method and flask for cold pour processing of dental prosthesis

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved method of and dental flask, suitable for use with a dental reline jig for the purpose of cold pour acrylic processing of dentures, acrylic implant retained bridges and other dental prosthesis as well as any other manufactured products using conventional flask techniques and materials.

Claims

1. A dental flask formed in an arch shape to fit within the confines of a dental reline jig.

2. The dental flask of claim 1, having a removable back plate.

3. The dental flask and back plate of claim 2, where in the flask and back plate are manufactured from a material such as aluminum in order to contain the matrix material and transfer heat from such material.

4. The dental flask of claim 3, wherein the aluminum or flask material is cut and formed into an arch shape to fit between the posts of a dental reline jig.

5. The back plate of claim 3, where in the aluminum or flask material is cut to a length that when assembled create an enclosed flask chamber.

6. The dental flask of claim 4, where in the aluminum or flask material is cut in the center of the arch at the top of the flask so as to provide a stop and landing area for the top of a dental reline jig.

7. The back plate of claim 5, where in the back plate has two corresponding notches one on each side to slide over the open ends of the dental flask of claim 6, to create an enclosed chamber.

8. The dental flask and back plate of claim 7, wherein the dental flask has four notches in the top at the back of the flask, two corresponding on either side to insert the back plate's two notches, allowing for two enclosed chamber sizes of the flask.

9. The dental flask of claim 8, where in the flask has four notches for inserting wires for the purpose of retaining the matrix material to the dental flask. The notches cut at the bottom of the flask in an area so as not to interfere with the posts of the reline jig and small enough so as not to leak out matrix material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved dental flask and back plate.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dental reline jig and an assembled improved dental flask and back plate.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a top view of a waxed dental prosthesis with acrylic teeth placed within an improved dental flask.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waxed dental prosthesis with putty index over dentition, a wire bent for retention within the flask chamber and an improved dental flask.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a top view of an improved dental flask and a waxed dental prosthesis with putty index within the flask chamber and incorporating the bent wire retention.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a waxed dental prosthesis with putty index within the flask chamber and a top half of a dental reline jig installed on an assembled improved dental flask and back plate.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a side view of an assembled improved dental flask and back plate installed within a dental reline jig.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a top view of an assembled improved dental flask and back plate installed within a dental reline jig.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a top view of an improved dental flask installed within the bottom half of a dental reline jig.

[0015] FIG. 10 is a top view of an assembled improved dental flask and back plate for small flask chamber.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a top view of an assembled improved dental flask and back plate for large flask chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In accordance with the present method and invention, an improved dental flask is provided which enables an acrylic dental prosthesis to be processed within a dental reline jig using acrylic resin in the cold pour technique.

[0018] An improved dental flask (B) is shown generally in FIG. 1 having four slots 1, 2, 3, and 4 formed into the top of the flask to allow for the assembly of the back plate (A) with engaging slots 5 and 6. The assembled improved dental flask and back plate (C) in FIG. 2 create an enclosed environment to hold the materials necessary for which to flask a waxed dental prosthesis (E) in FIG. 3. Installing the improved dental flask and back plate (C) into a dental reline jig (D) in FIG. 2 allows for the preservation of the vertical dimension relationship established with the articulation and wax try in of the waxed dental prosthesis (E) during processing.

[0019] A putty matrix (F) FIG. 4 is indexed around the acrylic teeth of the waxed dental prosthesis (E) in a technique used to protect and preserve the detail and integrity of the wax up. The putty matrix (F) assists in the removal of acrylic teeth for cleaning and creating diatoric holes necessary in the cold pour technique. To retain the stone matrix used during the processing of an acrylic dental prosthesis within the improved dental flask and back plate (C) enclosure, a wire(G) in FIG. 4 is bent so as to engage the stone matrix and the improved dental flask (B). The wire (G) is placed through slots 9 and 10 in FIG. 5 on one side of the improved dental flask (B) and another wire similar to wire ( G) is placed on the other side of the improved dental flask (B) through slots 7 and 8 in FIG. 4. The two wires (G) ensure that after the setting of the investment matrix the improved dental flask (B) remains attached throughout the boil out and processing stages when the back plate (A) is removed.

[0020] The size of the waxed dental prosthesis' (E) cast model will determine the size needed of the improved dental flask and back plate (C). Inserting the back plate's (A) slots 5 and 6 into either slots 1 and 2 (large flask chamber FIG. 11) or slots 3 and 4 (small flask chamber FIG. 10) of the improved dental flask (B) allows for an appropriate amount of investment material to flow around the waxed dental prosthesis (E) for desired strength and rigidity of the matrix.

[0021] Once assembled the improved dental flask and back plate (C) are placed on a smooth flat surface. The waxed dental prosthesis' (E) cast must be trimmed to slightly less then 90 degrees, beaded with utility rope wax and brushed with model separator (tinfoil substitute) to ease in it's removal from the flask after the boil out stage. The back of the waxed dental prosthesis (E) and putty matrix (F) is centered into the flask chamber against the back plate (A) in FIG. 6. This allows for uniformity of investment material in the flask chamber and access to the sprue holes and cast of the waxed dental prosthesis (E) when the back plate (A) is removed.

[0022] The investment material is poured into the flask chamber encompassing the retention wires (G), the waxed dental prosthesis (E), and putty matrix (F) up to the level of the improved dental flask's (B) relief area 11 FIG. 1. The top half of the dental reline jig (H) in FIG. 6 is placed in relief area 11 on top of improved dental flask and back plate (C) evenly centered against plate stops 12 and 13 in FIG. 6. And a remainder of the investment mix is placed into the flask chamber through the top half of the dental reline jig's (H) retention hole 14 in FIG. 6.

[0023] Once the investment is cured according to manufacturers instructions the back plate (A) is removed and the excess stone cleaned from around the sprue holes and the back area of the waxed dental prosthesis' (E) cast. The waxed dental prosthesis' (E) cast if not already indexed at this time should be and all other areas of the flask's investment base needs to be brushed with model separator (tinfoil substitute). The two halves of the dental reline jig (D) are then reassembled with dental mounting stone attaching the bottom half of the dental reline jig (I) FIG. 9 through retention hole 14 to flask's base. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.