MODEL FOR TOOTH COLOR MATCHING

• US 3,748,741 A
• Filed: 06/08/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John G. Yerkes Jr
• Original Assignee: John G. Yerkes Jr
• Inventors: Yerkes, John G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Louis G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lever, J. Q.
• Application Number:
  US05/260,724
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 32/71
• US Class Current: 433/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/10 Supports for artificial teeth for transport or for comparison of the colour

Abstract

Models for tooth color matching include a body member and a handle on which the body member is pivotally mounted. The body member is adapted for placement in a patient'"'"''"'"'s mouth in front of a prepared tooth, and has a sidewall portion with a generally concave inner surface providing an obstruction-free central area to accommodate the prepared tooth; an enamel-simulating veneer material may be provided on the body member if so desired.

Claims

1. In a model for tooth color matching, the combination comprising:

a body member having a thin sidewall portion adapted for placement in a patient'"'"''"'"'s mouth in front of a prepared tooth with its outer face in substantial alignmenT with the faces of existing teeth adjacent thereto and with a lower edge adjacent the patient'"'"''"'"'s gums, said sidewall portion having a generally concave inner surface providing an obstruction-free central area extending upwardly from said lower edge of said sidewall portion for the accommodation of the prepared tooth therewithin and said outer face thereof being adapted for coating with a tooth enamelsimulating veneer material, said body member also having a top wall portion adapted to seat on the top edge of the prepared tooth to mount said body member on the prepared tooth and handleengaging means on said top wall portion and spaced from said central area; and

a handle member releasably coupled with said handle-engaging means and mounting said body member for pivotal movement relative thereto.

2. The model of claim 1 wherein said outer face of said sidewall portion is configured to simulate the corresponding face of a natural tooth.

3. The model of claim 1 wherein said handle-engaging means comprises a knob extending upwardly and inwardly from adjacent an upper portion of said sidewall portion and has a ball-shaped element on its free end, and wherein said handle member includes a socket in which said ball-shaped element of said handle-engaging means is seated.

4. The model of claim 1 wherein said body member top wall portion is thin and extends laterally from the upper edge portion of said sidewall portion to provide an occlusal surface on said body member, said occlusal surface also being adapted for coating with a tooth enamel-simulating veneer material.

5. The model of claim 4 wherein said handle-engaging means comprises a knob extending upwardly from said top wall portion.

6. The model of claim 1 wherein said model additionally includes a coating of colored tooth enamel-simulating veneer material on said outer face.

7. The model of claim 6 wherein said body member is of metallic construction and wherein said vener material is a porcelain.

8. The model of claim 6 wherein the material from which said body member is fabricated and said veneer material are both synthetic resins.