Dental model base assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6471513
  • Patent Number
    6,471,513
  • Date Filed
    Monday, January 29, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 29, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
    • Bumgarner; Melba
    Agents
    • Merchant & Gould P.C.
Abstract
A dental model base for supporting a cast dental model where the dental model base has preformed apertures adaptable for securing the dental model to the dental model base and for disengagably retaining a segment of the dental model representing a tooth to be repaired. The preformed apertures are formed through the dental model support surface and a projection extending into a cavity opposite the dental model support surface. The dental model base has a dental model base body which is adaptable for supporting the dental model. The dental model base body may be connected to a disposable articulator or to a metal articulator.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to a dental model base assembly and more particularly to such an assembly in which a dental base body having a plurality of apertures may be attached to a disposable dental articulator or a metal articulator.




Damaged teeth may be repaired or replaced by crowns, bridge inlays or other common dental prosthesis. A successful repair requires accurate alignment and visual uniformity of the repaired tooth with the patient's other teeth. Typically, a model is made of the patient's teeth and the prosthesis is fitted to the model and adjusted to achieve proper alignment and visual uniformity.




The model is typically formed by having a patient bite into a pliant casting material which cures to create a mold cavity having a negative impression of the patient'teeth and gums. The mold can be of all or any portion of the patient'gum line. A castable material is then poured into the negative impression to create a stone replica or dental model of the patient's teeth and gums.




To facilitate prosthesis development, the replica of the damaged tooth or teeth is severed from the remainder of the dental model. Severability is achieved by positioning the knurled end of a tapered dowel pin in the uncured stone material in correspondence with the damaged tooth or teeth. The dowel pin or pins must be carefully aligned and held in position which requires skill and time. Once the casting of the gum and teeth has hardened, the cured dental model is positioned adjacent an uncured dental model base which is held in a dental base mold. The tapered portion of the dowel pins protruding from the dental model are positioned in the uncured dental model base. To prevent bonding with the dental model base, wax may be placed between the base and the dental model and around the tapered portion of the dowel pins.




Once the dental model base has cured a saw cut on each side of the damaged tooth model is made down to the dental model base which allows removal of the damaged tooth model and the attached dowel from the rest of the dental model.




Once the damaged tooth model is removed, the prosthesis can be fitted and adjusted without the spatial limitations encountered when the damaged tooth model is joined to the full dental model. After the prosthesis is made and attached to the dental model segment, the tapered dowel attached to the dental model segment is guided into its respective aperture in the dental model base which guides the dental model segment to its position in the dental model. Alignment and visual conformity are then assessed.




Alignment is ascertained by evaluating the registration of the repaired tooth with the dental model of the patient's opposing teeth. This is achieved by connecting the upper and lower dental model with an articulator. If the prosthesis is out of alignment or does not visually conform to the rest of the patient's teeth, the dental model segment containing the damaged tooth can be removed adjusted and returned to the dental model base. This process is repeated until proper alignment and visual conformity is achieved. Thus, the model of the damaged tooth may be removed and inserted into the base repeatedly. This repeated removal and reinsertion can damage the fit of the tapered portion of the dowel pin within the cast dental model base which decreases the accuracy of the alignment procedure.




The Vertex® articulator is one disposable articulator typically used to check the alignment of repaired teeth. The Vertex® articulator is glued to a slot in the rear portion of the cast dental model bases. Other typical articulators are metal and the dental model is attached semi-permanently by applying a bonding agent, such as plaster, to the dental model base and the articulator. While metal articulators may be separated at the hinge, protruding portions of the articulator obstruct access to the dental model from certain directions. A technician may prefer using one type of articulator in certain circumstances and the other when circumstances are different.




The above described process requires time for the dental model and dental model base castings to cure. Also, skill and time are both required to accurately place the dowel pins in the dental model. Any misalignment may result in an unusable casting. Thus, considerable time is spent achieving proper alignment and allowing the dental model base casting to cure.




Some dental model bases are fabricated from plastic. In one version, a technician must drill a tapered aperture in the dental model base to accommodate the placement of the dowel pin in the dental model casting. Skill and time are required to align the dowel pin with the damaged tooth model and the plastic base and to accurately drill the tapered aperture which receives the tapered dowel pin. Another available plastic dental model base has a plurality of pre-formed apertures for receiving dowel pins which eliminate the above-mentioned drilling step. However, the apertures are not positioned to correspond with normal tooth placement.




Also, in some existing full arch plastic bases, plastic extends from the right molars to the left molars, creating a platform for excess casting material in the lingual area. It may be desirable to remove this excess casting material as part of the model preparation process. The plastic platform interferes with this removal step. The platform also may hinder assessment of visual conformity.




In summary, the dowel pins may be accurately aligned with the damaged tooth in a cast dental model base; however, the casting procedure takes time and requires skill. Plastic bases avoid the expense of casting a dental model base but may require additional steps, such as drilling, for accurate placement of a dowel within the dental model. If the plastic base has preformed apertures for dowel placement, the apertures often do not correspond to normal tooth placement and skill is required to accurately place the dowels within the dental model. Inaccurate placement of the dowel in a cast or preformed dental model base may result in an unusable dental model as the dental model segment may be unseverable from the dental model.




As mentioned above, brass dowels or pins are typically used to detachably engage a dental model segment to the dental model base. However, brass dowels are undesirable in some circumstances. For example, porcelain facings are often created to repair damaged teeth. The green porcelain material is applied to a damaged tooth model and the dental model segment containing the tooth model is heated to set the porcelain material. This heating temperature is elevated and will adversely affect typical metal dowels.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,489 addresses many of the concerns raised above, and is incorporated herein by reference.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The inventions claimed herein are directed to improvements to prior art dental model bases.




One embodiment has a dental model mounting surface. A wall extends from the second side of the dental model mounting surface. The interior surface of the wall defines a cavity. A plurality of projections extend from the second side of the dental model mounting surface into the cavity.




The projections define a plurality of tapered apertures extending from the first side of the dental model mounting surface.




In another embodiment, a single projection extends into the cavity described above. The projection defines a plurality of tapered apertures extending from the dental model support surface described above.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 9

is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

depicts a full arch embodiment of one aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment, the dental model support surface


20


has an interior edge


22


and an exterior edge


24


. The interior edge


22


defined an unobstructed lingual area. The dental model support surface


20


is the portion of the dental model base


26


adapted to support a dental model. The dental model base


26


has a first end


28


and a second end


30


.




A plurality of apertures


32


are formed in the dental model support surface


20


. In this embodiment, the apertures


32


form an interior row


34


and an exterior row


36


. The apertures of the exterior row


36


are off-set from and adjacent the apertures of the interior row


34


. The interior row


34


and the exterior row


36


are positioned to track the normal tooth line of a patient. A plurality of indexing studs


38


are in rows adjacent the interior edge


22


and exterior edge


24


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, a receiver


40


is at the dental model base first end


28


. A pair of hemispheric sockets


42


are at the dental model base second end


30


. A bar


44


is interposed between the sockets


42


at the second end


30


of the dental model base


26


. In one embodiment, the dental model base


26


is made of a polycarbonate such as Lexan.





FIG. 3

is a cross-section of the dental model base


26


. An exterior wall


46


extends from the dental model support surface


20


. An interior wall


48


also extends from the dental model support surface


20


. A cavity


50


is defined by the interior wall


48


, the exterior wall


46


and the dental model support surface


20


. A projection


52


extends from the dental model support surface


20


into the cavity


50


. Apertures


32


extend through the projection


52


from the dental model support surface


20


. The apertures


32


have an interior wall


54


. In one embodiment, the majority of the aperture interior wall


54


tapers at a two degree angle relative to the centerline of the aperture


32


. In this embodiment, the 0.05 inches of the aperture remote from the dental model support surface


20


is not tapered.




The apertures


32


are adapted to slidingly receive pins


56


. Pins


56


have a tapered end


58


and a knurled end


60


. In one embodiment, pins


56


are tapered at a two degree angle relative to the centerline of the pin. In one embodiment, the pins


50


are made of stainless steel and have at least a twenty micron finish. The twenty micron finish promotes the sliding engagement of the pin


56


with the aperture


32


and reduces the likelihood a pin


56


will stick to the aperture


32


. In one embodiment, the radial dimensional tolerances for the pins


56


are held within 0.005 inches. In one embodiment, the tapered portion of the pins


60


extends beyond the projection


52


into the cavity


50


.





FIG. 4

is a view of the dental model base second end


30


. The bar


44


has a slot


62


extending along the bar


44


between the hemispheric sockets


42


. In one embodiment, the slot


62


extends through the bar. In another embodiment, the slot


62


only extends into the bar


44


. In one embodiment, the bar


44


is formed with the dental model base


26


. In another embodiment, the bar


44


slidingly engages the dental model base


26


and may be glued to the base


26


. In one embodiment, the slot


62


is adapted to receive an articulator attachment tongue. In another embodiment, the hemispheric sockets


42


are adapted to receive a ball connected to an articulator.





FIG. 5

is a view of one embodiment of the present invention adapted for use with a quadrant dental model.

FIG. 6

is view of the second end


3


O


a


of the quadrant dental model base


26




a.


One hemispheric socket


42




a


is located at the quadrant dental model second end


30




a.


In one embodiment, the socket


42




a


is adapted to receive an articulator ball. A slot


64


is formed across the hemispheric socket


42




a.


The slot


64


is adapted to receive an articulator attachment tongue.





FIG. 7

is a side view of the quadrant base


26




a.


The slot


64


is depicted at the second end


30




a


of the quadrant base


26




a.


The receiver


40




a


is at the first end


28




a


of the quadrant base.





FIG. 8

is a view of one embodiment of the present invention having a single row of apertures


32




c


in the dental model support surface


20




b.


The apertures


32




b


are placed to correspond to the normal position of a patient's teeth. As shown in

FIG. 9

, a plurality of projections


52




b


extend into the cavity


50




b


formed by the exterior wall


46




b,


the interior wall


48




b


and the dental model support surface


20




b.


Tapered apertures


32




b


extend through the dental model support surface


20




b


and the projections


52




b.


The tapered apertures


32




b


are adapted to slidingly receive a tapered pin as described above.




The dental model base described above may be connected to an articulator through an articulator plate or through the slot at the base's second end as described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/771,772, entitled Encased Stone Dental Model Base Body.




The foregoing describes various embodiments of the claimed invention. The claimed inventions are not limited to the embodiments described above. Numerous alternative constructions exist that fall within the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A dental model base comprising:a dental model mounting surface, said dental model mounting surface having a first side and a second side, said first side adapted to be adjacent a dental mold; a wall extending from said dental model mounting surface second side, said wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining a cavity; and, a plurality of projections extending from said dental model mounting surface second side into said cavity, said projections defining a plurality of tapered apertures extending from said dental model mounting surface first side, said apertures adapted to receive a tapered pin.
  • 2. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said apertures are in one-to-one correspondence with normal tooth placement.
  • 3. The dental model base of claim 1, further comprising a tapered pin, wherein:said tapered pin is stainless steel.
  • 4. The dental model base of claim 3, wherein:said pin has at least a 20 micron or smaller finish.
  • 5. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said apertures have a two percent taper.
  • 6. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said wall exterior surface having a latch at a first end and a socket at a second end, said latch and socket adapted for receiving an articulator attachment plate.
  • 7. The dental model base of claim 6, wherein:said wall exterior surface second end has a groove.
  • 8. The dental model base of claim 6 wherein the latch comprises a recessed portion formed in the wall exterior surface.
  • 9. The dental model base of claim 6 wherein the socket comprises an concave-shaped recess formed in the wall exterior surface.
  • 10. The dental model base of claim 6, further comprising an articulator attachment plate, wherein the articulator attachment plate engages the latch and socket to secure the plate to the base.
  • 11. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said base is detachably connectable to an articulator attachment plate.
  • 12. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said base is connectable to an articulator through a ball socket connection.
  • 13. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said base is adapted to support a model of a full dental arch; said wall exterior surface defining a u-shaped member having an unobstructed lingual area; said base having a latch at a first end and a socket at a second end; and said base having a groove at said second end.
  • 14. The dental model base of claim 13, wherein:said base has a pair of sockets at said second end and said groove is interposed between said sockets.
  • 15. The dental model base of claim 14, wherein:said groove is formed in an articulator attachment bar and said articulator attachment bar is detachably connectable to said dental model base.
  • 16. The dental model base of claim 14, wherein:said groove is formed in an articulator attachment bar that is integral with said dental model base and is not adapted for detachable connection to said dental model base.
  • 17. The dental model base of claim 1 additionally comprising:an indexing member on said dental model mounting surface first side.
  • 18. The dental model base of claim 1, wherein:said exterior wall surface has a socket at second end and said socket is adapted to engage a ball connected to an articulator.
  • 19. A dental model base comprising:a dental model mounting surface, said dental model mounting surface having a first side and a second side, said first side adapted to be adjacent a dental mold; a wall extending from said dental model mounting surface second side, said wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said exterior surface generally following the contour of a predefined gum line, said interior surface defining a cavity; and, a projection extending from said dental model mounting surface second side into said cavity, said projection defining a plurality of tapered apertures extending from said dental model mounting surface first side, said apertures adapted to receive a tapered pin.
  • 20. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said apertures form two offset rows of apertures and said rows bracket the curvature of a preselected tooth line.
  • 21. The dental model base of claim 19, further comprising a tapered pin, wherein:said tapered pin is stainless steel.
  • 22. The dental model base of claim 21, wherein:said pin has at least a 20 micron finish.
  • 23. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said apertures have a two percent taper.
  • 24. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said wall exterior surface having a latch at a first end and a socket at a second end.
  • 25. The dental model base of claim 24, wherein:said wall exterior surface second end has a groove.
  • 26. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said base is detachably connectable to an articulator attachment plate.
  • 27. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said base is connectable to an articulator through a ball and socket connection.
  • 28. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said base is adapted to support a model of a full dental arch; said wall exterior surface defining a unshaped member having an unobstructed lingual area; said base having a latch at a first end and a socket at a second end; and, said base having a groove at said second end.
  • 29. The dental model base of claim 28, wherein:said base has a pair of sockets at said second end and said groove is interposed between said sockets.
  • 30. The dental model base of claim 28, wherein:said groove is formed in an articulator attachment bar and said articulator attachment bar is detachably connectable to said dental model base.
  • 31. The dental model base of claim 28, wherein:said groove is formed in an articulator attachment bar that is integral with said dental model base and is not adapted for detachable connection to said dental model base.
  • 32. The dental model base of claim 19, additionally comprising:an indexing member on said dental model mounting surface first side.
  • 33. The dental model base of claim 19, wherein:said exterior wall surface has a socket at second end and said socket is adapted to engage a ball connected to an articulator.
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