Pin-retained inlay bridge and process of making and fitting such

• US 6,986,661 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seung-Ki Kim
• Original Assignee: Seung-Ki Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Seung-Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US10/470,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040076925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 433/180, 433/181, 433/182, 433/205, 433/210, 433/211, 433/214, 433/225
• US Class Current: 433/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/225 Fastening prostheses in the mouth securing tooth crowns in capping teeth A61C5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/26 Dentures without palates; Partial dentures, e.g. bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/35 Pins; Mounting tools or dispensers therefor

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a pin-retained inlay bridge and process of making and fitting such a bridge to a patient. This inlay bridge (100) is firmly fixed to the abutment teeth (200) using a plurality of tapered pins (p) driven into the pinholes (220) of the teeth (200) through the locking holes (121) of the inlays (120) of the bridge (100) after bonding the inlays (120) to the inlay cavities (210) of the teeth (200). This bridge (100) thus minimizes the size of the inlay cavities (210). This bridge thus protects the abutment teeth, and prevents the abutment teeth from being decayed by food which gets stuck between the bridge and the abutment teeth. The present invention also simplifies the process of making and fitting such inlay bridges as well as reduces the operational cost during a dental treatment using bridges.

Claims

1. A process of making and fitting a pin-retained inlay bridge, comprising the steps of:

forming an inlay cavity on an occlusal and/or proximal surface of each of two natural teeth around a missing tooth, and forming a plurality of inclined pinholes of 1˜

1.5 mm in depth at each of the inlay cavities, thus forming two abutment teeth;

taking an impression from clinical information obtained in the step of forming the abutment teeth, and forming an inlay bridge having two inlays respectively fitted in the inlay cavities of the two abutment teeth, with a plurality of locking holes formed on the inlay bridge at positions corresponding to said pinholes of the two abutment teeth; and

mounting the inlays of the inlay bridge to the inlay cavities using an adhesive agent such that the locking holes of the inlay bridge are aligned with the pinholes of the inlay cavities, and inserting a pin into each of the pinholes through an associated locking hole, thus fixing the inlay bridge to the abutment teeth.