Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for constructing a precision attachment connenction between a dental prosthesis body and an anchoring crown, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a wax crown for an anchoring tooth, said wax crown containing a heat resistant female die member of a predetermined shape corresponding to that of a male portion of said attachment connection; (b) constructing a solid crown from said wax crown containing said heat resistant female die, said solid crown having a hollow space corresponding in shape to said heat resistant female die member; (c) forming a temporary heat resistant fixture having a housing shaper portion conforming in shape to an anchoring portion of said attachment connection and joined to a secondary male die member adapted to fit within said hollow space in said solid crown; (d) forming a molded wax model of said dental prosthesis body, said model including a crib portion and a molded wax housing substantially enveloping said housing shaper portion; (e) constructing a solid cast dental prosthesis having a housing portion and an integral crib portion from said molded wax model of said prosthesis; and (f) joining said solid crown to said solid cast dental prosthesis via an attachment device comprising a male die member resiliently compressible along an actuating slit and mountable within said hollow space and including an integrally formed anchoring portion mountable within the housing portion of said solid cast dental prosthesis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for constructing a precision attachment connenction between a dental prosthesis body and an anchoring crown, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a wax crown for an anchoring tooth, said wax crown containing a heat resistant female die member of a predetermined shape corresponding to that of a male portion of said attachment connection; (b) constructing a solid crown from said wax crown containing said heat resistant female die, said solid crown having a hollow space corresponding in shape to said heat resistant female die member; (c) forming a temporary heat resistant fixture having a housing shaper portion conforming in shape to an anchoring portion of said attachment connection and joined to a secondary male die member adapted to fit within said hollow space in said solid crown; (d) forming a molded wax model of said dental prosthesis body, said model including a crib portion and a molded wax housing substantially enveloping said housing shaper portion; (e) constructing a solid cast dental prosthesis having a housing portion and an integral crib portion from said molded wax model of said prosthesis; and (f) joining said solid crown to said solid cast dental prosthesis via an attachment device comprising a male die member resiliently compressible along an actuating slit and mountable within said hollow space and including an integrally formed anchoring portion mountable within the housing portion of said solid cast dental prosthesis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as in claim 1 and further including the step of coupling said attachment device to said solid crown by inserting said male die member within said hollow space and conforming it to the chewing surfaces of said crown before forming said molded wax model of said dental prosthesis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 2 wherein said secondary male die member and said housing shaper portion of said temporary fixture are formed from the same material as said female die member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said temporary fixture is formed from ceramic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said molded wax housing is configured to surround said housing shaper on all sides, except that facing said male die member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 1 and further including the step of forming projections on said housing shaper for creating a corresponding recess in said molded wax housing of said molded wax model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as in claim 6 wherein said joining step includes inserting a locking member into the corresponding recess formed in said solid cast dental prosthesis.