US2154499A - Dental jacket - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. B. H. EISENSTEIN DENTAL JACKET Filed Dec. 1, 1937 INVENTOR I Bernard H. Elsensfem BY Mk ATTOR Y5 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to dental appliances and has particular reference to an improved dental jacket and to a new device adapted to enter into the formation of such a jacket. It is the general object of my invention to provide a dental jacket with a reenforced biting surface. More particularly, it is an object to provide a dental jacket whose side wall fits snugly over the tooth to be jacketed, and whose top wall is of increased thickness and strength, the side and top walls being integrated into a single unit, and the upper surface of the top wall conforming exactly to the biting surface that is desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dental jacket of the foregoing character with a minimum amount ofrelatively valuable material.

A still further object lies in the provision of a novel sleeve-like device which may be sold to dentists as a new article of manufacture and which may thereupon be used by a dentist in forming a dental jacket, the device being of a character which enters into the ultimate jacket as an integral part thereof.

I achieve the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out in the manner exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational cross section through a device of the present improved character;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational cross section of the device of Figure 1, during one step of the present improved method;

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a further step in the process of making the dental jacket; and

Figure 6 is anelevational cross section of the 0 finished jacket in association with a tooth.

It will be understood that the drawing does not truly represent the relative thicknesses of the materials used, and that in large measure, the

Arranged across the sleeve near one end thereof, isa thin wall or diaphragm II, which is permanently associated with the sleeve in, by soldering, welding or otherwise. The diaphragm H is of flexible character, capable of collapsing transversely when the sleeve is deformed and its flexibility also allows said diaphragm to conform to the end of the tooth on which the jacket is to be applied, said diaphragm being formed preferably of a very thin element of platinum or the like.

To permit the sleeve H! to be deformed from the circular shape of Figure 2 to the non-circular shape of Figure 4, the diaphragm II should normally be of a size slightly greater than the cross sectional area of the sleeve l0, and to illustrate this over-sized character of the diaphragm II, I have shown the diaphragm in a concave relationship in Figure 1. It will be understood,

. however, that Figure 1 is not only exaggerated for the sake of clearness, but that it is not essential that the diaphragm normally assume the smoothly curved concave configuration shown in Figure 1.

It is contemplated that the device of the character illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 will be manufactured in quantities, and of different diameters, so that a dentist may have a supply of these devices on hand at all times.

Assuming now that the dentist is desirous of making a jacket of the presentimproved character for a tooth or tooth stump, such as that designated by the reference numeral l2, in Figure 6, he first selects a tubular device whose cross sectional area most nearly approximates the cross sectional area of the tooth to be jacketed. He then cuts the sleeve I0 to the desired length, and

I shapes the lower edge in the proper manner, as shown at l3, so that the sleeve may be snugly fitted over the tooth. Usually and preferably, the lower edge i3 is sharpened so that it will ultimately extend slightly beyond the gum line H so as to completely jacket the exposed portion of the tooth l2.

It should be noted that the cutting of the sleeve i0 is performed at the long portion thereof, leaving the chamber l5 above the diaphragm ll unimpaired. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be found desirable to reduce the depth of the chamber I5, and this may be done within the dentists discretion, without affecting the features of the present method and jacket.

After the sleeve has been cut to the desired length, and properly shaped and contoured, it is fitted over the tooth, and a mass of plastic material [6, such as wax, is placed into the chamber I5 as indicated in Figure 3.

The patient is then instructed to close his jaws, thereby making "an impression upon the mass I6, as a result of which the upper surface I! of this mass of plastic material assumes the contour of the biting surface that is ultimately desired on the jacket.

The device is then removed in its entirety from the tooth and presents an appearance such as that shown in Figure 5. It is then subjected to a casting procedure which may be of any usual character, whereby the mass I6 is replaced in its entirety by a metal casting 18 whose outer surface I9 conforms exactly to the desired biting surface.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the step of replacing the mass of wax, I6, with the casting l8, consists essentially in forming a mold of refractory material, melting out the mass l6, and then filling the mold with molten metal such as gold or gold alloys. During this casting procedure, the resultant mass I8 becomes permanently integrated, not only with the sleeve H], but also with the diaphragm ll, so that the re-- sultant jacket is an integral unit characterized by its relatively thin side wall and its relatively thick and reenforced top wall, the outer surface of the latter conforming accurately to the desired biting surface.

The jacket may then be finished off and polished in any desired manner, and preferably the upper edges of the sleeve i are ground away, so that a smooth rounded surface results as shown in Figure 6.

The jacket is then ready for application to the tooth and this is accomplished in any usual manner, the jacket being permanently held in association with the tooth by a mass 28 of suitable cement.

I am aware of the fact that tooth jackets or crowns have heretofore been made of two parts, a tubular side wall, and a top wall, these two parts being secured together by welding or otherwise. The present improvement distinguishes from such jackets by the increased thickness of the top wall, thereby imparting a greater life to the jacket, and avoiding the possibility of having the top wall worn through'prematurely.

My present invention is further characterized by the provision of the permanent diaphragm, the term permanent alluding not only to its original association with the sleeve ill, [but also to its final integration with the resultant jacket. The provision of the diaphragm is necessary to define the chamber l5, within which the plastic mass [6 is accommodated when the process is carried out. If the diaphragm were omitted, the plastic mass could be inserted into the end of the sleeve, but in withdrawing the sleeve from the tooth there would be no assurance that the plastic mass would be withdrawn with it. Furthermore, the provision of the diaphragm definitely limits the amount of relatively valuable gold or other metal that is required for the casting l8.

It should be borne in mind that the drawing is somewhat exaggerated, and that the depth of the chamber l5, and of the ultimate casting 18,

need not necessarily be as great as that shown in the drawing.

While I have referred to the sleeve as being composed of gold or its equivalents, and I have referred to the casting as being made of gold or gold alloys, and while I have found it preferable to provide the diaphragm H of a material such as platinum, nevertheless, it will be understood that my invention is not restricted to the use of these particular materials.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A dental jacket comprising a tubular sleeve deformable to fit snugly around a tooth, said sleeve having a relatively thin flexible metallic diaphragm arranged transversely therein intermediate the ends thereof, said diaphragm being of greater \area than the internal area of the sleeve whereby it may be collapsed transversely when the sleeve is deformed and to conform to the surface of the end of the tooth, said diaphragm being adapted to support a mass of material within an end portion of the sleeve.

2. A dental jacket comprising a tubular metallic sleeve deformable to fit snugly around a tooth, said sleeve having a relatively thin flexible metallic diaphragm arranged transversely therein intermediate the ends thereof, said diaphragm being of a material and of an area so related to the internal area of the sleeve that it maybe collapsed transversely when the sleeve is deformed and to conform to the surface of the end of the tooth, said diaphragm being adapted to support a mass of material within an end portion of the sleeve.

BERNARD H. EISENSTEIN.

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