Patent ID: 6315555
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
Series of single use maxillary print holders for realizing directly final prints of the maxillary arch around the gingival crest (5) of edentulous patients, each maxillary print holder (1) comprising:a central vault (2) of intermediate convexity corresponding to the patient's palatine vault (3);a channel (4) that surrounds the vault (2) having an approximately U shaped cross section and presenting a concave surface, the channel (4) being delimited by an external lateral wall(7);a border (8) of the external lateral wall (7) having an undulated shape that covers the tissues and corresponding projections of the lateral part of the gingival crest(5), and being provided with two lateral incisions (9), between the third and the fifth tooth, each in correspondence with the lateral vestibular frenulum, a central incision (10), in correspondence with the central frenulum;a border (13) delimiting the rear part of the print holder (1), the border (13) being substantially straight and provided with a slight convexity towards the patient's palatine vault (3), the border (13) extending to the limit between the hard and the soft palatecharacterized in that,the channel (4) is provided with two rear tissue supports (11) situated in correspondence with the area of the first upper molar and with two front paracentral tissue supports (12) situated in correspondence with the area of the lateral incisors, the supports (11,12) having a large bearing surface and being raised areas of the concave surface of the channel (4) that bear down on patient's gums, provide an adequate support preventing the print holder (1) from swivelling and moving when it is positioned on the patient and create a gap (6) of a thickness suited to the material for obtaining the prints, and in that the maxillary print holder is made of cold-polymerised polymethylmetacrylate, a rigid plastic material machinable with laboratory mills for eliminating any excess material for adapting the print holder to the patient's anatomical characteristics.