Dentistry – Apparatus – Having static product shaping surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-05-08
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having static product shaping surface
C433S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227852
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a dental mold tray for producing tooth impressions by means of a hardenable molding material, with a molding shell adapted to the shape of the human upper or lower jaw for the formation of the mold mass.
Rigid mold trays are well known for the production of tooth impressions, in a process whereby an impression is first made of the teeth in the patient's mouth using molding material. The resulting negative form is then filled in with plaster or similar material. Next, the molding tray is destroyed in order to extract the plaster model from the mold mass in a condition that is as undamaged as possible.
For this purpose, Patent DE 17 66 510 proposes a mold tray made of plastic with the border area of the molding shell formed in such a way that the hardened impression mass can be removed from the mold tray by breaking off parts of the tray in fragments. As a result, however, this kind of mold tray can be used only once. In addition, it is necessary to have a series of such mold trays on hand in order to have one usable tray available that matches the anatomical characteristics of the individual patient's jaw.
The aim of this invention therefore was to come up with a reusable, universal dental mold tray which permits the production of very exact tooth impressions in a simple manner by means of a hardenable mold mass.
To fulfill this aim, the invention developed an object having the characteristics stated in Patent Claim
1
; the subsidiary claims include at least appropriate realizations and further adaptations. In keeping with the invention, the molding shell can be separated into at least two components in order to permit the removal of the mold mass with its tooth impression without destruction.
The mold tray according to this invention allows a simple, non-destructive removal of the hardened mold mass after the impression is made. Any breakage or damage of the tooth impression is thus effectively avoided and there is no need for expensive further processing or reconstruction in the dental laboratory. In addition, the individual parts of the invention's mold tray are easy to clean.
In accordance with the basic concept of the invention, the molding shell consists of a base plate adapted to the gum or to the tongue area, and a roughly U-shaped external side wall long its edge which surrounds the respective tooth row with its at least partially arched shape. The base plate and the outer side wall are thus connected but can be detached from one another. To ensure the non-destructive removal of the hardened mold mass, thus only the outer side wall must be removed from the base plate and from the hardened mold mass. This definitely alleviates the removal of the completed tooth mold from the mold tray.
Another advantage is that the base plate slopes upward in the direction of the gums for the upper jaw impression. As a result of this arrangement, swallowing is alleviated during the molding process and any possibility of gagging is prevented. Because of the reduced distance between the base plate and the gums or the teeth, a lesser amount of molding material is required. This increases the exactitude of the mold on the one hand, and reduces the materials costs on the other.
For taking molds of the lower jaw, it is advisable to equip the base plate with a roughly U-shaped tongue opening. The edge area of this tongue opening is bordered with an inner side wall, which runs at least partially behind the respective tooth row. By means of the inner side wall, the tongue or the mucous membrane is kept effectively separated from the mold mass and the molding shell can be restricted to a minimal volume. This also allows for materials economies and increases the exactness of the impression.
To ensure ease in inserting or removing the mold tray in taking an impression, the base plate can be equipped with a handle extending outward from the tooth row out of the mouth.
In accordance with another basic concept in the invention, the outer side wall and/or the inner side wall is connected to the base plate and segmented so as to allow removal.
The side wall thus can be easily separated from the base plate; first, the side wall can be rotated with respect to the base plate and then it can be totally removed. This ensures non-destructive removal of the hardened molding material.
To avoid any undesired overflow of the mold mass between the base plate and outer and/or inner side wall, especially during filling of the mold tray with the mold mass or at the start of the casting when the mold mass has not yet hardened, the base plate is equipped with a trough to engage the inner or outer side wall. A useful feature is the presence of a washer or sealing device between the base plate and the inner or outer side wall.
To ensure a secure link between the base plate and the inner and/or outer side wall during the casting process, the inner and/or outer side wall can be connected with the base plate by means of a separable linking device that can take the form of a catch, clamp, bolt, or similar item.
As a further advantage, the outer and/or inner side wall includes an extension which comes into play when the base plate and the respective side wall are connected with the handle of the base plate, and here the handle and the respective extension are connected by means of a clamp ring, a U-shaped clamp device that moves in a sidewise manner, a catch or bolt connection or similar removable connecting device. An arrangement of this kind results in a secure connection between the base plate and the respective side walls, and here the construction units can be easily separated from one another in a simple manner.
In keeping with an additional proposal, the inner and/or outer side wall is arranged to adapt flexibly to the form and/or size of the base plate and of the patient's jaw area.
In this manner, different kinds of base plates, depending on the anatomical characteristics of the patient, can be supplemented with standardized side walls. The side walls to be used can also be of various forms, and in particular may have varying heights. This results in a series of possible combinations, so that it is not necessary to have a great number of different mold clamps in inventory in order to produce an exact impression. Consequently, the mold clamp is adaptable to specific patients with exactitude while costs can be appreciably reduced.
According to another basic idea of the invention, at least one securing stud is installed in the molding shell between the base plate and the outer side wall or between the inner and outer side walls. When a cast is being made, especially with flexible side walls, misshaping of the molding shell by intrusive forces through pressure against molding material from the teeth can be avoided and thus a more exact tooth impression can be realized.
At least one stud can be glued in between the base plate and outer side wall or between the inner and outer side walls, or secured in similar fashion. If necessary the stud or studs can be removed or broken out, something that may be required in particular during removal of the hardened molding material.
In accordance with an additional idea of the invention, at least one stud between the base plate and outer side wall or between the inner and outer side walls can be installed in removable state in the corresponding casting devices either as a plug-in, a clamp, or other means. In this way, at least one stud can be removed without any damage to the mold tray when the hardened mold mass is taken out. Thus, the mold tray can be installed repeatedly either with or without the stud.
In another basic concept of the invention, the edge area of the inner and/or outer side wall and of the base plate that comes in contact with the membrane or the gum during casting has an elastic and/or re-shapeable washer or balance element for improved adaptation. It is therefore possible to bring the entire edge area of the molding shell into exactly formed, secure contact with the membrane or gum. As a res
Platt Hubertus
Schedler Markus
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
St. Onge Steward Johnson & Reen LLC
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