Frame For Taking Bite Impressions

Abstract

A frame for taking bite impressions for making partial teeth prosthesis, extensions of prosthesis, crowns and bridges and the like, wherein at least one frame is used which runs parallel to the row of teeth for receiving bite impressions, and includes a plurality of retaining elements coupled to the frame for retaining the material which takes the impressions.

Description

This invention relates to a frame for taking bite impressions for producing partial artificial teeth, prosthesis extensions, crowns and bridges.

When partial teeth prosthesis, extensions of teeth prosthesis, crowns and bridges are made, it is common practice for the dentist to take an impression of the upper and lower jaw of the patient by using an impression tray which is covered with an impression type material. The impressions are then brought to a technical laboratory and are filled with hard calcium sulfate in order to obtain a working model. The bite blocks are prepared by the lab technician on the working model. The bite blocks consist of a base plate which is so constructed as to fit the palate of the patient's mouth and the dorsal side of the lower jaw, respectively. The bite blocks are covered with a layer of wax. The working models as well as the bite blocks are returned to the dentist who then takes the fitting. A correct fitting of the bite block is necessary, in order to make a good fitting prosthesis, because the fitting of the bite block defines the position and height between the upper and lower jaw of the teeth prosthesis. The patient's natural teeth are imprinted into the wax layer of the bite blocks which are inserted into the patient's mouth. The bite blocks are removed from the patient's mouth and are then mounted onto the working models and brought into occlusion. The working models as well as the bite blocks are then returned to the technical laboratory. The technician mounts the working model on the articulator, removes the bite blocks and sets up the teeth. The finished teeth prosthesis is then returned to the dentist for fitting in the patient's mouth. When the teeth are fitted, the dentist can determine whether or not the bite was taken correctly, and whether the technician has correctly positioned the working models on the articulator. If the bite and the positioning in the articulator were done correctly, the teeth prosthesis should fit perfectly, and only cosmetic improvements should be necessary, that is, the shape of the artificial teeth. When on the spot teeth prosthesis are made after the bite had been taken, the teeth prosthesis are made right away. Therefore, a test fitting as well as the occlusion, which would show the correct setup of the teeth prosthesis is eliminated. However, it is absolutely essential, that the taking of the bite be perfect in order to obtain a good fitting teeth prosthesis.

The taking of the bite as performed under conventional procedures, that is, by the use of bite blocks, often leads to errors, in that incorrect bites are taken from the patient. These errors are the result of the patient not biting correctly into the bite block. This happens because the bite block consists of a great deal of material, a situation which is rather unusual for the patient to have it in his mouth. Another disadvantage is that the imprint in the layer of wax is very often incorrect. This occurs due to the fact that the body heat of the patient melts and softens the wax to a certain degree, so that the bite imprint is frequently deformed. Since the imprints on the wax layer are only in the range of thickness of 1-3 mm, the imprints are often damaged while being transferred from the dentist's office to the laboratory. If the imprints are damaged in any way, it is impossible to obtain an exact and good fitting teeth prosthesis.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved device for the taking of the bite. This is achieved by eliminating the making of a bite block so as to shorten one step in the making of a teeth prosthesis. In the invention, at least one frame is provided which runs parallel in front of the row of teeth. This frame is provided with retention elements for the imprint material when the bite is being taken. The frame for taking the bite imprint is advantageous in that it provides a correct occlusion, which could not be obtained by the old method in using a bite block. Another advantage is that the dentist, after taking the bite impression, can immediately take the bite. This saves the patient another visit to the dentist's office.

The present method eliminates the making of a bite block. If the patient needs an upper and lower jaw teeth prosthesis, an impression would have to be taken from the patient, in order to produce a working model. Since, with the new method, the bite impression is filled up only on one side, the remaining opposite bite impression would serve as the counter model. Since the novel frame for taking the bite impression is filled up with the impression material, it is a lot easier for the patient to bite into it, than into the wax layer of the bite blocks. The dentist can now send the bite impression frame to the laboratory for making the working model, and is assured that the bite impression cannot be damaged, a defect which frequently happens with conventional bite blocks. The bite impressions show clearly the natural teeth of the patient in the upper and lower jaw. Furthermore, the gaps of the missing teeth and the gum line are also clearly shown. The bite impressions taken with the novel frame, facilitates the exact occlusion and the technician no longer has any difficulties placing the working models into the articulator.

In another embodiment of the invention, the frame for taking the bite impressions has a frame portion which runs in front of the row of teeth. The retaining elements for the impression material in this embodiment are arranged as free carrying webs, which can be easily broken off. The webs may also be arranged in such a manner in that they are freely movable in the frame.

This embodiment is advantageous in that application of this frame is extremely simple. The dentist would either break off the webs at the places where the patient still has his natural teeth, or just move the webs out of the region of the natural teeth. The remainder of the webs are then covered with impression material and shown the correct occlusion, after taking the bite. A further advantage is that only the gaps between the natural teeth are filled with impression material and the natural teeth stay free of such material. The bite frame for taking the bite impressions described in this embodiment is particularly advantageous for making partial teeth prosthesis, or extensions of a prosthesis. The webs and the frame parts may be made and delivered separately to the dentist. The dentist could then assemble the frame and the webs to the needs of the individual client.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the bite impression frame is provided as a crescent shaped frame, that is, it only extends halfway around the paitient's jaw. Such a crescent shaped frame is advantageous for taking bite impressions for bridges, and crowns. Another advantageous feature is that these crescent shaped frames are made disposable and need not be returned for cleaning.

For better handling of the novel frame, a small handle is provided in on the frame which facilitates the insertion of the frame into the mouth of the patient.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide a frame for taking bite impressions which includes at least one frame portion and a plurality of retaining elements coupled to the frame portion for holding the material to receive bite impressions.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide a frame for taking bite impressions which eliminates one of the necessary steps of conventional procedures.

It is still another object according to the present invention to provide a frame for taking bite impressions which is disposable, simple in design, easy to manufacture and inexpensive in cost.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of the bite impression frame shown with webs according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention and,

FIG. 3 shows a variation of the second embodiment in a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-B of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a frame for taking bite impressions together with webs 6c which are arranged between frame portions 1 and 2. The webs are preferably slightly arched so that they can be more easily broken off, if required. Frame portions 1 and 2 are connected by webs 3 disposed on the outer ends of the frame portions. Frame portions 1 and 2 are preferably arranged in the same plane. Frame portion 2 runs at the distal end of the tooth row.

FIG. 2 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the frame without frame portion 2 which usually would be positioned at the rear of the row of teeth. In this embodiment, free carrying webs 6 are provided at frame portion 1, which runs in front of the row of the teeth, in order to receive the material which takes the bite impression. To retain the material for taking the bite impression, strengthening portions 6a are provided at the free ends of webs 6 which engage the material like a barbed hook. At the places where the patient still has his natural teeth, the dentist just breaks off the webs which are made of rather brittle material. The same is true if the dentist uses the frame without second portion 2, but free carrying webs 6 can be broken off from frame portion 1 at the places where the patient has still his natural teeth.

In FIG. 3, a variation of the frame is shown in an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-B of FIG. 2. The difference is that the webs as shown in FIG. 3 are freely movable in the frame and the webs 6 are only retained at one portion of the frame. Webs 6 are provided with a T-section 6b at the point where they engage frame portion 1. A strengthening portion 6a is provided in the same manner as described with respect to FIG. 2.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for taking bite impressions for making partial teeth prosthesis, extensions of prosthesis, crowns and bridges, and the like, comprising:

a frame means, curved so as to be substantially parallel to a row of teeth, for disposal in front of the row of teeth for taking bite impressions; and

a plurality of elongated bars, detachably coupled to and slidably moveable in said frame means, and radially extending therefrom, having a spherical portion affixed to the free ends thereof for supporting and securing bite impression material to the device.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining elements are provided with a T-shaped end opposite the end to which said spherical element is affixed, and wherein said frame is provided with a vertically disposed slot extending within the periphery thereof for slidably receiving said T-shaped end and thereby permitting said retaining elements to be slidably positioned along the periphery of said frame means.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame means and said retaining elements are constructed of plastic.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein said first and second frame means and said plurality of retaining elements are constructed of plastic.

5. A device for taking bite impressions for making partial teeth prosthesis, extensions of prosthesis, crowns and bridges and the like, comprising:

a first frame means, curved so as to be substantially parallel to a row of teeth, for disposal in front of the row of teeth for taking bite impressions;

second frame means, curved so as to be substantially parallel to said first frame means, for disposal at the distal end of the row of teeth, said first and second frame means being arranged parallel to and in one plane with respect to each other;

a plurality of rigid members affixed to and connecting the free ends of said first and second frame means; and

a plurality of detachable, crescent-shaped retaining members, detachably affixed at each end to said first and second frame means, and extending radially therefrom, for supporting and securing the bite impression material between said first and second frame means on the device.

6. A device for taking bite impressions for making partial teeth prosthesis, extension of prosthesis, crowns and bridges, and the like, comprising;

a first frame means, curved so as to be substantially parallel to a row of teeth for disposal in front of the row of teeth for taking bite impressions, and

a plurality of inwardly projecting bar-like elements spaced apart and detachably coupled to said frame means, said bars approximately equal in number to the teeth in a row for supporting and securing bite impressionable material, so that selected ones of said bars corresponding to remaining teeth in a row are broken away leaving the remaining inwardly extending bars for supporting the bite impressionable material.