Patent ID: 8827696
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a palatal portion of an orthodontic retainer, comprising: providing a blocked out duplicate of a patient's palate and upper teeth; providing a sheet of malleable material; warming up said sheet of malleable material; creating a palatal impression by pressing said warmed up sheet of malleable material against said blocked out duplicate of a patient's palate; placing said palatal impression on a sprue tree; enclosing said sprue tree and said palatal impression in a container; creating a mold by pouring investment material around said sprue tree and said palatal impression within said container and allowing said investment material to dry; creating a negative impression of said palatal impression within said mold by heating a hardened shell within a heating device to melt said palatal impression; heating a metal material until said metal material is molten, wherein said metal material is comprised of cobalt, chromium and molybdenum; inserting said molten metal material into said negative impression of said palatal impression within said mold; cooling said mold to form a palatal portion formed from said metal material; and removing said palatal portion from said hardened shell, wherein said palatal portion is comprised of a thickness between 0.20 millimeters and 0.30 millimeters.