Gingival graft stabilizer

A gingival graft stabilizer has an elongate member and slanted arms extending from opposing ends of the elongate member. An anterior guide extends from one of the arms and a posterior guide extends from the other arm. The anterior guide includes spaced protrusions extending from an upper end of the anterior guide. The posterior guide includes spaced protrusions extending from opposing sides of the posterior guide. During suturing of a gingival graft, a dental surgeon holding the elongate member can stabilize and position a gingival graft on anterior gingiva using the anterior guide or on posterior gingiva using the posterior guide. Sutures can be made in the spaces between and around the protrusions of the anterior guide or the posterior guide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool that can be used for periodontal plastic surgery, and particularly to a gingival graft stabilizer for use in a suturing procedure.

2. Description of the Related Art

A Gingival Graft (GG) is a surgical procedure frequently used in periodontics to increase the amount of keratinized tissue surrounding a tooth or a dental implant. Keratinized tissue plays a major role around teeth and dental implants, helping in maintaining oral hygiene. This surgical technique can be considered an oral or periodontal plastic surgery and is relatively delicate. The process involved in the healing of this type of gingival graft can depend on many factors, including stabilization of the graft during suturing.

Gingival graft stabilization (GGS) is relatively important in periodontal plastic surgery. Current approaches and devices have drawbacks, such as graft folding, or are not effective. Dental pliers, for example, do not provide proper stabilization. Further, traditional suturing techniques can result in increased trauma to the graft during suturing.

Thus, a gingival graft stabilizer addressing the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gingival graft stabilizer has an elongate member and slanted arms extending from opposing ends of the elongate member. An anterior guide extends from one of the arms and a posterior guide extends from the other arm. The anterior guide includes spaced protrusions extending from an upper end of the anterior guide. The posterior guide includes spaced protrusions extending from opposing sides of the posterior guide. During suturing of a gingival graft, a dental surgeon holding the elongate member can stabilize and position a gingival graft on anterior gingiva using the anterior guide or on posterior gingiva using the posterior guide. Sutures can be made in the spaces between and around the protrusions of the anterior guide or the posterior guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, a gingival graft stabilizer100is shown. As shown inFIG. 1, the gingival graft stabilizer100has an elongate member102. Attached to opposing ends of the elongate member102are arms104. Each arm104extends upward at a slant or an angle from the elongate member102. For example, when the elongate member is positioned on a horizontal support surface, an angle θ1can be formed between one of the arms and the horizontal support surface and an angle θ2can be formed between the other arm and the horizontal support surface, as shown inFIG. 1. The angles θ1and θ2can be the same or different from one another. The angles θ1and θ2can be less than 90 degrees, e.g., 30 degrees or 45 degrees. An anterior guide108extends from one of the arms104and a posterior guide112extends from the other arm104. The elongate member102can be held by a user, such as a dentist, to operate, manipulate, and control the gingival graft stabilizer100. The gingival graft stabilizer100can be made from any suitable metal or plastic material.

The anterior guide108can be generally rectangular with flat upper and lower surfaces. The anterior guide108includes a bottom end111a, an opposing upper end111b, and opposing sides111and11d, extending between the bottom end111aand the upper end111b. The bottom end111acan be connected to the arm104and the upper end111bcan be free. The anterior guide108can be angled with respect to the arm104from which it extends. The upper end111acan extend above the bottom end111b. A plurality of anterior protrusions110can extend from the upper end, with openings or spacers defined between the protrusions, i.e., on both sides of each protrusion. The angle of θ1can be configured to facilitate contact of the anterior guide108with a patient's anterior gingiva. Thus, during suturing of a gingival graft, a user holding the elongate member102can use the flat surface of the anterior guide108to position and stabilize a graft on gingiva proximate a patient's anterior teeth. Sutures can be made within the spacers or openings between and/or around the plurality of anterior protrusions110. The plurality of anterior protrusions110can, thereby, be used as guiding structures during suturing of a graft for anterior gingiva.

The anterior guide108can include an extension piece106that extends between and connects the anterior guide and the arm104. The extension piece106can be fixedly or removably attached to the arm104. The extension piece106can extend at an angle with respect to the arm104, which is different from θ1. For example, the angle formed between the extension piece106and the arm104can be greater than θ1.

The posterior guide108can be generally rectangular with flat upper and lower surfaces. The posterior guide112includes a bottom end115a, an opposing upper end115b, and opposing sides115cand115d, extending between the bottom end115aand the upper end115b. The bottom end115ais attached to the arm104and the upper end115bis free. The bottom end115acan be fixedly or removably attached to the arm104. The posterior guide112can be angled with respect to the arm104from which it extends. The upper end115bcan extend above the bottom end115a. A plurality of posterior protrusions114can extend from the opposing sides115cand115d, with openings or spacers defined between the protrusions114. The angle of θ2can be configured to facilitate contact of the posterior guide112with a patient's posterior gingiva. During suturing of a gingival graft, a user holding the elongate member102can use the flat surface of the posterior guide112to position and stabilize a graft on gingiva proximate a patient's posterior teeth. Sutures can be made within the spacers or openings between and/or around the plurality of posterior protrusions114. The plurality of posterior protrusions114can, thereby, be used as guiding structures during suturing of a graft for posterior gingiva.

Referring toFIGS. 3-4, the gingival graft stabilizer100can be used in a patient's mouth116during a gingival graft procedure. Depending on the user's needs, either the flat surface of the anterior guide108or the flat surface of the posterior guide112can be used to apply a gingival graft120to a patient's gingiva118. Sutures can be made between and around the protrusions110and114during a suturing technique. The gingival graft stabilizer100can be used for grafts associated with dental implants (FIG. 3) and/or with natural teeth (FIG. 4). It should be noted that the gingival graft stabilizer100can be used in gingival graft procedures as well as other dental procedures. For example, the gingival graft stabilizer100can be used in other periodontal (gum) procedures, oral surgery, or any other dental surgery utilizing graft or membrane applications. Additionally, the gingival graft stabilizer100can come in various sizes. For example, the gingival graft stabilizer100can be configured to accommodate a shallow vestibule or a deeper vestibule.

The gingival graft stabilizer allows for precision of localizing a graft, such as a gingival graft, in an accurate recipient site of a patient's mouth. The anterior and posterior guides of the gingival graft stabilizer allow for relatively reduced trauma to the graft during a suturing technique. The gingival graft stabilizer allows for quick stabilization and less disrupting continuity of graft nutrition. Further, the gingival graft stabilizer allows for decreased chance of shrinkage of the graft. Generally, decreased shrinkage indicates a successful treatment. The arms of the gingival graft stabilizer can be positioned at multiple angles for efficient access into an anterior region and a posterior region of a patient's mouth.