Improvements in Artificial Teeth.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Teeth.
We, JOHN WESLEY MOFFITT formerly of Philadelphia but now of 59 Ewing
Street Trenton, County Mercer New Jersey Dentist, and GEORGE WASHINGTON
MARTER of 923 Spruce Street Attorney-at-Law, and JOHN RAMSEY NOLAN of
1954 Wayne Terrace Patent Solicitor, both of Philadelphia in the State of
Pennsylvania, and PETER MCGILL, Physician, of Lamberville, in the State
of New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to those artificial teeth which are provided with rearwardly-
projecting pins for their attachment to the usual base-plates. Ordinarily, the pins
of artificial teeth are of platinum, the same being inserted in the teeth previous to
the baking or the firing of the latter. While platinum is employed in preference
to the baser metals because of its much higher point of fusibility, yet there is one
objection to its use, namely, its great expense. On this account there have been
many attempts, more or less successful to obviate the use of platinum, several of
such attempts having furnished the subjects of Letters Patent.
To the same end the present invention is directed, and with this view it consists
in certain novel features of construction which will be hereinafter described and
claimed.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved tooth preparatory to the
application of the wire thereto.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the tooth with the wire applied.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, as on the line x-x of Figure 2.
Referring to these drawings-
that extends
A, represents a tooth in the body of which is a hole or perforation a,
from side to side of the tooth. Extending rearwardly from the ends of this hole
or perforation, and continuing, preferably, around the back of the tooth, is a recess
or groove a'. Although we usually form said perforation and groove in the tooth
during its moulding, yet either or both of the same may be subsequently made in
the tooth, if desired.
B, represents a piece of wire, for instance, German silver, which is applied to
the tooth as a substitute for the platinum pins heretofore used. This wire is run
through the perforation a, and the ends of the former are then bent rearwardly in
a manner to enter the lateral portions of the groove a¹. These ends are then each
given an inset b at the rear end of the tooth so as to interlock the wire with the
rearward portion of the groove, and thereby effectually secure the wire to the
tooth. This done, the ends are extended rearwardly to serve as projecting pins by
means of which the tooth may be attached to the usual base-plate. These
pins are preferably diverged from their inset portions, as seen, so that they shall
become effectually interlocked with the material comprising the base plate. While
the groove a affords a very simple and efficient means whereby the wire is
maintained rigidly in place, still it performs another very important function, that
is to say, it confines the lateral portions of the wire and prevents their projection
beyond the sides of the tooth. Thus, in our construction the adjacent teeth in a
full denture may be brought in as close contact as in the previous construction
above referred to.
Our improvement may be used in connection with block or sectional teeth just as
readily and efficiently as in single teeth. This application is so obvious that we
have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate or describe the same herein.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. The combination with an artificial tooth provided with a transverse perforation
and with a lateral groove or grooves extending rearwardly therefrom, of a wire
extending through said perforation and projecting rearward of the tooth, the sides
of the wire being engaged with said groove or grooves, substantially as described.
2. The described artificial tooth provided with the transverse perforation and
with the groove extending rearwardly from the ends of said perforation, the latter
and the groove being adapted to receive a wire, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.