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:
Dec. 22, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1991
John D Summer, Portland, OR (US);
Other;
Abstract
A dental splint is disclosed for changing the bite surface between upper and lower teeth to treat painful conditions such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The interocclusal splint covers the teeth of a lower dental arch and interdigitates with the teeth of a second dental arch to change the bite surface and registration of upper and lower teeth which engage it. The splint includes a clip which mechanically locks the splint onto the teeth, and a mold retaining member which extends along the occlussal surfaces of adjacent teeth. The clip is placed between the interproximal spaces which separate adjacent teeth, and a plastic material, such as acrylic, is placed over the clips. The patient bites down on the plastic material such that an impression of the teeth is made in the splint and the jaws are positioned in a comfortable therapeutic position. This device allows interocclusal splints to be formed directly in a patient's mouth, thereby eliminating the costly and time-consuming necessity of making impressions from which a dental splint is then manufactured in a laboratory.