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US 4,209,905 AGranted
Denture retention
AssigneeThe University of Sydney
InventorBarrie R. D. Gillings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of retaining dentures in position by use of magnets. A first magnet element is mounted to a support associated with a person's jawbone, such magnet element being exposed at or above the gingival margin of the person's gum, and a second magnet element is located in the denture. The second magnet element aligns with and abuts the first magnet element when the denture is fitted to the patient. Retention is achieved by way of magnetic attraction between the first and second magnet elements, one at least of which is a magnet that exhibits a magnetic field.
Claims18
A method of retaining a denture in place, the method comprising:
- mounting a first magnet element to a support associated with a person's jawbone, the first magnet element having a generally horizontal surface portion thereof exposed adjacent the gingival margin of the person's gum,
- locating a second magnet element in a denture to be worn by the person, the second magnet element having a generally horizontal surface portion thereof exposed to contact the exposed surface portion of the first magnet element when the denture is fitted to the person and the surface portions of the two magnet elements being magnetically attractive, and
- locating the denture in the person's mouth in a position such that the second magnet element is located to align substantially vertically with the first magnet element and such that said surface portions of the first and second magnet elements abut when the denture is fitted to the person.
A method of retaining a denture in place, the method comprising:
- mounting to a support associated with a person's jawbone a first magnet element, in the form of a magnetisable keeper element, in such a manner as to expose a generally horizontal surface portion thereof adjacent the gingival margin of the person's gum,
- locating in a denture to be worn by the person, a second magnet element in the form of a U-shaped magnet, having spaced-apart pole faces disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, while exposing the pole faces to enable contact with the exposed surface portion of the first magnet element and to form a closed magnetic circuit therewith when the denture is fitted to the person, and
- locating the denture in the person's mouth in a position where the second magnet element is aligned substantially vertically with the first magnet element and such that the pole faces of the second magnet element abut the exposed surface portion of the first magnet element when the denture is fitted to the person.
A method of fitting a denture to a patient and which comprises the steps of:
- mounting to a support associated with the patient's jawbone, a first magnet element in the form of a magnetisable keeper having a geneally horizontal surface portion thereof exposed adjacent the gingival margin of the patient's gum,
- forming a denture to suit the patient,
- locating in the denture a second magnet element in the form of a U-shaped magnet having spaced-apart pole faces disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and exposed to contact the exposed surface portion of the first magnet element and to form a closed magnetic circuit therewith when the denture is fitted to the patient, and
- locating the denture in the patient's mouth in a position where the second magnet element is aligned substantially vertically with the first magnet element and the pole faces of the second magnet element abut the exposed surface portion of the first magnet element.
1 more element
A denture comprising
- a base having a gum tissue conforming surface,
- artificial teeth mounted to the base, and
- at least one magnet element located in the base,
- the magnet element comprising a U-shaped magnet having spaced-apart pole faces, the pole faces being disposed in a common plane and being both exposed at the gum tissue conforming surface of the base,
- the pole faces of the magnet element having a total effective area not greater than the cross-sectional area of a single decoronated tooth with which the magnet aligns when the denture is fitted to a wearer.
2 more elements
A dental fitting, comprising
- a first magnet element mounted on a support associated with one member of a person's jawbone and having a generally horizontal surface portion exposed adjacent the gingival margin of the person's gum,
- a second magnet element in a denture worn by the person on the same member of the jawbone and facing said first magnet element, said second magnet element having a generally horizontal surface portion exposed to and in contact with the surface portion of the first magnet element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.