Notched pontic and system for fabricating dental appliance for use therewith
AssigneeDentsply Research & Development Corp.
InventorsDann Schwartz, John Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pontic (10) having a prefabricated notch, channel or slot (11) to physically engage and ensure a secure mechanical lock with the dental appliance (30). The invention also pertains to a method of fabricating a dental appliance (30) and a kit for facilitating the same. The invention has particular application to thermoformed, removable appliances.
Claims10
A thermoformed dental appliance constructed by making an impression of a patient's dentition, constructing a dental impression cast from said impression, providing a pontic having a notch pre-formed therein and fitting same to the edentulous area of the cast, temporarily adhering the pontic to the cast, thermoforming a plastic sheet over the cast to form the appliance, while allowing the pontic to dislodge from the cast and mechanically lock into the appliance.
The method of constructing a dental appliance incorporating a pontic, comprising the steps of:
- a) making an impression of a patient's dentition;
- b) constructing a dental impression cast from said impression;
- c) providing a pontic having a notch pre-formed therein and fitting same to the edentulous area of the cast, temporarily adhering the pontic to the cast;
- d) thermoforming a plastic sheet over the cast to form the appliance, while allowing the pontic to dislodge from the cast and mechanically lock into the appliance.
A pontic having a notch formed therein during manufacture.
The method of manufacturing a pontic comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an injection mold having a cavity for forming said pontic;
- b) providing notch forming means in associated with said injection mold;
- c) injecting thermoplastic into said mold and allowing same to cure, so as to form a pontic having a notch formed therein.
The method of building a dental bridge incorporating a pontic, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a plurality of pontics of various sizes, shapes and colors;
- b) forming a mounting notch in each of said pontics in one or more locations on said pontic, providing a variety of pontics having mounting notches formed therein;
- c) providing said pontics to a dental caregiver so as to provide said dental caregiver with a greater selection so that the dental caregiver has a greater statistical probability of utilizing a pontic comprising a satisfactory match to the patients teeth, with nominal customization and no notch preparation required.
A kit for fabricating a dental appliance having at least one pontic affixed thereto, comprising a plurality of pontics of various size, shape, color, hue, brightness or combinations thereof;
- each said pontic of said plurality having a notch in one or more locations thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.