Inserts for use with oral appliances

• US 20080044797A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Diamond Spring Dental Associates, P.A.
• Original Assignee: Diamond Spring Dental Associates, P.A.
• Inventors: Napoli, Salvatore, Geduldig, James, Bardach, Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/891,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20080044797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides

Abstract

The invention describes a modular inset/insert that may be selectively placed in a user prescribed location in a dental device, the purpose of which is to deliver a beneficial agent in a site specific manner. Insert designs for use with an oral appliance are disclosed. One embodiment insert in particular may include an infrastructure portion, a carrier element, and a beneficial agent. The infrastructure portion may further include a ring and mesh. Preferably, the insert is designed to be received and retained within an inset in the oral appliance. A method of manufacturing an oral appliance capable of receiving a modular inset/insert is also disclosed. Among other steps, the fabrication process includes utilizing a coping and analog for forming at least one inset in the oral appliance during molding.

Claims

1. An oral appliance comprising:

a body adapted for use in a human mouth, the body including at least one recessed inset; and

at least one cartridge insert adapted for placement in the at least one inset, the cartridge insert having an infrastructure portion and a carrier element.

2. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the body is a U-shaped carrier having at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth.

3. The oral appliance according to claim 2, wherein the U-shaped carrier is defined by three walls.

4. The oral appliance according to claim 3, wherein at least one recessed inset is located on a first wall.

5. The oral appliance according to claim 4, wherein at least three recessed insets are located on the first wall.

6. The oral appliance according to claim 4, wherein at least five recessed insets are located on the first wall.

7. The oral appliance according to claim 3, wherein at least one recessed inset is located on a first wall and at least one recessed inset is located on a second wall.

8. The oral appliance according to claim 3, wherein at least one recessed inset is located on a first wall, at least one recessed inset is located on a second wall, and at least one recessed inset is located on a third wall.

9. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the infrastructure portion includes a ring and a mesh.

10. The oral appliance according to claim 9, wherein the ring surrounds the mesh.

11. The oral appliance according to claim 10, wherein the ring has a circular cross section.

12. The oral appliance according to claim 10, wherein the ring has a trapezoidal cross section.

13. The oral appliance according to claim 10, wherein the ring has an oval cross section.

14. The oral appliance according to claim 9, wherein the inset includes undercuts for engaging the ring.

15. The oral appliance according to claim 14, wherein the inset is designed to receive and retain the cartridge insert.

16. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element includes a beneficial agent.

17. The oral appliance according to claim 16, wherein the beneficial agent is Xylitol.

18. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the infrastructure portion is semi-rigid.

19. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge insert is substantially flat.

20. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge insert is substantially curved.

21. The oral appliance according to claim 1, wherein the body includes at least three insets for receiving at least three cartridge inserts, each cartridge insert infrastructure portion having a ring, a mesh and a beneficial agent.

22. A method of manufacturing a dental device comprising the steps of:

providing a model corresponding to a patient'"'"'s teeth;

identifying a site on the model;

providing a coping having a recessed inset;

fastening the coping at or near the site;

molding a material around the model and the coping to form the dental device; and

removing the dental device from the model.

23. A cartridge insert for an oral appliance comprising:

an infrastructure portion;

and a carrier element connected to the infrastructure portion.

24. The cartridge insert according to claim 23, wherein the infrastructure portion includes a ring and a mesh.

25. The cartridge insert according to claim 24, wherein the ring surrounds the mesh.

26. The cartridge insert according to claim 25, wherein the ring has a circular cross section.

27. The cartridge insert according to claim 25, wherein the ring has a trapezoidal cross section.

28. The cartridge insert according to claim 25, wherein the ring has an oval cross section.

29. The cartridge insert according to claim 23, wherein the carrier element includes a beneficial agent.

30. The cartridge insert according to claim 29, wherein the beneficial agent is Xylitol.

31. The cartridge insert according to claim 23, wherein the infrastructure portion is semi-rigid.

32. The cartridge insert according to claim 23, wherein the cartridge insert is substantially flat.

33. The cartridge insert according to claim 23, wherein the cartridge insert is substantially curved.