US2507118A

US2507118A - Dental apparatus for use in making dentures

Info

Publication number: US2507118A
Application number: US37374A
Authority: US
Inventors: Opotow Nathan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-07-07
Filing date: 1948-07-07
Publication date: 1950-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-09

Description

Patented May 9, 1950 S PATENT OFFICE DENTAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN nns'roarzs Nathan Opotow, New York, N. Y. Application July 7, 1948, Serial No. 31,374

12 Claims. '12

This invention relates to dental plates. and more particularly to a method apparatus for securing a correct relationship between the component parts of the denture. The invention is an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,239,295 of April 22, 1941.

As was set forth in the above patent, the fundamental steps in the COhstruction oi dental plates are:

a. Taking an impression of the mouth in suitable plastic material, generally plaster of Paris or the like. i

b. Forming a positive model from the. impression.

Forming a base plate on the model 1. Securing to base plate a means to register the center position of the jaw, and

e. Transferring the resulting registration .of the mouth to an articulator and thereaiter set.- ting teeth in said model.

It was pointed out that the steps ofsecuring the proper relationship of the jaws includin the bite was most difiicult of achievement and that various technics for establishing centric and other functional relationships have been devised.

The above mentioned patent provided a new system wherein a yieldable pad was maintained centrally of one plate while a projection for engaging said pad was disposed cen ral @f th opposing plate. The purpose was to effect a natural closure of the jaws under simulated bit.- ing pressure. I have now discovered that this action may be further improved by transfe rin the biting pressure of a central position of the plates to a side position. As will be pointed out hereinafter, such side disposition permits a better distribution of stress and therefore a mere positive functional seat for the ultimate denture A further advantage is that the patient may swallow in a natural manner. while registering his bite so as to provide a superior registration.

Another object of this invention is to not only provide means for registering a bite under natural stress, but to embody an alternative method in substantially the same apparatus. Such alternative method serves to identify any acquired position due to a faulty condition present, and a means for correcting the same.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description, it being understood that the above general statements of the objects of my invention are intended to describe and not limit it in any ;r nanner.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the improved apparatus as it is employed in taking a patients bite.

Fig 2 is a plan view of the upper bite plate as Viewed along the lines '2 2 of Fig. 1'. t

Fig. 3 is ,a plan view of thelower bite plate as viewed along

thelines

3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l a plan view of the spacer element.

Fig. 5. is a view similar to 3 and showing the application of the side of the laterally disposed springs and the bite registering material in tbelo e b te pl Fig. 6 is an elevaticnal yiew of the springs used to provi e s m lat on f natural b ting pressure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a plaster insert employed as a substitute for the registration material of Fig. 5 and whereby a gothic arch tracing b efi ted In the drawings, 1;) may represent either the upper cast or upper gum area of the patient, the gum ridges having formed thereover a base plate wh h may b subs ant l y covered by ai upper bite plate i2 is initially'secured to such wag; ii. The lower east or lower gum area M has a base plate substantially covered with wax 15, such wax having the lower bite plate iii mainta ned ther n a by be n a ti y bedded, as will be hereinafter described. Inserted between the bite plates I2 and i6 is a spacer plate !'l which is removed when the bite is taken.

The assembly above noted, excluding the spacer, is that which obtains when the patient is ready to effect the registration bite, but the actual method of arriving such assembly is as .iOllOws tient is then told to bring his jaws together and wax material will be added or subtracted from height of wax H until thedesired verticalopening is achieved. At this time, the upper. plate l2 is sealed to the wax l l.

The spacer ii is nowremovecl and is not used thereafter. It will be observed that spacer ii is formed with openings it to permit the traverse therethrough of the upper bite plate scrapers and front pin as hereinafter described.

Upper bite plate l2 has formed integrally I front pin 20.

therewith a pair of depending triangular shaped scrapers at the sides thereof and a depending These traverse the openings H3 in spacer plate during the accomplishment of vertical dimension as set forth above. The lower bite plate l6 has formed thereon a pair of cells 3| and 32, a front depression 33 and a pair of

recesses

34 and 35.

Recesses

34 and 35 are made annular by the provision of

central pins

36 and 31. Annular recesses or

openings

34 and 35 are designed to receive spring inserts 38 having coil springs 39 which embrace the

pins

36 and 31 so as to be retained in such annular openings.

When the spacer I! has been removed as above noted, springs 38 which have metallic, smooth heads 40 are set into the

recesses

34 and 35, as disclosed in Fig. 5. It may be here noted that springs 39 may be provided of varying compression strength so as to accommodate the instrument to the strength of a particular patient. Thus, a very weak patient may require weaker springs so as to be able to produce a bite under pressure as hereinafter set forth.

The apparatus is now ready to be employed for the first method of registering the patients bite. First, a smear of wax 52 is deposited on the surface of plate 33. The patient is then instructed to close upon the spring members 38 and to simulate a chewing action. The front pin 20 will thereupon describe a triangle 35 in the nature of a gothic arch tracing as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The apex of the triangle generally represents centric. However, this step is merely used as a check on the subsequent bite which the patient is instructed to make.

Wax inserts designated in Fig. as 59 and 5| are placed in cells 3| and 32. Such inserts are in the form of a block resembling in appearance the plaster insert illustrated in Fig. 7 as distinguished from the smear 52 in cell 33. The patient is instructed to relax. He is then told to swallow hard or forcefully whereupon the bite plates are brought together under functional pressure and the triangular index holes or marks are registered in the inserts 5D and 5| respectively, and the front pin will register a point on wax 52 on plate 33. This operation may be repeated many times in order to insure the accuracy of the registration.

At this time, a comparison is made between the gothic arch apex and the index point obtained through swallowing. If they are both located in the same place, it will indicate a normal position. A variation will indicate that there is an acquired position present which will correct itself in due time. However, allowances must be made at this time so as not to traumatize the underlying tissues in the interim. It will also allow for comfort and usefulness during the initial period of denture wearing.

Therefore, if both central points are identical, the bite plates together with the waxed up base plates are removed from the patients mouth, the springs 38 are removed therefrom and the bite plates are replaced in their registering position, the index marks 53 and 54 guiding the restoration of the plates to the proper bite relationship and the front pin 20 resting on the index point. with wax and are then articulated. The remaining steps will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the bite having been properly established.

If there is a discrepancy present between the The bite plates are then sealed apex and the index point, the wax blocks 5|! and 5| are removed and set aside for later use. Two plaster blocks 60 are placed in position and the patient is instructed to move the law from side to side under stress, thereby inscribing a gothic arch tracing in the plaster blocks 60. Thereafter, the bite plates together with the waxed up base plates are sealed together and articulated as described before. The teeth are now set up to conform to this registration. The plaster blocks are now removed and the wax blocks are inserted into the lower bite plate. The models are now re-articulated to this registration. All interferences are now removed by grinding the teeth where necessary.

The above mentioned operations described the first method of establishing the proper bite which substantially duplicated the system described in my prior patent but wherein the spring compression members were disposed laterally instead of centrally. The advantages of such disposition are at least twofold. Firstly, the disposition of separate spring members 38 on each side of the jaw permits differential biting compression so as to take into account varyin degrees of displacability of the tissues. This is not as well accomplished with the central disposition of the resilient cushion since such central cushion accommodates both sides of the mouth simultaneously. The elimination of the central plat-- form is of importance in permitting the patient to swallow naturally during recording of the bite.

The Gothic arch tracing described in the above steps is superior to the type of tracing commonly in use at the present time because of the fact that the springs 38 are holding the bases in a functional position while the tracing is being inscribed. In other words, the gothic arch tracing is derived while a natural bite is being taken or simulated. The scraping is performed during a natural chewin action with the muscles functioning naturally. The springs 38 serve the further purpose of limiting the scraping pressure on the plaster inserts 5D and likewise prevent locking action thereon. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a true Gothic arch registration in the plaster insert 60.

The apparatus described thus not only improves upon the apparatus of the above mentioned patent, but it combines a system of Gothic arch tracing therewith. It will be observed that the spring heads 40 when polished and thus rendered smooth, permit such lateral movement between the contacting biting plates as to render possible the Gothic arch tracin while a bite is being taken.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit. It is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring means disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other bite plate whereby a bite may be effected by bringing said plates together against the action of said spring means.

2. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other bite plate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient by bringing said plates together against the action of said spring means, and means on one of said plates for recording the position of the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been thus effected.

3. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other bite plate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient by bringing said plates together against the action of said spring means, and projections formed on one of said plates for recording the postiion of the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been thus efiected.

4. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other bite plate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient by bringing said plates together against the action of said spring means, and projections formed on one of said plates for recording the position of the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, said projections being formed on the arms of its plate and the opposing plate having cells formed in its arms and directly below said projections when a bite is being taken, said cells being adapted to receive a plastic substance whereby said projections may penetrate said plastic substance and effect a registration of the bite taken.

5. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring members disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates so as to be compressed by the other of said bite plates when a bite is being taken, and smooth heads formed on said spring members whereby the other or opposing bite plate may slide thereover while compressing the spring members.

6. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring members disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates so as to be compressed by the other of said bite plates when a bite is being taken, and smooth heads formed on said spring members whereby the other or opposing bite plate may slide thereover while compressing the spring members, a pair of projections formed on the arms of one of said plates, means on the other of said plates for recording the position of said projections when a bite has been taken, and a spacer plate adapted to be inserted between the bite plates, said spacer plate having openings formed therein so as to permit said projections to traverse said openings.

7. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring members on the arms of one Of said bite plates whereby said bite plates may be brought together against the action of said spring members when taking a bite, projections formed on one of said plates for recording the position of the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, the bite plate not having said projections being formed with cells directly below said projections when the apparatus is assembled, said bite plate which is formed with said cells having a central cell formed therein, and a dependent point edged pin on the bite plate not having said cells and being formed directly above said central cell when the apparatus is assembled.

8. A dental apparatus according to claim '7 and wherein said projections are triangular in cross section.

9. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring members having smooth heads arranged to be disposed on the arms of one of said bite plates whereby said bite plates may be brought together against the action of said spring members when a bite is effected, triangular projections formed on one of said plates for registering the proper position of the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, a pin formed on said bite plate having projections, said pin being disposed substantially at the apex of the U-shaped bite plate, the bite plate not having said projections or pin, being formed with cells for reception of material to be recorded upon by said projections and pin, said cells being disposed directly under the respective projections and pin when the apparatus is assembled in bite-taking position.

10. A dental apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said spring members comprise coil springs having said smooth heads formed thereon whereby the bit plates may have relative lateral movement while said spring members are being compressed thereby.

11. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper and lower bite plates, spring members connected to one of said bite plates and adjacent lateral edges thereof and being free of the other bite plate whereby a bite may be effected against the action of said spring members, projections formed on one of said bite plates for recording the registration thereof with the other bite plate when a bite has been taken,

said projections being disposed adjacent lateral edges of the bite plates, the bite plate which does not have projections being formed with cells directly below said projections when the apparatus is assembled, said cells being adapted to receive a plastic substance whereby said projections may bite into said plastic substance and effect a registration of the bite taken.

12. A dental apparatus according to claim 11 and further including a centrally disposed pin in one of said plates and a further cell formed opposite thereto in the other plate for receiving a plastic substance whereby said last named plastic substance may be recorded upon by said pin.

- NATHAN OPOTOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dowell Apr. 30, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 22, 1925 Number Number