Silicone-thermoplastic molded grillz

Abstract

A decorative assembly consisting of various designed ornamental frames made of dentistry metal (gold, silver, chromium, cobalt, titanium, or similar metals) with outward plating of nickel free Rhodium and gold or silver imbedded with stone patterns and securing in place by tightening prongs a silicone-thermoplastic material insert member molded by temperature to fit a group of human teeth and held in place by a suction effect. The silicone-thermoplastic material allows the decorative assembly to be removed and reinserted as desired by the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

These and other objects of the present invention will become evident from the following illustrations:

FIG. 1 is a representation of the decorative frame with the outward adjustable prongs prior to any application of heating.

FIG. 2A is a representation of the silicone-thermoplastic member prior to any heat application and positioned with the perimeter lip edge down.

FIG. 2B is a representation of the silicone-thermoplastic member prior to any heat application and positioned with the perimeter lip edge up and an end view.

FIG. 2C is a representation of the silicone-thermoplastic member prior to any heat application and positioned with the perimeter lip edge up and illustrating the curvature.

FIG. 3 is a presentation of the decorative frame with the silicone-thermoplastic member inserted into the frame (complete assembly) prior to heat application.

FIG. 4 is a presentation of the complete assembly subsequent to heat application, teeth impression and cooling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the decorative and ornamental frame that the user initially adjusts to the shape of the user's upper and/or lower set of teeth prior to heat application and insertion of the silicone-thermoplastic material.

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C illustrate the silicone-thermoplastic insert member, which is ¼ inches in height, ⅛ inches in top width, 1⅜ inches in inner length, 1⅝ inches in outer length and ⅜ inches in widest bottom width with the perimeter lip. The silicone member is designed to fit within either the upper teeth frame or the lower teeth frame with the thickness of the member not overly bulky.

The silicone insert member is constructed throughout of a single thermoplastic elastomeric composition of a suitable character of a high molecular weight polymer such that when the structure is heated to a suitable temperature, the walls thereof are softened sufficiently that they may be directly molded about the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth to provide a close interfitting about the tooth surfaces and which, upon cooling to normal temperatures, will be hardened sufficiently to retain a permanent accurate impression of the entire set of teeth, so that the assembly may be inserted and used repeatedly.

FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly of the silicone member positioned with the perimeter lip upward in the ornamental frame and the outer prongs or back hooks of the frame. The prongs are adjusted to lock in the silicone member by the user prior to heat application.

The silicone member and frame assembly is first prefitted to the user's mouth by shaping it to conform to the general shape of the teeth set.

Then, the assembly is heated by immersing in hot water to a desired softening temperature, which will change the silicone material from a non-transparent color to a transparent color. The silicone member will soften sufficiently to be molded about the teeth at a temperature in the range from about 120° F. to about 160° F. and which, upon cooling below this range of temperature and particularly to normal atmospheric or internal mouth temperatures, will permanently retain an accurate impression of the teeth.

The assembly is quickly inserted into the user's mouth and the user presses the thermoplastic material to form the impressions of the intra-oral structures. The pressure is maintained for 2 to 3 minutes while the thermoplastic material sets. The assembly is then removed from the mouth and immersed in cold water to fix the impressions as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The thermoplastic material can be shaped by placing it in the mouth of a user while it is still malleable and formable and then allowing it to set by letting it cool back to room temperature. As it cools to body temperature in the mouth of the user, it hardens in the shape that it is forced into and is therefore individualized and customized to snugly fit for the user adhering to the upper and/or lower teeth.

Where the softening temperature may be uncomfortably high for insertion directly into the mouth, the mouth tissues may be pre-cooled in any suitable manner, as by first rinsing them thoroughly with ice-water before the heated member is inserted and placed about the teeth. The chilled surfaces of the mouth and teeth protect them against possible burns and will aid in quickly reducing the temperature of the impression-taking material to that at which the teeth impression becomes permanently set in the impression-taking material. The finished device will tend to cling tightly about the teeth, so that it will not be dislodged easily in use but may be readily removed and re-inserted as desired.

Claims

1. A decorative assembly for human teeth, comprising: an ornamental frame securing in place by tightening prongs a silicone-thermoplastic insert member that is molded with heat around a group of human teeth set and the assembly is cooled and thereafter held in the mouth by a suction effect.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the decorative frame is secured to the teeth set by a silicone-thermoplastic material.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the silicone-thermoplastic material has a outer perimeter lip that provides a larger surface molding area to press into the teeth set during the heating process.

4. The decorative assembly according to claim 3, wherein the silicone-thermoplastic material does not have a perimeter lip for a greater molding surface, but all sides are perpendicular or parallel with each other.