Continental Dental Ceramics, Inc. announced that its recently issued U.S. patent 10,182,895 covers the technology and application behind gelcasting zirconia dental restorations without the need for machinable pre-sintered zirconia blocks. With this patented technique, traditional zirconia pucks, disks, blocks, burs, and milling machines can reportedly be avoided. Dental restorations are created by preparing a hydrocolloid mold for dental appliances such as crowns and bridges. A slurry of powdered zirconia is prepared and gelcast in the hydrocolloid mold.

According to the company, there is no issue with toxicity for the doctor or patient. The final restoration is then sintered to complete the finished device. The process also reportedly results in less zirconia waste material because there is no grinding and less block waste compared to machinable pre-sintered blocks.

“We believe the application for this technology is unlimited and spans multiple industries,” said Jerry Doviack, founder. “There is potential for development of uses beyond dental devices. Gelcasted zirconia can be used to fabricate dental restorations, medical prosthetics, and virtually anything, any size, any shape without the need for milling machines, burs, and zirconia blocks. It could be a game-changer, and the market opportunity for zirconia prosthetics is growing exponentially worldwide.”

For more information, visit www.continentaldental.com.