US3413721A - Denture improvement - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1968 s. c. PICKERING DENTURE IMPROVEMENT Filed Aug. 16, 1965 INVENTOR.

Y mm M MA ES Hf T S 3,413,721 DENTURE IMPROVEMENT Stephen C. Pickering, 1627 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,776 2 Claims. (Cl. 32-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention provides dentures wherein artificial tooth elements are resiliently mounted, in elastomeric jackets, within suitable receptacles mounted to and recessed in denture bases or plates The tooth elements are articulatively anchored to the receptacles for retention purposes and also for predetermining maximum extension of the tooth elements from their respective receptacles, and this without deterring both vertical and lateral, full circle adjustment of individual tooth elements during occlusion. The individual tooth elements can comprise a tooth veneer and a base filler means which are themselves releasably secured together for purposes hereinafter delineated.

The present invention relates to dentures both full and partial and, more particularly, to a new and improved denture wherein the tooth elements thereof are easily replaceable and are resiliently mounted, this to obtain certain advantages hereinafter detailed.

The structural design of dentures has changed little over the years of modern denistry. Tooth elements are conventionally molded solidly into the acrylic base of the denture being formed.

There has been recognized in the profession the desirability of duplicating, as far as possible, correct centric occlusion, vertical dimension, and otherwise provide a complement of teeth in the edentulous or partially edentulous oral cavity, to best fit the tissues of the patient and bring a natural feeling through denture wearing.

Many devices and methods have been developed in the profession to measure centric and vertical dimension so as to bring the mandible and maxilla into correct relationship with each other. However, there is still present the high prospect of error in these measurements, and no way for the patient to reach a comfortable vertical mesurement; and as a result, there results excessive bite forces or pressures at non-fitting tooth areas. Also, a very minute error in occlusion, vertical dimension, or both, results in deleterious movements of the upper and lower denture bases over the tissues of the oral cavity, producing soreness in the oral tissues This is because of the fact that the ordinary denture base is solid and the base and dentitions of rigid construction.

The inventor has conceived that many problems relating either to malfitting or to rigidity in denture structure can be overcome by employing a resilient tooth structure which both provides the feel of natural teeth, allows for slight adjustment of occlusion and vertical dimension and, additionally, permits easy and rapid substitution of tooth elements without forming new denture bases. Due to the stresses of mastication being absorbed in the individual resilient teeth, denture bases then have a better chance of remaining in one position and dislodgement from side-to-side is nil. This elimination of movement of the denture bases upon the oral tissues assures the patient a healthier oral cavity, free of soreness and hypertrophied tissues.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structure for dentures.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide an individual posterior tooth structure unit renited States Patent Patented Dec. 3, 1968 quired with present laboratory procedures for try-in-purposes.

An additional object is to provide a denture structure wherein the tooth elements mounted therein are slightly adjustable, through resiliency of the mountings, during occlusion; this movement brings about a natural feeling.

An additional object is to provide a denture wherein tooth elements are easily replaceable.

An additional object is to provide a denture enabling occlusion adjustment in a natural way through resilient mounting of teeth to their base fittings.

An additional object is to provide tooth-mounting structures which area easily assemblable, disassemblable, and replaceable as needed.

A further object is to provide a denture which can be easily worked in a laboratory in a minimum of time to replace tooth elements and their mounts, and place a new neoprene or rubber unit to restore resiliency to the tooth unit.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a representative artificial dentition assembly or tooth means utilizable in practicing the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1, with the denture base being shown in phantom lines for clarity of detail.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view in an enlarged scale with reference to FIGURE 2 of a ring member which is preferably incorporated in the tooth veneer structure in practicing the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan of the receptacle member used in the dentition assembly of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a representative half of an elevation, shown in section, of certain laboratory structure and materials in forming the denture.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the completed denture incorporating the resiliently mounted dentition assembly as fully disclosed herein.

While it will be understood that the present invention is applicable to the fabrication of both upper and lower dentures, either full or partial, for convenience of explanation and clarity of understanding the invention the same will be described in terms of an entirely edentulous oral condition.

First, of course, the teeth are extracted and the gingival tissue sutured in place and allowed to heal. An alginate impression is then taken of the edentulous areas, and from the impression dental stone positives are poured. These take the form of the persons upper and lower aws.

From the dental stones respective bite blocks are made up. These are fabricated from well-known plastic materials which are heated and pressed over the dental stone models to assume the configuration of the latter. Subsequently, a thickness of wax is caused to adhere to the outer surface of the plastic to form a soft, denturereceiving portion of the bite block concerned.

Both bite blocks are taken to the patients mouth and suitably fitted through trimming of the wax, and this done in such a manner that a proper vertical or vertical dimension is maintained. (This vertical is usually determiied by a predetermined desired vertical distance between, say, the tip of the patients nose and a selected point on his chin.) Additionally, through proper fitting an appropriate centric relationship between the two bite blocks is also achieved during this fitting.

The bite blocks are then removed from the patients mouth in one piece (i.e. with the two wax surfaces being adhered together), and the same reinstalled on their dental stones and are inserted into a conventional hinged articulator, with the wax bite blocks being maintained together in their adhered condition. The dental stones are caused to adhere to the upper and lower plates or portions of the articulator through a suitable type of plaster adherence agent. When this plaster has set up, then the upper and lower bite blocks are separated. They can be moved apart and yet caused to approach each other through the conventional hinged movement of the articulator.

The bite blocks are left in the articulator, the latter is opened, and the front teeth including the cuspids are installed in the wax in a conventional manner. For such installation a heated spatula is ordinarily used. At this time the technician is prepared to install the posterior teeth which will include the molars and the bicuspids. At this point it is to be observed that it is very much preferred for the posterior teeth to enjoy a spaced relationship with respect to each other. This prevents food from matting on the masticating surfaces were the teeth to assume a contiguous relationship. Further, separation of the teeth enables automatic anterior and posterior adjustments of the teeth of the present invention as may be needed for correct centric occlusion.

Dentition or tooth assembly includes a respective tooth veneer 11, a receptacle 12, resilient elastomeric jacket 13, filler means 14, stem member 15, and cap 16.

Specifically, receptacle 12 is provided with a cylindrical body portion 18 and a flange portion 19 which is formed downwardly at 20. Upstanding from the bottom 21 of receptacle 12 is a retainer 22 comprising a T-bar type retainer portion 23 and a shank 24. Resilient jacket 13 is secured to filler means 14 by means of dipping, by pressfit, or by using an epoxy glue or other type of cementitious agent. Filler means 14 itself is comprised of suitable rigid thermo-setting or other plastic. Molded into filler means 14 is the stem member which is suitably retained in place by protuberances 25. Tooth veneer 11 is provided with an annular seat 26 for receiving O-ring neoprene seal 27. The tooth veneer itself is shown to include a tooth member 28 and the cap 16. The latter includes depending boss 29 having undercut slot 30 for receiving the T-bar head 31 of stem member 15. The upper surface 32 of cap 16 also includes small detents 33 which are diametrically opposed, see FIGURE 1, and which are constructed for receiving a spanner wrench, for rotation purposes. The combination of resilient jacket 13 and filler means 14 is such, see FIGURE 2, that retainer portion 23 of receptacle 12 is easily inserted through jacket recess aperture A into filler means 14 and the latter twisted, say 90, so that a releasable retention, by retainer member 23 and space S as an anchoring means, is enjoyed by the combination of filler means 14 and resilient jacket 13. The space S is preferably configured to allow for maximum compression of the resilient jacket at base portion J thereof. In construction of the tooth veneer used, it is preferred that the same include a ring 35, see also FIGURE 3, which includes arcuate inclined surfaces 36 and 37, shoulders 38 and 39, terminal portions 40 and 41, and detent recesses 42 and 43. The latter accommodate depending protuberances 44 and 45 of cap 16. FIGURE 5, finally, illustrates in plan the structure of the receptacle 12. As seen in FIGURE 2, space preferably exists between shank 24 and the surrounding wall of the filler means 14 to further accommodate articulative lateral movement of the composite tooth, relative to the base, thereby permitting the tooth to adjust during bite in lateral as well as vertical directions.

It should be kept in mind that the dentition assembly 10 serves as a unit and will preferably be molmwd on an appropriate card for retrieval in the dentists or technicians oflice.

In returning now to a consideration of the practice of the invention it will be recalled that the bite blocks have been previously secured in the articulator and the front teeth including the cuspids installed in the wax portions of the two bite blocks. At this point the dentition assemblies simulating the posterior teeth are next installed in the bite blocks, this by using a heated spatula in the usual manner of inserting artificial teeth into the Wax of the bite block. The dentition assemblies or artificial teeth are inserted into the wax until the lower surfaces S of receptacle 12 come in contact therewith.

Once all of the posterior teeth have been inserted in both bite blocks, then the bite blocks are removed from the articulator, i.e. are released from the stone models, and adjusted in the patients mouth for the proper vertical and for proper occlusion. Once this is completed then the bite blocks are returned to the articulator and reinstalled on the stone models.

At this point the wax portions of the bite blocks are contoured by the technicians so that they will simulate as nearly as possible the gingival tissue of the patient.

We arrive now at the point wherein the technician removes the bite blocks with the dental stones from the articulator and gently removes the posterior dentition assemblies 10 from the mockup. This must be done carefully so as not to disturb the setting of the various receptacles 12 in the wax. This is done by the technician using a spanner wrench, for example, and rotationally displacing the cap 16 in a clockwise direction, looking down. It will be noted that this produces a disengagement of protuberances 44 and 45 from detent recesses 42 and 43 so that the former slide down the inclined planes 36 and 37. Such releases the holding action of boss 29 upon the lower surface of retainer portion 31 of the stem 15 and, correspondingly, effects a realignment of the stem with respect to slot Y so that there can be effected a disengagement of cap 16 from the retainer portion 31 of stem 15.

At this point the cap is easily disengaged from stem member 15 and removed from the structure. This enables the tooth veneers 11 in their entirety to be removed from the assembly. Subsequently the filler means 14 with its resilient jacket 13 can also be removed. It will be recalled that these two are preferably adhered together and that sufficient clearance or non-friction quality is provided between the surfaces of the resilient jacket and receptacle 12 so that the filler means 14 for this jacket is easily removed from the receptacle.

In the above manner all of the tooth assemblies will be removed, leaving only their receptacles 12 in place in the wax.

At this point the technician installs cylindrical members 52; these are appropriately contoured at 53 to receive and lock in place the respective retainer portions 23 in a manner similar to that performed with reference to filler means 14. Members 52 will preferably have a low coefiicient of thermal expansion so that the application of heat thereto will not materially alter its transverse periphery.

The dentures are next processed separately by putting a selected one of the same into a conventional flask F. Once inserted in the flask a quantity of white plaster 55 is inserted therein and adheres to dental stone DS, its upper surface level being at 56. Subsequently, a conventional separating medium 57 is placed on the set plaster 56. Additional white plaster at 58 is inserted into the flask and this latter plaster assumes a level at 59 which engages the serrated pins 60 associated with members 52.

At this point the flask is heated so as to soften the wax at W. Then the flask is opened and the wax removed in the conventional manner; additionally, the denture is completely freed of wax through the use of conventional solvents. Of course, this will be accompanied by the removal of the remainder of the bite block. At this point the acrylic will be poured or otherwise placed into the wax void and formed therein in a conventional manner, and the flask closed. Repeated closings and workings may be necessary in order to minimize flashing, bubbles, and so forth.

When flash has been reduced as necessary, the flask is clamped and heated to a high degree in order to subject the acrylic bore to its final cure. It is to be noted that were the dentition veneers and the remaining parts of the assembly to remain in the assemblies then the final curing of the acrylic would damage the O-ring seal and also a resilient neoprene jacket 13. This is precluded in the present invention; yet, relative positioning of the dentitions maintained through the use of member(s) 52 in FIG- URE 6.

The denture is finally removed from the fiask and finished in the usual manner. The posterior dentition assemblies will be reinstalled in their receptacles in the manner shown in FIGURE 2 so that the denture will appear as indicated in FIGURE 7. The denture is now ready for final fitting in the patients mouth.

It is to be noted in the present invention that the spacing of the posterior teeth and the inclusion of resilient jacket 13 provides for light adjustments of the teeth during occlusion so that the proper bite is maintained. Other advantages reside in the tendency toward preclusion of movement of the denture bases during occlusion and a resulting preservation of the health of oral tissues. It is noted that the tooth veneer 11 can be easily replaced by mere removal of cap 16 in the manner heretofore indicated and replacement of a veneer in the above described manner; further, tooth adjustment during Occlusion can be accommodated along a 360 circle. The resilient jacket 13 and O-ring 27 can be easily replaced as needed through wear.

It is finally to be observed that the posterior teeth can be replaced as needed without the necessity of reforming the denture base.

Additionally, the vertical of the patient can be adjusted through the use of veneers of varying thicknesses at 11.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A denture including, in combination, a base contoured to fit the jaw of a wearer, said base being provided with a tooth receptacle; a resilient, elastomeric jacket disposed Within said receptacle and having a base portion anchoring means access aperture; artificial tooth means fittingly disposed Within said resilient jacket, said tooth means and base being provided with mutually cooperating articulative anchoring means for articulatively anchoring said tooth means to said base and vertical and horizontal adjustment means to permit the disposition of said tooth means to adjust in both vertical and lateral, full-circle directions under bite pressure, against the resiliency of said resilient jacket, said anchoring means being disposed through said access aperture, said resilient elastomeric jacket positioned in abutting relationship with the bottom and said walls of said tooth receptacle.

2. A denture including, in combination, a base contoured to fit the jaw of a wearer, said base being provided with a tooth receptacle; a resilient, elastomeric jacket disposed within said receptacle and having a base portion anchoring means access aperture; artificial tooth means fittingly disposed Within said resilient jacket, said tooth means and base being provided with mutually cooperating anchoring means for articulatively anchoring said tooth means to said base to permit the disposition of said tooth means to adjust in both vertical and lateral, full-circle directions under bite pressure, against the resiliency of said resilient jacket, said anchoring means being disposed through said access aperture, said resilient elastomeric jacket positioned in abutting relationship with the bottom and side walls of said tooth receptacle; said tooth means including filler means disposed within and contiguous with said resilient jacket and twistably releasably anchored to said receptacle, and a tooth veneer having a working surface disposed exterior of said base, said filler means and said tooth veneer including mutually interco-operable means for mutually releasably securing said tooth veneer to said filler means after said filler means is releasably anchored to said receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,565 6/1897 Carr 325 744,291 11/1903 Carr 32--5 1,105,476 7/1914 Withycombe 322 XR 1,219,019 3/1917 Magnus 322 1,333,007 3/1920 Withycombe 322 XR 2,187,426 1/ 1940 Kuhnel 24221 2,291,975 8/ 1942 Minero 24-221 XR 2,574,810 11/1951 Baumgardner 32-2 2,577,769 12/1951 Kane 322 2,641,802 6/1953 Grant 322 XR 2,799,932 7 1957 Lester 32--2 2,880,508 4/1959 Lester 322 3,343,262 9/1967 Burg 322 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

Images