Radiographic depth gauge
OwnerDavid A. Gelbinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiographic depth gauge for precisely positioning dental implants in a jaw bone. The gauge is formed of a material which will show on an x-ray and is an elongated member with distance markings. The gauge is placed in a bore drilled in a jaw bone and an x-ray is taken in a standardized manner to show true dimensions of the gauge on the film relative to surrounding anatomical structures. The gauge both shows the depth and angulation of the bore relative to other bores and existing dentition.
Claims15
A radiographic depth gauge for determining the depth and angulation of a bore in a jaw bone for receiving dental implants, comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical member which is of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a drill used to form a pilot bore in a jaw bone, which bore is smaller than the diameter of the implant;
- and
- means which will show on an x-ray for indicating distances, which means is physically a part of the structure of the elongated member.
A method of precisely positioning a dental implant in a jaw bone comprising the steps of:
- drilling a pilot hole of a selected diameter smaller than the diameter of an implant to a selected depth;
- placing a radiographic depth gauge of substantially the same diameter as the pilot hole into the pilot hole;
- positioning an x-ray film parallel to the depth gauge;
- and
- taking an x-ray with a parallel beam which is perpendicular to both the gauge and the film to determine on the x-ray the position of the pilot hole relative to anatomical structures as well as angulation.
A method of precisely positioning a dental implant in a jaw bone comprising the steps of:
- drilling a pilot hole of a selected diameter in a jaw bone;
- selecting a radiographic depth gauge of a length which will permit existing teeth to bite against one another when the gauge is in the pilot hole;
- placing the gauge in the pilot hole;
- and
- taking an x-ray of the gauge while the patient bites on a film holder.
A method of precisely determining the position of a bore in a jaw bone relative to anatomical structures, comprising the steps of:
- placing a radiographic gauge in the bore;
- placing a film behind the gauge and anatomical structures;
- directing an x-ray beam perpendicular to the gauge and film so that true dimensions of the gauge are recorded on the film.
A method of making a radiographic depth gauge for the precision placement of dental implants comprising the steps of:
- fabricating an elongated member of a material which will be visible on an x-ray;
- and
- positioning markers on the elongated member which are physically a part of the structure of the elongated member and which are visible on an x-ray, which markers are at selected distances from a reference point on the elongated member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.