US1887970A - Dental plate - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1932- L. 'M VALBUENA 1,887,970

DENTAL PLATE Filed Jan. 9. 1951 lNVENTOR BY hs TToR Patented Nov. 15, 1932 LUIs Nr. vAnBUENA, or NEW YORK, N.V Y.

DENTAL PLATEV Application led January 9, 1931.

This invention relates to an improvement in dental plates,

ing preferably artificial the embodiment thereof beassociated with the type of denture having a relatively small lholding or seating surface.

I am aware that dental plates heretofore have been `constructed to include asuitable suction chamber and a means for creating and mainta-iningva 'loto hold the plate mouth.

vacuum therein in order against the walls of the The disadvantages of such a construction are that the soft tissue of the mouth is thereby drawn into corresponding the soft tissue the vacuum chamber and distorted from its normal form to take a shape to the suction chamber, that within the chamber prevents an even distribution of the Vsuction or holding effort and that the plate, being maintained by the surface of the tissue alone, isnot positioned with su from shifting crosswise in the lfcient rigidity to prevent it mouth during use, causing considerable discomfitnre to the wearer. The

fore, is

to obviate the primary to provide a dental object of my invention,there plate construction above disadvantages.`

In accomplishing this feature of the invention provision is made for oporting projections located Within the suction or vacuum chamber of the dental plate and which are shape of the mouth. The tips of the adapted to conform with the corresponding tissue of the supporting projec- '35 tions are therefore made to conform with the soft tissue is not drawn 'need be given to the portion of the they are to lit.

tance into the mouth tissue against which In this manner the gum or any appreciable dissuction chamber.

VA further object is to provide a novel valve construction which will permit the creation of the desired vacuum chamb the same so t negative pressure Within the er and prevent air leakage to hat practicallyv no attention plate by the wearer after its installation.

My invention further includes other objects, advantages and novel features of construction herei ferred to and nafter more particularly vrewhich will be apparent from plurality of'supture of tipsurface, being adapted to fit and the tips of -denture being constructed.

' Serial No. 507,541.

Y o plate -as illusplate is indicated at 10,the outer portion of the same being' shaped in the usual manner 65 lto conformwith the dental arch and irregularities of the mouth of t-he person to be fitted. The taperingV inner sides of the body of the plate are :indicated Yat ll'and 12, the same defining with the lower surface of the plate 13 an open chamber 14, whichextends sub- --stantially about the entire upper portion of the denture, and into which the tissue of the mouth fits. Extending from the base or bot- Y tom portion of the chamber 14 lare a. plurality 75 vof supporting projections as indicated atl,

the same being preferably included as an integral rigidportion of the body ofthe plate.

The projections vary inheight `and curvaagainst agivenportion of the mouth to maintain the same therein in a natural manner. For purposes of illustration the projections are shownin a circular form thesameare curved, asin- '85 dicated at 16, to fulll the requirements of the instant case, although obviously the shape or'structural form of the respective projections may be varied without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

Inasmuch as the form of each projection in the plate is determined by the structureof the mouth lagainst which it is adapted to fit, it is apparent that the projections need not be evenly distributed along the Abase of the cham- 95 ber 14 but may be placed` as needed for the The tips ofthe projections support the tissue and prevent the same from being drawn into the lower portion of the chamber-14. This construe-"1100 each particular projection tion also by holding the tissue from the base of the chamber enables the distribution of negative pressure or holding effort to uniformly affect the under surface of the samey extends from the inner front portion of the plate to take a position within the chamber 14, the same assisting and acting in a similar manner as the proj ections 15 to consequently give an additional measure of support to prevent the shifting of the plate in the mouth. The portion ofv the plate below the tip surfaces of the projections 15 forms a suction chamber in which a negative pressure can be created as will hereinafter be more particularly described. Y

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, the plate is provided with suitablevertical openings or passageways 18 and 19 extending from thebase 13 or lower portion of the suction chamber `and makingl communication with the corresponding horizontally located openings or cavities 20 and 21 in two oppositely disposed teeth of the denture. Inasmuch as the respective teeth containing this construction are substantially identical but one of the same will be described in det-ail. The larger of the artificial teeth, preferably the molars, are utilized so that a sizable opening may b-e formed therein without weakening the structure.

As clearly indicated in Fig. 5 the horizontal opening 21 extends from the inner side of the tooth so that a suction created by the wearer can directly control a device situated therein. The device illustrated forms a controlling mechanism'or one way valvular element for normally closing communication between the passage 18 and opening 21 and permit the same on the creation of a vacuum in the mouth of the wearer to open the valve so that a partial vacuum can be created in the suction chamber of thel denture. 'This valvular construction is preferably formed by a hollow cylindrical tubing 22 of anV elastic substance such as rubber. The exposed end ortion of the tubing 22 which is substantially flush with the surface of the teeth is provided with an integral cap or head 23 having acentral pin hole opening therein as illustrated at 24. The purpose of the cap on the tubing is to prevent particles of food taking position within the opening in the tooth.

In positioning the plate the wearer produces a partial vacuum or suction which initially draws the air from the central portion of the tubing 22 through the pin hole opening 24C and causes the same to contract circumferentially and take the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. This diber, whereby,

Lea/,97o

rectly opens communication rbetween the mouth and suction chamber around the outer edge or periphery of the tubular member 22 as shown at 25. When the desired negative pressure or holding effort is obtained in the suction chamber the tubing 22 returns to its normal position against the passageway 18 by the release of the pressure in the mouth, and maintainsthis effort within the suc-tion chamber as long as desired.

VWhile the plate illustrated in the drawing and herein described is adapted for use in the upper portion of the mouth obviously large partial plates or plates fitting the lower portion of the mouth can be constructed fulfilling the inventive concepts described herein without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

l claim as my invention:`

1. In a dental plate, a suction chamber containing tissue supporting projections located, therein, and provided with a vertical air passagewayextending from the base of the suction chamber horizontal cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a circumferentially contractable valvular element situated within the horizontal'cavity and including a pin-hole opening at its exposed surface to facilitatethe initial withdrawal of air from the interior of the valvular element, whereby, the withdrawal of air from the suction chamber around the periphery of the valvular element is facilitated upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth.

2. In a dental plate, a suction chamber having a plurality of tissue supporting projections located, therein, and provided with an air passageway extending of the suction chamber to communicate with a cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a circumferentially contractable tubular "member situated within the cavity andv including a pin-hole opening at its exposed surface to facilitate the initial withdrawal of air from the interior of the tubular member, whereby, the withdrawal of air from the suction chamber aro-und the periphery of the tube is facilitated upon the creation of a par-N115 tial vacuum in the mouth.

3. ln a dental plate, a suction chamber having a plurality of tissue supporting projections located, therein, andprovidedwithan air passageway extending from the base of thev suction chamber to communicate with a horizontal cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a circumferentially contractable tubular member situated within the cavity and including a pin-hole opening at its exposed` surface to facilitate the initial withdrawal of air from the interior of the tubular memthe withdrawal of air from the suction chamber around the periphery of the tube is of a partial vacuum in the mouth, said tubuto communicate with aY facilitated upon the creation` entially tooth.

4:. In a dental plate, a, suction chamber containing tissue supportingV projections located therein, and provided with a vertical air passageway extending from the base of the suction chamber to communicate with a horizontal cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a circumferentially contractable valvular element situated within the horizontal cavity and including a pin-hole opening at its exposed surface to facilitate the initial Withdrawal of air from the interior of the valvular element, whereby, the withdrawal of air from the suction chamber around the periphery of the valvular element is facilitated upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth, said valvular element having an end portion substantially closing the cavity at the surface of the tooth.

5. In a dental plate having a suction chamber for holding the same in position in the mouth, one `or more air passageways extending from the lower portion of the suction chamber to communicate with a cavity located in or more teeth of the denture, each cav-Q ity containing a circumferentially contractable tubular member, therein, having an end closing portion substantially ush with the surface of the tooth, said end portion having a pin-hole opening to facilitate the initial withdrawal of air from the interior of the tube, whereby, the withdrawal of air from the suction chamber around the periphery of the tubular member is facilitated upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth.

6. In a dental plate having a suction cha-mber for holding the same in position in the mouth, one or more air passageways extending from the lower portion ofthe suction chamber to communicate with a. horizontal cavity located in one or more teeth of the denture, each cavity containing a circumfercontractable valvular element, therein, having an end closing portion substantially flush with the surface of the tooth, said end portion having a pin-hole opening to facilitate the initial withdrawal of air from the interior of the valvular element, whereby, the withdrawal of air from the suction chamber around the periphery of the valvular element is facilitated upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth.

7. In a dental plate having a suction chamber for holding the same in position in the mouth, an air passageway from said suction chamber communicating with a cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a. contractable valvular element, located in said cavity, the periphery of which controls communication between the suction chamber and mouth, and means for initially withdrawing the air from the interior of the valvular element to facilitate its operation upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth.

8. In a dental ber for holding the same in position in the mouth, an air passageway from said suction chamber communicating with a cavity in one of the teeth of the denture, a contractable tubular member, located in said cavity, the periphery of which controls communication between the suction chamber and mouth, said tubular member having an end portion substantially closing the cavity at the surface of the tooth, and means for initially withdrawing the air from the interior of the tubular member to facilitate its operation upon the creation of a partial vacuum in the mouth. n

Signed by me this 6th day of J anuary,1931.

LUIS M. VALBUENA.

plate having a suction cham-

Images