Artificial Denture.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Artificial Denture.
I, Dr. EMIL SPERLING, of 8, Theater Strasse, Königsberg, Prussia, in the German
Empire, American Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to artificial denture and consists in providing
means for dispensing with the palatal plate in cases in which it is only required
to support an artificial tooth or a few teeth at either side of the upper jaw.
In cases of this kind it has hitherto been customary to support the artificial
teeth at either side of the mouth by means of a palatal plate extending over the
greater part of the roof of the mouth and abutting with its front edge against the
inner side of the forward natural teeth.
Palatal plates of this size impair the taste and in some cases even render speak-
ing difficult in that they cause a lisping effect.
According to the present invention the teeth to be supported are attached at
either side of the mouth to a plate enclosing the gum and fitting against the
same, and the two plates, one at either side of the mouth are connected together
rigidly by means of a bow or bridge piece crossing the roof of the mouth and
lying flat against the same. The ends or one of the ends of each of the gum
plates are provided with clamps which engage the adjoining natural or pier tooth
and thus the set of teeth is secured firmly in position in the mouth.
The invention only applies to teeth of the upper set and to such cases in which
it is necessary to support one or more teeth at either side of the jaw, for instance
if some of the forward molars, or the bicuspids or even the canines are to be
replaced.
In order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference is
had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Figure 1 is a view seen from underneath, of the roof of the mouth showing the
upper set of teeth with a set of artificial teeth in position there between, the
artificial set being indicated in full lines and the natural teeth in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line A-A of Figure 1.
The artificial teeth at either side of the jaw are mounted on the plates b, b
enclosing and fitting on to the gums and the two side plates are rigidly connected
together by means of the bridge piece c, extending over and closing on to the
roof of the mouth. At one or both ends of each of the gum-plates b, b clamps d, d
are provided which engage round the next standing tooth or teeth the latter
serving as pier teeth.
It is advantageous to have a clamp at each end of each of the teeth supporting
plates arranged one at either side of the mouth but in cases where this is not
possible one clamp on each plate at one or the other end of the same will often be
sufficient to properly support the teeth.
If it should happen that a natural tooth remains standing between the arti-
ficial teeth of one and the same plate it may in some cases be possible to do with-

page_text: out the clamps on that side, since the said natural tooth would be sufficient to
support the artificial ones with the plate. In short the arrangement of the
clamps may be effected in any manner, which will appear most advantageous to
the operator and the present invention is not restricted to any particular arrange-
ment of the clamps.
The bridge piece e may also be made of any suitable material and if it should
be strong enough may be made of the same material or in one with the side
plates.
The construction and arrangement above described, renders the set of teeth
lighter than those with the palatal plate, the teeth are more easily cleaned, the
bridge piece does not impair or diminish the sense of taste, nor does it in any
way render speaking inconvenient or difficult.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. In artificial denture, the combination of side plates to support artificial
teeth at either side of the upper jaw, a bridge piece extending transversely across
the roof of the mouth to connect rigidly the two side plates and means for sup-
porting the said side plates on the adjoining natural teeth in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as described.
2. In artificial denture, the combination of side plates to fit the gums and
support the artificial teeth at either side of the mouth, and metallic bridge piece
extending transversely across the roof of the mouth to rigidly join said side
plates and clamps on the latter, to support the artificial teeth against the natural
or pier teeth, substantially as described.
חה
SM 1900
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.