IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTISTRY FOR EXPANDING THE UPPER AND LOWER MAXILLARY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Headridge, of 5, Lime Grove, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTISTRY FOR EXPANDING THE UPPER AND LOWER
MAXILLARY."
Sealed the 2nd October 1869, and dated the 10th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Headridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
10th April 1869.
I, PETER HEADRIDGE, of ǎ, Lime Grove, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTISTRY FOR EXPANDING THE UPPER AND LOWER
MAXILLARY," to be as follows:-
The modus operandi whereby dental malformations are now treated
is by a base or plate of vulcanite, gold, or other materials made to fit
the palate and teeth in one piece. The teeth are moved by means of
pressure interiorally against the surface by means of wedges of wood
fitted between the base and teeth. These wedges caused irritation
of the surrounding membrane. Screws and other appliances are also

page_text: resorted to having the same result. By this method dental malfor-
mations are not so successfully treated, the teeth oftentimes falling into
their original position, likewise having a tendancy to press the root of
the tooth inwards, resulting in a pressure against the nasal cavities;
these malformations often cause obstruction in the nasal cavities,
which affects the pronunciation of speech which is not relieved by the
foregoing appliances.
My improvements consist in the following, that is to say, the upper
and lower maxillary is expanded by a sectional base or plate. This
sectional base or plate can be made of vulcanite, gold, or other
materials; these sections are united by a spring or springs. The upper
maxillary is expanded by means of a sectional base or plate covering the
palate and back teeth; this sectional base or plate meets on the medial
line of the maxillary. Situated interiorally are two shoulders. on the
base near to the grinding surface of the teeth on each side to receive
and hold a spring that fits close to the base. When put in the mouth
the spring exerts pressure against the sides, causing the upper maxillary
to open in the centre, at the same time opening the nasal cavities. If
the pressure of the spring is wanted to be exerted at the front or back
of the mouth the sections are fastened by means of a small immovable
cord as required. In some cases where a strong pressure is required on
the nasal cavities a spiral spring made from steel, gold, or platina, or
flexible rubber may be extended across the top of the palate of the base..
In the lower maxillary the base or plate is divided into three or more
sections covering the lower teeth; these may have a groove to receive
the spring and sockets at the back part of the sectional base to hold the
spring which can be regulated to extra pressure against all three
sections, or only one, as the case may require.
making of steel wire, but springs of several
introduced between the sections, or a coiled
bridged across.
These springs I prefer
metals or india-rubber
spiral spring may be
The value of this Invention lies in forming the base or plate in
sections, and useing springs to expand them, which is new and never
before used for dental irregularities.
Also my appliance claims for itself much more comfort to the wearer,
inasmuch as it causes no pain or irritation or takes up any unnecessary
room in the mouth, like the present method of treating dental mal-
formations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Peter Headridge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
HEADRIDGE, of 5, Lime Grove, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Peter Headridge, Her special licence
that I, the said Peter Headridge, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter Headridge, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DENTISTRY FOR EXPANDING THE UPPER AND LOWER MAXILLARY," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Headridge, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Headridge, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The modus operandi whereby dental malformations are now treated

page_text: is by a base or plate of vulcanite, gold, or other materials made to
fit the palate and teeth in one piece. The teeth are moved by means
of pressure interiorally against the surface by means of wedges of wood
fitted between the base and teeth. These wedges caused irritation of
the surrounding membrane. Screws and other appliances are also
resorted to having the same result. By this method dental malfor-
mations are not so successfully treated, the teeth oftentimes falling into
their original position, likewise having a tendency to press the root of the
tooth inwards, resulting in a pressure against the nasal cavities; these
malformations often cause obstruction in the nasal cavities which affects
the pronunciation of speech which is not relieved by the foregoing
appliances.
My improvements consist in the following, that is to say, the
upper and lower maxillary is expanded by a sectional base or plate.
This sectional base or plate can be made of vulcanite, gold, or other
materials; these sections A are united by a spring or springs B. The
upper maxillary is expanded by means of a sectional base or plate
covering the palate and back teeth; this sectional base or plate meets
on the median line of the maxillary; situated interiorally are two
shoulders on the base near to the grinding surface of the teeth on each
side to receive and hold a spring that fits close to the base; when put
in the mouth the spring exerts pressure against the sides, causing
the upper maxillary to open in the centre, at the same time opening
the nasal cavities. If the pressure of the spring is wanted to be exerted
at the front or back of the mouth, the sections are fastened by means
of a small immoveable cord as required. In some cases where a strong
pressure is required on the nasal cavities a spiral spring made from
steel, gold, or platina, or flexible rubber may be extended across the top of
the palate of the base. In the lower maxillary the base or plate is
divided into three or more sections covering the lower teeth; these may
have a groove to receive the spring and sockets at the back part of
the sectional hase to hold the spring which can be regulated to exert
pressure against all three sections, or only one as the case may require.
These springs I prefer making of steel wire, but springs of several metals
or india-rubber introduced between the sections or a coiled spiral
spring may be bridged across.
The value of this Invention leis in forming the base or plate in

page_text: sections, and using springs B to expand them, which is new and never
before used for dental irregularities.
Also my appliance claims for itself much more comfort to the
wearer inasmuch as it causes no pain or irritation, or takes up any
unnecessary room in the mouth like the present method of treating
dental malformations.
My improvements are illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 shews upper plate A in two sections.
Fig. 2, the sections A united by means of a double curved spring (see
spring B, No. 1) fitted to the front of the palate so as to exert greater
pressure on the front of the mouth.
Fig. 3 shews sectional plate united by means of two curved springs
(see B, No. 2) fitted across the centre of the palate to exert greater
pressure on each side of the mouth.
Fig. 4, lower plate shewn in three sections, these sections are united by
a curved spring, as seen in Fig. 5.
Having thus described the nature and objects of my Invention I
declare that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Dividing the base or plate into sections.
Second. Giving these sections elasticity to follow the expansion of
the maxillary by means of springs or other elastic substances.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Headridge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of October in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
DWIED
DWIED
HEADRIDGE. (L.S.)
VIT OF TY