Dental insert
OwnerJohn D. Summerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tooth inserts are described for positioning between interproximal surfaces of teeth during a dental procedure. The tooth inserts have thin regions positioned in the interproximal contact area of the teeth.
Claims19
A method of producing a tooth insert for insertion between the inter proximal surfaces of at least one pair of adjacent teeth during a dental procedure, the adjacent teeth having a proximate area where the teeth are closest to or in contact with one another, the method comprising:
- providing a sheet of material with at least one central portion have a thickness of from about 0.0001 to about 0.001 inch, the central portion being at least partially surrounded by a reinforcing region of a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the central portion;
- and
- forming a cavity in the at least one central region.
A tooth insert spacer for insertion between the interproximal surfaces of a first tooth and a second adjacent tooth and between the first tooth and a third tooth at the opposite side of the first tooth from the second tooth during a dental procedure, the respective teeth having proximate areas where the teeth are closest to or in contact with one another, the tooth insert comprising:
- an elongated body having respective opposite gingival and occlusal edges and opposite side edges extending between the gingival and occlusal edges;
- the body including first and second spaced apart central portions positioned on the body such that when the body is wrapped around the first tooth, the central portions are respectfully positioned between the interproximal surfaces of the first and second teeth and the interproximal surfaces of the first and third teeth, each of the central portions having a thickness which is no more than about 0.001 inch;
- the body including a reinforcing portion which at least partially surrounds each of the central portions;
- and
- wherein the central portions have a thickness of from about 0.0003 to about 0.0007 inch and wherein the reinforcing position has a uniform second thickness of from about 0.015 to about 0.03 inch.
A tooth insert for insertion between the interproximal surfaces of a pair of adjacent teeth during a dental procedure, the teeth having a proximate areas where the adjacent teeth are closest to or are in contact with one another, the tooth insert comprising:
- a body having a gingival edge, an occlusal edge, opposite side edges and wherein the gingival edge is arcuate;
- the body also including as central portion which is at least partially surrounded by a reinforcing portion, the at least one central portion having a first thickness which is no more than about 0.001 inch, the central portion being located on the body for positioning between the inner proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth when the tooth insert is between the teeth;
- and
- wherein the central portion has a thickness which is less than the thickness of the reinforcing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.