Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
DENTAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to a dental device and a method of thereof, and more
particularly, to
a unitary dental device having a shell-like analogue with the appearance of
individual maxillary or
mandibular teeth and to a method of constructing a dental prosthesis using the
dental device, which
facilitates rapid, accurate and customized set-up of the dental prosthesis
specifically adapted to
individual patient needs.
2. Description of the Related Art.
The laboratory fabrication of complete and partial dentures and in total
crowning
necessitates a balance between artistic creativity and scientific principles.
Successful laboratory
technicians develop these skills over many years of trial and improvement.
Though much of
prosthetic construction involves historically proven, scientifically honed
procedures, current
methods are overwhelmingly artistic in nature and therefore remarkably time
consuming. Of
particular concern is the need to specifically manipulate each individual
denture and or prosthetic
tooth during the tooth set-up procedures. Individual tooth set-up is
biomechanically demanding,
time consuming and unique to each patient involved.
It is therefore desirable to provide a dental device comprising a unitary
shell-like analogue
that is heat moldable and has the appearance of individual maxillary or
mandibular teeth.
It is further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use thereof
that allow both a
dental practitioner and a patient to select at chair side a particular tooth
mode, shape and size that
most appropriately fit the patient's face.
1
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
It is still further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof that
procedurally enhance and simplify the demanding and time consuming laboratory
fabrication
process of constructing a complete dental prosthesis.
It is yet further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof, which
streamline dental prosthesis construction by facilitating rapid, accurate and
individualized setup of
the dental prosthesis.
It is still further desirable to provide a dental device that can be milled
into an anatomically
accurate composite shell-like analogue using CAD/CAM dental technologies.
It is yet further desirable to provide a dental device designed to be set into
a dental
prosthesis as a complete unit to greatly expediting and simplifying setup of
dental teeth and
dentures.
It is still further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof that permit
easy development of the dental arch form allowing the dental device to be
readily adapted to
individual patient needs.
It is yet further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof, which
permit manipulation of each individual tooth allowing for customized
arrangements of the denture
teeth, including the incorporation of overlaps, vertical discrepancies,
horizontal discrepancies,
diastemata, facial-lingual angular variation and mesial-distal angular
variation.
It is still further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof that
facilitate the creation of anatomically realistic and hygienically favorable
papilla forms.
It is yet further desirable to provide a dental device and method of use
thereof that include
a pair of posterior tooth extensions to create a custom buccal corridor
specifically adapted for the
individual patient.
2
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a dental device
constructed of a unitary,
shell-like analogue having individual teeth unified using connection bridges.
The shell-like
analogue is made of a single piece of a thermoplastic material, and is pliable
when sufficiently
heated allowing a dental practitioner to form a dental arch. For example, the
shell-like analogue
may become pliable when heated to between about 100 F and 150 F, namely about
140 F. Each
of the teeth is adjustable horizontally, vertically and angularly with respect
to each other by the
chair side dental practitioner. The connection bridges are intermediate of the
proximal contact
areas of the teeth, thereby permitting overlap, vertical discrepancies,
horizontal discrepancies,
diastemata, facial-lingual angular variation and/or mesial-distal angular
variation of each of the
teeth with respect to each other.
The thermoplastic material may be any dental- or medical-grade thermoplastic
material
suitable for use in the human mouth, such as polyethylene, polystyrene or
polypropylene. By way
of example, the thermoplastic material may be composed of approximately 70% to
approximately
90% W/W polystyrene with 1,3-butadien polymer and approximately 10% to
approximately 20%
W/W polystyrene, or composed of at least 96% by weight of the polystyrene and
no more than 3%
by weight of a mineral oil. Additionally, the thermoplastic material may
include a colorant
compound.
The dental device is sized to be placed over existing teeth without causing
the patient's lip
to protrude unnaturally, and the dental device may have a thickness of between
approximately
0.020 millimeters and approximately 0.080 millimeters. In addition, each of
the teeth of
shell-like analogue may be contoured on a lingual portion to form a channel
generally spanning
between an apical tip and a distal tip of each of the teeth. The teeth of the
shell-like analogue may
3
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
be either mandibular or maxillary teeth, and include at least anterior teeth.
Each of the teeth
includes a cervical edge and an incisal edge forming cervical embrasures and
incisal embrasures of
the shell-like analogue. The cervical embrasures of the shell-like analogue
allow the practitioner
to form anatomically accurate papilla.
Moreover, the dental device may further include at least one or a pair of
posterior tooth
extensions. Each extension has a curvature and contour mimicking posterior
mandibular or
maxillary teeth allowing the posterior tooth to be positioned by manipulating
the tooth extensions
to show more or less posterior tooth. The tooth extensions are adjustable
along the
anterior-posterior incline and/or the buccal-lingual dimension in order to
form a custom buccal
corridor specifically adaptable to an individual patient.
In general, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of
constructing a dental
prosthesis. The method includes the steps of fitting a dental device to a
patient's oral cavity, and
then setting the dental device as a unit into a dental prosthesis. The dental
device is a unitary,
shell-like analogue having individual teeth with connection bridges
intermediate of proximal
contact areas of the teeth. The step of fitting the dental device can further
include forming a
dental arch by heating the dental device and bending the shell-like analogue
of the dental device to
match or improve the patient's dental arch. In addition, the step of fitting
the dental device may
include arranging the teeth of the shell-like analogue by manipulating each of
the teeth. The teeth
may be manipulated by overlap, vertical discrepancies, horizontal
discrepancies, diastemata,
facial-lingual angular variation or mesial-distal angular variation of the
teeth. Moreover, the step
of fitting the dental device may include adjusting a pair of tooth extensions
to create a custom
buccal corridor specifically adapted for the individual patient. The buccal
corridor may be
created by heating each of the tooth extensions and altering the anterior-
posterior incline and/or
4
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
the buccal-lingual dimension formed by the tooth extensions. Furthermore, the
step of setting the
dental device can include creating anatomically correct papilla forms from
contours in the teeth of
the shell-like analogue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a dental device temporarily
affixed to the
anterior maxillary teeth of a patient in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the dental
device and method of use thereof disclosed herein;
Figure 2 is a bottom view along an incisal edge of an example of a shell-like
analogue in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the dental device and method of
use thereof
disclosed herein;
Figure 3 is a front view of the shell-like analogue shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a top view along a cervical edge of the shell-like analogue shown
in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the shell-like analogue shown in Figure 2;
Figures 7 and 8 are side views of the shell-like analogue shown in Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a cross-section view along line 8-8 of the shell-like analogue
shown in Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a cross-section view along line 9-9 of the shell-like analogue
shown in Figure 3;
Figures 10A through 16A are perspective views and Figures 10B through 16B are
bottom
views of examples of the dental device wherein the shell-like analogue has
been manipulated to
change the characterization to fit an individual patient's features in
accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the dental device and method of use thereof disclosed herein;
Figure 17A is a front view of an example of a dental device having a pair of
posterior tooth
extensions in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the dental
device and method of
use thereof disclosed herein; and
5
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
Figure 17B is a top view along a cervical edge of the dental device shown in
Figure 17A.
Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description,
and from
the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific
manners in
which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting
in scope.
While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of
particularity,
it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the construction and
the arrangement of
the structural and function details disclosed herein without departing from
the spirit and scope of
this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited
to the embodiments
set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.
Referring to the figures of the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference
designate like
elements throughout the several views, and initially to Figures 1 through 9, a
unitary dental device
10 constructed from a suitable thermoplastic composition allowing the device
to be heat molded
by a dental practitioner sitting chair side to a patient. The dental device 10
is a single-piece, with
each of the individual component parts discussed below and illustrated in the
drawings being
incorporated into the dental device 10. The dental device 10 includes a shell-
like analogue 12
having the appearance of contoured, individual teeth 14. Between each of the
individual teeth 14,
a connection bridge 16 uniformly joins the proximal contact areas between
adjacent teeth 14 to
form the unitary shell-like analogue 12. The dental device 10 may be
fabricated with either
mandibular or maxillary teeth 14. Each tooth 14 includes a cervical edge 18
and an incisal edge
20, which form cervical embrasures 22 and incisal embrasures 24 of the shell-
like analogue 12.
Further, the shell-like analogue 12 may include a channel 26 generally
spanning between an apical
6
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
tip 28 and a distal tip 30 on a lingual surface 32 of each of the individual
teeth 14. Additionally,
the apical tip 28 of each of the individual teeth 14 of the shell-like
analogue 12 may be further
contoured so that the size of the cervical embrasure 22 spaces of the shell-
like analogue 12 vary so
as to be anatomically realistic and hygienically favorable. The contour of the
teeth 14 of the
dental device 10 permits the dental practitioner to fabricate papilla 34 in a
denture base (not
shown) that assists in retention and proper elimination of food debris in
between each tooth 14.
Moreover, individual teeth 14 having more or less curve may be utilized for
female or male
patients.
The dental device 10 includes at least anterior teeth 14, and as illustrated
in Figures 1
through 5, the teeth 14 of the shell-like analogue 12 may characterize the
central incisors 36, lateral
incisors 38, canines 40, and first premolars 42. While the dental device 10 is
illustrated as having
eight (8) teeth, a greater or lesser number of teeth 14 may be employed within
the spirit and scope
of the dental device 10 and method of use thereof disclosed herein.
The shell-like analogue 12 may also characterize posterior teeth 14, such as
with individual
second premolars and/or the molars (not shown), or as illustrated in Figures
17A and 17B with a
pair of posterior tooth extensions or wings 44. Each of the tooth extensions
44 has a curvature
and contour that follows and mimics the patient's posterior mandibular or
maxillary teeth. The
tooth extensions 44 permits the practitioner to create a custom buccal
corridor specifically adapted
for the individual patient. While sitting chair side, the dental practitioner
may manipulate the
tooth extensions 44 to position the posterior tooth by altering the anterior-
posterior incline and/or
the buccal-lingual dimension formed by the tooth extensions 44. The patient
and the dental
practitioner may visualize chair side the buccal corridor, allowing the
posterior tooth to be
positioned by manipulating the tooth extensions 44 to show more or less
posterior tooth. The
7
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
tooth extensions 44 are similarly constructed of the thermoplastic dental
composition and are
uniformly joined with the teeth 14 of the shell-like analogue 12 forming the
dental device 10. The
tooth extensions 44 may be heated using a suitable means and then manipulated
chair side by the
dental practitioner to fit the patient's buccal corridor. The dental device 10
having the shell-like
analogue 12 of individual teeth 14 and tooth extensions 44 provides the
patient and the dental
practitioner with a preview of full mouth appearance prior to fabrication of
the dental prosthesis,
and guides the dental practitioner and/or the prosthetic technician in the
orientation and placement
of denture teeth for the dental prosthesis.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the dental device 10 is sized such that it can be
placed over
existing teeth without causing the patient's lip to protrude unnaturally. As
exemplified in the
cross-sectional views of Figures 8 and 9, the dental device 10 may have a
thickness of between
approximately 0.02 inches and approximately 0.08 inches, in particular
approximately 0.06 inches
to approximately 0.08 inches thick. The shell-like analogue 12 may have a
width of about 2.5
inches, while each of the posterior tooth extensions 44 may be about 0.5
inches wide. The dental
device 10 may be fabricated in varying heights, and in general, the individual
teeth 14 of the
shell-like analogue 12 may have heights between approximately 0.3 inches and
approximately 0.5
inches, while the tooth extensions 44 may have heights of approximately 0.25
inches. The
foregoing dimensions are presented for illustrative purposes only and the
dental device 10 should
not be so limited. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing
dimensions may be
increased or decreased by approximately 20% in order to provide varying tooth
sizes.
The dental device may be fabricated from the thermoplastic material. The
thermoplastic
material is any dental- or medical-grade thermoplastic material suitable for
use in the human
mouth, namely polyethylene, polystyrene and/or polypropylene. The
thermoplastic dental
8
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
material may be approximately 70% to approximately 90% W/W polystyrene with
1,3-butadien
polymer and approximately 10% to approximately 20% W/W polystyrene.
Alternatively, the
thermoplastic dental material may be at least 96% by weight of said
polystyrene and no more than
3% by weight of a mineral oil. In addition, the thermoplastic dental material
may include a
suitable dental colorant compound.
The dental device 10 and method of use thereof allow both the dental
practitioner and the
patient to select a particular tooth mode, shape and size that most
appropriately fits the patient's
face. The dental device 10 may come in varying standard sizes, such as small,
medium and large,
to fit a variety of patients. As illustrated in Figure 1, the dental
practitioner would align the dental
device 10 about the mid-line of the patient's teeth and face, and ensure the
distal flips 30 of the
teeth 14 of the dental device 10 are sufficiently large to create a proper gum
to smile relation. The
dental device 10 is suitable for use with any dental alterations, such as
complete and partial
dentures and in total crowning. The selection and characterization process of
the method of using
the dental device 10 is performed chair side, and may be appropriate for
edentulous patients as well
as for those patients who will be losing their teeth in the future.
Once the tooth mode and size is selected, the dental device 10 can be made
pliable by
heating to a temperature of about 100 F to about 150 F, in particular about
140 F, such as in warm
water or with a hot flame. Once sufficiently heated, the dental device 10 can
be shaped by the
chair side dental practitioner to the particular arch dimensions of the
individual patient.
In addition to forming the dental arch, the dental practitioner can adjust
each of the
individual teeth 14 forward or back or side to side, can tip the teeth 14
outward or inward, and/or
can overlap the teeth 14 to look more natural, if needed. In particular, each
of the teeth 14 may be
respectively adjusted horizontally, vertically and angularly by the chair side
dental practitioner.
9
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
=
In addition, the connection bridges 16 of the dental device 10 permit the
dental practitioner to
overlap, vertical discrepancies, horizontal discrepancies, diastemata, facial-
lingual angular
variation and/or mesial-distal angular variation of each of the teeth 14 with
respect to each other
while sitting chair side to the patient.
Moreover, the dental practitioner can adjust each of the tooth extensions 44
to create a
custom buccal corridor specifically adapted for the individual patient. While
sitting chair side,
the dental practitioner would heat each of the tooth extensions 44 and
manipulate the dental device
to alter the anterior-posterior incline and/or the buccal-lingual dimension of
the tooth
extensions 44. The patient and the dental practitioner visualize chair side
the buccal corridor,
10
allowing the posterior tooth to be accurately and satisfactorily positioned by
manipulating the
tooth extensions 44 to show more or less posterior tooth.
Referring now to Figures 10 through 16 illustrating examples of the dental
device 10, the
shell-like analogue 12 has been manipulated to change the characterization of
the dental device 10
to fit individual patient features and to match the particular curvature of
the patient's upper or
lower jaw. Figures 10A and 10B generally illustrate the initial form of the
dental device 10 prior
to manipulation; as can be seen, the dental device 10 is manufactured to be
generally straight, not
yet having an arch. Figure 11A and 1111 illustrate the dental device 10 having
the central incisor
36 and the lateral incisor 38 rotated outwardly such that the lateral incisor
38 is tipped labially
toward the patient's lip. Alternatively, the central 36 and lateral incisor 38
may be rotated
inwardly such that the lateral incisor 38 is tipped lingually toward the
patient's tongue or palate, as
illustrated in Figures 12A and 12B. As seen in Figures 13A and 13B, the
incisal edges 20 of the
canine teeth 40 of the shell-like analogue 12 of the dental device 10 may be
tipped outwardly
toward the patient's lip forming a space or a gap between the lateral incisor
38 and the canine teeth
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
40 of the dental device 10. The dental device 10 illustrated in Figures 14A
and 14B has been
modified to have symmetrical appearance, while the dental device 10
illustrated in Figures 15A
and 15B has a narrower arch than the dental device 10 illustrated in Figures
14A and 14B in order
to fit a particular patient's dental ridge. Lastly, Figures 16A and 16B
illustrate each of the dental
arches having at least one tooth 14 that is manipulated outwardly to some
degree. The dental
device 10 and method of use thereof should not be limited to the manipulations
exemplified in
Figures 10 through 16, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate
that other manipulations
are possible in order to characterize and fit the dental device 10 to a
particular patient.
Returning now to Figure 1, the dental device 10 may be temporarily affixed in
the patient's
mouth, such as by utilizing a small amount of dental wax (not shown) to adhere
the dental device
10 to the patient's exiting dentation 46, allowing both the patient and the
dental practitioner to
visualize and observe (or "preview") chair side the look of a final smile
design, including the
buccal corridor, with a fully-fabricated dental prosthesis. Once the patient
and practitioner are
satisfied with the particular tooth arrangement and characterization, a
suitable dental impression
(not shown) can be made and then sent to the prosthetic technician to
fabricate the final dental
prosthesis.
Alternatively, the dental device 10 can be constructed of a suitable
thermosetting dental
composition. The thermosetting dental device 10 would have the same strength
and wearibility
as existing fabricated prosthetic teeth. Once the patient and dentist are
satisfied with the
particular tooth arrangement and characterization, the dental practitioner
and/or the prosthetic
technician can integrate the thermosetting dental device 10 into the final
dental prosthesis.
The dental device 10 may be also further finished by refining, shaping and/or
polishing
using dental laboratory tools and prosthodontic techniques for both aesthetic
(e.g., tooth shape,
11
CA 02772723 2012-03-26
separation and definition) and functional (e.g., bite refinements, removing
excess bulk to ensure
patient comfort) purposes. In particular, once the patient is satisfied with
the look, feel and
function of the temporality affixed dental device 10, the dental practitioner
makes a face bow
transfer of the dental device 10, refines the esthetics of the dental device
10 and obtains a wax bite
registration (not shown). After the wax bite registration is made, a working
model is mounted on
an articulator, using the face bow, and the dental device 10 is then seated on
the working model
(not shown). The wax bite registration is then positioned on the dental device
10 and the
particular arch of the patient may be related using the wax bite registration.
Once proper
occlusion is accomplished, the working model and the dental device 10 may be
removed from the
articulator.
Furthermore, the dental device 10 and method of use thereof may be constructed
such that
the dental device 10 may be electronically scanned and then the teeth milled
from the digital
impression. The dental device 10 may be constructed of barium sulfate or
coated with a suitable
refractory material or spray material allowing the dental device 10 to be
electronically scanned.
The dental device can then be milled into an anatomically accurate composite
shell-like analogue
using CAD/CAM dental technologies.
Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the
drawings and
claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart
from those shown or
suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.
12
