Plug forming removable closure in openings of dental appliances and the like

• US 5,064,373 A
• Filed: 10/31/1989
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Attachments International
• Original Assignee: Attachments International
• Inventors: Staubli, Edgar K., Staubli, Peter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US07/429,756
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 433/167, 433/171, 433/172, 433/173, 433/174, 433/220, 433/221
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/273 removably secured to residual teeth by using bolts or locks
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0048 Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars A61C8/0028 takes precedence

Abstract

A plug and method of its use are disclosed for forming a removable closure in openings of dental appliances or other physiological appliances, the plug including an elongated shaft portion having a diameter mating with the opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged by up to about 5%, more preferably about 1-5% and most preferably about 1-2% relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus having a radial thickness of up to about 20% and more preferably about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged plug end, the enlarged plug and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material, preferably a resilient elastomer, to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged plug end in the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place. Preferably, the enlarged plug portion and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a material permitting the shaft portion to be terminated relative to and preferably flush with the outer end of the opening.

Claims

1. A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in occlusal/lingual openings of dental appliances such as artificial teeth or dentures, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, the plug comprising

an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and

an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid,

the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to develop a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening in order to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening.

2. The plug of claim 1 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the occlusal/lingual opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.

3. The plug of claim 2 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.

4. The plug of claim 1 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.

5. The plug of claim 4 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is up to about 5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.

6. The plug of claim 5 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.

7. The plug of claim 5 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-2% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.

8. The plug of claim 7 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

9. The plug of claim 8 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

10. The plug of claim 5 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

11. The plug of claim 1 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

12. The plug of claim 11 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

13. A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an occlusal/lingual opening in a dental appliance such as an artificial tooth or denture, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, comprising the steps of

forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening,

inserting the plug into the occlusal/lingual opening, and

terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the occlusal/lingual opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.

18. A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in openings of physiological appliances, the openings having substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, the plug comprising

an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mater with the diameter of the appliance opening, and

an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid,

the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged inner plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening.

19. The plug of claim 18 wherein the enlarged inner plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the appliance opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer end of the appliance opening.

20. The plug of claim 19 wherein the enlarged inner plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the appliance opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the appliance opening.

21. The plug of claim 20 wherein the enlarged inner plug end is up to about 5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.

22. The plug of claim 21 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged inner plug end.

23. A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an appliance opening in physiological appliances, the appliance opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, comprising the steps of

forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter mating with the diameter of the appliance opening, and an inner end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening,

inserting the plug into the appliance opening, and

terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer end of the appliance opening.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer end of the opening.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the opening.