DENTURE STABILIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120094253A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poetya Solutions Limited
• Original Assignee: Kamil Tech., Ltd.
• Inventors: BERGER, Uzi
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0001 In-situ dentures; Trial or temporary dentures
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/2255 Frames for partial dentures; Lingual bars
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/235 Magnetic fastening A61C8/0081 takes precedence; magnetic implants A61C8/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0048 Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars A61C8/0028 takes precedence

Abstract

A removable denture system comprising a personalized support beam fixedly attached to an individual'"'"'s alveolar ridge above the mucous membrane by a plurality of dental implants; a personalized denture conforming with dental parameters of the individual and having fixedly integrated within a bottom surface thereof a super-structure having a cross-section conforming with that of the support beam; and a denture locking arrangement for securely locking and unlocking the denture to the support beam, at substantial zero tolerance therebetween, and wherein one of the support beam and the super-structure is configured with one or more positioning grooves extending parallel to a path of insert (POI) of the denture, and the other of the support beam and the super-structure is configured with corresponding one or more laterally projecting positioning projections, each extending in register with a corresponding positioning grove and configured for snug sliding there within.

Claims

1. A removable denture system comprising a personalized support beam fixedly attached to an individual'"'"'s alveolar ridge above the mucous membrane by a plurality of dental implants;

a personalized denture conforming with dental parameters of the individual and having fixedly integrated within a bottom surface thereof a super-structure having a cross-section conforming with that of the support beam; and

a denture locking arrangement for securely locking and unlocking the denture to the support beam, at substantial zero tolerance therebetween, and wherein one of the support beam and the super-structure is configured with one or more positioning grooves extending parallel to a path of insert (POI) of the denture, and the other of the support beam and the super-structure is configured with corresponding one or more laterally projecting positioning projections, each extending in register with a corresponding positioning grove and configured for snug sliding there within.

2. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positioning grooves and/or the one or more positioning projections are configured with a tapering cross-section.

3. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein easy and correct positioning of the super-structure over the support beam is facilitated by a directive funnel-like configuration where one or more positioning groove has a widening top end and/or one or more positioning projection narrows at its bottom end.

4. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positioning grooves and the corresponding one or more positioning projections are configured on either or both a labial face and a lingual face of the super-structure and the support beam, respectively.

5. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein one or more positioning grooves extend the entire height of the respective support beam and super-structure.

6. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein where the positioning projections are configured on support beam, the super structure follows the shape of the support beam, maintaining substantially the same thickness, with corresponding decrease of thickness of the personalized denture.

7. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positioning grooves and the one or more positioning projections are configured for sliding engagement, with substantially no clearance therebetween.

8. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positioning projections extend any height ranging between the entire height of the corresponding positioning grooves and a protuberance.

9. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein one of the lower surface of the super-structure and an upper surface of the support beam is configured with recesses and the other of the lower surface of the super-structure and an upper surface of the support beam is configured with corresponding protuberances in register with said recesses.

10. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the support beam, and respectively a lower surface of the super structure are substantially flat.

11. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the support beam, and respectively a lower surface of the super structure are configured with a ridge.

12. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of the support beam, and respectively those of the super structure are substantially parallel to one another.

13. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of the support beam, and respectively those of the super structure are inclined with respect to one another at between about 0°

to 30°

.

14. A removable denture system according to claim 1, wherein the side wall surfaces of the super structure follow and correspond with the shape of the respective walls of the support beam and all said walls and surface are at substantially full contact surface with each other in a tight and snug fit, substantially eliminating any tolerances therebetween, to thereby ensure motionless fitting of the denture over the support beam and however facilitating for its easy mounting and removal, per demand.

15. A locking mechanism for a removable denture system comprising a personalized support beam fixedly attached to an individual'"'"'s alveolar ridge above the mucous membrane by a plurality of dental implants;

a personalized denture conforming with dental parameters of the individual and having fixedly integrated within a bottom surface thereof a super-structure having a cross-section conforming with that of the support beam;

said locking arrangement comprises at least one locking mechanism configured with at least one first magnetically attracted element fixed within the support beam;

a disc-like manipulator received within the denture and rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to an axis of said magnetically attracted element;

said manipulator projecting partially from at least a lingual or labial face of the denture and fixedly bearing at least one second magnetically attracted element oriented configured for magnetically attracting to said first magnetically attracted element;

said disc-like manipulator being displaceable between a locked position wherein said least one second 10 magnet extends substantially coaxial with said at least one first magnetically attracted element, giving rise to attraction force therebetween and wherein the denture is attracted to the support beam, and an unlocked position, upon rotating the disc-like manipulator, whereby the attraction force significantly diminishes so as to allow removal of the denture.

16. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein one or both of the first magnetically attracted element and the second magnetically attracted element is a magnet.

17. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein configured for rigid and securely locking and unlocking the denture to the support beam, at substantial zero 20 tolerance therebetween, such that when locked it will not spontaneously detach from the support beam and however enabling easy and readily unlocking and removal of the denture.

18. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms is configured at the posterior end of the denture system and/or at middle portions thereof

19. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms is fitted at a lingual and/or labial face of the denture, or at a top face thereof

20. A locking mechanism according to claim 16, wherein there is provided a further second magnet, with its poles reversely oriented with respect to said second magnet, whereby positioning the disc-like manipulator with the further second magnet extending over the first magnet results in rejecting force therebetween, facilitating in extracting/removal of the denture.

21. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the disc-like manipulator traverses the super structure.

22. A locking mechanism according to claim 16, wherein when two first magnets are provided, they extend along an arch line of the denture, wherein the disc-like manipulator is displaced at 90°

between its respective positions. Where only one first magnet is provided, the disc-like manipulator is displaced at between 90°

-270°

into the unlocked position.

23. A locking mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the locking mechanism comprises one or two locking recesses configured on the support beam and the denture is configured with a disc-like manipulator received within the denture and rotatable about a substantially vertically extending axis and projecting partially from at least a lingual or labial face of the denture, said disc-like manipulator configured with one or two locking members configured for locking arresting said locking recesses;

wherein said disc-like manipulator is displaceable between a locked position wherein said one or two locking members are arrested within the recesses, and an unlocked position upon rotating the disc-like manipulator, whereby the locking members disengage from the respective recesses.

24. A locking mechanism according to claim 23, wherein the locking members tangentially extend from the disc-like manipulator.

25. A locking mechanism according to claim 23, wherein the locking recesses are configured within or over a top surface of the support beam.

26. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism does not bear loads.

27. A locking mechanism according to claim 15, configured with an arrangement designed to assist in unlocking thereof, from a labial direction.