Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Dental
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2001-06-26
Szekely, Peter (Department: 1714)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Coating or plastic compositions
Dental
C523S109000, C524S028000, C536S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251176
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flavored orthodontic impression substances containing alginate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to create dental crowns and orthodontic dentures it is necessary for an orthodontist to take an impression of the patient's existing teeth to which the crowns or dentures are to be mounted. A dental impression is created from a curable material which is placed in a mold. The mold is then placed in the patient's mouth whereupon the patient bites down into the mold. The impression material must be sufficiently amorphous in its initial state so as to yield in a completely inelastic manner and conform completely to the size and shape of the patient's existing teeth. However, the dental impression material must readily cure within a very short period of time so as to preserve the impression created once the patient releases his or her bite into the impression material. Moreover, the impression material cannot be in any way toxic since it is designed to be placed within a patient's mouth.
Dental impression substances employing alginate as the primary curing material are widely utilized in the orthodontic profession for creating dental impressions. Alginate is a substance made out of ground seaweed. In the orthodontic industry it is pulverized, sanitized, and made into a gel. Agar agar is used as a thickener in the production of the alginate substance utilized for making dental impressions.
At present, alginate is mixed with a liquid form of food flavoring when it is used for the purpose of creating dental impressions, since the taste of unflavored alginate causes a significant number of dental patients to gag. By mixing the alginate with liquid food flavoring, the unpleasant taste of the alginate is masked, thus resulting in fewer problems of faulty dental impressions due to patient gagging.
One big problem with the conventional liquid form of food flavoring utilized in an alginate material used to form dental impressions is that the liquid form of food flavoring cannot be shipped internationally. The reason is because the packaging containing the liquid food flavoring can break, thus creating a mess that is very difficult to deal with. Customs regulations of some countries prohibit or severely restrict the shipment of food flavoring in liquid form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention a system has been devised that employs a powdered alginate flavoring which is mixed with alginate that is also in powdered form. Because the flavoring substance remains in a powdered form during shipment, it is not susceptible to leakage nor does it create messes like conventional liquid food flavorings for dental alginate impression substances. Therefore, it can be shipped internationally. Once the powdered substance arrives at the dental office, it is mixed with water along with a powdered alginate impression material so that the flavored orthodontic impression material can be utilized in a conventional manner.
In one broad aspect the present invention may be considered to be an improvement in a powdered orthodontic impression composition including alginate and comprising a flavoring in powdered form. Preferably the powdered orthodontic impression composition is comprised of between four percent and about seven percent by weight of the powdered flavoring.
In another broad aspect the invention may be considered to be an improvement in a powdered orthodontic impression composition including alginate and a flavoring substance. Such a composition is improved in that the flavoring substance is present in powdered form. Preferably the powdered composition is comprised of between four percent and about seven percent of the powdered flavoring by weight prior to the addition of water.
In another broad aspect the invention may be considered to be an improvement in a method of creating a dental impression in which a powered orthodontic impression substance containing alginate is mixed with a liquid to form a curable gel. According to the improvement of the invention a powdered flavoring is added to the powdered orthodontic impression substance prior to or during the addition of the liquid, which is normally water. Preferably the powdered flavoring is added to the extent of between about one percent and ten percent by weight prior to the addition of water. Once the powdered flavoring has been added to the powdered orthodontic impression substance, the powdered mixture is mixed with water. Preferably three measures of the powdered dental impression material plus one teaspoon of powdered flavoring are mixed with one measure of water to form a suitable amount of curable flavored dental impression material to create an impression of the existing teeth and dentures of the upper jaw of a patient. Two measures of the powdered composition are mixed with one measure of water to create a suitable amount of curable dental impression material for the existing teeth and dentures of the lower jaw of a patient. Each measure is two table spoons in volume.
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Replica promotional flyer, copyright Matech, Inc., 1989.
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Express Dental Products promotional flyer, “Lab Pack”.
Szekely Peter
Thomas Charles H.
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