Dental contact matrix limited

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46553-E
Application number	US-32011209-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2002
Priority date	Nov 19, 2001
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A dental contact matrix system is described for the placement of dental fillings. The dental contact matrix system includes a matrix, a retainer for placing and retaining the 5 matrix and an elastic wedge. The retainer includes two lugs or tines that fit between two teeth on the buccal and lingual sides of the teeth. The lugs are connected by a spring member that presses the lugs against the lingual and buccal sides of the teeth. There is an adaptation to hold the elastic wedge in a stretched condition between the lugs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retainer for placing and retaining a matrix in a dental contact matrix system, and for use in conjunction with an elastic “wedge”, said retainer comprising:
a first lug, to fit on one side of a proximal contact between two teeth,
a second lug to fit on the other side of said proximal contact,
a spring member connecting between said first lug and said second lug, said spring member holding said lugs such that they must be separated to fit over said proximal contact, wherein the spring member applies a restorative force pressing said lugs against opposed sides of said proximal contact, and
means for receiving and holding an elastic wedge in a stretched condition to span between said first lug and said second lug.

2. The retainer as claimed in claim 1 for use in conjunction with a wedge comprising a one piece member of elastic material and having:
an elongate narrow section, and
an elongate tapered section with a triangular cross section, said elongate narrow section extending from the narrow end of said tapered section;
wherein each said lug of said retainer includes a ridge for projecting into the proximal contact, and said means for receiving and holding an elastic wedge receives and holds said wedge with said elongate narrow section spanning between said ridge of said first lug and said ridge of said second lug.

3. The retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for receiving and holding an elastic wedge comprises:
a first wedge engagement associated with said first lug,
a guide on said first lug to have said wedge exit from underneath said first lug at said ridge,
a second wedge engagement associated with said second lug,
a guide on said second lug to have said wedge exit from underneath said second lug at said ridge.

4. The retainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second wedge engagements each comprise a cleat formed in an end of said spring member adjacent the connection between said spring member and the respective said lug.

5. A dental contact matrix system including a retainer for placing and retaining a matrix in a dental contact matrix system, an elastic “wedge” and a matrix, said retainer comprising:
a first lug, to fit on one side of a proximal contact between two teeth,
a second lug to fit on the other side of said proximal contact, and
a spring member connecting between said first lug and said second lug, said spring member holding said lugs such that they must be separated to fit over said proximal contact, wherein the spring member applies a restorative force pressing said lugs against opposed sides of said proximal contact;
said elastic wedge being held in a stretched condition spanning between said first lug and said second lug.

6. The dental contact matrix system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said wedge has:
an elongate narrow section, and
an elongate tapered section with a triangular cross section, said elongate narrow section extending from the narrow end of said tapered section;
each said lug includes a ridge for projecting into the proximal contact,
and said means for receiving and holding an elastic wedge holds said wedge with said elongate narrow section spanning between said ridge of said first lug and said ridge of said second lug.

7. The dental contact matrix system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for receiving and holding an elastic wedge comprises:
a first wedge engagement associated with said first lug,
a guide on said first lug to have said wedge exit from underneath said first lug at said ridge,
a second wedge engagement associated with said second lug,
a guide on said second lug to have said wedge exit from underneath said second lug at said ridge.

8. The dental contact matrix system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first and second wedge engagements each comprise a cleat formed in an end of said spring member adjacent the connection between said spring member and the respective said lug, said narrow section of said wedge engaging in each said cleat.

9. A retainer for placing and retaining a matrix in a dental contact matrix system, and for use in conjunction with an elastic “wedge”, said retainer comprising:
a first lug, to fit on one side of a proximal contact between two teeth,
a second lug to fit on the other side of said proximal contact,
a first matrix-support member positioned to retain a matrix against said first lug,
a second matrix support member positioned to retain a matrix against said second lug, and
a spring member connecting between said first lug and said second lug, said spring member holding said lugs such that they must be separated to fit over said proximal contact, wherein the spring member applies a restorative force pressing said lugs against opposed sides of said proximal contact.

10. The retainer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:
said first lug includes a pair of tooth abutting faces, said tooth abutting faces meeting at a ridge for projecting into the proximal contact between two teeth,
said first matrix support member is positioned to retain a matrix against one said tooth abutting face, being a support face,
said second lug includes a pair of tooth abutting faces opposing said tooth abutting faces of said first lug, said tooth abutting faces meeting at a ridge for projecting into proximal contact between two teeth, said ridge opposing said ridge of said first lug, and
said second matrix support member is positioned to retain a matrix against the said tooth abutting face of said second lug that is opposed to said support face of said first lug, being a support face of said second lug.

11. The retainer as claimed in claim 10 wherein each said lug includes a ledge extending forward from said support face along an upper edge of said support face, to in use bear against the upper edge of a dental contact matrix held against said support face by a respective support member.

12. The retainer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said spring member follows an open loop path largely in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of said ridges of said lugs and above said lugs, to leave the space between said lugs unobscured by said spring member when viewed from above said plane.

13. The retainer as claimed in claim 12 including a releasable engagement between each said first and second lug and said spring member, each said releasable engagement allowing for connection of each of said first lug and said second lug, such that said first and second lugs may be mounted to said spring member in:
a first condition wherein said support faces of said first lug and said second lug face away from said open loop path of said spring member, and
a second condition wherein said support faces of said first lug and said second lug face toward said open loop path of said spring member.

14. The retainer as claimed in claim 13 wherein said releasable engagement comprises a plug and socket, engageable along an engagement axis, said engagement axis being parallel with said ridges of said first and second lugs, and being near perpendicular to said plane of said open loop path.

15. The retainer as claimed in claim 12 , for use in conjunction with a wedge comprising a one piece member of elastic material, and having:
an elongate narrow section, and
an elongate tapered section with a triangular cross section, said elongate narrow section extending from the narrow end of said tapered section,
wherein said retaining member includes means for receiving and holding said wedge with said elongate narrow section spanning between said ridge of said first lug and said ridge of s

Assignees

• Mcdonald Simon Paul
• Dentsply Sirona Inc

Inventors

• Mcdonald Simon Paul

Classifications

• A61C5/88 Primary

  Wedges · CPC title

• A61C5/85

  Filling bands, e.g. matrix bands; Manipulating tools therefor · CPC title