Dental appliance for weight management

• US 20050287495A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific Intake Limited Co.
• Original Assignee: Scientific Intake Limited Co.
• Inventors: Longley, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/859,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20050287495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/140
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0096 Implants for use in orthodontic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0006 Diet or mouth appliances

Abstract

Various embodiments of dental appliances and methods are provided for managing weight loss. One embodiment is a dental appliance comprising: a palatal prosthetic having an upper surface disposed under the roof of the oral cavity and a lower surface that extends below the surface of the roof of the oral cavity for reducing the volume of the oral cavity; and means for orthodontically fixing the palatal prosthetic to a dental abutment.

Claims

1. A dental appliance comprising:

a palatal prosthetic having an upper surface disposed under the roof of the oral cavity and a lower surface that extends below the surface of the roof of the oral cavity for reducing the volume of the oral cavity; and

a dental attachment for enabling a dental practitioner to securely fix the palatal prosthetic to a dental abutment.

2. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental attachment is integrally formed with the palatal prosthetic.

3. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental abutment comprises a dental implant.

4. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental abutment comprises a tooth.

5. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental abutment comprises a bracket attached to a tooth.

6. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental abutment comprises a dental band secured to a tooth.

7. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the palatal prosthetic includes a concave surface that forms a recess between the roof of the oral cavity and the palatal prosthetic.

8. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the dental abutment comprises a dental implant including one of a female element and a male element and the dental attachment comprises the other of the female element and the male element for enabling the dental practitioner to securely mate the male and female elements.

9. A weight loss method comprising:

providing a palatal prosthetic to a patient, the palatal prosthetic having an upper surface disposed under the roof of the oral cavity, a lower surface that extends below the surface of the roof of the oral cavity for reducing the volume of the oral cavity, and a dental attachment; and

securely fixing the palatal prosthetic in the mouth of the patient by engaging the dental attachment to a dental abutment.

10. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the dental attachment comprises dental wire and wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises integrally fixing the dental wire to a bracket bonded to a tooth.

11. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the dental attachment comprises dental wire and wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises welding the dental wire to a dental band.

12. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the dental attachment comprises dental wire and wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises bonding the dental wire to a tooth.

13. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the upper surface of the palatal prosthetic includes a concave surface that forms a recess between the roof of the oral cavity and the palatal prosthetic.

14. The weight loss method of claim 13, further comprising:

inserting a dental implant; and

securely fixing the dental attachment to the dental implant.

15. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises attaching the palatal prosthetic to a bracket on at least one tooth.

16. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises attaching the dental attachment to a dental implant.

17. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises attaching the dental attachment to a tooth.

18. The weight loss method of claim 9, wherein the securely fixing the palatal prosthetic comprises securely engaging the dental attachment with a dental implant.

19. The weight loss method of claim 18, wherein the securely engaging the dental attachment with the dental implant involves a male-to-female mechanical engagement.

20. A dental appliance comprising:

a palatal prosthetic having an upper surface disposed under the roof of the oral cavity and a lower surface that extends below the surface of the roof of the oral cavity for reducing the volume of the oral cavity; and

means for orthodontically fixing the palatal prosthetic to a dental abutment.