Dental impressions

Aug. 5, 1958

2,845,708

M. GORDON

DENTAL IMPRESSIONS

Filed Jan. 23, 1957

<img file="US2845708A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US2845708A_D0002.tif" />

F1G.1 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

MAX GORQ.ON

BY

United States Patent Office

2,845,708

Patented Aug. 5, 1958

2,845,708

DENTAL IMPRESSIONS

Max Gordon, Kew Gardens, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,827

Claims. (CI. 32—19) ¹⁰

This invention relates to apparatus for making dental 15 impressions.

An object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described means which will permit obtaining cushioned impressions and for controlling both hard and soft tissues. 20

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which can be raised or lowered according to the degree of the opening of the patient’s mouth.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an 25 apparatus of the character described having means to receive the tongue of the patient while the impression is being taken, said apparatus being so constructed so as not to cut the patient’s tongue.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a 30 highly improved apparatus of the character described comprising a base shaped to the mandible so as to rest on a lower tray fitted over the lower jaw.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which may become 35 embedded in the compound on the upper and lower trays so as to provide for vertical pressure as the impression is taken, the construction being such as to provide uniform vertical pressure throughout the impression area.

Yet a further object of this invention, is to provide 40 an improved apparatus of the character described having means to control the movable tissue while the impression is being taken and which will prevent mobility of the impression sideways, forward or rearward while the impression is being taken, said apparatus being so 45 constructed as to register the physical pressure of the patient to the impression being taken.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable apparatus of the character described, which shall be easy to adjust and manipulate, 50 comfortable and safe to use, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. 55

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims: 60

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus embodying the invention illustrating the manner of its use when taking a dental impression;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken along line 2—2 of Fig.

1; and 65

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates apparatus embodying the invention. The same comprises a base plate 11 which is flat and horse-shoe shaped. 70 Fixed to the upper side of the plate 11 in any suitable manner, and extending upwardly therefrom is a block formed with a vertical blind opening 13 extending down from the upper end of the block. Screwed within said opening 13 is a screw 14. The upper end of the screw is fixed in any suitable manner, within an opening 15 in the bottom wall 16 of a curved shaped plate 17.

Extending rearwardly and downwardly from the rear end of the bottom wall 16 are a pair of transversely curved lips 18, a notch 19 being formed between said lips. Extending forwardly from the bottom wall 16 is an upwardly bent back or curved portion 20, from which extends rearwardly, a somewhat upwardly inclined wall 21. Thus, between the wall 16 and 20 is formed a space or chamber 22 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

It will now be observed that upon rotating the plate 17 in one direction it will rise in height and upon rotating plate 17 in the opposite direction it will lower.

Fig. 1 illustrates the lowermost position of the plate 17 relative to the base 11 and block 12. In such position, wall 16 rests on the upper surface of the block 12.

The manner of using the apparatus to take an impression will now be described.

A metal tray 30 is used in. taking the impression for the upper denture. Red compound is placed in the tray as designated by numeral 31. After the impression tray is approximately filled, a little is scraped with a knife to allow the wax to be used. This wax is preferably a physiological wax which melts at body temperature. A thin layer of this wax is put on the compound as indicated at 32. When taking an upper impression, a shellac tray 33 is placed in the mouth to cover the lower jaw. A small amount of compound is placed on the top of the lower tray as indicated at 34. A small amount of the compound is also placed on the underside of the upper tray as designated at 35: The base, plate 11. is placed on the compound 34 to rest on the lower shellac tray 33' so that it will have a definite seating in the compound' 34. The top wall· 21 will become seated in the compound 35 at the underside of the upper tray 30;

Compound 31 and wax 32 may be inserted into the upper tray 30' after a definite seating is established between the device 1Ό and' the upper and’ lower trays. The wax 32 may be slightly warmed. After the upper tray is placed into position on the upper jaw, the device 10 may be placed in the patient’s mouth, taking its definite seat which was established on both the upper and lower trays. The patient then clamps down, forcing the upper impression into its position. That is, an impression is taken in the wax on the upper tray. As the patient is clamping down, the wax is conforming itself, bringing out the necessary impression of the upper mouth, and the tissues are placing themselves in the wax.

The advantage of this apparatus and method of making impressions is that the patient produces his own physical pressure into the impression, due to the fact that the wax is a physiological wax, which means that it melts with body temperature. The apparatus is allowed to remain in the patient’s mouth for about five minutes, allowing the floating loose tissue to place itself in the impression. After about three to five minutes of pressure, the upper tray is chilled with cold water and then removed. The advantages of this apparatus and process is that the apparatus controls the loose floating tissue while the impression is being taken, and permits the impression of such tissue in the wax. Furthermore, the plate 17 can be rotated and thus raised or lowered according to the degree of opening of the patient’s mouth.

The tongue of the patient is received in the space or chamber 22 between the top lip 21 and bottom wall 16, thereby controlling the tongue and muscles of the lower jaw while the impression is being taken. It will be noted that the lower part of the adjustable member, that is,

2,845,708 the downwardly curved bent lips 18, will not cut the tongue, as it affords a smooth surface of contact with the tongue. The base 11 is shaped to the mandible, being horse-shoe shaped, and will rest on the compound on the lower tray which is also horse-shoe shaped. It will be noted that the upper lip 21 will become embedded in the compound 35 centrally, so as to provide for vertical pressure as the impression is being taken. The device 17 will produce uniform vertical pressure throughout the impression area. It will be noted that this apparatus controls the movable tissue while the impression is being taken, and does not allow mobility of the impression sideways, forward or rearward while the impression is being taken.

The upper lip is tilted upwardly and rearwardly somewhat to the natural position of the jaw.

With the use of this apparatus, pressure of the dentist’s thumb as heretofore used, does not have to be relied upon. Such manipulation by the dentist can exert more pressure to one side or the other, whereas with the present apparatus, the pressure is uniform throughout. Also, with this apparatus, the patient registers his own physical pressure. When the denture is placed in the mouth, the natural pressure of the lower jaw will be the same as when the impression was made.

The device 10 may be made in three sizes for different size mouths. Also, it can be made of metal, plastic, or any suitable material.

The impression of the lower jaw is taken exactly in the same manner as for the upper. The patient’s tongue can stay in place within the space 22 until the apparatus is removed from the mouth.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.