Pre-made reinforcement device

Abstract

The present invention consists of a pre-made reinforcement device having a core for receiving a prosthetic crown. A vertical axis, horizontal plane anti-rotational device interconnects the post-and-core and is positioned within indexing recesses extending from a hole in the pretreated tooth. An advantageous locking of the reinforcement device results from the post, core and antirotational device combination.

I claim: 
     
       1. A reinforcement device for preventing rotation of a tooth crown, the tooth crown being connected to a root-canal-treated tooth having a post-hole with a central hole and two indexing grooves intersecting said central hole at an upper surface extending from said central hole, said device comprising: an elongated post with at least one venting-indexing groove defined by said post, said post adapted to be seated within a post-hole of a root-canal-treated tooth;   a core acting as a retention vehicle for a tooth crown, said core defining a central hole and at least one indexing groove intersecting said central hole, said central hole of said core adapted to fit around said post and said core adapted to receive a prosthetic crown; and   at least one horizontal plane anti-rotational device positioned contiguous with said post and said core and extending from said post substantially to the plane of an outer surface of said core, said anti-rotational device adapted to simultaneously engage an indexing groove of said tooth, said indexing groove of said core and said venting-indexing groove in said post.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said post, said core and said anti-rotational device are of a unitary construction. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post, said core and said anti-rotational device are formed as two pieces. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-rotational device decreases in thickness from a central region connected to said post to the plane of an outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said anti-rotational device decreases in thickness from a central region connected to said post to the plane of an outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said anti-rotational device decreases in thickness from a central region connected to said post to the plane of an outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-rotational device is of a rectangular shape extending from a central region connected to said post to the plane of the outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said anti-rotational device is of a rectangular shape extending from a central region connected to said post to the plane of the outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       9. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said anti-rotational device is of a rectangular shape extending from a central region connected to said post to the plane of the outer surface of said core. 
     
     
       10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device is perpendicular to said post and adapted to engage said core indexing groove and said indexing groove of said tooth. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device is perpendicular to said post and adapted to engage said core indexing groove and said indexing groove of said tooth. 
     
     
       12. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device is perpendicular to said post and adapted to engage said core indexing groove and said indexing groove of said tooth. 
     
     
       13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two horizontal plane anti-rotational devices. 
     
     
       14. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are two horizontal plane anti-rotational devices. 
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are two horizontal plane anti-rotational devices. 
     
     
       16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device extends apically, coronally and medially thus simultaneously engaging said tooth, said post and said core. 
     
     
       17. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device extends apically, coronally and medially thus simultaneously engaging said tooth, said post and said core. 
     
     
       18. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said horizontal plane anti-rotational device extends apically, coronally and medially thus simultaneously engaging said tooth, said post and said core. 
     
     
       19. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core is tapered to form a retention vehicle for a tooth crown. 
     
     
       20. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said core is tapered to form a retention vehicle for a tooth crown. 
     
     
       21. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said core is tapered to form a retention vehicle for a tooth crown. .Iadd. 
     
     
       22.  A unitary pre-made reinforcement device for preventing rotation of a tooth crown, said device adapted for engaging a root-canal-treated tooth having a post-hole and two indexing grooves intersecting said post-hole at an upper surface of said tooth, said device comprising: a core portion adapted to receive a prosthetic crown and having a top, a base, and tapered sides extending therebetween;   a horizontal plane anti-rotational portion joined to said base of said core portion, said anti-rotational portion having a pair of substantially flat opposite sides lying along substantially parallel planes and extending in opposite directions from a post portion toward opposite sides of said core portion and adapted to engage said indexing grooves of said tooth; and   an elongated substantially cylindrical post portion joined to said anti-rotational portion opposite said core portion and adapted to be seated within said post-hole of said tooth, wherein said core portion, said anti-rotational portion and said post portion lie along a common axis and wherein said sides of said anti-rotational portion lie along planes substantially parallel with said common axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       23.  The device of claim 33 wherein said post portion includes at least one venting-indexing groove therealong. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The device of claim 33 wherein said anti-rotational portion is tapered, decreasing in thickness from the location at which it is joined to said post portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The device of claim 33 wherein said anti-rotational portion is of a rectangular shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The device of claim 33 wherein said anti-rotational portion extends to the plane of the sides of said core. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The device of claim 33 wherein said tapered core portion increases in thickness from said top to said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The device of claim 27 wherein said core portion includes a pair of opposite flattened sides. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The device of claim 28 wherein said flattened sides of said core portion are substantially parallel to said flat sides of said anti-rotational portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The device of claim 28 wherein said core portion is tapered 5° from said common axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The device of claim 33 wherein said core portion, said anti-rotational portion, and said post portion are symmetrical along said common axis, respectively. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  In a method of securing a prosthetic crown in a root-canal-treated tooth having a post-hole drilled therein, the improvement comprising: (a) cutting two indexing grooves intersecting said post-hole and extending in opposite directions therefrom along the upper surface of said tooth,   (b) fitting a device of claim 33 in said tooth by inserting said post portion into said post-hole and said anti-rotational portion into said indexing grooves, and   (c) securing a prosthetic crown on said core portion.