Abstract: A system of manufacturing a custom set of pre-manufactured upper and lower dentures is provided. In one form, a set of master upper and lower dentures is created. The master upper and lower dentures are used to create reusable upper and lower dental matrices, respectively. These re-usable upper and lower dental matrices are repeatedly used to manufacture upper and lower pre-manufactured or standard sized dentures, respectively. Optionally, a dental patient can have these upper and lower pre-manufactured dentures custom fit or relined to fit the dental patient's mouth to form upper reline and/or lower reline pre-manufactured dentures. The dental patient can have custom fit dentures in two visits with the dentist, even two visits in the same day.

Abstract: A mold used in duplicating a denture consists of a tissue side mold section and an exterior side mold section. The tissue side mold section is made of a dimensionally stable material, such as dental stone or an addition-cured silicone rubber, so that the tissue side of the denture can be accurately reproduced at a later time. The exterior side mold is made of a resilient material, so that the original denture and its duplicate can be removed from the mold. The mold sections are housed in a two part flask that was initially used to fabricate the mold sections. The mold is fabricated by the steps of forming an impression of the original denture, and of fabricating a replacement denture using this mold.

Abstract: The invention is based on the object of providing a method to produce a tooth restoration, in particular a tight-fitting ceramic tooth restoration, in which under avoidance of a hard-worked ceramic material and with a minimum of method steps, the outer shape of the ceramic tooth restoration being in opposition to the buccal cavity including the gradually thinning down restoration edge is manufactured in its final shape, whereby the sintering shrinkage is being taken into consideration.

Abstract: A locator or signaling device and a detector system for locating lost dentures includes a button or insert that can be mounted on the surface of an existing denture. An insert can also be implanted in a new denture. The internal signaling component is surrounded by a resin layer that can be used to bond the locator button to the existing denture and will also isolate the internal signaling component form the denture wearer's oral cavity. The internal signaling component is responsive to an electromagnetic field and emits a detectable signal when the denture is located with a specified interrogation zone or search area. Signaling components having magnetic characteristics that are altered by an incident variable electromagnetic field can be employed. The preferred location for the locator, locator strip, marker or button is on the interior lingual surface of the flange of a mandibular or lower denture.

Abstract: A device for dispensing artificial teeth comprises a tooth support ribbon (2) which is made from a flexible material and is shaped to form an arch which substantially corresponds in shape to an upper or lower natural dental arch. A set (10) of artificial teeth (11, 12) is removably mounted on the support ribbon 92) by a slot (13) in each tooth which engages with a key (16) in the ribbon (2). The teeth are arranged on the ribbon (2) in an order which simulates natural dentition. The radius of the arch may be adjusted by an extensible cross-member (3) connected at each end to the ribbon (2) and extending across the arch.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for making a customized denture from standardized segments of prefabricated prosthetic teeth which may be joined in an adjustable fashion to suit an individual oral cavity. The prosthetic tooth comprises a denture tooth bonded to its individual gum segment to form a prosthetic tooth. The gum segment forms the gum line and simplifies denture fabrication by practically eliminating the time consuming and difficult task of hand forming the gum line during the setup process. A plurality of prosthetic teeth may be adjustably joined in a lateral and/or occlusal relationship. The prosthetic teeth may be adjustable, interchangeable, and joinable with one another to suit an individual oral cavity. The array of prosthetic teeth is selected that most closely suits an individual oral cavity, then evaluated in the mouth of the patient by the dentist and the patient for the mold and shade.

Abstract: In order to solve such problem that heating a mark such as a one-chip microprocessor which is easily damaged thermally in case of curing a heat-curing resin enclosing such one-chip microprocessor could have not been essentially made in event of embedding sealably such mark in the resin section of a denture, the present invention is characterized by that a groove-shaped recess for inserting the mark has previously been defined in a wax pattern indispensable for fabrication of the denture. For defining such recess, the implement for making a recess for embedding sealably the mark which is provided with a head shaped so as to have substantially the same dimension as that of the mark is used. More specifically, the head of the implement which has been heated by hot water is pressed upon a surface of the wax pattern to define such a groove-shaped recess as a result of melting a portion of the wax thus heated.

Abstract: Coupled artificial teeth which minimize the shaping work of gum when manufacturing a denture model and eliminates residues in the plaster mold are disclosed. A coupled artificial tooth assembly includes a plurality of teeth coupled together only by wax. On the front side of the gum, the wax covers a base portion of each of the artificial teeth and fills the interdental papillae, while exposing the tooth crowns. On the backside of the gum, the wax fills the space around the bottom portion of each of the artificial teeth so that the bottom portion is almost completely exposed. The backside of the gum is substantially flush with the bottom portions of the artificial teeth and forms a bow-shaped curved surface similar in shape to a real human gum.

Abstract: A clear thermally deformable surgical or diagnostic stent which can be fitted to a fully or partially edentulous ridge and the surrounding tissue surfaces and a method of producing and fitting stents using their thermally deformable characteristics. A kit comprising a matched pair of a clear thermally deformable surgical or diagnostic stent and an identical thermally deformable interim or temporary denture and a method of producing and fitting the stent and denture using their thermally deformable characteristics. The stent and denture are formed from a doughy mixture of a plasticized liquid monomer and a methyl methacrylate polymer in a ratio of 1:3-3.5 parts by weight. When heated to a temperature above 120.degree. F. (49.degree. C.) the stent and denture are malleable and may be molded in the mouth or on a model of the patient to attain an approximation of the tissue surfaces.

Abstract: A dental prosthesis includes polymeric material formed by heat curing a polymerizable composition having at least 5 percent by weight of at least one polymerizable Monomer having at least one acrylic moiety and a gram molecular weight of at least 200. The polymeric material is preferably formed by heat curing and has an unnotched Izod impact strength of at least 2.5 and more preferably at least 3.0 ft.lb/in as measured by a Modified ASTM D256, and a flexural fatigue life of at least 20,000 flexes to failure at 0.1 inch deflection. Preferably the polymerizable monomer has a vapor pressure less than 5 mm Hg at 23.degree. C. A method of making a denture is provided which includes molding and polymerizing the polymerizable composition to form a denture.

Abstract: This device includes two separate impression-molded all gum and cap-cup encasements (upper and lower arches) with veneered artificial teeth mounted to the encasement walls. The veneered encasements comprise the completed all gum and cap-cup dental device. The completed cap-cup encasements cover the upper and lower arches of full sets of natural teeth and gums.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biocompatible ceramic dental prosthesis having a translucency similar to that of natural tooth enamel and a high mechanical strength.It comprises a rigid, porous infrastructure obtained by the reactive calcination of fine particles of alumina/magnesia spinel, alumina and magnesia, the pores of which are occupied by glass infiltrated at high temperature.The invention also relates to a manufacturing process for producing such a prosthesis.

Abstract: A thermoplastic article formed of a composition for customizable molding parts of devices such as dental plates or hand grips or sports equipment comprises a composition which is set below 37.degree. C. and is conformably moldable between about 50.degree. C. and 95.degree. C. The article can be molded, used, and re-molded and re-used, repeatedly. Such a composition may be an acrylate polymer, possibly a methacrylate polymer. The acrylate polymer may soften or become liquid in the range of 50.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. and may be mixed with another such polymer which is set at that temperature range so that a pasty moldable mass is formed, for example by warming in warm water. The invention includes a method of forming the composition.

Abstract: Methods of recording a muco-dynamic or immediate functional impression of the dental arches of a patient onto the base or peripheral borders of a prosthetic denture, or rebasing a patient's prosthetic denture, utilizing a non-ionic, non-hydrophilic, impression-forming composition comprising polyvinyl acetate, aliphatic ketones, aliphatic esters, aliphatic alcohols or aliphatic ethers, non-toxic, non-aromatic, plasticizing oils and non-toxic and non-extractable organic pigments.

Abstract: A dental ceramic material is disclosed for the preparation and repair of metal ceramic and fully ceramic dentures, which has a processing temperature of 660.degree..+-.30.degree. C., and has the following composition: 60 to 65% by weight of SiO.sub.2, 8.5 to 11% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 8 to 12% by weight of K.sub.2 O, 10.5 to 12% by weight of Na.sub.2 O, 0.7 to 2% by weight of CaO, 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.1 to 0.6% by weight of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 0.5% by weight of CeO.sub.2, 1.0 to 3.8% by weight of TiO.sub.2, 0.8 to 1.4% by weight of Li.sub.2 O, and 0.6 to 2.4% by weight of F.sub.2.

Abstract: This device includes two separate impression-molded all gum and cap-cup encasements (upper and lower arches) with veneered artificial teeth mounted to the encasement walls. The veneered encasements comprise the completed all gum and cap-cup dental device. The completed cap-cup encasements cover the upper and lower arches of full sets of natural teeth and gums.

Abstract: A prosthetic denture precursor includes at least one artificial tooth having a root portion; and a photopolymerizable denture base material holding the root portion of the at least one tooth, the photopolymerizable denture base material being deformable so that a dentally operative position of the at least one tooth in the denture precursor is adjustable, the photopolymerizable denture base material irreversibly hardening upon exposure to light so that the at least one tooth is rigidly fixed to the hardened denture base material. A method for manufacturing and using the precursor is described. This method simplifies conventional procedures of making a denture device by omitting steps of making a wax denture.

Abstract: A ceramic dental prosthesis is produced from a shaped fritted metal oxide infrastructure whose pores are filled with a glass.

Abstract: Organopolysiloxane elastomers comprising copolymers of dimethyl and methylvinyl siloxanes provide improved facial and dental prosthetic materials, and are especially useful in preventing and treating chronic tissue irritation due to hard dental polymers. They are effectively bonded to polymeric and metallic substrates as denture liners, obturators, maxillofacial prosthetic devices and appliances with a group of trifunctional silane coupling agents.

Abstract: A material pack for the preparation of plate dentures comprises an outer pack formed of a material capable of shielding active energy beams, on which the necessary particulars are specified including the size and form of the jaws, the size, form and color tone of artificial teeth and the color tone of a photopolymerizable resin and the outer pack containing therein a matrix formed of a light transmitting material, the artificial teeth provided on the matrix while a part thereof projecting from the matrix, and the photopolymerizable resin provided inside of the matrix. The matrix may be coated thereon with a material capable of shielding active energy beams.

Abstract: A denture base at least a part of which comprises a thermoplastic fluoroelastomer exhibits excellent characteristics as a denture base and particularly as a relining material for a denture base.

Abstract: A denture base of pressure-formed, superplastic alloy plate, and a method of making a metal denture base, includes providing a superplastic alloy plate and a female die having a finishing surface, and pressure-forming the alloy plate on the finishing surface of the female die at a temperature where the alloy exhibits superplasticity.

Abstract: A tooth-block for fabrication of dentures, including a horizontally deformable bar of rectangular cross-section provided along its upper margin with outwardly projecting retentions, each retention having an individual artificial tooth securely mounted thereon in spaced separation from the bar, each retention and its respective tooth being selectively positional with respect to the bar and to each other tooth.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus to fabricate economical dentures for edentulous dental patients comprising attaching full arch unitary upper and lower sets of artificial teeth to denture base material and fabricated by a process developed for the purpose of utilizing these sets of teeth and converting them into finished upper and lower dentures by the use of a specialized apparatus comprising part of the invention. The process eliminates the conventional procedure of mounting individual artificial teeth in the normal process of fabricating dentures. Dentures are also disclosed formed from individual teeth but employing a novel tacking procedure to facilitate alignment and orientation of the teeth.

Abstract: The invention provides a denture liner composition for a composite denture based on a phosphonitrilic fluoroelastomer [poly(fluoroalkoxy)phosphazene] curable at atmospheric pressure at temperatures of about 100.degree. C. or less, conveniently by immersing the packed denture flask in a water bath at the appropriate temperature. The composition includes trimethacrylate and dimethacrylate cross-linking agents for increasing liner hardness and decreasing water sorption characteristics of the cured liner. The composition preferably further includes filler materials for increasing the hardness of the liner product. The composite denture is preferably prepared in a one-step process wherein the liner composition material of a single firmness is cured in situ with the denture base material.

Abstract: A denture is made by providing an impression tray made of material malleable at less than 150.degree. F. and rigid at body temperature, heating said tray and inserting it in the mouth while malleable and at less than 150.degree. F., conforming it to the patient's mouth, measuring the vertical dimension of the patient's mouth, removing the tray, lining it with impression material, reinserting the tray to form a final impression, removing the tray, providing a bite block, attaching such blocks to the tray, inserting the tray in the patient's mouth, recording the bite registration, and using the resultant tray and bite blocks as the basis for forming a customized denture.A disposable dental impression tray is made of material which may be rendered malleable at temperatures of less than 150.degree. F., is substantially rigid at body temperature, has anterior teeth and is arranged to simulate a denture.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there can be provided a denture base for a dental prosthesis comprising a body having an inner surface to be in contact with patient's alveolus ridge; a lining layer covering the inner surface of the body; and an adhesive agent for bonding the lining layer to the inner surface of the body; wherein the body is made of polymethyl methacrylate; the lining layer is made of a rubber-like resilient material comprising an olefin thermoplastic elastomer; and the adhesive agent contains a copolymer comprising an olefin and methyl methacrylate. The denture base has an advantage that adhesive force between the lining layer and the body is strong, and the lining layer has suitable hardness for supporting the dental prosthesis.

Abstract: Process for joining ceramic components in precise spatial relationship which comprises firing the ceramic components joined by a ceramic frit on a sagger tray having a coefficient of thermal expansion that matches that of the ceramic components.

Abstract: Customized dentures are manufactured by first producing denture bases in one of a plurality of standard sizes each having sockets therein for receiving an array of artificial teeth. Next, an array of artificial teeth removably coupled together by means of a U-shaped appliance which maintains the occlusal aspects of the teeth is positioned in the sockets. Such denture bases which may be wax, uncured synthetic resin or a cured synthetic resin are then shipped and inventoried by a dentist. To fit a particular oral cavity, the dentist first makes an impression of the oral cavity and from that impression upper and lower models are casted. The dentist then selects a denture base having the artificial teeth positioned thereon in one of the standard sizes which most closely accommodates the models. The denture bases are then conformed to the surface contours of the models and the prosthetic teeth are secured in the sockets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a soft, putty-like material for lining a denture base, comprising 100 parts by weight of a monomeric compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R.sup.2 represents a residual group formed by removing a hydroxyl group from a fluorine-containing telomer having a molecular weight of less than 1500, 3 to 30 parts by weight of a fluorine-containing copolymer, 3 to 30 parts by weight of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 -alkyl acrylate or methacrylate and 0.1 to 3.0 parts by weight of a polymerization-initiator.

Abstract: A method of making a dental prosthesis includes providing an upper or a lower impression of the oral cavity of a patient; and filling such impression with a castable mixture comprising (1) a ceramic composition containing a major proportion of magnesia and a significant minor proportion of alumina and (2) an aqueous composition containing silica as the essential ingredient, the ratio of the aqueous silica composition to the ceramic composition being such as to render the latter flowable. The mixture is then permitted to harden in the impression, and the resulting hardened model is removed from the impression. Thereafter, a liquefied metal composition is spray-coated on to a selected portion of the model to form a metallic prosthetic base, which is separated from the selected portion of the model and provided with a porcelain coating on its exterior surface.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus to fabricate economical dentures for edentulous dental patients comprising attaching full arch unitary upper and lower sets of artificial teeth to denture base material and fabricated by a process developed for the purpose of utilizing these sets of teeth and converting them into finished upper and lower dentures by the use of a specialized apparatus comprising part of the invention. The process eliminates the conventional procedure of mounting individual artificial teeth in the normal process of fabricating dentures.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus to fabricate economical full arch unitary upper and lower sets of artificial teeth for use in preparing dentures for edentulous dental patients and attaching said sets of teeth to denture base material by a process developed for the purpose of utilizing these sets of teeth and converting them into finished upper and lower dentures by the use of a specialized apparatus. The process and apparatus, per se, are the subject of another related application and eliminates the conventional procedure of mounting individual artificial teeth in the normal process of fabricating dentures.

Abstract: A dental casting resin wherein the finished casting has a combined vinyl resin content of from 5 to 60% by wt. prepared by polymerizing liquid monomer, e.g. methyl methacrylate, in the presence of at least one vinyl resin and at least one acrylic resin, wherein said monomer is a non-solvent at room temperature for said vinyl resin and wherein the volume ratio of solid resins to liquid monomer is at least about 3.5:1.

Abstract: A method of making custom dentures from an uncured resin module wherein the module, molded to standard dimensions and including sockets for artificial teeth, is cooled to a low temperature to impart rigidity and prevent curing. The module with teeth in place is later conformed to a heated cast representation of the patient's oral cavity and then itself heated to cure the module thereby providing a custom denture.

Abstract: A dental prosthesis which has the whole or part of its surface which is in contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth coated with a soft, hydrophilic polyurethane is provided. The polyurethane coating has a thickness of from 0.1 to 3.00 mm when hydrated. The polyurethane is applied to the prosthesis from a non-aqueous solvent in an anhydrous state and is subsequently hydrated by soaking in water. The polyurethane is a reaction product of a mixture of polyether polyols and a di-isocyanate using an alkenediol as a chain extender. The polyurethane contains from 5 to 40% water when hydrated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient. The method starts with a try-in of the teeth in wax formed to duplicate in shape the desired form of the finished denture. An in-situ impression of the try-in in alginate is followed by placing of the teeth in the resultant impressions in the alginate and subsequent acrylic buildup and in-situ forming and setting of the final acrylic denture.

Abstract: The invention provides a denture liner composition for a composite denture based on a phosphonitrilic fluoroelastomer (poly(fluoroalkoxy)phosphazene) curable at atmospheric pressure at temperatures of 100.degree. C. or less, conveniently by immersing the packed denture flask in a water bath at the appropriate temperature. The composition includes filler materials for increasing the hardness of the cured liner, interpenetrating polymers for increasing firmness and bond strength, and cross-linking agents for increasing the tensile strength and bond strength of the cured liner. The composite denture is preferably prepared in a one-step process wherein the liner composition material of a single firmness is cured in situ with the denture base material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved tray for use in producing a denture either in-situ or by use of a model of the patient's mouth. The tray comprises a basic tray of disposable material approximating the shape of either the palate or the lower gums and having inner and outer wall portions integral therewith and forming a trough defining a gum receiving portion with a U-shape opening in the trough mounting, means for mounting a plurality of artificial teeth approximating the teeth found in either the upper or lower portion of the mouth, the mounting means having a flange portion made of dental acrylic which rests on the sides of the trough adjacent the U-shaped opening with the plurality of the teeth extending through the opening.

Abstract: An artificial denture of composite construction is provided which comprises a tooth-holding portion fabricated from a hard non-polyurethane polymer having a hardness of not less than about Shore D40 integrally chemically bonded to a mouth-engaging portion fabricated from a soft non-hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer having a hardness of not greater than about Shore A65, said polyurethane being the reaction product of a polyether polyol and an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aralkyl di- or polyisocyanate in which the isocyanate groups are directly bonded to the aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or alkyl moieties thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for forming a denture in a tray either in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient or against a model of the gums. A tray which is adapted to hold false teeth and which formable is fitted or conformed to the gums of the patient, or to an impression of the gums of the patient, while employing a spacer to separate said formable tray and gums or impression of the gums, said spacer having a thickness representing approximately the thickness of the denture-forming plastic material desired in the denture. The resulting conformed tray with the spacer separated provides a former into which liquid curable denture-forming material is then placed. The resulting assembly can then be inserted into the mouth where pressure is applied and the denture-forming material cures to form the denture which is thereafter separated from the former.

Abstract: An arrangement of artificial teeth, preferably made of methacrylate, in which the teeth are mounted at the roots end in the natural sequence on a flexible plastic strip made of acrylate plastic in such manner that movement of the teeth in relation to each other is possible without their disengagement from said plastic strip. The arrangement is suitable for the manufacture of an artificial partial or total denture, in that on a preformed prosthesis in which a part of the teeth can already be contained on the complete prosthesis base, a fixing substance is applied to the free remaining part of said prosthesis base, and the dental arrangement is fitted into it.

Abstract: The invention relates to bead polymers, useful in the provision of dental articles and made by bead polymerizing a diamine-lengthened polyurethane and a methacrylate. Also included in the invention are the dental articles made using said bead polymers.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of prosthetic dental appliances such as partials, by which the need for the formation of a refractory model is eliminated. According to the method, a resilient plastic appliance is formed by shaping heat-softenable plastic elements to fit a master model and bonding these elements together with an adhesive. The resultant plastic appliance is then removed from the model and may be used as a permanent appliance or as a model for the casting of a permanent appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article for use in creating a prosthetic denture device that is an impression tray or a denture component formed of a set of hard teeth bonded within a frame assembly formed of a permanent substantially rigid hard frame portion and an adjustable frame portion that is integrally joined to the rigid frame portion and forms part of the frame assembly. The adjustable frame portion is formed from a second composition that is centrifugally cast, and which when cured becomes rigid but not completely polymerized and therefore capable of being subsequently remolded with finger pressure when elevated in temperature. In this manner the adjustable frame portion is remoldable and conformable to desired portions of the oral cavity in the creating of an artificial denture, and the rigid frame portion formed from the first composition concurrently remains fixed as the adjustable frame portion is remolded.

Abstract: A prosthetic preform comprised of a hard base into which are molded the posterior prosthetic teeth, with the anterior prosthetic teeth being mounted in a waxy material contained in a cavity or cavities disposed in the hard base. The preform is further provided with a formable deflectable layer secured to the hard base structure and adapted to be fit to the general contours of the wearer's mouth with an impression material used to line the tissue surface of the deflectable layer to obtain an impression of the intimate detail of the edentulous tissue. The anterior teeth may thus be adjusted in position during fitting and/or anatomical features carved. A mold is made of the anterior teeth and exposed waxy material after fitting which allows casting the fitted anterior teeth in hard base material to the remainder of the hard base structure.

Abstract: A complete denture is disclosed for both maxillary and mandibular prostheses of the type having a hard base structure formed of acrylic plastic into which prosthetic teeth are set, the hard base structure fused to a deflectable tray layer of thermo plastic material which is deflectable when warm to adapt the denture to the general contours of the maxillary or mandibular ridges, a subsequent coating of autopolymerizing acrylic plastic being applied to the tray providing precise fitting of the denture to the oral contours of the wearer and stabilizing the soft deflectable tray in its newly achieved configuration.