US909038A - Dental plate. - Google Patents

Description

B. TBLLE. DENTAL PLATE. AIiPLIOATIOIi FILED JUIE 24, 190B.

THE Nomus PETERS co, vusuma'rom-mc.

Patanted Jan. 5, 1909.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN Tanner NEW oaraaus, LOUISIANA.

ar e Hera- Specification of Letters rat nt.

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Original application filed March 26, 1908 Serial No. 423,341. Divided and this applicatiqn filed June 24, 1908.

Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN TELLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Plates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in dental plates, and it consists primarily in providing a thin and more or less flexible plate proper, which is fitted to the shape of the mouth of the prospective wearer, and to which the teeth are si bsequently attached, after the fitting referred to, Q S will be hereinafter more fully described.

This application is a division of my application for the hereindescribed method, filed March 26, 1908, Serial No. 423,841, entitled Dental plates and methods of manufacturing same, allowed June 8,1908.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the severalviews.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate adapted to carry a full set of teeth, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail showing a portion of the plate before the teeth are attached. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the wax pattern carrying the teeth. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the segment carrying the teeth before it is attached to the plate proper. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the teeth segment attached to the plate, and the whole ready for use.

A represents the plate proper, which is preferably made of thin flexible celluloid or other suitable material, which plate is fitted to the mouth of the wearer, before the segment carrying the teeth is connected thereto.

In the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the plate A. is provided with a diaphragm a, fitted snugly to the roof of the mouth, and provided with corrugations a to fit protrusions in the mouth with flange a to go over the side of the gums, and with the recess a to fit loosely over the gums, and the said diaphragm a fitting snugly up against the wall of the mouth as above stated. A suction chamber a may or may not be provided and frequently such chamber will not be needed. The plate is preferably constructed in the following manner Q A good east of the mouth is obtained, a goodcellul oid plate is made in any well known nd suitable manner, which has, when fitted in position, a slight clearance over the various bumps, ridges or other projections in the mouth and thus not only insures a comfortable fit, but also prov des such a close fit, except over the bumps or ridges aforesaid, as to do away the necessity in many instances of a suct on chamber, such as shown in a" Fig. 1 "In fact the clearance over the bumps or ridges will in effect constitute a series of suction chambers. It will be noted that the celluloid plate so'formed is thin and more or less elastic, and can be more readily and accurately adjusted to the month before the teeth are applied to the plate than afterwards. The plate being so formed,trimmed, and adjusted to the mouth the segment of segments bearing the teeth are prepared and applied, as will'now be described.

Where a full set of teeth are to be sup.- plied, it will be more convenient to make the teeth segment as a single piece to be af terwards fitted to the v united thereto, as will e hereinafter described; while where scattered teeth are to be used, it would be preferable to construct a plurality of teeth segments, each segment to be fitted to the plate separately and to be united thereto, as will be hereinafter described. Similarly also new teeth segments maybe added to an otherwise already manufactured plate.

In order to construct a tooth segment, the teeth are mounted in wax inlaid with tin foil, as shown in Fig. 3, where G represents the tooth, E represents the wax, and F represents the tin foil. This wax with the tin foil is snugly fitted to the plate, and the arrangement of the teeth is provided for in the well-known way known to dentists as getting the bite. This is done by attaching wax or other suitable plastic material to the plate A, which is put in the patients mouth, and an impression of the opposite teeth is secured. The reproduction of the print secured by this impress, together with the plate, are put in an articulator, the wax is removed from the plate after it has been adjusted in the articulator, and the teeth are then fitted to the plate in the usual way,

late proper, and

with Wax mounted on tin foil, to prevent adhesion. The teeth so fitted are removed from the plate and put in a flask, the wax is boiled out, and celluloid is substituted therefor, under heat and pressure, as before stated. The completed tooth segment is shown in section, in Fig. 4, Where G represents one of the teeth, and B represents the celluloid holding the teeth. There is thus formed a segment bearing. the teeth, which is to be attached to the plate proper, as will be hereinafter described. The teeth on this segment are finished up, and the celluloid surface at their base fits snugly against the outer surface of the plate, and the two are cemented together by using a solution of celluloid, which dissolves the faces of the walls of the plate and tooth segment. This dissolved section on solidifying again, forms a weld, so that the two become in effect an integral structure, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be obvious that two or more segments can be applied to the same plate at the same time or at dilferent times, and thus the plate already made may have additional tooth segments attached to provide for changes, owing to subsequent loss or breaking of teeth, in the mouth of the wearer. Thus it is possible to prepare additional teeth to be afiixed to an old plate, or a plain segment to natural teeth requiring it; and to accurately apply the same without necessitating the surrendering of the plate by the wearer for more than a few minutes at a time.

By making the plate proper thin and more or less flexible, with clearance over the bumps or ridges of the mouth, it is possible to get a very close, snug, and at the same time comfortable fit, and the plate being so thin, takes up very little room in the mouth;

while the celluloid being tough and flexible, does not tend to crack or break oflt like the vulcanized rubber plates, which are so much in use.

While I have described celluloid as the preferable material for use in the manufacture of the plate and tooth segments, for

reasons already stated, it will be obvious that any other suitable material may be adopted, and any other suitable cement for joining the two parts together may be used if desired.

It will be obvious that the process of forming and adjusting the plate and the toothsegment or segments may be varied in many ways, according to the skill of and the facilities available to the operator.

The hereindescribed method of fitting the plate to and securing it in the mouth is especially suited for what are technically known as difficult mouths, which as a rule may be comfortably and accurately fitted, as hereinbefore described.

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

A dental plate comprising a thin plate portion of tough elastic material fitted to the mouth of the patient, and a tooth segment of similar material carrying one or more teeth and cemented to the plate portion by means of a vaporizable solvent for the adjacent parts, whereby the two are welded together after the solvent has dried out, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

- EDWIN TELLE.

WVitnesses:

B. Y. lVoLF, R0131. P. UPTON.

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