In-situ denture, means and method

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 2 in which thE outer and inner walls of the tray are interconnected by an integral bottom portion to form a trough having a lower portion in which the false teeth are carried and an upper portion defining the gum-receiving portion.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 3 in which impression material is also distributed on the top of the false teeth, in which said impression material on the top of the false teeth is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which the top of the false teeth are exposed by removing said impressed impression material from the top of the false teeth.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 3 in which the tops of the false teeth are covered by a space-maker prior to the application of pressure in the mouth and in which the tops of the false teeth are exposed by removing said space-maker.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 in which a former for a lower denture is prepared.

Claim 9

A method for preparing a former for an upper denture in accordance with claim 3 in which a palate portion is integral with the inner wall of the tray, in which impression material is also distributed on said palate portion, in which said impression material on said palate portion is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which said former includes an impressed palate portion of impression material supported by the tray palate portion and integral with the impressed inner wall portion.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 6 in which impression material is also distributed on the top of the false teeth, in which said impression material on the top of the false teeth is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which the top of the false teeth are exposed by removing said impressed impression material from the top of the false teeth.

Claim 11

A method in accordance with claim 7 in which impression material is also distributed on the top of the false teeth, in which said impression material on the top of the false teeth is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which the top of the false teeth are exposed by removing said impressed impression material from the top of the false teeth.

Claim 14

A method in accordance with claim 10 in which the impression of the patient''s palate and inside gum surface in the impression material is obtained by the application of pressure through the spacer by the actual palate and upper gum of the patient in the mouth of the patient.

Claim 15

A former for forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising uprising inner and outer walls forming a gum-receiving portion, false teeth having their tops exposed in the bottom of the gum-receiving portion, impressed uprising inner and outer wall portions of impression material providing an impression of the corresponding surfaces of the gums of the patient at a spaced distance from the gums, said impressed inner and outer wall portions being supported respectively by said first-named inner and outer walls, and a channel having its side walls formed by the lower portions of said impressed wall portions and a bottom comprising said exposed tops of the false teeth.

Claim 16

A former for forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising uprising inner and outer walls forming a gum-receiving portion, false teeth having their tops exposed in the bottom of the gum-receiving portion, impressed uprising inner and outer wall portions of impression material providing an impression of the corresponding surfaces of the gums of the patient at a spaced distance from the gums, said impressed inner and outer wall portions being supported respectively by said first-named inner and outer walls, and a channel having its side walls formed by the lower portions of said impressed wall portions and a bottom comprising said exposed tops of the false teeth.

Claim 17

A former in accordance with claim 12 in which the first-named inner and outer uprising walls are interconnected by an integral bottom portion to form a trough having a lower portion in which the false teeth are carried and an upper portion defining the gum-receiving portion.

Claim 18

A former in accordance with claim 12 for forming an upper denture, in which a palate portion is integral with said first named inner wall and in which an impressed palate portion providing an impression of the palate of the patient is integral with said impressed inner wall and supported by said first named palate portion.

Claim 19

A former for forming an upper denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising uprising inner and outer walls and palate portion integral with said inner wall, said inner and outer walls forming a gum-receiving portion, false teeth having their tops exposed in the bottom of the gum-receiving portion, and impressed uprising inner wall and palate portions of impression material providing respectively an impression of the inside surface of the patient''s upper gum and patient''s palate, each of said respective impressions respectively being at a spaced distance from said surface, said impressed inner wall and palate portion supported respectively by said first named inner wall and said first named palate portion.

Claim 20

A former for forming an upper denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising uprising inner and outer walls and palate portion integral with said inner wall, said inner and outer walls forming a gum-receiving portion, false teeth having their tops exposed in the bottom of the gum-receiving portion, and impressed uprising inner wall and palate portions of impression material providing respectively an impression of the inside surface of the patient''s upper gum and patient''s palate, each of said respective impressions respectively being at a spaced distance from said surface, said impressed inner wall and palate portion supported respectively by said first named inner wall and said first named palate portion.

Claim 21

In a method of forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising providing and inserting into the mouth an assembly comprising false teeth and having uprising inner and outer wall portions forming a gum-receiving portion and have curable denture-forming material in at least said gum-receiving portion, and retaining said assembly in the mouth for at least a time to cure said denture-forming material sufficiently to retain the shape of the gum of the patient: the improvement comprising providing the assembly by distributing an impression material on the uprising inner and outer walls of a tray carrying false teeth, said inner and outer walls defining a gum-receiving portion having a bottom portion in which the top of the false teeth are exposed; placing a spacer over said impression material; applying pressure to the spacer to obtain an impression of the gum of the patient in the impression material; and exposing the impression material and top of the false teeth to provide an assembly comprising the tray, impressed outer and inner wall portions of impression material supported respectively by the uprising outer and inner walls of the tray and a channel in which the top of the false teeth are exposed.

Claim 22

In a method of forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising providing and inserting into the mouth an assembly comprising false teeth and having uprising inner and outer wall portions forming a gum-receiving portion and have curable denture-forming material in at least said gum-receiving portion, and retaining said assembly in the mouth for at least a time to cure said denture-forming material sufficiently to retain the shape of the gum of the patient: the improvement comprising providing the assembly by distributing an impression material on the uprising inner and outer walls of a tray carrying false teeth, said inner and outer walls defining a gum-receiving portion having a bottom portion in which the top of the false teeth are exposed; placing a spacer over said impression material; applying pressure to the spacer to obtain an impression of the gum of the patient in the impression material; and exposing the impression material and top of the false teeth to provide an assembly comprising the tray, impressed outer and inner wall portions of impression material supported respectively by the uprising outer and inner walls of the tray and a channel in which the top of the false teeth are exposed.

Claim 23

In a method of forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising providing and inserting into the mouth an assembly comprising false teeth and having uprising inner and outer wall portions forming a gum-receiving portion and have curable denture-forming material in at least said gum-receiving portions, and retaining said assembly in the mouth for at least a time to cure said denture-forming material sufficiently to retain the shape of the gum of the patient; the improvement comprising providing the assembly by distributing an impression material on the uprising inner and outer walls of a tray carrying false teeth, said inner and outer walls defining a gum-receiving portion having a bottom portion in which the top of the false teeth are exposed; placing a spacer over said impression material; inserting said tray with impression material therein and spacer over said impression material into the mouth; applying pressure to the spacer in the mouth to obtain an impression of the gum of the patient in the impression material, removing the tray carrying the impressed impression material and spacer from the mouth; and exposing the impression material and top of the false teeth to provide an assembly comprising the tray, impressed outer and inner wall portions of impression material supported respectively by the uprising outer and inner walls of the tray and a channel in which the top of The false teeth are exposed.

Claim 24

In a method of forming a denture in-situ in the mouth of a dental patient comprising providing and inserting into the mouth an assembly comprising false teeth and having uprising inner and outer wall portions forming a gum-receiving portion and have curable denture-forming material in at least said gum-receiving portions, and retaining said assembly in the mouth for at least a time to cure said denture-forming material sufficiently to retain the shape of the gum of the patient; the improvement comprising providing the assembly by distributing an impression material on the uprising inner and outer walls of a tray carrying false teeth, said inner and outer walls defining a gum-receiving portion having a bottom portion in which the top of the false teeth are exposed; placing a spacer over said impression material; inserting said tray with impression material therein and spacer over said impression material into the mouth; applying pressure to the spacer in the mouth to obtain an impression of the gum of the patient in the impression material, removing the tray carrying the impressed impression material and spacer from the mouth; and exposing the impression material and top of the false teeth to provide an assembly comprising the tray, impressed outer and inner wall portions of impression material supported respectively by the uprising outer and inner walls of the tray and a channel in which the top of The false teeth are exposed.

Claim 25

A method in accordance with claim 17 in which the inner and outer walls of the tray are interconnected by an integral bottom portion to form a trough having a lower portion in which the false teeth are carried and an upper portion defining the gum-receiving portion.

Claim 26

A method in accordance with claim 18 in which impression material is also distributed on the top of the false teeth, in which said impression material on the top of the false teeth is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which the top of the false teeth are exposed by removing said impressed impression material from the top of the false teeth.

Claim 27

A method in accordance with claim 18 in which the tops of the false teeth are covered by a space-maker prior to the application of pressure in the mouth and in which the tops of the false teeth are exposed be removing said space-maker.

Claim 28

The method of claim 19 in which a former for a lower denture is prepared.

Claim 29

A method for preparing an upper denture in accordance with claim 19 in which a palate portion is integral with the inner wall of the tray, in which impression material is also distributed on said palate portion, in which said impression material on said palate portion is also impressed by the pressure applied to the spacer, and in which said assembly includes an impressed palate portion of impression material supported by the tray palate portion and integral with the impressed inner wall portion.

Claim 30

An in-situ formed denture formed in accordance with the method of claim 17.