Abstract: An adjusting device and method of adjusting an orthodontic expander has an elongated handle and a distal extension in the form of a wire. The extension is bent at an angle of approximately 90° to form an activator tip which is inserted into the expansion screw. The handle is then rotated by one hand located entirely to one side of the medial plane of the patient's mouth, to torque the expansion screw.

Abstract: A system for providing artificial teeth with lifelike shade and hue, or for matching the shade and hue of an artificial tooth with the shade and hue of one's natural teeth, employs a single-sided master shade/hue guide and a plurality of paired sample teeth, with each pair attached to a holder and having the same shade and hue corresponding to a tooth on the master shade/hue guide. The artificial sample teeth on the single-sided master shade/hue guide are arranged either by shade from light to dark or by hue, with the teeth grouped by color and sequenced from light to dark within. The master shade/hue guide as well as each pair of shade/hue matched sample teeth includes a respective background panel disposed aft of and extending above the aligned sample teeth for providing a uniform background color field for optimum viewing of the sample teeth.

Abstract: A system for providing artificial teeth with life-like shade and hue, or for matching the shade and hue of an artificial tooth with the shade and hue of one's natural teeth, employs a double-sided master shade guide and a plurality of paired sample teeth, with each pair having a given shade and hue corresponding to a tooth on the master shade guide and attached to a holder. One side of the master shade guide includes a first set of reference teeth arranged by shade, while a second set of reference teeth arranged by hue and visually isolated from the first set are disposed on a second, opposed side of the shade guide. A support base, or carrier, is adapted to receive and support the master shade guide and the paired sample teeth holders. The carrier includes a plurality of spaced compartments, each receiving and supporting a plurality of paired sample teeth holders. All pairs of sample teeth in a given compartment are of the same shade and hue.

Abstract: A system for selecting a tooth color for a patient for whom artificial teeth are to be made which is provided with a holder having a plurality of slots and identical dual shade guides. The shade guides are removably supported in the slots and include areas on the surface for recording a patient's identifying data and the tooth data. When in use, one of the guides is removed from the holder and sent to the technician for use in making the teeth for the patient, while the other of the guides is retained by the dentist.