Interdental immobilization device

Abstract

An interdental immobilization device consists, in the preferred embodiment, of a longitudinal deformable shaft having a smooth cylindrical portion that terminates as a pointed tip at the distal end and a helical threaded portion at the proximate end. A nut defining an aperture therethrough matingly threads along the helical threaded portion and the length of the deformable shaft is such as to permit the distal portion of the cylindrical portion to encircle the tooth and to loop above the shaft over a segment of the helical threaded portion. In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal shaft has a detent at the proximate end and there are anchoring fixtures in the form of truncated conics which are adapted to travel along the shaft. One of the fixtures anchors in the detent and the other, is engaged against adjacent teeth by the nut, when the nut is turned down on the helical thread. The conics provide a bearing surface adapted to carry interconnecting elements such as wires or elastics for staplizing the jaw.

Description

This invention relates to an interdental immobilization device.

From time to time, it is necessary to immobilize the human jaw.

This will be necessary when fractures of mandible occur or when (sparingly) one wishes to have their mouth fixed shut so as to avoid eating, and hence lose weight.

The existing method of the prior art uses a pliable metal strip with projecting hooks known as an arch bar and several fine wires and rubber bands. The metal strip is secured tightly to the teeth of the upper jaw by passing a wire around the base of a tooth and through the gum and over each side of the tooth and also over the metal strip. At this point, both ends of the wire are outside the mouth and are twisted together to hold the metal strip urgingly against the outside surface of the teeth. The twisted wire is then cut to a length of approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch and bent backward towards the gum and preferably placed in between two adjacent teeth to prevent irritation on the inside of the lips.

This is repeated spatially around eight to twelve teeth of the upper jaw and the same is repeated over the lower jaw.

The metal strip has the projecting hooks spatially disposed on its outside surface and over these hooks of THREE PART DEVICE

Referring to FIG. 1, the fixture 10, according to the invention, consists of a U an "L" shaped shaft 11 with an upstanding proximate arm 12 that forming the proximate end of shaft 11. Arm 12 is bent through an obtuse angle at bend 12' to terminate as form a detent and which terminates in a forwardly inclined straight piece 12". From the proximate arm 12, it Shaft 11 extends from the proximate arm 12 as a longitudinal shaft portion 13 with its the distal end of shaft portion 13 tapering to a point at 14. Part Threaded portion 15 of the shaft 13 11 is helically threaded as at 15. A truncated conic member, or cone 16 consists of a flat bottom 19 through which extends a slot 20 and the. The cone 16 defines therethrough a channel 18 or bore which passes longitudinally through the apex center of the cone and hence truncates it, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The channel 18 is of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 13 so as to allow free passage therethrough. This is more clearly seen in the sectional FIG. 3. The slot 20 is includes outer outwardly tapered at 20' at ends 20A of the identical obtuse angle as at bend 12' so that the proximate arm 12 may appropriately index or fit within the slot 20 and the bend 12' and straight distal piece 12" mate against the inclined or bevelled surface of slot 20' one of ends 20A allowing the end of distal piece 12' 12" to protrude into the crevice defined by the bodies of two adjacent teeth.

The nut 17 in one of the preferred embodiments, that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, is formed of nylon and the has a channel 21 extending longitudinally through the center of nut 17. Channel 21 is a two stepped smooth walled channel, as more clearly seen in FIG. 10, with a shorter major bore portion 21C, and a longer minor bore 21CR; the major bore portion interfacing with the apex thereof. Also the surface of nut 17. The major portion 21C is connected to a longer minor portion 21CR with the diameter of the minor portion 21CR being less than the diameter of shaft 11. Nut 17 is contoured with an inner conic portion 24, an intermediate cylindrical portion 23 and an outer gripping surface 22H. The nut 17 may be profiled as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 alternately so as to provide an outer gripping surface 12, of either a hexagonal gripping surface 22H sized greater than the diameter of the cylindrical shoulder 23 through which it steps into a truncated conical section 24, or as seen in FIG. 2, a knearl gripping surface, as seen in FIG. 1 or knurled circular gripping surface 22N. Gripping surface 22H and 22 N provide a shoulder to retain wires or loops W (FIG. 9) against shoulder 23, when in use.

The Outer face 25 of the nut obverse to the truncated conic 24 17 adjacent gripping surface 22H is conically recessed at 25 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3 (see also FIGS. 10 and 11). If the tip 14 of the shaft 13 11 extends into the recess formed by conical recess face 25 after the physician has placed the fixture 10 between teeth, as will be disclosed hereafter, the physician has room to insert a pair of diagonal cutters 30 (see FIG. 3A) or the like, into the recess 25; and, to snip off the protruding segment of shaft 13 11 and the tip 14 which are collectively shown as SR so as not to cause abrasion to the inner skin of the mouth.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, in application, the shaft 11 is fitted to slip through channel 18 in cone 16 with the proximate arm 12 indexing into the slot 20. The shaft 11 is pushed between the base of two adjacent teeth 50 (50₂ and 50₃ in FIG. 8) and the point 14 assists in the penetration of the shaft 11 from the inside of the mouth outwardly through or above the gum mass between said teeth 50₂ and 50₃ to the outside gum surface. The nut 17 is then, if hexagonally formed as in FIG. 1, put into a socket wrench and threaded onto portion 15 of the shaft 11 so as to urge against the adjacent teeth 50₂ and 50₃ as well as the adjacent gum mass. If the profiled nut of FIG. 1 having the hexagonal surface 22H is nylon, and has the stepped bore channel 21, shown in FIG. 10, the tapered tip 14 of the screw shaft 11 indexes into the opening face of the major channel portion 21C and as the nut is rotated, the shaft 11 itself taps a helical thread into the wall of the minor bore portion 21CR of the nylon nut of FIGS. 1, 3 and 10 and secure anchoring is thereby achieved. As the nut 17 is turned tighter, the cone 16 and the conic section 24 of the nut 17 are drawn toward each other and a tight fit is achieved. If there be is any loosening off of nut 17 at a later time it is simple to just by slightly turn turning down the nut 17 with the socket wrench.

This step is repeated to locate, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of fixtures 10 mounted between teeth along the lower jaw. The steps are repeated in relation to the upper jaw.

The shoulder cylindrical surface portion 23 of the nut 17 is used as the capture or bearing region for anchoring wire or elastic loops W, which is laced between top and bottom fixtures as shown in FIG. 9. In this way, the lower jaw is immobilized to the upper jaw. This wrapping may just be accommodated by weaving or wrapping of wire (W) or if preferred, elastic loops W₁ W, may be used.

According to the prior art, and referring to FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, the elastic loops W₁ are wrapped over hooks H, spatially disposed along a flexible stainless steel arch bar HB which is placed at the gum line on the facial side of the teeth and secured there by wire W(_t) W which wrap around a single tooth and extend between adjacent teeth and are twisted over the front or facial portion of the arch bar, as more clearly seen in FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5.

FOUR PART DEVICE

Referring to FIG. 2, a further an alternative embodiment consists of incorporates two identical truncated stainless steel conics shown as 16' and 16". The shaft 11 11' has but a proximate straight arm 12 12A and that arm indexes into the slot 20 20' of the truncated conic 16'. The nut 17 17' is fashioned without a the tapered conic section 24 and hence a of the three part embodiment of FIG. 1. A flat bearing as shown in FIG. 2 is provided and for reason, a second conic 16" identical to that of conic 16' is used as the bearing member for the nut. Similarly, as disclosed relative to FIG. 1, the shaft 11 11', the conics 16' and 16" and nut 17 17' may be installed between the teeth. This particular embodiment is less favourable to that of FIGS. 1 and 10 FIG. 1 since there are four rather than three discrete components to consists of including two identical truncated stainless steel conics shown as 16' and 16". The shaft 11 has but 11' is L shaped with a proximate straight arm 12 and that 12A which arm 12A indexes into the slot 20 20' of the truncated conic 1. a further embodiment consists two identical truncated stainless steel conics shown as 16' and 16". The shaft 11 has but a proximate straight arm 12 and that arm indexes into the slot 20 of the truncated conic 1 surface 24.

Referring to FIG. 3A which refers to the three part embodiment of FIG. 1, the length of the shaft 11 may be structured quite sufficiently long so as to accommodate various depths (thicknesses of teeth) (thicknesses) of teeth. In the instance depicted in FIG. 3A, the tip 14 of the shaft 11 protrudes well beyond the face of the conical recess 25 of the nut as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A nut 17. This overhang extent The protruding segment SR may be cut off with a pair of wire cutters 30 as shown in FIG. 3A. This provides means for reducing the length of the screw shaft 11 each time that the nut 17 is turned down on the teeth to tighten the fixture. Abrasion to the inner lip and cheek is thus avoided. This applies equally to the four part embodiment of FIG. 2.

Returning now to FIG. 10, when the nut is composed of nylon, the channel may be a two step bore as shown, that is a shorter major bore portion 21C that steps into a longer minor bore portion 21CR. The thread portion 15 of the shaft 11 may be modified (though not required) near its tip 14 with a cup at 14C and a protruding piece 14I which cooperatively acts as a "tap". When the nylon nut 10 17 is turned down on this end taped threaded shaft of 14, cup 14C and piece 14I cause the shaft 11' the shaft 11' to self taps tap into the minor bore portion 21CR to form a mating thread therein securing the nut 17 thereon to shaft 11.

In the preferred embodiment of the nut 17 shown in FIG. FIGS. 1, 3 and 10, the shaft 11, and cone 16, are stainless steel and the nut 17 is made of nylon. We have found that a cone 16 base diameter of approximately 5 m.m. and a cone 16 height of 3 m.m. is satisfactory with an angle of 40°. This means that the hexagon diameter 22H of the nut 17 is preferably about 7 m.m.; while the shoulder portion 23 diameter is about 5 m.m. with a depth of shoulder to the outer diameter of surface 23H or 23N of about 2 m.m. to allow adequate space for winding of wire or elastics W₁ W between respective shoulders shoulder portions 23 of fixtures 10 in a manner as seen in FIG. 9. In this respect the The preferred length of the shaft 11 is about 12 m.m. with the shaft arm 12 having a length of approximately 2.5 m.m. and protrusion piece 12" of about 2.5 m.m. and an outside bend diameter at 12' of 0.8 m.m. In this respect, slot 20 cut into the face of the base bottom 19 of the cone 16 has a preferred depth of approximately 1 m.m. and a preferred width of between 0.8 and 1 m.m.

In a variant of the nut 17, it nut 17 may be stainless steel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. In this instance, the central channel 21 is a uniform helically threaded channel 21N shown in FIG. 10. include channel 21 which is a uniform helically threaded channel 21N as shown in FIG. 11. The stainless steel nut Nut 17 may be profiled with either the hexagonal surface 22H of FIG. 1 or with a cylindrical knurled surface 22N and of FIG. 2. Nut 17 may be of resilient material such as nylon, as indicated in FIG. 11 or of stainless steel or other suitable non-resilient material.

It should be noted, that if the formed shaft 11 of FIG. 1 is used, the proximate arm tip of the straight piece 12" protrudes beyond the conic cone 16 (as shown in FIG. 3) into the crevice defined by the bodies of two adjacent teeth (see FIG. 8) and anchors the screw shaft 11' preventing its rotation and the corresponding rotation of the conic cone 16 in FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, as the nut 17 is initially turned down.

If the shaft 11 is of the unmodified shape 11' as shown in FIG. 2, is used, the shaft 11 11' and the conic 16' of that finger figure has a tendency to rotate on the initial turning down of the nut 17 17' irrespective of which profile 22H or 22N the nut 17' has. This impediment is amplified when the step bore nylon nut nut of FIG. 10 is used on the screw 11 11' of FIG. 2 or FIG. 10 while if. If the stainless steel nut 17 of FIG. 11 is used, i.e., having a uniform threaded channel 21N, the problem is less pronounced.

TWO PART DEVICE

Referring to FIG. 12, the two part interdental device is generally shown as 10 10.1; and, consists of a shaft 11 11.1 that includes a longitudinal smooth portion 12 12.1 which tapers into a point or tip 14 14.1 at one end a distal end and extends into a helical thread portion 15 15.1 at the other a proximate end. The shaft member 11.1 has a length of approximately 3 inches with the. The helical thread portion 15.1 has a length of about 3/8 of an inch and. Shaft 11.1 is made of surgical stainless steel with a preferred diameter range of 0.025" (22 gauge) to 0.032" (20 gauge). A nut 17 17.1 is formed of nylon such as Nylon Polyamide. Particularly suitable is a Nylon Polyamide pipe 6--6 available from Cadilac Plastics of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; this particular nylon will withstand temperatures of approximately 200° F., and remain rigid and hence, can be easy autoclaved. Its melting temperature is about 400° F. It also has a Rockwell hardness of R110-R120. The nut 17 17.1, has a channel 21 21.1 therethrough, preferably as a smooth bore, as shown in FIG. 15. The channel 21.1 preferably has a diameter sized to at least the root thread diameter of thread portion 15.1. The nut 17 17.1 then can be threaded onto the threaded shaft 15 thread portion 15.1, by cutting into the walls of channel 21.1, part way down as shown in FIG. 12, and delivered to the surgeon this way.

Referring to FIG. 7, successive adjacent teeth 50₁, 50₂, 50₃ and 50₄, are shown referenced while the lower jaw is illustratively shown.

In order to immobilize one's jaw, while the patient is anesthetized, the device 10 10.1 is pushed between the adjacent teeth 50₁ and 50₂ as shown in FIG. 12, and then, with a pair of pliers, the tip 14 14.1 is bent into the phantom position and thereafter pushed between the next adjacent teeth 50₂ and 50₃ so as to extend in the fashion of FIG. 13. The tip 14 14.1 is pulled taut, with a pair of pliers, in the direction of the arrow A so that the shaft 12 fits snug about the back of the tooth 50₂ and with the truncated conical surface 20 20.1 of the nut 17 17.1 resting snug against adjacent teeth 50₁ and 50₂, as shown in phantom in FIG. 13. The tip 14 14.1 is then moved with tweezers in the direction of arrow B and hence, into the phantom position; and, then eventually. Tip 14.1 is wrapped about the a segment of the helical shaft 15 thread 15.1, disposed between nut 17 17.1 and the adjacent teeth 50₁ and 50₂ in the fashion shown in FIG. 14. The distal end or tip 14 14.1 of the shaft 12 11.1 (the phantom portion referred to as 14' 14.1' in FIG. 14) is cut away with a pair of wire cutters and discarded. Thereafter, the nut 15 17.1 is turned down snug by contacting and turning gripping surface 22.1H, which is hexagonal in shape, or 22.1N which is circular with a knurled outer surface, on the helical thread portion 15.1 to tighten the device 10 10.1 and to anchor it about the tooth 50₂, as shown in FIG. 3 14. Any excess helical thread 14 of shaft 11.1 that protrudes into the truncated conical recess 25 25.1 of the nut 17 17.1 may be removed with wire cutters. Any exposed ends proximate end of the shaft 11 are 11.1 is therefore removed and no scratching or other abrasion takes place in the mouth of the wearer when implanted. Wires or elastic loops W may then be inserted between installed devices 10.1 in a similar manner as shown in FIG. 9 with wires or loops contacting and being held in position by truncated conical section 20.1. There is virtually no blood letting.

Claims

1. A two part fixture adapted to act as an anchoring means in an interdental immobilization procedure comprising;

(a) a longitudinal deformable shaft defining a helical threaded portion that extends from one end and that transforms into a smooth cylindrical rod that terminates at a pointed distal end; and,

(b) a screw member defining a bore therethrough adapted to matingly thread with the helical threaded portion, the length of the deformable longitudinal shaft being such as to permit the distal portion of the cylindrical rod to encircle a tooth and to loop about the shaft over a

segment of the helical threaded portion. 2. The fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the screw member nut

is profiled as a conic. 3. The fixture as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the conic is frusto-conical. 4. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 3 wherein the nut is nylon and the elongated screw

member shaft is stainless steel. 5. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a diameter in the range of

0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon. 6. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032"

and the nut is nylon, and the profile of the nut is a hexagon. 7. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated screw member

shaft is 3" long. 8. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 3 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" the nut is nylon and the aperture channel is a of smooth continuous bore diameter, sized to at least the root threaded thread diameter of the helical threaded

portion. 9. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 3 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon and the aperture channel is of a two step bore diameter, a major portion sized to at least the diameter of the shaft, and a minor portion sized to at least the root thread diameter of the helical

threaded portion. 10. The fixture as claimed in claim 3 50, wherein the helical thread threaded portion is a thread selected from the group of threads comprising a

buttress form thread and a full depth V shaped thread. 11. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the

screw member nut is a nylon polyamide. 12. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the screw member nut is a nylon polyamide

wherein, the nylon polyamide has a Rockwell hardness of R110 to R120. 13. A two part The fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nut is nylon and the elongated screw member shaft

is stainless steel. 14. A two part The fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a diameter in the

range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon. 15. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon, and the profile of the nut is a

hexagon. 16. The fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elongated

screw member shaft is 3" long. 17. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 2 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon and the aperture channel is a of smooth continuous bore diameter, sized to at

least the root thread diameter of the helical threaded portion. 18. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 2 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" nut is nylon and the channel is of two step bore diameter, have a major bore portion sized to at least the diameter of the elongated screw member shaft, and a minor bore portion sized to at least the root thread diameter of the helical

threaded portion. 19. The fixture as claimed in claim 2 50, wherein the helical thread threaded portion is a thread selected from the group of threads comprising a

buttress form thread and a full depth V shaped thread. 20. The fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the

screw member nut is a nylon polyamide. 21. The fixture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the screw member nut is a nylon polyamide

wherein, the nylon polyamide has a Rockwell hardness of R110 to R120. 22. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the nut is nylon and the elongated screw

member shaft is stainless steel. 23. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 1 49 wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a

diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon. 24. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" and the nut is nylon,

and the profile of the nut is a hexagon. 25. The fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the elongated screw member

shaft is 3" long. 26. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 1 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" the nut is nylon and the aperture channel is a of smooth continuous bore diameter, sized to at least the root thread

diameter of the helical threaded portion. 27. The two part fixture as claimed in claim 1 50, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is stainless steel and of a diameter in the range of 0.025" to 0.032" the nut is nylon and the aperture channel is a of two step bore diameter, a major bore portion sized to at least the diameter of the elongated screw member shaft, and a minor bore portion sized

to at least the root thread diameter of the helical threaded portion. 28. The fixture as claimed in claim 1 50, wherein the helical thread threaded portion is a thread selected from the group of threads comprising a buttress form thread and a full

depth V shaped thread. 29. The fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the

screw member nut is a nylon polyamide. 30. The fixture as claimed in claim 1 49, wherein the shaft is surgical stainless steel and the screw member the nut is a nylon polyamide wherein, the nylon polyamide has a Rockwell

hardness of R110 to R120. 31. A fixture for interdental immobilization comprising:

(a) an elongated screw member carrying shaft comprising a detent near one a proximate end , a detent, and a threaded portion near the other opposite distal end , a threaded portion;

(b) a first anchor means adapted to engage the detent; and,

(c) a second anchor means defining a body portion and a bore channel and adapted to travel on the screw member shaft, the body portion having a cross-sectional area traverse transverse to the bore channel that in part, is smaller than at other axial locations along the body portion so as to accommodate and carry interconnecting elements

such as wires or elastics. 32. The fixture as claimed in claim 31 wherein the interconnecting engagement member is a threaded shaft and said first anchor member is a truncated conic defining a channel through which said shaft extends and wherein said second anchor means is integral with said adjustably locating means (c) body portion and includes means for engagement with said shaft whereby the to position said first and second anchor means relative to each

other. 33. The fixture as claimed in claim 32 wherein said means (c) for locating body portion includes a bearing surface adapted to locate said means (c) and said bearing anchor means relative to said first anchor means accommodate and carry said

interconnecting elements. 34. The fixture as claimed in claim 31

wherein the detent is in the form of an L. 35. The fixture as claimed in claim 34, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is "L" shaped having a distal arm with a threaded shaft portion

and pointed tip thereon and a proximate arm. 36. The fixture as claimed in claim 34, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is "L" shaped having a distal arm with a threaded shaft and pointed tip thereon and a proximate arm thus extends extending through an obtuse angle into a straight forwardly inclined straight piece that acts as a

protrusion. 37. The fixture as claimed in claim 31 wherein the first

anchor means has a slot for engagement with the detent. 38. The fixture as claimed in claim 37, wherein the elongated screw member is "L" shaped having a distal arm with a threaded shaft portion and pointed tip thereon and a proximate arm thus extends through an obtuse angle into a straight inclined piece that acts as a protrusion.

9. The fixture as claimed in claim 37 wherein the bore channel of the second anchor means is adapted to

threadingly mate with and travel along the threaded portion. 40. The fixture as claimed in claim 39, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is "L" shaped having a distal arm with a threaded shaft portion and pointed tip thereon and a proximate arm thus extends extending through an obtuse angle into a straight forwardly inclined straight

piece that acts as a protrusion. 41. The fixture as claimed in claim 31 wherein the bore channel of the second anchor means is adapted to threadingly mate with and travel along the

threaded portion. 42. The fixture as claimed in claim 41, wherein the elongated screw member shaft is "L" shaped having a distal arm with a threaded shaft portion and pointed tip thereon and a proximate arm thus extends extending through an obtuse angle into a straight forwardly inclined straight piece that acts as a

protrusion. 43. A fixture adapted to act as an anchoring means in an interdental immobilization procedure comprising:

(a) a longitudinal deformable shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, the length of said shaft being sufficient to encircle a tooth and to permit said distal end to wrap about a segment of said shaft adjacent said proximate end;

(b) urging means engaging a portion of said shaft adjacent said proximate end for urging said proximate end away from said tooth to tighten said shaft about said tooth, said urging means urging said distal end against said tooth as said urging means urges said proximate end away from said tooth. 44. The fixture as claimed in claim 43, wherein said proximate end is securely fixed between said urging means and said tooth. 45. The fixture as claimed in claim 44, wherein said urging means is releasable to release said distal end from between said urging means and said tooth and to loosen said shaft about said tooth. 46. The fixture as claimed in claim 45, wherein said urging means comprises a concave distal end face forming a cavity and wherein said urging means comprises a channel through said urging means to receive said proximate end therein, said channel extending to said distal

end face. 47. The fixture as claimed in claim 46, wherein said end face is contoured to permit entry of cutting means into said cavity for cutting said proximate end of said shaft protruding from said end of said channel. 48. The fixture as claimed in claim 47, wherein said distal end comprises a pointed tip. 49. The fixture as claimed in claim 43, wherein said urging means comprises a

nut. 50. The fixture as claimed in claim 43, wherein said shaft comprises a helical threaded portion extending from one end, said helical threaded portion comprising a root thread diameter, and wherein said urging means comprises a nut with a channel through the nut to receive said proximate end of said shaft therethrough.

A method of securing an anchoring means in an interdental immobilization procedure comprising the steps of:

(a) pushing a longitudinal deformable shaft between adjacent teeth above the gum line so that the distal end of said shaft is on the lingual side of the teeth and the proximate end of said shaft remains on the buccal side the teeth;

(b) wrapping said distal end about the lingual side of one of the said adjacent teeth and pushing said distal end between said one tooth and the other adjacent tooth;

(c) wrapping said distal end about a segment of said shaft adjacent said proximate end;

(d) attaching urging means to said proximate end, said urging means for urging said proximate end away from said tooth;

(e) activating said urging means to urge said proximate end away from said tooth and to urge said distal end against said tooth and said urging means until said shaft tightly encircles said tooth.