US2412352A - Temporary support for artificial teeth - Google Patents

Description

Dec; 10, 1945. s. MYERSON TEMPORARY SUPPORT FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH Original Filed Aug. 26', 1940 Patented Dec. 10, 1946 I 2,412,352. TEMPORARY SUPPORT FOR ARTIFICIAL TEE Simon Myerson, Brookline, Mass.

Original application August 26, 1940, Serial No.

1943, Serial No. 482,110

13 Claims.

This invention pertains to dentistry and relates more particularly to a temporary supporting device for artificial teeth, designed for use in observing the efiect of such teeth in a persons mouth before the teeth are permanently fixed in a denturethe present application being a division of the copending application of Simon Myerson, Serial No. 354,205, filed August 26, 1940, which is a continuation-in-part of the copending application of Simon Myerson, Serial No. 313,077, for Tooth holder, filed January 9, 1940. In said latter application there is disclosed a tooth holder designed temporarily to hold a group of artificial teeth, for exampl six anterior teeth, in a manner such as in a general way to simulate the appearance of teeth permanently mounted in a denture or in the natural gum, and, at the same time, to constitute a practical shipping card for transmission of the teeth to the dental laboratory or dentist, as well as to constitute an acceptable mount for displaying the teeth for ready observation. Said latter application also discloses, broadly, certain forms of attaching devices operative temporarily to support the holder, with its complement of teeth, within the patients mouth so that the dentist may observe the teeth, if desired, from a distance.

The present invention relates more especially to such supporting or attachin means, one object of the invention being the provision of a supporting appliance including means operative temporarily to secure the holder to another part, for instance to the roof of a persons mouth.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be made manifest in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the tooth holder such as may be supported by the attaching means of the present invention, showing six anterior t teeth mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the tooth holder of the present invention mounted upon a desirable form of attaching means and arranged in position for observation within a patients mouth;

Fig. 51s a plan view, to larger scale, of the attaching means whereby the tooth holder is so held in position in the mouth;

Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line 6-6 of Fig; I

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'I'! of Fig. 5;

Divided and this application April 7,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig, '7 but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the suction-cup supporting member of Fig. 6, the cup being broken away;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating an appliance specifically designed to support a single artificial tooth for observation;

'Fig. 12 is a perspective View, to large scale,

showing details of the supporting appliance illus- I treated in Fig. 11;

Fig.' 13 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification;

Fig..14 is a View similar to Fig. 11, but showing a holder like that of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I vdesignates a novel and desirable tooth-holding device of the kind disclosed in the above-named application of Simon Myerson. This tooth holder I maybe made 'of any suitable material, for instance hard rubber or gum-colored metal and may comprise one or more parts, but the preferred constructionconsists of an integral mass of a synthetic resin. Resins derived from methacrylic acid have been found particularly desirable for dental work.

As more particularly illustrated, by way of example, in Figs. 2 and 3, this holder is curved in horizontal section substantially like the human gum ridge and comprises the rear portion 2 and a front portion or apron 3.

While the holder is here shown as curved, a straight or concave holder (otherwise like that illustrated) is useful as a support for teeth during shipment. The rear and front portions, 2 and 3 respectively, are integrallyjoined at the upper edge 4 of the holder, said upper edge'being properly shaped to fit between the gum ridge and the inner surface of the patients lip. The parts 2 and. '3 diverge downwardly from the upper part of theholder, thereby providing a socket cavity which may be a single elongate horizontal groove extending from one end to the other of the holder, or, if preferred, this groove may be divided to form a plurality of independent sockets. When hereinafter reference is made to this feature of the device, it should be understood that the term "socket or chamber is intended to designate either a single groove for the reception of a series of teeth or to indicate an arrangement in'which independent sockets for the several teeth are employed. This socket, cavity,

chamber or groove is designed to receive toothattaching means, for instance a body 5 of dental waX (usually thermoplastic) into which the gingival ends of the teeth 7 may be pressed so that the teeth will be held removably in desired position within the holder by the retaining action of this was. Preferably the socket chamber 'is of such dimensions as will permit the body ofwax to embed the usual attaching pins 6 of the teeth.

so as thereby to furnish a very secure anchorage. As here illustrated, the teeth are of anoveland improved type wherein the incisal'portion is or relatively greater transparency than the upper or body portion, and in which stria-s'imul'ating inserts, and in some instances: simulated fillings, are incorporated.

The teeth I are mounted, as just stated, with their gingival portions sunk or embeddedin the body 5 of wax in the socket chamber and in order to simulate the appearance of the human gum, the front surface of the gum-simulating part or apron 3 is properlycolored and "configured;and-ha s its lowerpa'rt'tapere'd downwardly and providedwith 'apluralityof arcuate recesses for the reception of the necks of the individualteeth. The'portions of the apron which separate these recesses form cusps 9 which intervene between adjacent teeth. Preferably the waxfi 'is of a'thermoplastic character such that it may be softenedby the application ofj'heat and when allowed to cool hardens again. I Thus the teetlrmay be embedded inthe' wax'while "the latter is "soft and become firmly fixed in the holder whenthe wax hardens, although they 'may 3 be"removed-individually whendesired;

The holder i has a rearw'ardlyextending integral "lug or boss 19 which, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, is furnishedwith'an opening or slot ll forthe reception'of an 'attachingkey or pin asdisclosed in application'Serial No. 354,205, the lug l0 also constituting means IfOI engage- 'm-ent by "a clamping device forming part of the 'ta'ngular contour so that when the lug is'fit ted in the'opening th'e holder cannot tipi'sidewise. The

; 'blockiz is furnished with a'transversepassage intersecting the opening 'l3 and iniwhi'chis'disposed a pivot pin I' l. This'pivot pin may be arranged loosely inthe passage or it maybe of flexible "material and is "engaged at its contralpart bye/clamping screw! 5 having a knurled hea'dH. This clamping screw l5 engages a screwthreaded opening in the'block l2 and when it'is' turned, it may be "caused to bear against the c'enterpart of the pin l lso 'as to'cramp'the lattera'gainst the lug' ID and thus securethe holder support 22 (Fig. 6).. This cup support is elo'n gate and tubular and closed at one end. The support 22 is provided with an external boss 23 upon which is mounted a suction cup 24 of soft rubber or the like which is designed to engage an inner surface of the patients mouth, for example, the mucous membrane of the hard palate indicated at '25 in Fig. 4. When the'parts are thus disposed, the gum ridge 26 fits closely against the rear surface of the rear part 2 of the holder I.

Within the tubular cup-support 22 there are arranged three loose pins 21, 28 and 29, respectively, (Fig. 6).. The opposed ends of adjacent pins are shaped to provide pairs of clampinggja-ws between which are disposed the parts '20 .and 12!, "respectively. The pin 29 projects beyond the open end of the support 26 and its outer end 30 engages the inner surface of a screw-threaded cap 3!, which is screwed onto the end of the support 22. When the cap 3! 1's;partly unscrewed it leaves the pinsf 2Lf-Z8 and =29 free to separate, thus permitting the rods 20 and ZI to slide freely with reference to the supportZZ. The openings in the wall 22 through which-the rods 20 and 2| *pass are elongate circumferentially of the support (Fig. '9) so that the support may pivot about "the-axisprovided bythe pins 21, 2 8 'and 29,;said axis "extending substantially horizontally'an'd transversely of-the mouth whenthedevice is in use. In the same waygthe'block i2 is freeto'pivot aboutthe pin '14 "when the -clamping screw f5 is'loosen'ed.

Moreover, when screw IS is loosenedthe-boss 1 0" may be "adjusted longitudinally within the-opening [3. The tightening-0f the screw I5 locks the block 12 both against ipivoting and against sliding "on the boss "H1. Obviously,-'ball-andsocket joints 'may be substituted for the connections "herein specifically illustrated, whereby the bracket is adjustably united to the holder and/orthe cup-support,respectively.

"In 'Fig. {8 a modified arrangement shown wherein "the boss ha of the tooth Q holder isf-of circulartransverse section instead of rectangular. The'operiing'in'the block 112 which 'receives the boss m is curved 'in contour but in other respects the arrangementis'generally-similar to that of 'Fig. *7, 'and 'whenthe clamping screw 15 istight'ened; the blockis prevented from pivoting "on the block I4, anduthe-bo'ss -lil= of the; holderis prevent-ed'iromsliding in thefblock.

When the holder I is secured to the "support*- ing or attaching' means illustrated in Figs. *5 to '9, it may be placed in 'therpatients 'mouth and" temporarily suspended and firmly held. in place by the attaching 'means including 'thefSLlC- tion "cup 24. "By reason of"the several adjust- 'ments provided, 'the *holder'may be disposed at the proper position in the jmouth regardless o'f the size of the mouth or the position "off-thefgum Q ridge, and without distorting 'th-e lipsrand when soarrange'dthe'teeth maybe observed by "the and are secured the forward ends of a pair of wire r'ods .l8 and ['9 '(Fig. -5), respectively, constituting elements of a bracket by means of which the blockil'lmay be attached to asuppo'rt.

The membeirs lt and I'9"proje'ct rearwardlyia'nd comprise substantially parallel-portions ZUa'nd 2| whose rear ends -.pass freelylthroughopenings the Wall of a substantially cylindrical cu' dentist and by the patient with "the aid of a mirror, from a distance if desired. The dentist and patient'may thus, obtainan accurate idea of the appearance that thefteethwould have if permanently mounted ini'a "denture. Sincefthe teeth "1 are removably secured in th e holderj-l, it is possible (if the dentis'ttdoes 'notilike.ithe"ap pearance of the teeth wh'en first tried, in the patients mouth) to fremovethe enthe holder and substitute another fhavinga "differing set of teeth, or he may remove indivi dual ;teeth froma vholder and replace them with'lothertee'thvor rearrange them in the holder so as to obtain the most desirable effects and those most closely resemblingthe appearance of the patients own natural teeth. When the dentist has thus determined, by trial, the form,'color and'size of tooth which gives the best effects and how they should be best arranged, he may then employ the assemblage which has thus been found to give the best result, in making up the denture in which may be permanently fixed the same teeth which have been tried and found satisfactory when arranged in the holder.

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, a single tooth T is arranged with its pin or pins 6 embedded in a mass of wax 5 within a socket cavity in a part Ill (preferably a horizontally flattened tube) having secured thereto an attaching bracket lfi to which is fixed the suction cup 24* by means of which the appliance may be temporarily held in the-mouth. Instead of filling the part Iii with wax for the reception of the pins of a single tooth; the part lli may be made of such dimensions (Fig. 14) as to receive the lug ill of the holder l, preferably with a sliding fit, so that the holder may be adjusted longitudinally of the part W. The arrangement of Fig. 15 thus provides a somewhat simpler type of support for the holder than that previously described.

In Fig. 10, the attaching lug iil is shown as a separate element, for instance a length of flexible metal, having one end embedded in the substance of the holder, its projecting portion being designed to be received in the socket of a hracket'or such other supporting means as may be employed.

In Fig. 13 a further modified form of holder i is illustrated, such holder being in general similar to the holder 1 above described but having extensions 40 reaching around to the molar region of the mouth, and which may constitute supports for molar teeth 42 and also for elongate suction cups 43 designed to engage the molar region of the gum and thus to afford additional attaching means for temporarily retaining the holder in the mouth.

While as herein specifically illustrated by way of example, the teeth are shown as upper teeth, and in describing the teeth and holder, such terms as upper and lower may have been used, it is to be understood that all such expressions have been employed merely for convenience in description and without limiting intent, and that the appliance herein claimed is intended for use with lower teeth as well as for use with upper teeth.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to these particular embodiments, but is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of all modified constructions, substitutions of material, and variation in arrangement of parts which fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance for temporarily supporting a tooth display holder within the mouth, said appliance comprising substantially rigid parts which are relatively adjustable for properly locating the holder both up and down and from front and rear, one of said parts being designed and arranged for attachment to the holder, and another of said parts being provided with means, operative, independently of the relative position of the jaws, temporarily to afiix said latter part to an inner surface of the mouth, and means operative to fix 6 said parts in chosen relative position of adjust ment.

-2. An appliance for temporarily supporting a display holder for artificial teeth within the mouth, said appliance comprising relatively movable, substantially rigid parts whereby the holder may be adjustably and properly positioned either up or down or from front to rear, means for fixing said relatively movable parts in chosen position of adjustment, and an attaching element, spaced rearwardly and posteriorly of the holder, engageable with an inner surface of the mouth and operative, independently of the position of the opposing jaw, to suspend the entire appliance together with the holder from the intra-oral surface.

3. An appliance for temporarily supporting ar-- tificial teeth in the mouth for observation, the appliance being constructed and arranged to be located wholly within the oral cavity and temporarily to position tooth-holding means within themouth thereby to permit observation, between the parted lips, of a tooth or teeth carried by the holding means, the appliance comprising a clamp comprising relatively movable parts operative releasably to engage between them a part of the tooth-holding means, a suction cup, a bracket connecting the cup and clamp, and means adjustably uniting the bracket to the cup.

l. A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp engageable with a part to be supported in the mouth, a suction cup, a bracket connecting the clamp and cup, the bracket being pivotally connected both to the cup and clamp, the clamp comprising a single locking element operative concomitantly to secure said part to the clamp and to fix the clamp against rotational movement relative to the bracket.

5. A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp engageable with a part to be supported in the mouth, a suction cup, a bracket connecting the clamp and cup, means uniting thecup to the bracket, said latter means including: a guide in which a part of the bracket may slide,v and means operative concomitantly to secure the; bracket against sliding 0r rotative movement with. reference to the cup.

6. A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp, a suction cup and a bracket, a pivot pin uniting the bracket and clamp, the clamp having therein a socket, one wall of which is constituted by said pivot pin, said socket being designed for the reception of a part which is to be supported in the mouth, and a clamping screw operative to press the pivot pin against said part thereby concomitantly to fix said part within the socket and to prevent movement of the clamp relative to the bracket.

7 A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp, a suction cup and a bracket, means uniting the clamp and the bracket, and parts uniting the cup to the bracket, said latter parts including pivot means defining an axis, extending transversely of the mouth when the support is in use, about which the bracket may swing, and means operative to prevent relative movement of the cup and bracket about the axis of said pivot means.

8. A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp, a suction cup and a bracket, means uniting the clamp and bracket, and elements uniting the cup and bracket, said elements including means providing a guide in which the bracket may slide, and means operative to pre- 7 vent movement ofthebracketirelatively to said guide. i

9. A support for dental use, said support comprising a clamp, a suction cup and a bracket,.

means uniting the clamp and bracket, parts uniting the cup and bracket, said latter parts including a'tubular housing fixed to the cup, said housing having guide openings for the bracket whereby the bracket may be slid relativelyto the housing, and means within the housing for clampingthe bracket against movement relative thereto.

10. A support for dental use, said supportcomprising a clamp, a suction cup and a bracket,

means uniting the clamp and bracket, partsuniting the cup and the bracket, said latter parts including a tubular housing fixed tothe cup the housing having guide means for the bracket, said guide means being so constructed and arranged that the housing may be rotated relative to the bracket as Well as slid longitudinally of the latter, locking means within the housing operative toprevent relative movement of the housing and bracket, and means for actuating said locking means. I 7

11. An appliance for temporarily supporting artificial teeth in the mouth for observation, said appliance including a part constructed and aroral surface, a rigid part having therein a socket for the reception oftooth-holding means, said ranged for adhesive attachment to an intrasocket opening forwardly, and substantially rigid uniting means connecting said parts in-spaced relation, the appliance being so constructed and arranged as to permit-front toq'ear relative man- '8 ual adjustmentxto a predetermined degreev of the toothahclding means andxsaid attaching p'art.

12.: appliance for temporarily supporting artificial-teethinithe'mouth for observation, said appliance including a holder of normally substantially, rigidand shape retaining material, .the

holder having-a'cavity for the reception-of plastic material operative removably to secure teeth tnthaholder, the holder having an elongate attachinglug projecting from its lingual side, a

to the holder, the holder having; an attaching lug projecting from its lingual side, and, a support including a length of tubing having itsaxis sub,- stantially horizontal, the tubing being of such transverse internal dimensions andcontour as to receive the lug of the holder with a'sliding fit,

a, bracket secured to the length of tubing, and asuction cup attached to the bracketwhereby the entire appliance may be'removably attached to a surface of themouth.

V V SIMON MYERSONL

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