US2668353A - Dental bridge - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1954 l. QUELLMAN 2,668,353

DENTAL BRIDGE Filed June 29, 1951 INVENTR Quellmanr Patented Feb. 9, :1954

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL BRIDGE Irving Quellman, New York, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1951, Serial No. 234,361

9 Claims. (Cl. 326) This invention relates to dental bridges, more particularly of the iixed type.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention it is noted that the abutment teeth on each side oi the gap in the mouth in which a bridge is to be placed are often not parallel and cannot be made so due to limitations in the precision with which such teeth are ground by the dentist and due to the degree oi' inclination of the abutment teeth which would require such an amount of grinding to effect parallelism that the nerves of the teeth might be aected. It is therefore extremely diicult if not impossible properly to install a xed bridge having crowns at each end which t over such abutment teeth as the inclinat tion of one of said abutment teeth with respect to the other would prevent proper seating of the crowns of the fixed bridge on the associated abutment teeth with resultant space between the rim of the mouth oi the crown and the gum into which food might collect with resultant decay of said abutment teeth.

It is also to be noted that even though the anchoring or abutment teeth on each side of the gap in the mouth in which the bridge is to be placed, are carefully prepared for the anchoring portions of the bridge, which may be inlays or crowns that are to be cemented on the abutment'teeth to hold the bridge in place, and even though an accurate cast and model is made, due to the expansion and contraction 'of the materials used, the inlaysor crowns, as the case may be, on each end of the bridge respectively may become relatively displaced so that they both will not accurately seat on the abutment teeth. As `a result, when inlays are used, there may be a slight gap between the edges of at least one of the inlays and the tooth, or when crowns are used at least one of such crowns may not reach the gum line and snugly encompass the abutment tooth with the resuilt that food particlesmay collect beneath the inlay or crown with resultant decay of the abutment tooth.

Where the bridge is capable of lateral displacement in the mouth, it will be very uncomfortable to the user and prevent proper chewing. In addition, such displacement may become aggravated with repeated use causing excessive pressure on the abutment teeth with consequent displacemen and possible loss of such teeth.

Where bridgesare used which have clamps or other elements protruding therefrom, such elements are likely to injure the gum or tongue of the user and in addition food particles may collect therebeneath with resultant development of disagreeable odors and decay. Y v

1t is accordingly among the objects yof the in- 'vention to provide, in situations where a removable bridge is indicated or a permanent bridge could be applied only by complicated andv costly procedure with objectionable building up of the abutment teeth or anchoring portion of the bridge due to lack oi parallelism of the abutment teeth, a substantially permanent dental bridge that may readily be fabricated by a dentist or dental technician and has but few parts, which is strong, durable and non-corrosive and not likelyto become deranged, and when once installed does not have to be removed for cleaning or sterilization, which bridge may readily be installed in the mouth, using substantially conventional crowns or inlays on the abutment teeth even when the latter are not parallel, without need for many ttings and grinding which give discomfort to the patient, yet will accurately t in place with no space between the abutment teeth and the anchoring portions of the bridge mounted thereon, thereby eliminating the possibility of decay of such abutment teeth due to the collection of food particles between the anchoring portion of the bridge and the abutment tooth, which bridge is devoid of protruding clasps or other elements that may injure the mouth of the user and which, when once installed, will be securely and permanently retained in place without likelihood oi4 lateral displacement which might affect the bite of the user and cause excessive pressures to be exerted against the abutment teeth with resultant injury to and possible loss of such teeth.

According to the invention from its broader aspect, the dental bridge comprises at least one artificial tooth having an anchoring member, which may be a crown or inlay, associated therewith and rigidly alixed thereto on one side therejof. The artificial tooth desirably has a locking member mounted therein so as to extend outwardly from the other side wall of the tooth in a plane substantially parallel to the biting surface of the tooth and said locking member seats in a socket formed in a second anchoring member such as a crown or an inlay, the dimensions of the socket and the locking member being so related that although the locking member is free to move longitudinally and rotate in said socket, it will substantially be restrained from lateral displacement therein.

More speciiically according to one embodiment of the invention, the locking member desirably comprises a spring urged plunger slidably mounted in said articial tooth and having its longitudinal movement outwardly of the tooth limited by means of an internal projection in the tooth which coacts with the plunger so that the outer end thereof will project only sufiiciently to seat in said socket.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various'possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper portion of a mouth showing a plurality of artioial teeth mounted according to one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view on a larger scale showing the locking assembly,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper portion of the mouth showing another embodiment of the invention incorporated Yin a bridge having a single artcial tooth,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3--6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view another embodiment of the invention.

, Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment of the dental bridge shown in Figs. 1 to 4 desirably comprises a plurality of articial teeth, illustratively three in number designated l2 and |3 which may be made of any suitable material such as plastic. The tooth has an anchoring of still member l5, illustratively a crown of conventional' type. rigidly aixed thereto by means oi a lateral extension i3 on said crown which is molded into the tooth when the latter is formed. As the formation of such teeth and crown is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described.

The tooth |3 has a lateral bore l therein through the side wall I3 thereof adjacent the biting surface I9 and substantially parallel to the latter. Afxed in said bore |i in any suitable manner, such as by molding when the plastic tooth is formed, is a sleeve 2l desirably of noncorrosive material such as an alloy of gold and piatinum. The sleeve 2| has a wall 22 at one end and its open end 23 is substantially flush with the side wall |8 of tooth I3.

Slidably mounted in sleeve 2| is a locking f member, preferably a plunger or latch 24 also desirably of an alloy of gold and platinum. The

-plunger desirably has a diameter but slightly less than the inner diameter of the sleeve so that it may freely siide therein, but will be restrained from lateral displacement. The plunger is norvmally urged out of the open end 23 of the sleeve by means of a coil spring 25, preferably of stainless spring steel, compressed between end wall 22 and the adjacent end 2t of plunger 24. Suitable means are desirably provided to limit the outward -movement of the plunger under the urging of coil spring 25. Such means may comprise a pin 2 vextending substantially radially into sleeve 2| through an opening 28 in the wall thereof and into an annular groove 29 formed in the plunger, the pin being entirely contained within the sleeve so that it does not protrude therefrom and desirably being tapered so that when` driven into opening 28 it will securely be retained in position.

Associated with plunger 24 is a cup 3| also preferably of a non-corrosive alloy of gold and platinum. The cup 3| has an internal diameter but slightly greater than the diameter of the plunger so that the front end 32 of the latter may freely slide into the cup and rotate therein, but is restrained from lateral displacement therein. The cup 3| is desirably rigidly mounted as by casting in a socket 33 in an anchoring member, illustratively a crown 34 of conventional type and desirably extends laterally in said crown so that its mouth 35 is ush with the side wall 35 thereof.

The groove 29 in plunger 24 is of such width that when the side wall 31 thereof abuts against pin 2T as shown in Fig. 3, the front end 32 of the 4 plunger will project beyond the open end of the sleeve 2| into cup 3| with a portion of such front end 32 in advance of the groove 29 still encompassed by said sleeve. As a result, even in projected position the plunger will still be restrained from lateral displacement.

In the fabrication of the bridge shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the abutment teeth 4| and 42 are prepared to receive a crown and an impression is taken of the prepared teeth 4|, 42 as well as the space therebetween in which the artificial teeth l2 and I3 are to be positioned. As the preparation of the teeth 4| and 42 for this purpose, as -wellas the taking of the impression, is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described.

'Ihe plunger 24 and coil spring 2 5 are positioned in the sleeve 2| and the tapered pin 2l is forced into the opening 28 so that its inner end will be positioned in the annular groove 23 in the plunger. The portion of the pin protruding from the exterior of the sleeve is thereupon broken away. The sleeve and its contained plunger and spring are molded into tooth and the cup 3| is cast into the side wall 3S of crown 34 as above described.

In installing the bridge shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the crown 34 which is previously filled with suitable cement is positioned over abutment tooth 42 and pressed Vin place in conventional manner so that it will seat in the position shown in Fig. `2 with the rim 43 of the mouth of the crown against the gum line. After the cement in crown 34 has hardened and the crown is firmly affixed to the abutment tooth 42, the teeth Il, I2 and i3 and crown I5 are positioned in the space between abutment teeth 4|, 42 with the crown l5 which is lled with cement aligned with tooth 4|. The artificial teeth and crown l5 are then pressed into the gap between teeth 4| and 42 so that the crown l5 may encompass abutment tooth 4|. As the artificial teeth move into the gap, the end 32 of the plunger will abut against the edge 44 of crown 34 and be cammed into sleeve 2|. When the crown l5 has properly seated on tooth 4| so that its rim 45 is against the gum line, the plunger 24 will snap into the socket 3| to lock the artificial teeth in position.

With the above construction it is apparent that even if the abutment teeth 4|, 42 are not parallel, as shown in Fig. 2, both crowns will properly seat on the associated abutment teeth and the bridge will be securely and permanently affixed in place with no space between the rims of the crowns and the gum line into which food might coliect with resultant decay of the abutment teeth.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and the dental bridge desirably comprises an articial tooth 5| which may be made of any suitable material and also desirably is of plastic. The tooth 5| has an anchoring member 52, illustratively an inlay of conventional type, rigidly afiiXed thereto by means of a lateral extension 53 on said inlay which is molded into the tooth 5| when the latter is formed.

The tooth 5| has a lateral bore 54 therein through the side wall 55 thereof adjacent the biting surface 55 and substantially parallel to the latter. Ailixed in said bore 54 in any suitable manner, such as by molding when the plastic tooth is,v formed, and extending laterally outwardly from the side wall 55 of tooth 5| is a locking and platinum.

Associated with pin 51 is a cup 59 also preferably of a non-corrosive alloy of gold and platinum. The cup 59 has an internal diameter but slightly greater than the diameter of the pin 51 so that the latter may freely slide into the cup, but is restrained from lateral displacement therein. The cup 59 is desirably rigidly mounted as by casting in a socket 6I in an anchoring member, illustratively an inlay 62 of conventional type and desirably extends laterally in said inlay so that its mouth 63 is flush with the side wall 64 thereof.

In the fabrication of the bridge shown in'liigs.

taken of the prepared teeth 66, 61 as well as the space therebetween in which the artificial tooth 5I is to be positioned. As the preparation of the teeth for this purpose as well as the taking of the impression is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described.

In installing the bridge including inlays 52 and 62 and the tooth 5I, the outer end of the pin 51 is inserted into the cup 59 which is longitudinally aligned therewith, in which position the biting surfaces of the inlays and tooth will lie in substantially the same plane as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The assembled bridge is then positioned in the mouth of the patient so that the inlays are over the abutment teeth 66 and 61 which have been previously covered with a suitable cement and the bridge is pressed in place.

By reason of the longitudinal and rotary displacement afforded by the locking assembly between inlay 62 and tooth 5|, the two inlays aut-omatically adjust themselves as they are pressed into place so that they both will accurately seat in the previously prepared abutment teeth 66 and 61 with no space between the edges of the inlays and the biting surfaces of the teeth.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, parts corresponding to those shown in Figs. 5 and 6 have the same reference numerals primed. In this embodiment the locking assembly is shown incorporated in a bridge having a plurality of teeth positioned, for example, in the front of the mouth.

As shown, the bridge desirably comprises a plurality of artificial teeth illustratively four in number designated 1I, 12, 13 and 14. The teeth are desirably assembled in two sets, each having a pair of teeth 1I, 12 and 13, 14 and a crown 15, 16 rigidly aii'ixed respectively to the sides of teeth 1I and 14. As the formation of such teeth and crown and assembly thereof is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described. The tooth 12 has a pin 51 mounted therein in the manner previously described, so that it extends laterally outward from the side wall 11 of tooth 12 adjacent the biting surface 18 thereof and substantially parallel to the latter. The tooth 13 has a cup 59 mounted therein as by molding when the tooth is formed, with the mouth of the cup flush with the side wall 19 of said tooth 13 also adjacent the biting surface thereof.

In installing the bridge shown in Fig. 7, the end of the pin 51 extending from tooth 12 is inserted into cup 59 which is longitudinally aligned therewith and the bridge is positioned in the mouth of the patient so that the crowns 15, 16 may .be pressed onto the previously prepared abutment teeth 8 I, 82 and retained thereon by suitable cement.

As the pairs of artificial teeth 1 I, 12 and 13, 14v are capable of relative longitudinal and rotary 6 movement, the crowns automatically adjust themselves as they are pressed into place so that they both will accurately fit on thev previously prepared abutment teeth 8|, 82 with no space between the gum line and the rim 83 of the mouth of the crown into which food may collect.

By reason of the positioning of the locking assembly adjacent the biting surface 18 of the artificial teeth 12, 13 there will be no relative Pivotal movement between the sets of teeth 1I, 12 and 13, 14 which might, if it occurred, exert leverage against the crowns to displace the associated abutment teeth with possible injury thereto.

It is to be noted that the abutment teeth 8| and 82 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 are substantially parallel and hence, the two sets of teeth 1 I, 12 and 13, 14 with their attached crowns may be assembled as above described and positioned in the mouth. Where, however, the abutment teeth are not parallel as shown in Fig. 2, both crowns could not be properly positioned on the abutment teeth simultaneously and the spring urged plunger assembly should be used in place of the fixed pin 51. To install the bridge of Fig. '1 with a spring urged plunger when the abutment teeth 16, 8| are not parallel would merely require that first the set of teeth 13, 14 be aixed on abutment tooth 16 in conventional manner and then the set of teeth 1I, 12, which would carry the plunger, be positioned on abutment tooth 8| so that the plunger would cam into the cup 59 in tooth 13 to lock the bridge in place.

. As the outer end of the pin and plunger in all embodiments herein rits with close tolerance in the cup and also in the sleeve, there Wllbe no relative lateral displacement between the abutment tooth -42 and artificial tooth I3 shown in Figs. 1 to 4; between abutment tooth 61 and artificial tooth 5I shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or between artificial teeth 12 and 13 shown in Fig. 1. Hence the bite of the user will be proper at all times.

It is of course to be understood that the crown and the inlay are interchangeable and either crowns or inlays or one of each could be used.

The constructions herein permit the slight longitudinal give afforded with natural teeth by reason of the relative longitudinal displacement afforded by the locking mechanism and hence there will be no uncomfortable rigidity present when the user bites into food.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and method, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A dental bridge comprising at least one artificial tooth, a sleeve extending laterally inward from'one side of said tooth substantially parallel to the biting surface thereof and completely contained in said tooth, a locking member slidably mounted in said sleeve, resilient means in said sleeve normally urging said locking member out of said sleeve, means on said sleeve to limit the outward movement ofv said locking member, a cup to receive the outer end of said locking member and means rigidly mounting said cup.

2.v A dental bridge comprising at least one artificial tooth, a sleeve extending laterally inward from one side of said tooth substantially parallel to the biting surfaces thereof and completely contained in said tooth, a plunger slidably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve substantially preventing lateral displacement of the plungerl therein, resilient means in said sleeve normally urging said plunger outwardly, means on said sleeve to limit the outward movement of said plunger, a cup to receive the outer end of said plunger, said cup preventing lateral displacefment of the plunger therein and means rigidly mounting said cup, 3. kThe combination set forth in claim 2 which the means to limit the outward movement of `said plunger comprises a pin in said sleeve extending substantially7 radially inward and said plunger has an annular groove .to receive the inner end of said ,pin` 4, A dental bridge to be mounted in a gap between apair of abutment teeth, said bridge com-f prsing at least one artificial tooth, anchoring means onone sideof said tooth and rigid therevvith firmly to mount the latter to one of such abutment teeth, a sleeve extending laterally inward from the other side .of said artificial tooth, substantially parallel 4to the biting surface thereo f'andicompletely contained in said tooth, a lock-- ing zmember slidably mounted in said sleeve, resilient vmea-ns in said sleeve normally urging said .locking member out of said sleeve, means on said sleeve to limit the outward movement of said looking member, a second anchoring means yadapted to be rigidly aixed to the other abutment tooth and means rigidly mounted `with respect to Isaid second anchoring means to receive .said locking member-and to prevent lateral displaeementof said artificial .tooth with respect to such other abutment tooth.

5,.A dental bridge to be mounted in a gap between a pair of abutment teeth, 4said bridge comprising at least one articial tooth,` an choring means rigidly aixed to one side or" said toothiirmly to mount the latter to one Zof such abutment teeth, .a sleeve extending substantially-laterally-inward from the other side of said artificial tooth .substantially parallel to :the bitsv ing surface thereof and Acompletely contained in .said tooth, a plunger slidably mounted in said .slee-ve, said .sleeve substantially 'preventing lateral displacement .of the iplunger therein, a coil Vspring in :said .sleeve normally urging said plunger outwardly therefrom, means Aon said sleevecto limit VIthe .outward movement of said plunger, a second ,anchoring fmeans adapted .to beaiiixed Vto the other abutment tooth and a cup rig-idly aiilxed Awith .respect .to said second anchoring-meansto receivethe plunger, said .cup preventing-.lateral :displacement of the `plunger therein, thereby preventing. lateral displacement of said artificial tooth with respect to such second abutment tooth.

6. A dental bridge to Vbe mounted in a gap betweenza'pair of abutment teeth, said bridge comprising at =least one artificial tooth, anchoring means rigidly ailixed to one side of said .tooth iirmly to mount the latter to one oi Asuch vabutmentteeth,a sleeve extending substantially laterally inward from the other side of said artiy iicial tooth substantially parallel to the biting surface 'thereof and completely contained said tooth, a plunger, having an annular groove therein, slidably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve substantially preventing lateral displace, ment of the plunger therein, a coil spring in said sleeve normally urging said plunger outwardly therefrom, a pin in said sleeve extending substantially radially inward into said annular groove to limit the outward movement of said plunger, a second anchoring means adapted to ,be aiiixed to the other abutment tooth and a cup rigidly afxed with respect to said second anchoring means to receive the plunger, said cup substantially preventing lateral displacement of the plunger therein thereby preventing lateral displacement of said .artificial tooth with respect toV such second abutment tooth.

'7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which the -Width of said annular groove in said plunger, the thickness of said pin and the location `of the latter in the sleeve are so related that with the outer end of said plunger in its most ad.- vanced position said outer end is positioned in both the cup and the sleeve.

8. A dental .bridge comprising at least one ar- .tiiicial tooth, anchoring means rigidly aixed to .one side of said tooth, a sleeve extending substantia-lly laterally inward from the other side of said artificial tooth, substantially parallel vto the biting surface thereof and completely( contained iii-said tooth, a plunger slidably mounted in said sleeve, resilient means in said sleeve nor.- maily urging plunger outwardly therefrom. means .on said sleeve ,to limit the outward .movement ofsaid plunger, a second anchoring means and means aixed in said second anchoring means to receive said locking member to prevent lateral displacement .of saidartificial tooth with respect to said second anchoring means.`

9. A ,dental bridge to be mounted in a gap lbetween a pair of abutment teeth, said bridge 'oomprising rat leastone artificial tooth, acrown rigid ly Yaixedto oneside of .said artiieialtooth hrmly to mount the latter to one of such abutment teeth, a sleeve .extending substantially laterally inward from .the other side of said artificial tooth, substantially parallel .to the biting surface there# of and completely ,contained in said tooth, a plunger sldably mounted said sleeve, resilient means in said sleeve normally urging the Vplunger outwardly therefrom, mea-ns .on said sleeve'to limit the outward movement of said piungerfa secendcrown adapted to be rigidly afiliiedfto such other abutment tooth, and a cup aiixed-in saidseeondcrown adapted to receive the plunger to prevent lateral 7displacement of said articial tooth with respect to .such second abutment tooth.

IRVING QUnLLMarI.

vilte'ferences Cited in the iileof this patent UNITEDEQSLTES PATENTS Name Date 832,528 Bennett Oct. 2, 1996 :155213702 Yalitis Mar. 22, 1927 2,227,735 Morton Iarr j?, wel 2,4%,5811 Reichner Deci, i949 FOREIGN PATENTS ZNumber Country fDate 138,689 Germany Jan. 25, 11905 '26S/,043 Switzerland July 317-, 1959

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