Apparatus and methods of making denture devices
AssigneeJames R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
InventorsDavid Morales, Gilbert A. Rivera, Nhung Tieu Truong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application describes a method for designing and manufacturing a denture device for a patient. A method is described for designing a virtual denture and manufacturing a functional fitting replica denture from the virtual denture. An apparatus comprising a functional fitting replica denture is prepared having denture teeth having a fit substantially similar to the final denture. The methods and apparatus described herein reduce the number of visits required to manufacture the final denture.
Claims20
A denture device comprising
- a first portion comprising a physical model of a denture that fits securely in the mouth of a patient comprising a first material, comprising
- first and second posterior teeth regions, and
- a gap between the posterior teeth regions corresponding to a plurality of teeth in an anterior teeth region;
- and
- an anterior gingival region adjacent the gap;
- and
- a second portion comprising a second material that comprises an anterior gingival architecture on a buccal surface of the physical model adjacent the gap,
- wherein the second material is different from the first material, and
- wherein the second material at least partially fills the gap in the physical model;
- and
- a plurality of anterior denture teeth positioned in the gap, each of the denture teeth partially embedded in the second material.
A denture device comprising
- a physical model of a denture that fits securely in the mouth of a patient, comprised of
- a first material comprising lingual and buccal gingival regions, a ridge between the lingual and buccal gingival regions, and a gingival indentation in a portion of the buccal gingival region;
- a second material comprising a wax material that is within the gingival indentation that comprises a buccal gingival architecture that is a wax model of a portion of a gingival architecture of the patient's buccal gingival region, and
- one or more denture teeth adjacent the ridge of the physical model
- wherein a portion of the tooth of the one or more denture teeth that is adjacent the ridge is embedded in the wax material.
A denture device comprising
- a physical model of a denture that fits securely in the mouth of a patient comprised of a first material that comprises
- one or more teeth regions selected from an anterior teeth region, a posterior teeth region, or both anterior and posterior teeth regions,
- a gingival region adjacent the teeth regions having a first gingival structure that substantially corresponds to a first portion of the patient's gingival architecture, and
- a second portion of the gingival region comprising a gingival indentation;
- and
- a second material within the gingival indentation, having a second gingival structure that corresponds to a second portion of the patient's gingival architecture, wherein the second material is different from the first material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.