Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An assembly for forming a denture in the mouth of a dental patient comprising a tray having inner and outer walls made of formable material and approximating the shape of the patient's gums, a trough between said walls defining therewith a gum-receiving portion, a substantially U-shaped continuous slot formed in the bottom of said trough, said assembly further including a preformed unitary structure including pre-arranged individual artificial teeth and means for removably mounting said teeth in the slot of said tray, said mounting means including a preformed flange molded about the bases of said teeth to fixedly support said teeth in said preformed unitary structure, said flange extending beyond said slot onto said walls to support said teeth in said tray so that said teeth project through said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An assembly for forming a denture in the mouth of a dental patient comprising a tray having inner and outer walls made of formable material and approximating the shape of the patient's gums, a trough between said walls defining therewith a gum-receiving portion, a substantially U-shaped continuous slot formed in the bottom of said trough, said assembly further including a preformed unitary structure including pre-arranged individual artificial teeth and means for removably mounting said teeth in the slot of said tray, said mounting means including a preformed flange molded about the bases of said teeth to fixedly support said teeth in said preformed unitary structure, said flange extending beyond said slot onto said walls to support said teeth in said tray so that said teeth project through said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner walls are connected by said formable material to form a palate whereby the tray is suitable for use in forming a denture for the upper portion of the mouth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said formable material is dental baseplate wax.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said preformed flange is formed of dental acrylic resin molded about the bases of said artificial teeth.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of forming an artificial denture for the mouth of a dental patient employing a tray having a gum-receiving portion with a U-shaped continuous slot formed therein, and a preformed unitary structure including a flange mounting a plurality of pre-arranged artificial teeth on said tray with said teeth projecting through said slot, the method comprising: placing said preformed unitary structure in the gum-receiving portion of said tray so that said teeth project through said slot, placing a deformable sheet as a spacer over said tray, applying pressure to said tray having said spacer therein to conform said tray to the gums of a patient with the spacer between the surfaces of said tray and of said gums, removing said tray from said gums, applying a suitable amount of dental acrylic resin to said tray, placing said tray in contact with said gums with said dental acrylic resin adjacent said gum surfaces, simultaneously forcing said tray against said gums while allowing said dental acrylic resin to harden, removing said tray from said gums, and separating said tray from said hardened acrylic resin whereby said preformed unitary structure and said hardened acrylic resin form a unitary denture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of forming an artificial denture for the mouth of a dental patient employing a tray having a gum-receiving portion with a U-shaped continuous slot formed therein, and a preformed unitary structure including a flange mounting a plurality of pre-arranged artificial teeth on said tray with said teeth projecting through said slot, the method comprising: placing said preformed unitary structure in the gum-receiving portion of said tray so that said teeth project through said slot, placing a deformable sheet as a spacer over said tray, applying pressure to said tray having said spacer therein to conform said tray to the gums of a patient with the spacer between the surfaces of said tray and of said gums, removing said tray from said gums, applying a suitable amount of dental acrylic resin to said tray, placing said tray in contact with said gums with said dental acrylic resin adjacent said gum surfaces, simultaneously forcing said tray against said gums while allowing said dental acrylic resin to harden, removing said tray from said gums, and separating said tray from said hardened acrylic resin whereby said preformed unitary structure and said hardened acrylic resin form a unitary denture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 further including the step of fitting a shim into said tray in contact with said dental acrylic resin prior to placing said tray in contact with said gums or model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said shim is formed of woven acrylic fibers, and wherein said step of fitting said shim into said tray additionally comprises the step of soaking said shim in a solution of acrylic monomer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of applying a suitable amount of dental acrylic resin into said tray includes the steps of disposing in said tray a first layer of dental acrylic resin, then disposing in contact therewith a shim having a first surface and an opposite surface with said first surface in wetting contact with said first layer, and then disposing a second layer of dental acrylic resin in contact with said opposite shim surface.