US3886659A

US3886659A - Pad for artificial teeth

Info

Publication number: US3886659A
Application number: US481342A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton F Reifke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-06-20
Filing date: 1974-06-20
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

A pad for artificial teeth which is disposed between a dental plate (either upper or lower) and the gum of the user to hold the plate in proper secure position without discomfort. Two pads can be used when a complete set of artificial teeth is required. The pad is a thin soft flexible cushion of material which does not irritate mucous tissues and has a plurality of spaced indentations or recesses in each of the two opposite major surfaces. The recesses in one surface are out of alignment with the recesses in the other surface and act as suction cups.

Description

United States Patent Reifke PAD FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock 57 ABSTRACT A pad for artificial teeth which is disposed between a dental plate (either upper or lower) and the gum of the user to hold the plate in proper secure position without discomfort. Two pads can be used when a complete set of artificial teeth is required. The pad is a thin soft flexible cushion of material which does not irritate mucous tissues and has a plurality of spaced indentations or recesses in each of the two opposite major surfaces. The recesses in one surface are out of alignment with the recesses in the other surface and act as suction cups.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 3 ms FIG. 2.

FIG. 3

was

1 PAD FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed toward pads for artificial teeth which when the teeth are inserted in the mouth for use are disposed between the dental plate and the gum to hold the plate in proper secure position without discomfort. These pads can be used with either upper or lower plates or both.

In accordance with the invention, each pad is a thin soft flexible cushion formed of a material which does not irritate the mucous tissue. Each of the two opposite major surfaces of the pad, which are in contact with gum and plate respectively, is provided with suction producing means. This means takes the form of spaced indentations or recesses which, when the plate is pressed into position against the gum, produce a suction action.

The pad thus eliminates the otherwise direct contact between the hard surface of the plate and the delicate gum tissue. The soft cushioning action preserves healthy tissue. The natural adherent qualities of the partial vacuum formed by the pressure of insertion, i.e. the compression, are substantially in excess of any other type of pad known to the inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a first pad is disposed between an upper gum 12 of the mouth and an upper plate 14 and a second pad 10 is disposed between a lower gum 16 of the mouth and a lower plate 18.

Each pad forms a thin soft cushion which is flexible and non irritating to the gums. For example. the cushion can be formed of pure gum rubber, suitable plastics or other materials.

Each major surface of each pad is provided with a plurality of closely spaced .recesses or indentations. The recesses 20 in one surface are out of alignment with the recesses 22 in the other surface. The pad must be as thin as possible yet must provide sufficient suction. To this end the depth of the recesses can approach one half the thickness of the pad and unless the non alignment of recesses is maintained, the thickness of the pad cannot be minimized.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

I claim:

l. A pad for artificial dentures which is formed from a material which does not irritate mucous tissues and which defines a thin soft flexible cushion having first and second opposite major surfaces for detachably but securably engaging a dental plate of a user to an adjacent gum to enable the user to wear the plate in proper manner without discomfort, the first surface having a plurality of small spaced recesses which act as suction cups and secure the first surface to the adjacent gum by forces of suction alone, the second surface having another plurality of small spaced recesses which act as suction cups and secure the second surface to the adjacent plate by forces of suction alone, the open ends of all recesses being flush with the main surfaces containing same.

2. The pad of claim 1 wherein the recesses in one surface are out of alignment with corresponding recesses in the opposite surface.

3. The pad of claim 2 wherein the depth of each recess approaches half the thickness of the cushion.

Claims

1. A pad for artificial dentures which is formed from a material which does not irritate mucous tissues and which defines a thin soft flexible cushion having first and second opposite major surfaces for detachably but securably engaging a dental plate of a user to an adjacent gum to enable the user to wear the plate in proper manner without discomfort, the first surface having a Plurality of small spaced recesses which act as suction cups and secure the first surface to the adjacent gum by forces of suction alone, the second surface having another plurality of small spaced recesses which act as suction cups and secure the second surface to the adjacent plate by forces of suction alone, the open ends of all recesses being flush with the main surfaces containing same.