Abstract: The present invention relates generally to dental devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a dental device for forming a dental appliance. The dental appliance is used to position the mandible and the maxilla in centric relation and methods of making and using same.

Abstract: The present invention is a dental device for insertion in a patient's mouth generally between the patient's upper and lower teeth for cooperating and positioning the mandible and the maxilla in centric relation. The dental device includes a centric bite assembly including a bite portion which is insertable between the patient's upper and lower anterior teeth. The bite portion is constructed of pliable materials and is sized and shaped to maintain the patient's upper and lower posterior teeth spaced a distance apart as the patient bites down on the bite portion. The pliable materials result in the bite portion being partially collapsed as the patient bites down on the bite portion and permit relative movement of the upper and lower anterior teeth for cooperating in positioning the mandible and the maxilla in centric relation as a result of the patient's muscle contraction and relaxation as the patient bites down on the bite assembly while not causing a ramping effect.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for making impressions of at least a portion of a patient's upper and lower posterior teeth with the patient's mandible and maxilla positioned in a centric relation, relieving muscle trismus and pain caused by muscles, diagnosing temporal mandibular joint problems in a patient, and positioning a patient's mandible and maxilla in a centric relation using a dental device sized and shaped so as to be inserted into the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A dental device for insertion in a patient's mouth generally between the patient's upper and lower teeth for cooperating and positioning the mandible and the maxilla in centric relation. The dental device includes a centric bite assembly including a bite portion which is insertable between the patient's upper and lower anterior teeth and an impression support assembly connected to and extending a predetermined perpendicular distance away from the centric bite assembly. The dental device also may be used for relieving muscle trismus and pain caused by muscles and diagnosing temporal mandibular joint problems by having the patient bite down on the bite portion tending to position the mandibular and the maxilla in centric relation.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a dental tray having a base extending in a dental arch an arcuate distance at least sufficient such that a portion of one surface of the base is disposable generally above some of the occlusal surfaces and such that a portion of the surface of the base is disposable generally above some of the incisal surfaces in one operating position of the dental tray. A lingual sidewall is connected to one side of the base and a buccal sidewall is connected to the opposite side of the base, each sidewall extending a surface molding distance generally perpendicularly from the base and the sidewalls cooperating with the base to form a space for accommodating molding and impression material.