The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1981
Filed:
Mar. 06, 1979
David P Nelson, Stillwater, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A dental device for isolating a region of the mouth in which dental operations are to be performed includes a frame to retain the device in the mouth in substantially vertical orientation between the inside of the lower teeth and the patient's tongue. The frame includes a palatal member that engages the roof of the mouth and a lingual member connected to the palatal member to engage the mouth generally at the mouth floor. The palatal and lingual members are resiliently biased in a direction away from each other so that upon placement of the device in the mouth the device is in compressive engagement between the mouth floor and roof. The lingual member has a first portion disposed generally above the mandibular occlusal plane and extending outward to engage the lower teeth and a second portion extending generally downward below the mandibular occlusal plane. A shield member is affixed to the second portion and is sized to shield the tongue from the lower teeth. The tongue pressing against the shield member serves to stabilize the device in the mouth against lateral displacement with the second portion of the lingual member retained against the inside of the gums below the teeth.