US 2001/0036618 A1 · Quadrant and anterior dental shells and method of making a multi-tooth crown or bridge

Abstract

A quadrant and/or anterior shell for making a bridge or multi-tooth crown includes a plurality of integrally formed shell segments. Each shell segment corresponds to a different tooth in the respective quadrant and/or anterior region. Each shell has an occlusal surface, formed on a top wall, that replicates the occlusal surface of a natural tooth. A method of forming bridges or crowns using such shells includes selecting or sectioning off an appropriate section of the shell. The selected shell section is filled with resin. The shell section is positioned over prepared teeth, and, in the case of a bridge, also over a gap in the patient's dentition. Resin extrudes from mesio-distal sides and gingival margins of the shell section to form good proximal and gingival contacts. Once the resin has set, the resin and shell section are shaped to form the final crown or bridge.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A multi-tooth shell for making a temporary or semi-permanent bridge or multi-tooth crown, comprising:

a plurality of shell segments, wherein each shell segment has an external shape that corresponds to a different tooth and comprises
a top wall defining an occlusal surface, said occlusal surface configured to approximate the occlusal surface of a natural tooth,
a buccal sidewall, and
a lingual sidewall spaced apart from the buccal sidewall;
opposite mesio-distal sides, one on each end shell segment;
and
a central cavity defined by inner surfaces of the top wall, buccal sidewall, and lingual sidewall, said cavity configured to receive resin and to fit over one or more prepared teeth.

4 more elements

A method of preparing a bridge to replace one or more missing teeth, comprising:

selecting a multi-tooth shell corresponding to an area of a patient's mouth containing a gap created by one or more missing teeth, the multi-tooth shell having a desired shell section adapted to cover one or more abutment teeth and the gap;
filling the desired shell section with a quantity of resin;
placing the resin-filled shell section into the patient's mouth onto one or more abutment teeth and over the gap;
allowing the resin to at least partially cure to form a bridge before removing the bridge from the patient's mouth;
adjusting the bridge as necessary to cause it to fit comfortably within the patient's dentition;
and
securing the adjusted bridge in the patient's mouth.

4 more elements

A method of preparing a temporary or semi-permanent crown for multiple teeth, comprising:

selecting a multi-tooth shell having a desired shell section corresponding to two or more teeth to be temporized;
preparing the teeth to be temporized;
filling the desired shell section with a quantity of resin;
placing the resin-filled shell section into the patient's mouth onto the prepared teeth;
allowing the resin to at least partially cure to form a multi-tooth crown before removing the crown from the patient's mouth;
adjusting the crown as necessary to cause it to fit comfortably within the patient's dentition;
and
securing the adjusted crown onto the prepared teeth.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Quadrant and anterior dental shells and method of making a multi-tooth crown or bridge

Life of this patent

Quadrant and anterior dental shells and method of making a multi-tooth crown or bridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25