Tooth Rigidity Imparting Device And Method Of Implantation Thereof

Abstract

A tooth rigidity imparting device and method of implanting into a pair of adjacent teeth of which at least one tooth has lost its resistance to mobility in the jaw, including contiguous cavities being drilled in each of the teeth, the device being a rigid elongate beam member having the ends thereof located in the cavities and extending between the teeth, and with the ends encompassed by a self-hardening dental filling material in the cavities so as to form a rigidly interconnected tooth structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dental bridge and, more particularly, to a device for imparting rigidity to a pair of adjacent teeth and its method of implantation into the teeth.

It frequently becomes necessary to utilize an auxiliary means or device for imparting rigidity to a pair of adjacent loose teeth, or to at least one tooth which has lost its resistance to mobility within the jaw. The rigidity imparting device must be generally constructed of a dental bridge which connects at least two teeth, or bridges at least two teeth, of which one is looser than the other in the jaw. However, if both teeth are equally weak and loose within the jaw then, by interconnecting the two teeth in a suitably rigid manner, some enhanced degree of rigidity and stability within the jaw is imparted thereto.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Heretofore, various bridging or connecting devices for supporting and imparting rigidity to adjacent teeth have employed relatively complex connectors or interlocking arrangements which require extensive drilling of the teeth and accurate dimensioning and positioning of the locking devices. Furthermore, the prior art tooth interconnecting and rigidity imparting devices, which are also frequently employed in supporting artificial teeth or similar dental prosthesis, required the cutting through of a major portion of the tooth structure in order to facilitate the insertion of the device, thereby often causing irreparable damage to the tooth, while subjecting the patient to extreme discomfort and pain.

Other prior art tooth bridging or rigidity imparting devices which are prevalently utilized are tooth "crowns", requiring extensive and extremely costly dental procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide for a novel rigidity imparting device for connecting a pair of adjacent teeth of which at least one tooth has lost its resistance to mobility in the jaw.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method if implanting a device for imparting rigidity to a pair of adjacent teeth, of which at least one tooth has lost its resistance to mobility in the jaw.

Pertaining to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates initially drilling a distal cavity in one of the teeth adjacent to the second tooth which is adapted to be interconnected to the first tooth, and a mesial cavity in the other tooth in axial alignment with the first cavity. The rigidity imparting device is then positioned within the cavities in the respective teeth, so as to form a connecting link extending between the two teeth, and with the cavities are filled with commonly used self-hardening tooth-filling material. As the tooth-filling material hardens in each of the cavities, it permanently and rigidly grips the respective portions of the rigidity imparting device immersed therein, thereby firmly fastening the two teeth together.

In its basic form the rigidity imparting device, according to the invention, is shaped as a rod forming a bar or beam adapted to interconnect the two teeth, with the end portions of the rod being positioned within respectively each of the cavities and imbedded in the tooth-filling material. However, in order to increase the rigidity imparting effect between the two teeth, other advantageous forms may be utilized for the elongate rod or rigidity imparting device. For example, the rod may have an essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a higher resistance to bending, or a rod member having enlarged end portions adapted to be embedded in the tooth-filling material within each of the tooth cavities so as to provide larger gripping surfaces therebetween. Furthermore, the rigidity imparting device may be in the form of a plate member having numerous gripping edges, a plate having enlarged dimensioned end portions, or may be constituted of a suitable I-beam with relatively wide upper and lower flanges. Additionally, in order to enhance the extent of gripping between the rigidity imparting device and the tooth-filling material contained in each of the cavities, the rigidity imparting device may be provided with one or more through-apertures, through which the filling material is adapted to flow prior to hardening thereof in the tooth cavities.

Although the rigidity-imparting device is generally utilized for the fastening together of a pair of adjacent teeth, the rod or bar member forming the device may bridge more than two teeth so as to, at times, interconnect a larger number of teeth, for example, three teeth in which a firm or healthy center tooth in the jaw may provide an anchor for a pair of loose teeth which are positioned one on each side thereof. This, in effect will require a cavity or slot to be drilled across the full width of the center tooth, and adjacent cavities in each of the two side teeth so as to allow for passage through and positioning of a single bar member or rod in all of the cavities, the latter of which may then be filled with a suitable tooth-filling material, as previously described.

In accordance with the inventive method, the adjacent located pair of teeth initially have cavities of the distal and mesial type drilled therein in proximity to each other so as to allow for the positioning within the cavities of a bar or rod member which extends between the teeth, thereby constituting a rigidity imparting device. Subsequently, the cavities, which contain the rigidity imparting device, are filled with a suitable, commonly used tooth-filling material which then hardens within the cavities while encompassing the ends of the bar member so as to interlock the pair of teeth in rigid engagement.

Since there is no chemical bonding between the rigidity imparting bar or rod member and the dental filling material, the cavities are dimensioned so as to be in close conformance with the shape of the bar member. Furthermore, the cavities are under cut or protrusions formed therein so as to enhance in the formation of a mechanical support rigidity fastened within the teeth.

Preferably, the cavity is relatively shallow so as to avoid cutting deeply into the teeth, and thereby possibly contacting the nerves, root or irritate the gums. Generally, the teeth are splinted or interconnected by cutting the cavities into the occlusal surfaces, however, under certain circumstances the teeth may be fastened together by the formation of cavities in the lingual or buccal surfaces thereof.

When interconnecting or splinting together more than two teeth, such as three or more, the cavity cut into the center tooth or intermediate teeth extends through the full length of the tooth surface and into the mesial and distal regions of the respective end teeth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now had to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a tooth having a rigidity imparting device according to the present invention positioned therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing a pair of adjacent teeth which are interconnected by a rigidity imparting device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational front view, partly in section and on an enlarged scale, of a pair of adjacent teeth which are interconnected by another rigidity imparting device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rod member forming a rigidity imparting device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a rigidity imparting device;

FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of a rigidity imparting device;

FIG. 8 is still another embodiment of a rigidity imparting device; and

FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of a rigidity imparting device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of teeth 10 are each provided with suitable mesial and distal cavities 12 which are drilled into the sides of the teeth facing each other. At least one of the teeth, and possibly both, may be loose relative to the other tooth, or in effect, may have lost its resistance to mobility within the jaw.

An elongate bar member 14, shown in this instance formed as a rectangularly cross-sectioned plate extends between the two teeth 10 and is positioned so as to have the ends thereof located within the respective cavities 12 in each of the teeth, as shown in more particularity in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The bar member 14 is formed of a corrosion-resistant material, preferably of an inert or noble metal such as, gold, silver, titanium, platinum, stainless steel or any other metallic or rigid inert material suited for dental usage. In order to provide for or enhance mechanical bonding between the dental filling material and the bar member 14, the latter preferably has roughened or irregular surfaces or peripheral edges. The cavities 12 containing the bar member 14 are filled with a self-hardening tooth-filling material 16, in a manner as usual with respect to filling of tooth or dental cavities, whereby the filling material prior to its hardening completely encompasses the ends of the bar member 14 which project into the cavities 12, and with the material then being permitted to harden about the bar member so as to form a rigid interconnecting bridge between the two adjacent teeth 10. Although many commonly used dental filling materials may be used, preferred materials employed in conjunction with the inventive rigidity imparting device are amalgam composite or filled resins.

The outer surface of the tooth-filling material 16 may then be shaped or ground so as to conform to the natural contours of the respective teeth.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the teeth 10, each having respectively a cavity 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are interconnected by a bar member 18. The bar member 18 essentially is formed of an elongate I-beam having relatively wide upper and lower flanges 20 interconnected by a vertical web 22. The utilization of the horizontal flanges 20 will provide space therebetween which, when the cavity 12 is filled with the tooth-filling material 16 enhances the gripping effect between the latter, the teeth and the bar member 18 upon hardening of the tooth-filling material. Consequently, this will impart a greater degree of rigidity and support between the two adjacent teeth 10. In order to still further increase the degree of gripping between the tooth-filling material 16 and bar 18, the vertical web 22 may be provided with a plurality of through-apertures 24 into which the tooth filling material is adapted to flow prior to hardening, so as to provide additional gripping surfaces and zones between the rigidity imparting device and the tooth-filling material after positioning of the device within cavities 12.

Various embodiments of tooth rigidity imparting devices may be employed in connection with the present invention. Thus, for example, having reference to FIG. 5 of the drawing, in its basic configuration the device may simply comprise an elongate rod 26 having enlarged "nail-head" ends 27 of essentially circular cross-section. This type of device, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, will in all likelihood be suitable and sufficient for most ordinary requirements in which one tooth is adapted to impart rigidity to an adjacent loose tooth.

However, in order to obtain somewhat more stringent or greater degrees of support between at least two adjacent teeth, more complex forms of rigidity imparting devices may preferably be utilized.

Thus, in FIG. 6, the device takes the form of an elongate bar member 28 of essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration. The bar member 28 corresponds substantially to that of bar member 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and 2 of the drawings. However, in this instance, the bar member 28 is provided with a plurality of through-apertures 30 which permit the flow therethrough of the tooth-filling material 16 when the bar member 28 is positioned in the respective cavities 12 in each of the teeth 10, so as to increase the gripping extent between the tooth-filling material and the bar member, thereby affording a somewhat greater degree of rigidity to the attached adjacently located teeth. Although the bar member 28 is shown whereby the axes of the through-apertures 30 are horizontal and extend through the side of the bar member, it becomes readily obvious that the bar may be positioned within the tooth cavities in a flat manner, in effect, rotated through an angle of 90.degree., so as to have the apertures 30 extend vertically.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a rigidity imparting device formed of a generally flat plate 32 having a narrow central portion 34 which extends into opposite widening end portions 36. As shown the end portions 36 each are of substantially triangular configuration, however, these shapes are only illustrative, and circular, rectangular or polygonally-sided end configurations may also be employed in lieu of the triangular shapes. At least the end portions 36 may be each provided with a through-aperture 28 to enhance gripping between the bar member 32 and any tooth-filling material 16 when the bar member 32 is positioned within the cavities 12 in the respective teeth 10.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 of the drawings, the tooth rigidity imparting device has the shape of an elongate flat plate 40 having a plurality of extending gripping edges or surfaces 42 at the sides thereof along the longitudinal direction of the bar member or plate 40. The gripping edges or projections 42 will enhance engagement between the rigidity imparting device and the tooth-filling material 16 into which the former is embedded. If required, so as to still further increase the gripping engagement between the tooth-filling material and the bar member or plate 40, the latter may be provided with a plurality of through-aperatures similar to that formed in the bar members 28 or 32, in, respectively, FIGS. 6 and 7.

The tooth rigidity device illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings is primarily a modification of the bar 26 of FIG. 5, in that it provides for a circular bar 44 having enlarged spherical members 46 fastened thereto at each of its ends and with the spherical members 46 affording an enhanced gripping engagement between the rigidity imparting device and the tooth-filling material 16 into which it is embedded when positioned in the cavities of the teeth.

Numerous other shapes and configurations readily suggest themselves for the rigidity imparting device according to the invention, and it is to be noted that the embodiments shown are not limited in any particular physical sense.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A titanium rigidity imparting device for splinting at least a pair of adjacent natural teeth having cavities facing each other with at least one cavity being mesial and the other distal, said cavities being solely within the crown of the teeth, and with said cavities being adapted to be filled with a hardenable dental tooth-filling material, said device comprising: an elongate bar member forming substantially an I-beam in transverse cross-section extending between said natural teeth, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures extending through the web portion of said I-beam and being of a dimension substantially corresponding to the width of said web portion, a first end portion of said bar member being positioned in the cavity of one said tooth, a second opposite end portion of said bar member being positioned in the cavity of the other tooth, said end portions being firmly embedded in the tooth-filling material in each of said cavities forming a mechanical bond between said bar member, filling material and teeth without interfering with the pulp of the teeth so as to maintain said teeth in rigidly interconnected relationship, said bar member being positioned in said tooth cavities with the flange portions of said I-beam being in an upright position relative to the apical coronal direction, and said apertures being in a vertical relationship to said teeth.

2. A method of implanting a tooth rigidity imparting device formed of a rigid I-beam shaped elongate bar member into at least a pair of adjacent natural teeth, comprising, drilling at least mesial and distal cavities in contiguous surfaces of said teeth; positioning the ends of said bar member in said cavities so as to have said bar member extend between said teeth; and filling said cavities with a self-hardening dental filling material so as to encompass said bar member ends and from a rigidly interconnected tooth structure upon hardening of said filling material.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, comprising forming at least one aperture in said bar member, said dental filling material being adapted to extend through and fill said aperture so as to enhance the mechanical connection between said bar member and said tooth structure upon hardening of said filling material.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, comprising forming a plurality of said apertures in said bar member prior to positioning thereof in said cavities so as to be adapted to receive said dental filling material therein.