Dentures and process for making the same

Abstract

A denture comprising teeth consisting essentially of hard non-hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer imbedded in and chemically bonded to a gum member consisting essentially of soft non-hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer is prepared from a model assembly consisting of a wax replicate denture (artificial teeth imbedded in a wax pattern) mounted on a mouth model which assembly is usually provided by a dentist or dental technician after a series of dental impressions, bites, and trials with the patient. A female mold is prepared from the model assembly having a cavity conforming to the wax replicate denture which, together with the mouth model after the wax replicate denture has been removed, forms a denture mold. The hard non-hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer teeth are first cast in the cavity of the mold. The casting is then removed and trimmed of its flash down to the gum line to delineate the shape of that portion of the teeth to be imbedded in the gum portion of the denture and replaced in the mold. The gum portion of soft non-hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer is then cast in and around the teeth with the mouth model in place, thereby forming a denture having exactly the same shape and configuration of the wax replicate denture originally provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.