Notched pontic and system for fabricating dental appliance for use therewith

Abstract

A pontic ( 10 ) having a prefabricated notch, channel or slot ( 11 ) to physically engage and ensure a secure mechanical lock with the dental appliance ( 30 ). The invention also pertains to a method of fabricating a dental appliance ( 30 ) and a kit for facilitating the same. The invention has particular application to thermoformed, removable appliances.

1 . A thermoformed dental appliance constructed by making an impression of a patient's dentition, constructing a dental impression cast from said impression, providing a pontic having a notch pre-formed therein and fitting same to the edentulous area of the cast, temporarily adhering the pontic to the cast, thermoforming a plastic sheet over the cast to form the appliance, while allowing the pontic to dislodge from the cast and mechanically lock into the appliance.  
   
   
       2 . The method of constructing a dental appliance incorporating a pontic, comprising the steps of: 
 a) making an impression of a patient's dentition;    b) constructing a dental impression cast from said impression;    c) providing a pontic having a notch pre-formed therein and fitting same to the edentulous area of the cast, temporarily adhering the pontic to the cast;    d) thermoforming a plastic sheet over the cast to form the appliance, while allowing the pontic to dislodge from the cast and mechanically lock into the appliance.    
   
   
       3 . A pontic having a notch formed therein during manufacture.  
   
   
       4 . The method of manufacturing a pontic comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an injection mold having a cavity for forming said pontic;    b) providing notch forming means in associated with said injection mold;    c) injecting thermoplastic into said mold and allowing same to cure, so as to form a pontic having a notch formed therein.    
   
   
       5 . The method of building a dental bridge incorporating a pontic, comprising the steps of: 
 a) forming a plurality of pontics of various sizes, shapes and colors;    b) forming a mounting notch in each of said pontics in one or more locations on said pontic, providing a variety of pontics having mounting notches formed therein;    c) providing said pontics to a dental caregiver so as to provide said dental caregiver with a greater selection so that the dental caregiver has a greater statistical probability of utilizing a pontic comprising a satisfactory match to the patients teeth, with nominal customization and no notch preparation required.    
   
   
       6 . A kit for fabricating a dental appliance having at least one pontic affixed thereto, comprising a plurality of pontics of various size, shape, color, hue, brightness or combinations thereof; each said pontic of said plurality having a notch in one or more locations thereon.  
   
   
       7 . A kit as in  claim 6 , further comprising a dental compound for temporarily affixing at least one of said pontics to a dental model.  
   
   
       8 . A kit as in  claim 7 , wherein said dental compound is blockout compound.  
   
   
       9 . A kit as in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said pontics has a notch that is a lingual channel.  
   
   
       10 . A kit as in  claim 6  wherein said plurality includes pontics in the shapes of upper and lower anterior and posterior teeth or combinations thereof.