veneer for attachment to the etched labial enamel surfaces of a human tooth, comprising: (a) an outer lamination composed of stain-resistant, chemical-resistant and erosion-resistant cross-linked polymer material; (b) an inner lamination composed of a non cross-linked polymer material having the capability of efficient bonding to the etched labial enamel surfaces of human teeth and having the capability of permanent bonding to said outer lamination, said inner and outer laminations defining integral mass, said lamination defining incisal, cervical and marginal edges and conforming to the configuration of the labial surface of said human tooth; (c) said outer lamination being translucent and having additive color pigments; and (d) said inner lamination having subtractive color pigments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: (a) said additive color system comprises enamel blends of color pigments incorporated within said outer lamination; and (b) said subtractive color system comprises dentin blend of color pigments incorporated within said inner lamination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: said composite laminate veneer is heat deformable to the configuration of the tooth to which it is to be attached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer laminations are fused together to form said integral mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer laminations are brought together in the presence of a bonding medium which secures said laminations in assembly to form said integral mass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: a bonding material secures said inner and outer laminations in assembly, said bonding material employing a color system providing said veneer with a natural tooth color and translucency in all visible light wavelengths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 1, wherein: said inner and outer laminations have greatest thickness at the central portions thereof and define marginal portions tapering to this edges at said incisal, cervical and proximal edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 7, wherein said laminate veneer comprises a color system incorporating: (a) a cervical enamel blend of color at the cervical edge portion of said veneer; (b) an incisal enamel blend of color at the incisal edge portion of said laminate veneer; (c) a cervical enamel body blend of color extending from the central portion of said laminate veneer to said cervical edge portion thereof; and (d) an incisal enamel body blend of color extending from the central portion of said laminate veneer to said incisal edge portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 8, wherein: said additive color system defines said enamel blends of color of said cervical, incisal, cervical body and incisal body portions of said laminate veneer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 9, wherein; said color blends are overlapped in such manner as to provide said laminate veneer with a pointillistic effect when visualized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A composite laminate veneer as recited in claim 10, wherein: (a) said color blends are defined by layered color centers incorporating organized microdots of color; and (b) at least said outer lamination is sufficiently translucent as to permit reflection of light from said color centers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
A composite laminate veneer for attachment to the labial surface of a human tooth, comprising: (a) an outer body lamination of stain-resistant, chemical-resistant and abrasion-resistant material of a group including a cross-linked polymer, ceramic and ceramic-polymer composite conforming to the configuration of the labial surface of said tooth, said body defining a cervical edge portion, an incisal edge portion and proximal edge portions, said body being sufficiently translucent to permit transmission of light waves at least partially therethrough; (b) layers of additive color pigments forming enamel blends of color and being situated in said outer body in such manner as to reflect light waves penetrating said body, said layers of color pigments providing said body with the appearance and color of a normal tooth in light of all visible wavelengths; and (c) an inner body lamination of a material from the group including ceramic, ceramic-polymer composite, porous polymer and cross-linked polymer, said inner lamination containing dentin blends of color pigments utilizing elements of the subtractive color system distributed in layered microdots of color.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
A composite laminate veneer for attachment to the labial surface of a human tooth, comprising: (a) an outer body lamination of stain-resistant, chemical-resistant and abrasion-resistant material of a group including a cross-linked polymer, ceramic and ceramic-polymer composite conforming to the configuration of the labial surface of said tooth, said body defining a cervical edge portion, an incisal edge portion and proximal edge portions, said body being sufficiently translucent to permit transmission of light waves at least partially therethrough; (b) layers of additive color pigments forming enamel blends of color and being situated in said outer body in such manner as to reflect light waves penetrating said body, said layers of color pigments providing said body with the appearance and color of a normal tooth in light of all visible wavelengths; and (c) an inner body lamination of a material from the group including ceramic, ceramic-polymer composite, porous polymer and cross-linked polymer, said inner lamination containing dentin blends of color pigments utilizing elements of the subtractive color system distributed in layered microdots of color.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laminate veneer for attachment to the labial surface of a human tooth as recited in claim 12, wherein: said color pigments are sensitive to light of predetermined wavelength and change color responsive to being exposed to said predetermined light wavelengths to permit color adjustment before and after installation on said tooth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A laminate veneer as recited in claim 12, wherein said body is formed by: (a) an outer lamination of dense material for wear- and stain-resistance; and (b) said inner lamination being fused to said outer lamination and being composed of a less dense material for efficient bonding thereof to the enamel surface of a tooth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laminate veneer as recited in claim 14, wherein: said subtractive color pigments are located at the interface between said inner and outer body laminations and said additive color pigments are disposed in said outer lamination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A laminate veneer as recited in claim 14, wherein said subtractive color pigments are applied to said outer lamination and said inner lamination is fused to said outer lamination causing said subtractive color pigments to be fused into the materials of said inner and outer laminations at the fusion interface therebetween.