Den-Mat Holdings, LLC ("DenMat") announced that the recent issuance of a new patent by the US Patent & Trademark Office (US PTO) for its line of Snap-On Smile removable dental appliances.
United States Patent No. 9,901,429 is for an appliance fabricated to enhance the appearance of a patient's smile, including a plurality of simulated teeth, resulting in an improved smile without any need to alter the structure of a patient's existing dentition.
"This latest patent broadens DenMat's existing intellectual property assets covering Snap-On Smile," said David Casper, CEO of DenMat. "The newly-issued patent recites, among other things, the use of acetyl resin, the ability for the appliance to be removed, and the tooth-borne retentive nature of the design."
The patent claims an invention in which an appliance is designed and fabricated to change the appearance of a patient's smile without needing to alter the existing structure of the teeth. One embodiment of the invention may be fabricated from an acetyl resin material, has a continuous wall with an inner surface that adapts and conforms to the facial and lingual aspects of the existing teeth, an outer wall that has the desired visible appearance, and retentive points without utilizing any dental adhesive or cement.
This latest patent strengthens DenMat's patent portfolio for its Snap-On Smile product line, which includes U.S. Patent Nos. 8,449,296 and 7,357,637, as well as one or more pending patent applications.
"The DenMat laboratory has been a key area of focus for our company," said Mr. Casper. "That focus has included a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening our intellectual property assets covering the innovative technologies that we employ to deliver unique and esthetic solutions for our customers."
DenMat operates one of dentistry's most recognized dental laboratories, producing esthetic solutions for dentists such as Lumineers and Snap-On Smile appliances. Recently, the Company expanded its laboratory product offering to include its LumiZir full contour zirconia restorations and its Additive Reductive Template (A.R.T) system for case design and presentation.
Since 1974, DenMat has been a leader in high-quality dental products for dental professionals in more than 100 countries around the world. DenMat makes and assembles most of its products at its world headquarters on the Central Coast of California and offers three main product categories: Consumables, Small Equipment, and a full-service Dental Laboratory.