Dental prosthetic device with remoldable base

摘要

A dental prosthetic device (10,110) having a base (12,112) constructed of an inexpensive remoldable material, such as, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate, to allow for inexpensive and quick fitting and refitting to accommodate changes in dental structure (122). Harder teeth-like structures (14,114) are associated with a mounting surface (20,120) of the base (12,112), such as by overmolding the base (12,112) onto ends (38) of the structures (14,114), so that, when the device (10,110) is placed over a dental arch (122) within a user's mouth, the teeth-like structures (14,114) facilitate biting and chewing in the manner of teeth.

主权项

1. A dental prosthetic device comprising:
a softer base component formed of and constructed by a remoldable material, having a contact surface and a mounting surface, with the contact surface having at least one sidewall shaped to fit over a first dental arch, including a center portion interior to said at least one sidewall, and presenting a first configuration, wherein the softer base component is colored to resemble gum tissue, and the material is facilely remoldable to a second dental arch after the device has been donned, so as to cause the material to adopt a second configuration; and a harder component including: one or more tooth-like structures partially embedded in the softer base component and extending beyond the mounting surface of the softer base component, wherein said one or more tooth-like structures are shaped and colored to resemble teeth, and one or more internal support structures presenting planar ribs, fixedly connected to and radially extending from each of said one or more tooth-like structures, wherein the ribs are embedded in and extend at least half-way into said at least one sidewall of the softer base component, and at least half-way into the center portion of the softer component, wherein, when the dental prosthetic device is donned, the dental prosthetic device facilitates biting and chewing in the manner of natural teeth, wherein the softer base component further includes a center portion shaped to fit against an oral palate, and the one or more internal support structures are embedded in and extend at least half-way into the center portion of the softer base component.