US3160955A

US3160955A - Dental articulator and attachments therefor

Info

Publication number: US3160955A
Application number: US250985A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pietro Anthony J De
Original assignee: MEDICAL ELECTRONICS AND RES CO
Current assignee: MEDICAL ELECTRONICS AND RES CO; MEDICAL ELECTRONICS AND RESEARCH Corp
Priority date: 1963-01-09
Filing date: 1963-01-09
Publication date: 1964-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 A. J. DE PIETRO 3,160,955

DENTAL ARTICULATQR AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR Fil d Jan, 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l 0 I K76 W V// INVENTORY ANTHONY J. DE PIETRQ JUL E W ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1964 A. J. DE PlETRO 3,160,955

DENTAL ARTICULATOR AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6

I00 :NVENTOR.

ANTHONY J. DE PIETRO AT TO RNEYS Dec. 15, 1964 A. J. DE PIETRO DENTAL ARTICULATOR AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ANTHONY J. DE PIETRO BY W fim l H p ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1964 J, DE p o 3,160,955

DENTAL ARTICULATOR AND ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIG: 17.. FIG: ]6 I16; 16

INVENTOR.

-volves-the use of stone checks,

3,160,955 Patented Dec. 1 5, 1964 United States Patent Ofifice This invention relates generally to apparatus for use in dental prosthesis, and particularly to apparatus for use in fabricating artificial dentures.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 62,190 now abandoned, filed October 12, 1960.

In the fabrication of artificial dentures, it becomes necessary to secure various members to the upper section or bow member of a dental articulator, for example, a clutch tray or a denture-model. .The general practice is to use an auxiliary mounting table essentiaily including a horizontally extending base, anv upright post at the front of the base and an adjustable stand, at the, rear of the base. A suitably adjusted dental face bow is mounted upon the post andarranged so that it extends rearwardly in overlying vertically spaced relation to the base. The stand is provided with a head extending horizontally across the rear of the table and with a pair of elements threaded respectively into the opposite end portions of the head and adjustable for varying the length thereof.

The stand is adjusted as required to bring the longi- An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for relating the upper sectionof a dental articulator to the dental face bow before the operation of attaching to said upper articulator section an upper clutch tray or a model of the upper denture.

Another object is to provide such means which posi' tively interengages with the opposed ends of the condyle pins of the face bow thereby to maintain throughout the operation aforesaid coincidence of the axis extending be tween the opposed points of the face bow condyle pins and the hinge axis of the upper bow member of the tudinally extending axis of the head into coincidence withthe axis extending between the opposed points of the condyle pins of the face bow and to bring the re- A mote ends of the threaded elementsinto contact respectively with the opposed points of the condyle pins. Then the upper section of the articulator is mounted with its rear end resting upon the head of the stand and its front end resting upon the face bow. The upper clutch tray, which is attached to the face bow, is now suitably loaded with stone and secured to the upper section of the articulator. This use of the stand in accordance with general practice has not proved to be entirely satisfactory because the threaded elements merely abut the points of the opposed condyle pins without positively, interengaging therewith, and the weight of the stone normally causes the longitudinally extending axis of the head and the axis extending between the opposed points of the condyle pins to shift relative to each. other, in consequence of'which there occurs an appreciable error in mounting the clutch tray upon the upper bow member. V v

in the fabrication of artificial dentures, clutchtrays formed over denture models are secured respectively to the upper and lower bow members of the articulator. Extending forwardly from the rims of these trays are clutch bars which are positioned by using a'conventional jig. While the jig positively positions the clutch bars relative to one another so that it is possible for the incisal pin to pass freely therebetween, it doesnot positively posidepend upon his own good judgment for this,.and a slight error in orienting the jig very often makes it impossible to close the incisal pin on the incisal guideduevto, interference by a clutch bar. Thus much time,.labor and material maybe lostbecause it is impossible to correctly position and secure the lower clutch tray to the lower the use of pantographs.

' bow member of the articulator unless the incisal pin can close on the incisal guide, The necessity for arranging articulator.

Another object is to provide such means which positively interengages with the opposed ends of the condyle pins of the face bow in the manner aforesaid irrespective of whether the condyle pins are of the type provided with points or of the type provided with depressions or sockets in the opposed ends thereof.

Another object is to provide means which facilitate supporting the face bow for receiving and operatively mounting the upper section of the articulator;

Another objectis to provide means which facilitate positively positioning clutch bars to effectively avoid any interference with the incisal pin and guide of the articulator..

Another object is to provide a pair of posts interchangeably mountable upon the fore end of the lower section of a dental articulator, one of said posts being operatively for supporting the face bow in overlying spaced relation to said lower articulator section and the other being operable for positively positioning clutch bars to effectively avoid any interference with the .incisal pin and guide of the articulator.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent when the following description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a dental articulator;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged one-half section on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE?) is an enlarged one-half section through the the lower bow member and a pair of denture models attached respectively to the upper and lower bow meme bers and closer respectively upon the clutch trays} FIGURE 6 is a vertical section on line 66 of FIG- URE s; V V

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic side view of the articulator showing the instrument turned upside 'down, the fore ends of the bow members spaced by the incisal pin and guide and'the upper clutch tray secured 'to the upper bow. member;

FIGURE 8 is sirnilar to FIGURE 7, hut shows the lower tray secured to the .lower bow member; 7

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of the instrument as shown in FIGURE 8; j FIGURE 10 is a rear elevation of the face bowjnounting post; V x

FIGURE if is a side, and FIGURE 12 i s top, view of the post shown in FIGURE 10;

, IGURE 13' is a front view'of the clutch tray mounting post;

FIGURE 14 is a side, and FIGURE-15 is a top, view of the post shown in FIGUREB; I

j FIGURE 16 is a front elevation of a modified face I mounting post; T

a tubular element 70.

' guide 40.

' FIGURES ,17 and 18 are opposite side views of the post shown in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 19 is similar to FIGURE 17, but shows the and in turn.

post mounted upon the lower bow member mounting the face bow; and V FIGURE 20 is-a fragmentary plan-view of the, structure shown in FIGURE 19.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4, anxarticw' lator constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a lower bow member including a main body portion lll'terminating at the rear thereof in a pair of laterally slidable in a groove 20, which groove is formed in a incisal guide" 98 secured thereto by a screw 99. Both the incisal pin'and guide are essentially the same as those described and'shown in my United States patent mentioned hereinbefore, to which reference may be had for details of construction and operation not disclosed herein. As pointed out in the aforesaid issued patent, the fore endv of the lower bow member is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 160 which receives the tongue depending from the base of the incisal guide.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 0, 11 and 12, a face bow mounting post, generally designated 102, is providedrwith a tongue 104 at the base thereof and a screw lltFSthreaded into the latter. The head of the post, desighorizontally extending hcad22 on the. post-12. Carried by the body 10 area pair of guide pins 26 and a lock screw 28 adapted for securing to the lower bow member the mounting plate (not shown) 'for a lower jaw model.

Overlying the lower bow member is an upper bow member including a main body portion 30 terminating at the rear thereof in a pair of wings'32 extending. laterally out- Each wing 32- mounts a hinge part in the form of an assemblyygenerally. desig- Wardly in opposite directions.

nated 34. Carried by the body 30 area pair of guide pins 36 and a lock screw 38' adapted for securing to the upperbow member the mounting plate,(notshown-) for an upper jaw model; v I

Each assembly 34 comprises a condylar guidein the form of a major part of a flat circular disc 40 disposed nated l'lld'isprovided with a cap 110. Conjointly formed by thehead .166 andcap 110 is an opening 114. On one side of the post the cap' 110 is hinged to the head 106, as at 116, and upon the opposite side of the post the cap 114 is detachably secured to the head 106 by a screw 118. I Referring particularly to' FIGURES 1 3, 14 and '15, a clutch 'rno'untingpost, generallydesignated 120, is providedwith a tongue 122 at the base thereof and a screw 124 threadedji'n'to thefllatt'er'. The post 120 mounts a cross arm"126.having: a portion intermediate the ends thereof grooved, as at 128, and slidably fitted to the post 120, the arm being thereby inclined as shown. .A screw 130iis projected through a slot 131 in the post 120' and i is threaded into the cross arm 126'for clamping the cross -,arm 126 are each screw 134.

an arcuate posterior portionr52- and an arcuate anterior portion 54. 'Each abutment 48-and surface 50 is adapted to slid'abl'y' engage the associated spherical element .14. ,Each assembly'34 includes a condylar guide mount in the form of a bifurcated member 56 having a base portion 58 joining a pair of

arms

60 and 62. These arms depend from. the base in laterally spaced relation to one Press-fitted. into the arm 62 is a pin 66 projecting into an' arcuate groove 68 in the disc 40. Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, extending lengthwise of the base 58 of'th'e condyle guidemount, is, an index mark 69.

Extending from the base 58 is a stem in the form of Fitted over the stem 70 a washer 72-provided with' a diametrically extending tongue 74- and an axially extending index mark 75. Immediately above the washer 72' is a second washer 76 provided with a diametrically extending tongue 78'. Threaded onto the stem' 76) is a nut80 counterbored, as at 82, for accommodating a coil spring 84- 'extending about the stem. 70.'- Threaded. into the stem 70 is a screw 86, the terminal portion of which screw is adapted to engage the As thus far described, the hinge part. 34 is essentially the same as a. hinge part described in copending applica- 'tion, Serial No. 856,425; filed December 1, 1959, which has since matured 'into United States Patent No. 3,019,- 530. dated February .6, 1962, to which reference maybe arm to the post; The opposite .end portions of' the cross provided with an opening 132 and a Referring particularly to FIGURE 4, "a conventional face bow, generally designated 136, is provided with a crossbar 138, a pair of arms 140 extending laterally from oppositeend portions of the bar 138 and secured thereto by fittings 142. Each'arm 140 carries an auxilia'ry' arm 144'pivoted, as at 146. The arm 144 suitably mounts acondy1epin148 and is spring biased, as

at 152, against the-lower end of a stop screw 154. Mounted uponthecrossbar'138 are fittings 1'56 and 158; Extending-upwardly from the fitting 156 is a standard 162 provided with ajlateral 'extension' 164 at the upper end thereof, and extending; rearwardly from the fitting 158 is a clutchv bar 166 mounting a clutch tray 168.

In the fabrication of artificial dentures, the patient is directed to close on' a bite fork (not shown) mounted on the face how 136. The condyle pins 148 and the standard 162 are then-adjusted temporarily, all in known manner.

The next step is to remove the incisal pin 96 and incisal guide. 98"frorn the articulator and to substitute for the guide 98 the face bow mounting post .102. This is accomplished by fitting the tongue 104 of the post-102 into the slot formerly occupied by the tongue'depending from the base of the guide 98, and by removably securing the post in" position as bythe screw 105. I Next the cap and clamping the bar in position by tighten? 'ing the vscrew 118. Thus the face bow isjmount'ed in overlying? spaced; relation to the lower bow member of made for the. details of construction and operatiorij-notv disclosed herein. The washers 72 and ,76' are disposed respectively. in underlying and overlying relation tothe 5 wing 32 of the upper face bowawith their tongues "'74 and 78 slidably fitted in a slot 88. The pin'64 is provided with an'abutrnent in the form of a head 90 axially tapered,

as at 92, and;provided with: an axia lly extending conical the articulator. V x r y The upper; bow member of the articulator'may now be mounted' upon'theafacefbow- This" is accomplished is fshown matching theind'exmark. 75.. Then the hinge parts 34 are spacedequidistantly from the upright lon- Igitudinally extending medialgplane; through the upper I 'bowmernberand-a distance-apartsuitable for acceptance of the. points of the condyle pins by the abutments 90. Thus the rear end of the upper bow member is carried by the 'condyle pins 148. The fore end of the upper bow member is placed upon the extension 164 of the standard 162.

An upper stone model made from a suitable impression is now mounted upon the upper bow member 30 by seating the model upon the fork aforesaid, swinging the upper bow member 30 upwardly and rearwardly, applying plaster to the top of the model, turning the upper bow member 30 back to its initial position and allowing the plaster to harden.

Now a lower stone model made from a suitable impression is mounted upon the lower bow member. This is accomplished by first removing the upper section of the articulator, the face bow and face bow mounting post from the lower section of the articulator. Then the upper and lower sections of the articulator are assembled, using incisal pin 96 and guide 98 to level the upper section 30. Now the whole assembly is turned upside down. Then the lower model is related to the upper model by using a centric relation record. Now the lower section of the articulartor is swung upwardly and rearwardly, plaster is applied to the lower model, 7

,, the lower bow member is turned back to its initial position and the plaster is allowed to harden.

The next step in the procedure is to make clutch trays and ready the same for mounting in the patients mouth. The incisal pin 96 and guide 98 are removed from the articulatonand the guide98 is replaced with clutch tray mounting post 12 0 This is done by fitting the tongue 122 into the slot 100 and by securing the same in position as by screw 124, Now the screws 134 are loosened; the clutch bars 166 projected throungh openings 132, and the screws retightened. Then screw 130 is loosened, cross arrn 126 moved to a suitable height and screw 130 retightened. The trays, designated 168, are now formed in known manner over the stone models and attached to the clutch bars 166.v Then the models are closed on the trays, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, wherein the upper and lower stone models are designated respectively 172 and 174, and the plaster securing the same to the upper and lower articulator sections respectively is designated 176 and 178. The clutch trays, with the clutch bars affixed thereto, are now transferred to the patients mouth, and the trays are cemented in place.

The next step is to locate the center of rotation by using the face bow and to mark the face in known manner. The face bow is then transferred from the lower to the upper clutch bar and a final adjustment is made to all three reference marks on the patients face. The upper clutch bar, upper tray and face bow arenow separated as a unit from the patients teeth, and the lower clutch bar and lower tray are separated as a unit from the patients teeth.

The next step is to remount the upper section of the articulator upon the face bow. Referring particularly to FIGURE 4, this is accomplished by first mounting the face bow post 102 upon the lower bow member of the articulator and clamping the face bow to the post 102 in the manner described hereinbefore. Then the hinge parts 34 of the upper articulator section are turned about their axes so that abutments 90 face outwardly in opposite directions. The hinge parts-are positioned on opposite sides of the upright longitudinally extending medial plane of the upper bow member and at an effective distance apart equal to the clear distance between the opposed points 150 of the condyle pins 148. The condyle pins 148 are forced apart slightly so that the points 150 thereof may pass over the rims of the abutments 90, and then they are released, whereupon the points 150 spring back toward one another and enter respectively the conical depressions 94. The fore end portion of the upper bow member 30 is seated upon the extension 164 of the standard 162.

Now the upper tray 168 is attached to the upper section of the 'articulator.l Then, referring particularly to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the incisal pin 96 and guide 98 are remounted respectively upon the upper and lower sections of the articulator, and the upper section 30 is remounted upon the lower section 10. Now the instrument is turned upside down, as shown in FIGURE 7, and the lower tray 168 is set in correct relation to the upper tray 168 by using a proper stone check. Then the lower bow member 10 is swung upwardly and to the rear, stone, designated 182 is applied to the lower tray, the lower bow member 10 is returned'to its initial position and the stone is allowed to harden, as shown in FIGURES Band 9.

It should be noted that there is no need for the cumbersome auxiliary mounting table mentioned hereinbefore. Instead, the lower bow member 10 fitted with the face bow mounting post 102 is conveniently used. In addition, the points of the'condyle' pins positively inter engage with abutments 90, in consequence of which the weight of the stone does not cause misalignment of the hinge axis extending through the abutments relative to the axis extending between. the opposed points of the condyle pins. The face bow and the upper bow member of the articulator do not move relative to one an other. If they move at all, they move as a unit.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the clutch bars are positively located by the clutch tray mounting post 120 so that they cannot possibly interfere with the incisal pin 96 or guide 98.. No relianceis placed upon the operators good judgment to properly orient the clutch bars 166 relative to the incisal pin 96. The abutments 90 are adapted for operatively coactin'g with a face bow having condyle pins of the pointed type or with condyle pins of the type provided with depressions or sockets in the opposed ends thereof. Finally, the incisal guide 98, face bow mounting post 102 and clutch bar I mounting post 120 are interchangeably mounted upon the lower bow member 30.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 16 to 20, a modified form of the face bow mounting post, generally designated 190, which may be used to advantage in lieu of face bow mounting post 102, comprises lower and head sections, respectively designated 192 and 194, square in transverse section. The lower section 192 is split fore and aft, as at 196, to form laterally spaced furcations 198. The'upper section 194 is undercut to form a pair of shoulders 200 respectively on opposite sides of a tongue 202 extending downwardly between the furcations 198. Extending freely through one of the furcations 198' or aft. The head section 194 is provided with .an opening" 210 extending fore and aft therethrough. A screw 212 having a knurled head 214 is threaded into the head section 194 and is adapted to enter the opening 210 from one side thereof. The lower end portion of the section 192 is undercut to provide a shoulder 216 and a cylindrical element 218 depending therefrom. The diameter of the element 218 is slightly less than the width of the slot formed in the fore end portion of the lower bow member. Threaded into the element 218 is a screw 220 provided with a head 222.

Referring particularly to FIGURES; 19 and 20, the face bow mounting post 190 is shown mountedupon the fore end of the lower bow member. The element 218 is slidably fitted into the slot 100 and the shoulder 2 16 is seated'upon' the upper surface of the lower bow member. The ,post is adjustably afiixed in position by the screw 220; The clutch bar 166 is slidably projected through the opening 210 and secured by; the screw 212. It will be observed that the'clutch tray 16S, clutch bar 166' and face bow 136 may be tilted as a unit lvertically fore and aft by loosening the screw 204,, tilting the head section 194 to the desired degree relative to the lowerbow member and then retightening the screw 204. In addition, the clutch tray 168, clutch bar 166. and face bow 136 may be swung laterally to the rightor-to the left as a unit by loosening the screw 220, turning, the post aboutitslongitudinal axis to the desired degree and thenretightening the screw 220.

Furthermore, the clutch tray. 16%, clutch bar 166 and face bow 136' may be tilted laterally as a unit vertically by loosening the screw 212, turning the bar 166 about its axis to the desired degree and then retightening the screw 212. Thus universal type adjustment of the face bow relative tothe lower bow member is achieved.

It will beunderstood, of course, that the present in vention, as shown and described, is susceptible to various changes and modifications which may be made without any departure from the general principles of the inven-' tion; Accordingly, it is intended to claim the present in- V ventio'n broadly, as well as specifically, as, indicated in the appended claims. a

What is claimed is: 1. In apparatus for use in dental prosthesis, the lower bow member of a dental articulator, the upper bow member of a dental articulator, and means mounting said members in mutually overlying relation including laterally spaced corresponding hinge parts mounted at the rear of facing'away from'one another along a hinge axis common to saidhinge parts, an upright post mounted upon the fore end'of said lower bow member, a clamp carried by said post, and a dental face bow afiixed to said post by means of said clamp and extending rearwardly therefrom, said face bow including opposed condyle pins, said upper bow member being mounted upon said face bow with the opposed condyle pins of said face bow received respectively by said abutments,-the ends of said condyle cross arm and re'ceiving,and holding saidpair of bars, 7

said upper bow member and having undersurfaces simulating the condyle paths in the natural skull and abutments pins being thereby positioned inregistry with said hinge axis and with the fore part of said face bow underlying the fore end of said upper bow member, said upper bow member being thereby mounted for swinging movement upwardly and rearwardly about said hinge axis.

2. The combination comprising a dental articular ineluding a lower bowmember, an upper bow member, means for mounting saidmembers in mutually overlying relation, a post detachably afiixed to, and extending up wardly from, the fore end portion of said lower member, a vertically adjustable cross arm carried by said post, a

pair of bars respectively at opposite ends of said cross arm extending rearwardly from said post at different levels, vertically spaced clamp means carried by said and clutch trays carried'by said bars. r p References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Spence f Sept. 4, 1962

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN DENTAL PROSTHESIS, THE LOWER BOW MEMBER OF A DENTAL ARTICULATOR, THE UPPER BOW MEMBER OF A DENTAL ARTICULATOR, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID MEMBERS IN MUTUALLY OVERLYING RELATION INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED CORRESPONDING HINGE PARTS MOUNTED AT THE REAR OF SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER AND HAVING UNDERSURFACES SIMULATING THE CONDYLE PATHS IN THE NATURAL SKULL AND ABUTMENS FACING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG A HINGE AXIS COMMON TO SAID HINGE PARTS, AN UPRIGHT POST MOUNTED UPON THE FORE END OF SAID LOWER BOW MEMBER, A CLAMP CARRIED BY SAID POST, AND A DENTAL FACE BOW AFFIXED TO SAID POST BY MEANS OF SAID CLAMP AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID FACE BOW INCLUDING OPPOSED CONDYLE PINS, SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER BEING MOUNTED UPON SAID FACE BOW WITH THE OPPOSED CONDYLE PINS OF SAID FACE BOW RECEIVED RESPECTIVELY BY SAID ABUTMENTS, THE ENDS OF SAID CONDYLE PINS BEING THEREBY POSITIONED IN REGISTRY WITH SAID HINGE AXIS AND WITH THE FORE PART OF SAID FACE BOW UNDERLYING THE FORE END OF SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER, SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER BEING THEREBY MOUNTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY ABOUT SAID HINGE AXIS.