Method for installing a permanent bridge between a pair of abutment teeth

• US 5,772,438 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DEOM Design Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DEOM Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Deom, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,196
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 433/180, 433/181
• US Class Current: 433/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/26 Dentures without palates; Partial dentures, e.g. bridges

Abstract

A method for installing a permanent bridge over a gincival crest between a pair of abutment teeth posterior to the canines, comprising a) providing a rigid infrastructure having two wings, the infrastructure being sized to extend in between and inside the abutment teeth; b) processing the abutment teeth to form retentive dental cavities large enough to receive the wings of the infrastructure; c) applying a resistant composite to the bottom of the infrastructure, curing the resistant composite that is so applied so as to fix the resistant composite to the infrastructure and thus to form a bridge, processing the bridge to remove imperfections and placing each of the wings of the infrastructure into the corresponding cavity to ensure that the so formed bridge fits over the gingival crest; d) fixing the wings of the infrastructure embedded into the formed bridge to the dental cavities of the abutment teeth by means of an adhesive; and e) filling the occlusal part of the bridge with an additional resistant composite and finishing the bridge to give the bridge the contours of a real tooth.

Claims

1. A method for installing a permanent bridge over a gingival crest between a pair of abutment teeth posterior to the canines, said method comprising:

a) providing a rigid infrastructure having a central portion and two opposite flat wings, said infrastructure being in the form of an elongated gondola-shaped bar sized to extend in between and inside the abutment teeth;

b) processing the abutment teeth to form dental cavities large enough to receive and retain the wings of the infrastructure;

c) applying a layer of a primer adhesive to the infrastructure, applying a resistant composite to the central portion of the infrastructure, curing the resistant composite that is so applied so as to fix said resistant composite to the infrastructure and thus to form a bridge, processing said bridge to remove imperfections, and placing each of said flat wings of the infrastructure into the corresponding cavity to ensure that the so formed bridge fits over the gingival crest;

c'"'"') removing the bridge, inserting dental floss through the sides of the cavity and reinserting the bridge to make it sure that said dental floss may pass between the bridge and the abutment teeth once the installation is completed;

d) fixing the wings of the infrastructure embedded into the formed bridge to the dental cavities of the abutment teeth by means of a dual cure composite; and

e) filling the occlusal portion of the bridge with an additional resistant composite and finishing the bridge to give said bridge the contours of a real tooth.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a universal molar infrastructure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a precontoured molar infrastructure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a premolar infrastructure.

5. A method for installing a permanent bridge in a gingival crest between a pair of abutment teeth that are posterior to the canines and have fillings therein, said method comprising:

(a) providing a rigid infrastructure having a central portion and opposite flat wings, said infrastructure being in the form of an elongated gondola-shaped bar made of a strong bicompatible metal alloy, said bar having a width equal to at least 2 mm, a central thickness equal to at least 2 mm and a length sufficient to extend in between and over part of the abutment teeth;

(b) removing the fillings from the abutment teeth and processing said abutment teeth to form therein a pair of opposite slightly retentive dental cavities sized to receive and retain the opposite wings of the infrastructures;

(c) applying a resistant composite under the central portion of the infrastructure from successive angles until a bridge fitting over the gingival crest is formed, inspecting the bridge that is so formed to remove imperfections and make it sure that it actually fits over the gingival crest, and placing each of the flat wings of the infrastructure that project out from the composite into the corresponding retentive dental cavities;

(d) fixing the wings of the infrastructure to the retentive dental cavities by means of a dual cure composite; and

(e) applying an additional resistant composite to the occlusal portion of the bridge and finishing said bridge until it resembles a tooth.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step a) also comprises modifying the wings of the infrastructure with a balloon-shaped bur.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein prior to carrying out step c), a layer of primer adhesive is applied to the infrastructure.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein prior to carrying out step c), a layer of opaquer is applied to the occlusal surface of the infrastructure to maximize aesthetics.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein prior to carrying out step d), the bridge is removed, dental floss is inserted through the sides of the gum cavity and the bridge is reinserted to make sure that dental floss may pass in between the bridge and the abutment teeth once the installation is complete.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein prior to carrying out step d), a fine layer of adhesive is cured on the side of the bridge that comes into contact with the gincival crest.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein:

prior to carrying out step c), a layer of primer adhesive is applied to the infrastructure and a layer of opaque is applied to the occlusal surface of the infrastructure to maximize aesthetics; and

prior to carrying out step d), the bridge is removed, dental floss is inserted through the sides of the gum cavity and the bridge is reinserted to make it sure that said dental floss may pass in between the bridge and the abutment teeth once the installation is complete.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a universal molar infrastructure.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a precontoured molar infrastructure.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a premolar infrastructure.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a universal infrastructure.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a precontoured molar infrastructure.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein the infrastructure provided in step a) is a premolar infrastructure.