Denture device

• US 20060040234A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orange County Cosmetic Dental Lab Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Orange County Cosmetic Dental Lab Incorporated
• Inventors: Posca, Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/921,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/177
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/2255 Frames for partial dentures; Lingual bars

Abstract

The present invention includes a denture device having a base configured to be positioned on a natural gum and at least partially surround the natural gum, at least one artificial gum attachable to the base, and at least one artificial tooth attached to the artificial gum. The artificial gum preferably includes a retaining portion. When the artificial gum is attached to the base, the retaining portion of the artificial gum preferably abuts to an undercut of a natural tooth to substantially secure the base, the artificial gum, and the artificial tooth to the natural gum.

Claims

1. An artificial replacement for one or more teeth, the artificial replacement comprising:

(A) a base configured to be positioned on a natural gum and at least partially surround the natural gum;

(B) at least one artificial gum attachable to the base;

the artificial gum comprising a retaining portion; and

(C) at least one artificial tooth attached to the artificial gum, wherein when the artificial gum is attached to the base, the retaining portion of the artificial gum abuts to an undercut of a natural tooth to substantially secure the base, the artificial gum, and the artificial tooth to the natural gum.

2. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 1, wherein the artificial gum is removeably attachable to the base.

3. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 1, further comprising:

(A) a male fitting connected to the base; and

(B) a female fitting attached to the artificial gum;

the male and female fitting being configured to fasten to each other thereby allowing the artificial gum and the artificial tooth to attach to the base.

4. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 1, wherein the artificial gum is configured to substantially cover the base from a front view.

5. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 1, wherein when the artificial gum is attached to the base, the artificial gum and the natural tooth define a first wall.

6. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 5, wherein the artificial gum, the base, and a second natural tooth define a second wall.

7. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 5, wherein the artificial gum and a second natural tooth define a second wall.

8. An artificial replacement for one or more teeth, the artificial replacement comprising:

(A) a base configured to be positioned on a natural gum, the base comprising;

(a) two opposing slopes; and

(b) a ridge formed at the intersection of the opposing slopes, wherein the two opposing slopes and the ridge are configured to substantially surround the natural gum;

(B) at least one artificial gum removeably attachable to the base; and

(C) at least one artificial tooth attached to the artificial gum.

9. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 8, wherein the artificial gum comprises a retaining portion that is configured to abut to an undercut of a tooth.

10. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 8, further comprising:

(A) a male fitting connected to the base; and

(B) a female fitting attached to the artificial gum;

the male and female fitting being configured to fasten to each other thereby allowing the artificial gum and the artificial tooth to attach to the base.

11. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 10, wherein the artificial gum is configured to cover a portion of the base from a front view.

12. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 8, wherein when the artificial gum is attached to the base, the artificial gum and the natural tooth define a first wall.

13. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 13, wherein the artificial gum, the base, and a second natural tooth define a second wall.

14. The artificial replacement for one or more teeth of claim 13, wherein the artificial gum and a second natural tooth define a second wall.

15. A method of making partial dentures, the method comprising:

(A) forming a base, the base being configured to be positioned on a natural gum; and

(B) forming at least one artificial gum and at least one artificial tooth, the artificial gum comprising a retaining portion, the retaining portion being configured to abut to an undercut area of a natural tooth when the artificial gum is attached to the base that is positioned on a natural gum, wherein the retaining portion is configured to substantially secure the artificial gum, the artificial tooth, and the base to the natural gum by abutting to the natural tooth.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(A) providing a male fitting to the base; and

(B) attaching a female fitting to the artificial gum, the female fitting being configured to removeably attach the artificial gum to the base by uniting with the male fitting of the base.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of forming the base comprises:

(A) creating a model of a user'"'"'s natural gum; and

(B) casting the base from the model.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising modifying the model to cause the formation of a male fitting.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the cast base comprises:

(A) a natural gum enclosure configured to substantially surround an alveolar ridge; and

(B) a male fitting attached to the natural gum enclosure, the male fitting being configured to receive a female fitting attached to the artificial gum, thereby attaching the artificial gum to the base.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the cast base comprises at least one extension protruding perpendicular from the base, the extension being configured to abut to an undercut area of a natural tooth.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a plurality of artificial tooth assemblies, each of the tooth assembly comprising an artificial gum and at least one artificial tooth.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising molding at least one artificial tooth assembly from the plurality of artificial tooth assemblies onto the base.

23. A denture comprising:

(A) a support means for supporting an artificial gum, the support means being configured to be positioned on a natural gum and at least partially surround the natural gum;

(B) at least one gum means for providing an artificial gum, the gum means being removeably attachable to the support means;

the gum means comprising a retaining means for retaining the denture to a user'"'"'s natural gum; and

(C) at least one tooth means for providing an artificial tooth, the tooth means being attached to the gum means, wherein when the gum means is attached to the support means, the retaining means abuts to an undercut of a natural tooth to substantially secure the support means, the gum means, and the tooth means to the user'"'"'s natural gum.

24. The denture of claim 23, further comprising:

(A) a first fastener means for fastening the gum means to the support means, the first fastener means being connected to the base; and

(B) a second fastener means for fastening the gum means to the support means, the second fastener means being attached to the gum means;

the first and second fastener means being configured to fasten to each other thereby allowing the gum means and the tooth means to attach to the support means.

25. A method for attaching a denture to a user, the method comprising:

(A) providing a base, the base comprising a natural gum enclosure configured to substantially surround the ridge of the natural gum;

(B) providing a male fitting connected to the base, the male fitting being configured to receive and fasten a female fitting connected to an artificial gum;

(C) providing an artificial gum, the artificial gum comprising a retaining portion configured to abut to an undercut area of a natural tooth; and

(D) allowing the male fitting to engage with the female fitting and the retaining portion to abut to the undercut area of the natural tooth.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of allowing the male fitting to engage with the female fitting and the retaining portion to abut to the undercut area of the natural tooth comprises applying pressure on the artificial gum.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising lifting the artificial gum at an area substantially proximate to the female fitting and allowing the artificial gum to detach from the base.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising;

(A) positioning the artificial gum substantially proximate to the natural tooth; and

(B) tilting the artificial gum to substantially form an acute angle relative to the natural gum on which the artificial gum is configured to lay.