Patent US4909736A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4909736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of repairing a tooth and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-04-27
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Granted: 1990-03-20
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Expires: 2008-04-27
Abstract
Abstract The method of repairing a tooth involves positioning a selected medium contiguous a location of the tooth to be repaired, placing a heat-shrinkable overlay around the tooth for covering the selected medium, heating the overlay to a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage thereof and thereby operating on the medium. The overlay is subsequently removed to expose a repaired tooth requiring little or no additional post-cure finishing.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Ritter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C5/00; A61C5/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/19; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24669; Y10T428/24694
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of repairing a tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a selected medium contiguous a location of a tooth to be repaired; (b) placing a heat-shrinkable overlay around the tooth and covering the positioned medium; (c) heating the overlay to a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage thereof so that the overlay operates on the medium; and, (d) removing the overlay.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of repairing a tooth, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a selected medium contiguous a location of a tooth to be repaired; (b) placing a heat-shrinkable overlay around the tooth and covering the positioned medium; (c) heating the overlay to a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage thereof so that the overlay operates on the medium; and, (d) removing the overlay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) curing the medium with light prior to removal of the overlay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, including the steps of: (a) preparing the location by drilling a portion of the tooth; and, (b) packing the drilled portion with the selected medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 3, including the step of: (a) selecting the medium from the group consisting of restorative, curable materials.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 3, including the step of: (a) curing the selected medium after heat shrinking the overlay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay which is a polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 6, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay which is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as in claim 6, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay which is a clear, polymeric sheet having a pliable, non-shrink border material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 8, including the step of: (a) providing a border material which is metallic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 8, including the step of: (a) providing a border material which is a celluloid material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 8, including the step of: (a) holding the overlay at least partially around the sides and top of the tooth with a multi-pronged caliper means prior to heating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay which is a cellulosic laminate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay having adhesive means at an end portion thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as in claim 13, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay having a removable release strip overlying the adhesive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 13, including the step of: (a) providing an overlay having an adhesive end portion which is of a color differing from that of the overlay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) heating the overlay with forced, warm air.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) holding the overlay against the tooth with a multi-pronged caliper means prior to heating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) providing a veneer as the selected medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 18, including the step of: (a) providing veneer selected from the group consisting of porcelain and acrylic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as in claim 18, including the steps of: (a) adhesively securing the veneer to the tooth; (b) providing a perforated overlay; and, (c) forcing excess adhesive through the perforations during heating of the overlay.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 20, including the step of: (a) curing the adhesive after heating of the overlay material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 1, including the step of: (a) providing a selected medium which has the overlay incorporated therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 22, including the step of: (a) providing the selected medium as a dental crown having an overlay skirt portion formed contiguous with an opening extending therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable light transmissive polymeric material of a selected length; (b) adhesive means coating an end portion of said length; (c) a pliable, non-shrink border material secured about said length.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable light transmissive polymeric material of a selected length; (b) adhesive means coating an end portion of said length; (c) a pliable, non-shrink border material secured about said length.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The overlay of claim 24, wherein: (a) said boarder material is metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The overlay of claim 25, wherein: (a) said metal is aluminum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The overlay of claim 24, wherein: (a) said border material is cellulosic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The overlay of claim 24, wherein: (a) a removable release strip covering said adhesive means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable material of selected length having an adhesive coated end portion; and, (b) a series of perforations extending through said length.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable material of selected length having an adhesive coated end portion; and, (b) a series of perforations extending through said length.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The overlay of claim 29, wherein: (a) said material is light transmissive and polymeric.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The overlay of claim 29, wherein: (a) a removable release strip covers said adhesive.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The overlay of claim 29, wherein: (a) said end portion is colored differently than is said length.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The overlay of claim 29, wherein: (a) said adhesive is colored differently than is said length.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable material of selected length having an adhesive coated end portion; and, (b) said end portion is colored differently than is said length.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
A dental overlay device, comprising: (a) a length of heat shrinkable material of selected length having an adhesive coated end portion; and, (b) said end portion is colored differently than is said length.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The overlay of claim 34, wherein: (a) a removable release strip covers said adhesive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |