Denture support device

Abstract

The invention relates to a dental prosthesis support device comprising: - a support strip (201) secured to a dental prosthesis (DP); and - connectors (203) which are designed, when in use, to be attached to the teeth of the patient, enclose a dental free space and onto which the support strip detachably engages such that the dental prosthesis fills said space; - the support strip having a profile to cover only the lingual surface of the teeth while leaving the other surfaces of the teeth free; - the connectors being configured to be attached to the lingual surface of the teeth; and - the support strip comprising pockets into which the connectors fit elastically.

Description

Description Title: Dental Prosthesis Support Device [Technical field. [1] The invention relates to a dental prosthesis support device. [2] The technical field of the invention is that of devices for keeping a dental prosthesis in place in a patient's mouth. State of the art. [3] Dental implants, or dental abutments, are used to replace missing teeth. An implant typically consists of a screw (made of titanium, zirconia, or polymer) inserted into the jawbone (maxilla or mandible) to create an anchor for a dental prosthesis. Implant placement is performed in several stages and is usually carried out under anesthesia. During the main surgical procedure, the dentist places the implant by screwing it into the bone. Over a healing period of several months, the bone regenerates around and secures the implant. Once the implant is anchored to the bone, an abutment is placed to create the gingival margin that will support the prosthesis. The prosthesis is then placed on the abutment and permanently cemented in place. [4] Until the dental prosthesis is installed on the abutment, the patient is left with an empty space in the dental arch at the implant site. This empty space can be particularly unsightly and may cause unwanted migration of other teeth. Dental malocclusions, diastemas, or umlauts can then develop and disrupt the muscular function of the jaws or the functional relationships between the teeth. [5] The invention aims to solve these problems. [6] Another objective of the invention is to provide a dental appliance that is particularly aesthetic, hygienic and comfortable for the patient. Presentation of the invention. [7] The solution proposed by the invention is a dental prosthesis support device comprising: - a support band attached to a dental prosthesis; - connectors adapted for use to be fixed to the patient's teeth which frame a free dental space and on which the support band engages in a removable manner so that the dental prosthesis fills said space; - the support band is profiled to cover only the lingual face of the teeth leaving the other faces of said teeth free; - the connectors are configured to fix against the lingual face of the teeth; - the support band includes recesses into which the connectors fit elastically. [8] Since the support band is positioned only on the lingual side, it is constantly invisible and therefore particularly aesthetically pleasing. Even if it were to discolor from contact with cigarette or coffee smoke, it would not become unsightly. Furthermore, because the band and connectors leave the occlusal and incisal surfaces of the teeth completely free, the patient can easily cut, chew, and eat without having to remove the band. In addition, due to their lingual position, the connectors are no longer a source of discomfort and / or irritation to the patient's lips and / or cheeks. Finally, the band can be easily removed and replaced by the patient themselves, without needing to consult a dentist. [9] Other advantageous features of the invention are listed below. Each of these features may be considered alone or in combination with the notable features defined above, and may, where appropriate, be the subject of one or more divisional patent applications:

[0010] According to one embodiment, the dental prosthesis is fixed to the support strip by gluing, welding or fitting.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the dental prosthesis has a lingual surface which is glued onto the support strip.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the dental prosthesis and the support band are a single unit molded, machined or 3D printed piece.

[0013] According to one embodiment, each connector has a spherical connection head.

[0014] According to one embodiment, each connector comprises: - a base having a fixing face adapted to be fixed against the lingual face of a tooth; - a connection head in the extension of the base and into which one of the reservations of the support strip fits.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the connection head is distant from the base, a collar connecting said base to said head.

[0016] According to one embodiment, each connector comprises: - a connection head into which one of the recesses of the support strip fits; - a fixing face adapted to fix against the lingual face of a tooth; - the fixing face consists of a flat surface provided on the connection head.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the connecting head has one of the following shapes: ovoid, elongated ellipsoid, sphere, cube, parallelepiped, polyhedron, prism, cone, pyramid, cylinder; or consists of a combination of two or more of these different shapes.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the support strip is flexible.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the support strip is rigid.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the support strip has portions or zones having distinct moduli of elasticity.

[0021] Another aspect not covered by the present invention relates to a maxillary expansion device comprising: - a maxillary expansion plate configured to cooperate with a plurality of teeth of the maxillary dental arch of a patient so as to widen the palate of said patient; - connectors adapted to be fixed to said teeth and to which the maxillary expansion plate is detachably engaged; - the connectors and the plate cooperate so as to apply at least one constraint tending to widen the palate when the dental device is worn by the patient; - the maxillary expansion plate is profiled to cover the palatal vault and only the lingual face of the teeth, leaving the other faces of said teeth free; - the connectors are configured to be fixed against the lingual face of the teeth; - the maxillary expansion plate includes recesses into which the connectors fit elastically.

[0022] Yet another aspect not covered by the present invention concerns a dental appliance comprising: - a dental aligner configured to cooperate with at least one tooth in a patient's dental arch so as to move it to a desired position; - connectors adapted to attach to teeth in the dental arch and onto which the dental aligner is removable; - the connectors and the aligner cooperate to apply at least one treatment force to at least said tooth when the dental appliance is worn by the patient. The dental aligner consists of a flexible band contoured to cover only the lingual surface of the teeth, leaving the other surfaces of said teeth free. Furthermore, the connectors are configured to attach against the lingual surface of the teeth. And the flexible band includes recesses into which the connectors elastically fit. Brief description of the figures.

[0023] Other advantages and features of the invention will become clearer upon reading the description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the attached drawings, which are provided as illustrative and non-limiting examples and on which: - [Fig. 1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental appliance worn by a patient. - [Fig. 2a] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental aligner adapted to be positioned at the level of the maxillary dental arch of a patient. - [Fig. 2b] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental aligner adapted to be positioned at the level of the mandibular dental arch of a patient. - [Fig. 3a], [Fig. 3b] and [Fig. 3c] respectively schematically represent a front view, a side view and a top view of a connector used in the invention. - [Fig. 4a], [Fig. 4b] and [Fig. 4c] respectively schematically represent a front view, a side view and a top view of a connector used in the invention, and on which different stress zones are schematically represented. - [Fig. 5] illustrates the placement of a dental appliance at the level of the mandibular dental arch and the maxillary dental arch of a patient. - [Fig. 6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental appliance worn by a patient, the aligner positioned at the level of the maxillary dental arch with a palatal extension in contact with an anchoring screw. - [Fig. 7] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental aligner used in the device in Figure 6. - [Fig. 8] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental appliance according to another embodiment, positioned at the level of the mandibular dental arch of a patient. - [Fig. 9] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a removable gutter used in the device in Figure 8. - [Fig. 10] illustrates the placement of a dental appliance according to another embodiment, at the level of the maxillary dental arch of a patient. - [Fig. 11] is a schematic cross-sectional view along AA of figure 10. - [Fig. 12a] and [Fig. 12b] illustrate the use of a dental appliance as a temporary tooth support. - [Fig. 13a] and [Fig. 13b] are schematic views, respectively from the side and from above, of a connector according to one embodiment variant. - [Fig. 14] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dental appliance according to another embodiment, positioned at the level of the mandibular dental arch of a patient. Description of the implementation methods.

[0024] For the sake of clarity, the following clarifications are provided for certain terms used in the description and claims: - "Lingual face" means the dental face oriented towards the tongue (for teeth of the mandibular arch) or oriented towards the palate (for teeth of the maxillary arch). - As used here, unless otherwise indicated, the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", etc., to describe an object simply indicates that different occurrences of similar objects are being mentioned and does not imply that the objects so described must be in any given sequence, whether in time, space, ranking, or any other way. - Similarly, the use of the adjectives "right / left", "in front / behind" "up / down", etc., simply describes the position of an object in the configuration of the attached figures, but does not necessarily imply that in practice, similar objects are in the same position. - "X and / or Y" means: X alone, or Y alone, or X and Y. - In general, it is appreciated that the different drawings are not drawn to scale from one figure to another or within a given figure, and in particular that the objects can be drawn arbitrarily to facilitate the reading of the drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a first dental aligner 101 that cooperates with the first tooth 102 of a maxillary dental arch 100, and a second dental aligner 201 that cooperates with the second tooth 202 of a mandibular dental arch 200. In practice, each aligner 101, 201 cooperates with a plurality of teeth, for example, between 2 and 16 teeth. Depending on the nature of the treatment, only one of the two arches 100 or 200 may be fitted with an aligner. The 101, 201 aligner can be used to move a single tooth or a plurality of teeth in a dental arch.

[0026] Teeth 102 and 202 have a buccal surface 102a, 202a (facing the cheek or lip), a lingual surface 102b, 202b, an occlusal or incisal surface (superior), a mesial surface (facing forward), and a distal surface (facing backward). According to one characteristic, the aligner 101 and 201 consists of a flexible band contoured to cover only the lingual surfaces 102b and 202b of the teeth. All other surfaces of teeth 102 and 202 are left free, including the occlusal or incisal surfaces, allowing the patient to eat while wearing the aligner 101 and 201.

[0027] In one embodiment, this flexible band covers and is in contact with the entirety of the lingual surfaces 102b, 202b (except at the connectors 103, 203) so that food cannot become lodged between them. In another embodiment, this flexible band covers and is in contact with only a portion of the lingual surfaces 102b, 202b, for example, only the portion located between the connector 103, 203 and the occlusal or incisal surface.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the aligner 101, 201 is made in one piece. However, it can be formed from several distinct portions, each portion being used to specifically treat the movement of one or more teeth.

[0029] The aligner 101, 201 is advantageously made of a transparent or translucent polymer material so that it is not visible when worn. The polymer material used may, for example, belong to the following family: (meth)acrylate polymer; silicone; polyester; polyurethane; polycarbonate; polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG); polypropylene; ethylene vinyl acetate; or any other suitable polymer.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the aligner 101, 201 is obtained by molding, thermoforming, 3D printing or any other process suitable to a person skilled in the art.

[0031] As is well known to practitioners, determining tooth movement with aligners 101 and 201 can begin with modeling the initial tooth position, either by taking an impression or, preferably, by using an intraoral scan to obtain a digital model of the dental arches. The treatment plan, defining the sequence of tooth movements to the desired final position, can be determined by the practitioner and / or by dedicated software such as DeltaFace®, marketed by Coruo. This sequence will determine the aligner configuration at each stage of the treatment plan. At each stage, the teeth are moved progressively, by increments of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm in different planes of space. There can be between 10 and 100 stages, and therefore between 10 and 100 different aligner models. At the beginning of each stage During treatment, when placed on the teeth, the aligner is adjusted to the intermediate (or final) alignment the teeth should have at the end of that stage. Each aligner model exerts one or more forces on the teeth to be moved. The aligner's flexibility allows it to deform elastically until it reaches the alignment the tooth had at the beginning of the treatment stage. As it tries to return to its initial shape (shape memory), the aligner exerts one or more forces on the teeth. The teeth then gradually adjust to the shape of the aligner. When the teeth are perfectly adjusted to the shape of an aligner—that is, when the teeth have been moved to the intended position—the deformation of the aligner, and therefore the associated treatment force, becomes smaller or even zero. The aligner is then changed to proceed to the next stage of treatment.In practice, the patient is provided with a set of aligners, which they use sequentially at each stage of treatment, without needing to consult a practitioner. At the end of treatment, the last aligner (or another aligner adjusted to the final alignment) can be used for retention; this aligner is passive, meaning it does not exert pressure on any teeth.

[0032] The flexibility of the aligner 101, 201 depends primarily on its shape, material, and thickness. This flexibility refers to the aligner's ability to deform elastically and in a controlled manner, applying treatment force to one or more teeth in order to move them.

[0033] In one embodiment, the thickness of the aligner 101, 201 is between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, advantageously between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, and preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm. This thickness can be constant or varied so that the aligner 101, 201 has different portions or zones of distinct thickness with different moduli of elasticity. This allows the intensity of the stress applied to each tooth being treated to be adjusted. A similar result is obtained by using an aligner made up of a plurality of portions or zones of materials with distinct moduli of elasticity. Each portion or zone can thus generate a stress with its own specific intensity.

[0034] The aligner 101, 201 is held in position by means of connectors 103, 203 configured to fix against the lingual face 102b, 202b of the teeth 102, 202. The aligner 101, 201 engages in a removable manner (manually and without instruments) on the connectors 103, 203 as explained further in the description.

[0035] The 103 connectors can be attached to all or some of the teeth in a dental arch. In the example shown in Figure 5, on the maxillary arch (100), the 103 connectors are attached to the lingual surface of the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, with the 101 aligner positioned only on these teeth. On the arch (200), the 203 connectors are attached to the lingual surface of the central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, first premolars, second premolars, and first molars, with the 201 aligner positioned only on these teeth.

[0036] The connectors 103 and 203 can be made from the same polymer material as the aligner 101 and 201, or from a different material, such as metal or ceramic. The connectors 103 and 203 can be produced by molding, machining, 3D printing, etc. They are rigid, meaning they do not deform when subjected to stress from the aligner.

[0037] To simplify their design and implementation, all your connectors 103 and 203 are advantageously identical in size and shape, regardless of the tooth to which they are fixed and regardless of the dental arch where they are positioned. However, different sizes and / or shapes of connectors may be provided depending on the tooth and / or the dental arch and / or the type of stress to be applied and / or the intensity of the stress to be applied.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the aligner 101, 201 includes a grasping element that allows the patient to easily grasp it to disengage it from the connectors 103, 203. In Figure 5, this grasping element 2012 is in the form of a notch formed on one or more edges or on each (or a single) distal end of the aligner 201. This notch 2012 allows the patient to insert a fingernail or finger into it to disengage the aligner 201. The grasping element 2012 may be in the form of another form, for example in the form of a raised element. The grasping organ 2012 can be formed at the same time as the aligner 101, 201 or be attached to it.

[0039] Figures 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate a preferred embodiment of a 103 connector that can be used universally, regardless of the tooth, dental arch and the type and / or intensity of stress to be applied.

[0040] This connector 103 includes a base 1030 having a fixing face 1030b adapted for attachment to the lingual surface 102b, 202b of a tooth. In one embodiment, the base 1030 has a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape, with a length between 2 mm and 6 mm, a width between 1 mm and 3 mm, and a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. The base 1030 may, however, have other shapes, for example, a circular, oval, polygonal shape, etc. The fixing face 1030b may be flat, but preferably has a curvature adapted to that of the lingual surface 102b, 202b. In one embodiment, the base 1030 is attached to the tooth by bonding, for example, with a light-curing adhesive. The position of connectors 103, 203 is maintained throughout the processing so that there is no need to change them at each stage.

[0041] The connector 103 also includes a connecting head 1301, which is an extension of the base 1030. In Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c, the connecting head 1301 is positioned 0.5 mm to 2 mm from the base 1030, such that the connector 103 has a collar 1032 connecting the base to the connecting head. This collar 1032 can, in particular, accommodate a chain or elastic band to apply force to the connector 103 when the chain or elastic band is attached to another connector, an anchor screw, or an orthodontic button. This technique can, for example, be used to pull an impacted tooth.

[0042] In your figures 3a, 3b, and 3c, the connecting head 1031 has an ovoid (or teardrop or egg-shaped) shape with a longitudinal axis of symmetry XX, or principal axis. As an example, this ovoid is included in a parallelepiped envelope whose length is between 2 mm and 6 mm, the width is between 1 mm and 6 mm and the depth is between 1 mm and 6 mm.

[0043] Referring to Figure 3b, the longitudinal axis of symmetry XX and the normal YY to the 1030b fixing face of the 1030 base advantageously form an angle α between 10° and 90°, advantageously between 45° and 90°, and preferably between 55° and 65°. This angulation of the ovoid connecting head 1031 allows for very precise control of tooth movements, and more specifically, tipping and torque.

[0044] The ovoid connecting head 1031 has a pointed end 10310 that is sharper than the opposite end 10311. To control tooth movements (particularly tipping and torque) with optimal precision, when the connector 103 is attached to a tooth, this pointed end 10310 is preferentially directed towards the root of that tooth. Good results can, however, be obtained when the pointed end 10310 is directed towards the occlusal or incisal surface of the tooth. For tooth movements such as rotation, the pointed end 10310 can be directed towards the distal or mesial surface of the tooth.

[0045] After numerous experiments, the inventor observed that such a connector 103, particularly with an ovoid connecting head 1031 angled relative to the base 1030 and with its pointed end 10310 directed towards the tooth root, not only allowed teeth to be moved along any chosen trajectory, with very precise control of tooth movements in all three orders, but also enabled the precise adjustment of the intensity of the forces applied to the teeth. Such a connector 103 can be described as universal insofar as a single shape and orientation allow for precise control of all six tooth movements (version or tipping, extrusion, ingression, rotation, torque, and translation).

[0046] Good results in terms of precision of tooth movements and adjustment of stress intensity are also obtained when the 1031 connecting head has an elongated ellipsoid shape whose main axis is the axis of longitudinal symmetry XX mentioned above. The two ends 10310 and 10311 are in this case identical and symmetrical.

[0047] According to other embodiments, and in particular in the applications described further in the description with reference to figures 10, 11 and 12a-12b, the connecting head 1031 may have an ovoid or elongated ellipsoid shape or another shape and in particular a shape of sphere, cube, parallelepiped, polyhedron, prism, cone, pyramid, cylinder, etc. It may also consist of a combination of two or more of these different shapes.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figures 13a and 13b, the fixing face 1030b consists of a flat surface formed directly on the connection head. 1031. This connector is then positioned as close as possible to the lingual surface of the tooth. This design offers greater comfort to the patient because the bulk (particularly the thickness and / or height) of connector 103 is reduced compared to that of Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c. Furthermore, since the connection head 1031 is less cantilevered compared to those of Figures 3a, 3b, and 3c, the intensity and / or nature of the stresses applied to the tooth are not the same.

[0049] Referring to Figures 1, 2a, and 2b, each aligner 101, 201 includes recesses 1013, 2013 into which the connectors 103, 203, and more specifically the heads 1031, 2031, fit elastically. To position the aligner 101, 201, simply align the recesses 1013, 2013 with the heads 1031, 2031 and manually push (with the fingers) these recesses onto the heads. The recesses 1013, 2013 form (blind) cavities into which the heads are housed. 1031, 2031. The recesses 1013, 2013 have a peripheral lip 10131, 20131 or other undercut shape that deforms during the insertion and removal of the connectors 103, 203. After insertion of the connectors 103, 203, the peripheral lip 10131, 20131 mates with the head 1031, 2031. It is noted here that ovoid or ellipsoid-shaped heads 1031, 2031 ensure easy and painless manual removal of the aligner 101, 201, without risk of tearing out the connectors 103, 203.

[0050] When the 1013, 2013 reservations are fitted into the connectors 103, 203 and the aligner 101, 201 is in position, said aligner exerts one or more constraints on the heads 1031, 2031 and possibly on the lingual face of the teeth.

[0051] Figures 4a, 4b, and 4c illustrate different stress zones of a connector 103, represented by the black dots. These stress zones correspond to points or surfaces of the head 1031 on which the aligner presses and / or exerts pressure. These pressures are induced by the elastic deformation of the aligner during the relevant processing step. In other words, the aligner presses against one or more localized areas of the head 1031. The precise location of the stress zones can be determined by a specific configuration of the recesses 1013, 2013, and / or by creating bosses formed by molding or by adding material (e.g., resin) within said recesses. Since reservation 1013, 2013 surrounds and encloses head 1031, 2031 in three dimensions, three-dimensional control can easily be achieved: each area of ​​the head can be constrained.

[0052] An intrusion movement is achieved by applying pressure in zone I (Figure 4a), at the level of the 10311 tip (near the occlusal or incisal surface of the tooth), along the long axis of the tooth. This pressure will generate an axial force in the apical direction that tends to push the tooth into its socket.

[0053] Conversely, an extrusion movement is obtained by applying pressure in zone E (Figure 4a), at the level of the 10310 tip (near the root of the tooth), along the long axis of the tooth. This pressure will generate an axial force in the occlusal direction that tends to push the tooth out of its socket.

[0054] A tipping movement is achieved by applying pressure in zone V11 and / or zone V12 (Figure 4a). This pressure will cause the crown to rotate mesiodistally around a buccolingual axis. Pressure applied in zone V21 and / or zone V22 will cause the crown to rotate in the opposite direction, distomesially, around a buccolingual axis.

[0055] Torque movement is achieved by applying pressure in zone T11 and / or zone T12 (Figure 4b). This pressure will cause the crown to rotate in the buccolingual direction around a mesiodistal axis. Pressure applied in zone T21 and / or zone T22 will cause the crown to rotate in the opposite direction, in the lingobuccal direction around a mesiodistal axis.

[0056] A rotational movement is achieved by applying pressure in zone R11 and / or zone R12 (Figure 4c). This pressure will cause the tooth to rotate around its long axis in a disto-mesial direction. Pressure applied in zone R21 and / or zone R22 will cause the tooth to rotate mesio-distal around its long axis.

[0057] A translational movement is achieved by applying pressure in zone L (Figures 4b and 4c). This pressure will cause the crown to translate in the lingo-buccal direction. A similar translational movement is achieved by simultaneously applying pressure in zones R21 and R12 (in addition to or instead of pressure applied in zone L). And simultaneous pressure applied in zones R11 and R22 will cause the tooth to translate in the opposite direction, in the buccolingual direction.

[0058] These different movements can be combined by simultaneously applying pressure to different areas of the 1031 head. For example, a translational movement and a rotational movement can be combined by simultaneously applying pressure to areas L, R11, and R12. Similarly, an extrusion movement and a tipping movement can be combined by simultaneously applying pressure to areas E and V11. All of these different dental movements can also be amplified and / or adjusted by applying forces directly to the lingual surface of the teeth via the aligner. This results in distinct stress zones simultaneously on the connectors and on the lingual surface of the teeth.

[0059] The ovoid or ellipsoidal shape of the 1031 head, combined with its specific orientation, allows for an infinite number of constraint zones (or thrust zones) that help to precisely direct the treatment forces exerted by the aligner, to produce one or more The desired tooth movements are achieved. The placement of the pressure zones chosen by the practitioner also allows for adjustment of the intensity of the treatment forces exerted by the aligner. Tooth movement, according to the three orders of action, is thus regulated and controlled with great precision.

[0060] Such a connector allows for the precise transmission of treatment forces generated by the aligner to the tooth. The connector is similar to a control lever or joystick, allowing control of the tooth's movements. Alternatively, the connecting head is an analogy of the tooth to which the connector is attached: the effects of the forces applied to the head are directly transmitted to the tooth.

[0061] Connectors 103 and 203 are attached to several teeth in an arch. However, aligners 101 and 201 will not necessarily apply treatment forces to all of these teeth. In fact, only some of these teeth need to be repositioned, while others will serve as anchors to hold aligners 101 and 201 in place when they apply forces against the tooth or teeth being repositioned.

[0062] For the aligner 101, 201 to exert sufficient treatment forces on the connectors 103, 203 into which it fits and / or on the teeth, it must bear against a surface (action-reaction principle). The surfaces in contact with the aligner are the lingual surfaces 102b, 202b and the connecting heads 1031, 2031. The connectors 103, 203 thus increase the overall contact area. However, this overall contact area is much smaller than that of a conventional Invisalign® aligner, which covers not only the lingual surfaces 102b, 202b, but also the occlusal, incisal, and buccal surfaces of the teeth. With equivalent modulus of elasticity, the aligner 101, 201 is therefore likely to exert less intense treatment stress on your connectors 103, 203 and / or on your teeth than Invisalign® aligners.This can be problematic depending on the nature of the dental movements to be performed, for example translational or rotational movements.

[0063] To solve this problem, one solution is to use an aligner. 101, 201 having an increased modulus of elasticity, for example by using a Using a more rigid material and / or increasing the thickness of the aligners themselves. However, this solution has the disadvantage of being particularly painful and uncomfortable for the patient, as the intensity of the stress can be relatively high locally.

[0064] Therefore, a preferred solution is to modify the aligner 101, 201 to provide an additional support area. This additional support area acts as a lever, increasing the intensity of the forces exerted by the aligner 101, 201. In Figures 1, 2a, 2b, and 5, the aligner 101 has a palatal extension 1010 configured to, in use, rest against all or part of the patient's palatal vault (VP). In one embodiment, the palatal extension 1010 extends beyond the gingival area, for example, by 0.5 cm to 2 cm, to cover all or part of the palatal ridges (intercanine width, for example). As an example, the surface area of ​​the palatal extension 1010 is between 1 cm 2 and 3 cm 2Similarly, the aligner 201 features a gingival extension 2010 configured to, in use, rest against a gingival zone ZG of the patient. In one embodiment, the gingival extension 1010 covers the gingival zone over an arc with a length between 1 cm and 4 cm (e.g., an intercanine arc) and up to the mucogingival junction. The surface area of ​​this gingival extension 2010 is, for example, between 0.5 cm 2 and 2 cm 2 .

[0065] This solution has the advantage of keeping a 101, 201 aligner relatively thin and flexible, not generating excessive constraints, and therefore particularly comfortable for the patient.

[0066] According to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the palatal extension 1010 is engaged with an anchoring screw VA installed in the patient's palate. The palatal extension 1010 has a recess 10100 (Figure 7) into which the head of the screw VA fits. The aligner 101 thus benefits from an additional anchoring point, further increasing the intensity of the constraints. A similar configuration can be considered for the gingival extension 2010.

[0067] The embodiment illustrated in your figures 8 and 9 allows for a further amplification of the stress exerted by the aligner 201 on the connection heads. 2031 and / or on the lingual surfaces 202b of the teeth to be moved. In this embodiment, a removable tray 3 is contoured to cover the patient's teeth. This tray 3 has a portion 30 that engages with at least part of the aligner 201 so as to apply at least one force to said aligner, tending to constrain it towards the lingual surface 202b of the teeth 202 it covers and which are to be moved. The tray 3 is advantageously made of the same material as the aligner 201, and has the same or substantially equivalent thickness, so that it is flexible. This tray 3 can be placed either on the mandibular arch to cover the aligner 201 or on the maxillary arch to cover the aligner 101. Since tray 3 is adapted to the shape of aligner 201, there are as many trays as aligners in the treatment sequence.

[0068] Like an Invisalign® aligner, aligner 3 has a receiving cavity 300 that adapts to the teeth, for example, all the teeth in the dental arch on which it is positioned. Aligner 3 can thus cover the buccal surface 202a and the occlusal / incisal surface of these teeth. For those teeth that do not cooperate with aligner 201, aligner 3 also covers their lingual surface. And for those that do cooperate with aligner 201, portion 30 covers at least part of said aligner. In Figure 8, portion 30 covers aligner 201 up to connector 203. It could, however, extend beyond this point, up to the gum line. Due to the flexibility of the gutter 3, the portion 30 acts like a clamp on the aligner 201, which will amplify the stress exerted on the connecting heads 2031 and / or on the lingual faces 202b of the teeth to be moved.

[0069] In Figure 14, portion 30 does not cover aligner 201 but complements it. Thus, the teeth with which aligner 201 cooperates have: - the majority (for example, between 80% and 95%) of their lingual surface covered by said aligner; - and the other part of their lingual surface, their occlusal / incisal surface, and their buccal surface covered by tray 3. Portion 30 can cover a small part of the lingual surface, forming a lingual return that extends a few millimeters (for example, from 1 mm to 5 mm) from the occlusal / incisal edge of the tooth. Tray 3 thus acts on the teeth (in applying constraint from the vestibular surface) but not on aligner 201. This design is particularly advantageous from a manufacturing standpoint. Indeed, it is sufficient to design aligner 201 and tray 3 as a single, monolithic piece (for example, by thermoforming) and then cut the aligner (for example, by laser cutting) to separate it from the tray. These two elements are thus obtained very simply and at a lower cost.

[0070] It should be noted that this retainer 3 is not essential, as the lingual aligner 101, 201 provides excellent results when used alone. Retainer 3 is simply an accessory, primarily used at night. It can also be used passively (without applying pressure to the aligner and / or teeth) as a retainer at the end of treatment.

[0071] Orthodontic appliances such as expanders or quad helixes are commonly used to widen a narrow jaw. The force exerted by these appliances allows the palate to expand so that all the teeth can erupt correctly. These appliances are generally cumbersome because their placement can be relatively complex. In the case of a quad helix, activation and adjustment are performed by the practitioner at each visit. Only the practitioner can modify the appliance, which is particularly restrictive. A dental appliance according to an embodiment not covered by the present invention can resolve these problems.

[0072] In Figures 10 and 11, the 103 connectors are fixed to the lingual surface of the molars and premolars to ensure optimal attachment to the teeth. However, they can be fixed only to the molars or to other teeth.

[0073] The aligner now takes the form of a palatal plate 101 that covers the palate and is easily attached (manually and without instruments) to the connectors 103, as explained previously. The plate 101 no longer aligns the teeth, but rather widens the palate (maxillary expansion plate). Indeed, the connectors 103 and the plate 101 cooperate in such a way as to apply at least one constraint on the teeth which tends to spread the palate apart in a transverse direction.

[0074] Similar to the aligner described previously, plate 101 is a flexible, contoured plate designed to cover only the lingual surface 102b, 202b of the teeth, leaving the other surfaces free. It also covers the palatal vault VP. Plate 101 includes recesses into which the connectors 103 fit elastically.

[0075] Referring to Figure 9, the flexible plate 101 rests on the palatal vault VP and acts like a spring or jack. The force (schematized by the arrows) exerted by the flexible plate 101 on the palatal vault VP and on the connectors 103 and the teeth 102 is oriented in the lingo-vestibular direction, which allows for palatal retraction.

[0076] In one embodiment, the flexible plate 101 rests against the lingual surface of several teeth in a quadrant or half-arch. It may also support teeth that are not equipped with a connector 103, such as the incisors and canines shown in Figure 10. As a result, the flexible plate 101 allows for palatal retraction in both a transverse and sagittal direction, i.e., a curved or fan-shaped retraction. This is particularly advantageous when the appliance is worn by a growing child whose normal maxillary growth occurs in all directions, not just the transverse one. If only palatal retraction in a transverse direction is desired, the flexible plate 101 can be configured to constrain only the molars.

[0077] Because plate 101 easily and manually attaches to and detaches from connectors 103, the patient can manage their treatment independently. Aside from attaching connectors 103, no intervention from the practitioner is required. The patient has a series of plates 101, each progressively widening the palate at each stage, for example, from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. Each plate is progressively wider to expand the palate. There can be between 10 and 100 stages, and therefore between 10 and 100 different models of plate 101. At the beginning of each stage, when placed on the palate and engaged in the connectors, the plate The 101 plate is adjusted to the intermediate (or final) configuration that the maxillary arch should have at the end of that stage, so that each 101 plate model exerts stresses on the teeth that tend to widen the palate. The flexibility of the 101 plate allows it to deform elastically until it reaches the configuration the arch had at the beginning of the treatment stage. By attempting to return to its initial shape (shape memory), the 101 plate exerts stresses on the maxillary arch. The maxillary arch and palate then gradually adjust to the shape of the 101 plate. When the maxillary arch and palate are perfectly adjusted to the shape of a 101 plate, it is changed to proceed to the next stage of treatment. Treatment can last from 1 to 6 months, and the 101 plates are changed 1 or 2 times per month.

[0078] In Figure 12a, connectors 203 are fixed to the lingual surface of teeth 202 that frame a space E left free at the implant site. For example, if the implant is placed in the second premolar position, the connectors 203 are fixed to the lingual surface of the first premolar and the first molar. The space E may also be left free by a missing tooth. The connectors 203 are similar to the connectors 103 described previously.

[0079] Referring to Figure 12b, the device according to the invention comprises a support band 201 to which a DP dental prosthesis is fixed. Conventionally, this DP prosthesis is made of resin and / or ceramic. It is obtained by molding, machining, or 3D printing.

[0080] The DP prosthesis can be attached to the support strip 201 by bonding, welding, interlocking, or any other method suitable to a person skilled in the art. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 12b, the lingual surface of the DP prosthesis is bonded to the support strip 201. In an alternative embodiment, the DP prosthesis and the support strip 201 are a single unit produced by molding, machining, or 3D printing.

[0081] As with the aligner described previously, the support strip 201 engages with the connectors 203. It is in the form of a flexible or rigid plate, contoured to cover only the lingual surface of the teeth, leaving the other surfaces of said teeth free. It includes recesses in which The connectors 203 fit together elastically. The characteristics of this support strip 201 are similar to those of the aligner 101 described previously.

[0082] When the support band 201 is fitted onto the connectors 203, the DP prosthesis fills the space E. The band 201 no longer serves to align the teeth, but to support the DP prosthesis. It also prevents the teeth from shifting and maintains the space E, for example, in preparation for future implantation or the eruption of a permanent tooth in a child. Furthermore, it helps maintain occlusion by keeping the opposing tooth in a vertical position while preventing its regression. Since the support band 201 is hidden behind the teeth and the DP prosthesis, this solution is particularly aesthetic. In addition, because the support band 201 is easily attached (manually and without instruments) to the connectors 203, the insertion and removal of the DP prosthesis are very simple.The partial denture prosthesis (PD) can be temporary and removed as soon as the healing period is complete, at the time of placement of the abutment and the final prosthesis. The PD prosthesis can also be left in place for a longer period and serve as a permanent prosthesis (at a lower cost), for example, if the patient does not wish to continue the procedure after implant placement.

[0083] Since the band 201 no longer serves to align the teeth, it is advantageous for it to be passive when installed on the connectors 203. By "passive," we mean that the band 201 exerts no displacement constraints (or the minimum possible) on the teeth 202 that frame the space E. To achieve this, it is advantageous to use connectors 203 with a spherical connecting head. The three-dimensional constraints exerted by such connectors on the teeth 202 are then zero, or at the very least greatly reduced.

[0084] The arrangement of the various elements and / or means and / or steps of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. Other variations are possible. In particular, the 201 support band can be attached to several adjacent or non-adjacent dental prostheses.

[0085] Furthermore, one or more features described only in one embodiment can be combined with one or more other features described only in another embodiment. Similarly, one or more features described only in one embodiment can be generalized to other embodiments, even if that feature or those features are described only in combination with other features.

Claims

Demands

1. [Dental prosthesis (DP) support device characterized in that it comprises: a support band (101, 201) attached to a dental prosthesis (DP); connectors (103, 203) adapted to, in use, be fixed to teeth (102, 202) of a patient which frame a free dental space (E) and on which the support band (101, 201) is detachably engaged so that the dental prosthesis (DP) fills said space; the support band (101, 201) is profiled to cover only the lingual face (102b, 202b) of said teeth while leaving the other faces of said teeth free; the connectors (103, 203) are configured to be fixed against the lingual face (102b, 202b) of said teeth; the support strip (101, 201) includes recesses (1013, 2013) into which the connectors (103, 203) fit elastically.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the dental prosthesis (DP) is fixed to the support strip (101, 201) by gluing, welding or fitting.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the dental prosthesis (DP) has a lingual face which is glued onto the support strip (101, 201).

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the dental prosthesis (DP) and the support band (101, 201) are a single unit molded, machined or 3D printed piece.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each connector (103, 203) has a spherical connection head (1301).

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each connector (103, 203) comprises: a base (1030, 2030) having a fixing face (1030b) adapted to fix against the lingual face (102b, 202b) of a tooth, a connection head (1031, 2031) in the extension of the base (1030, 2030) and into which one of the reservations (1013, 2013) of the support strip (101, 201) fits.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the connecting head (1301) is distant from the base (1030), a collar (1032) connecting said base to said head.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each connector (103, 203) comprises: a connection head (1031, 2031) into which one of the recesses of the support strip (101, 201) fits, a fixing face (1030b) adapted to fix against the lingual face (102b, 202b) of a tooth, o the fixing face (1030b) consists of a flat provided on the connection head (1031, 2031).

9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the connecting head (1031, 2031) has one of the following shapes: ovoid, elongated ellipsoid, sphere, cube, parallelepiped, polyhedron, prism, cone, pyramid, cylinder; or consists of a combination of two or more of these different shapes.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support strip (101, 201) is flexible.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support strip (101, 201) is rigid.

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support strip (101, 201) has portions or areas having distinct moduli of elasticity.