Abstract: A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea and its fabrication process. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of the mandible relative to the upper jaw in the protruded position to prevent aggravation of the patient's temporomandibular joint and associated muscles and ligaments. The appliance includes a lower bite block conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition, an upper bite block conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition, and a hinge connecting the upper bite block to the lower bite block. The upper bite block and the lower bite block are thin walled polyamide eliminating the need for dental wires to maintain them to the mandibular detention and the maxillary dentition and the problems associated therewith.

Abstract: A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea and its fabrication process. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of the mandible relative to the upper jaw in the protruded position to prevent aggravation of the patient's temporomandibular joint and associated muscles and ligaments. The appliance includes a lower bite block conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition, an upper bite block conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition, and a hinge connecting the upper bite block to the lower bite block. The upper bite block and the lower bite block are thin walled polyamide eliminating the need for dental wires to maintain them to the mandibular detention and the maxillary dentition and the problems associated therewith.

Abstract: An improved connection of tray to dental articulator having a lower jaw and an upper jaw pivotally mounted to the lower jaw and consists of a lower member carried by the lower jaw and an upper member carried by the upper jaw, both members having a female receiving aperture and a dental model tray for each member formed with a male hold-release portion sized to releasably mount within either of the female receiving apertures.

Abstract: A mounting plate is formed from plastic and with a first one of its planar surfaces substantially flat and otherwise formed to be affixed to a dental model. A connecting rib, formed to extend out from the other planar surface of the mounting plate, and along its entire length, has a modified "T" shaped configuration with a vertical leg extending up from the planar surface and a cross-arm extending out to each side of the leg so as to form a groove to each side of the vertical leg between the planar surface of the plate and the opposed surface of the cross-arm. A slot is formed through the central rib of each articulator with a shoulder extending from each wall of the slot into the slot but so as to leave a narrow passage sized to receive the vertical leg of the modified "T" shaped rib.

Abstract: The upper and lower jaw members and intermediate connecting member of a dental model articulator are molded from suitable plastic as an integral unitary whole; with the jaw members spaced from each other, by the intermediate connecting member, a distance comensurate with the dental models to be mounted on the articulator, and so that the upper jaw member articulates with respect to the intermediate member and lower jaw member to facilitate relative positioning of, and the performing of work on, the dental models. An over-center toggle-type-hinge is integrally molded between the upper jaw member and the intermediate connecting member to provide for articulation of the upper jaw member.