Abstract: A method for producing a dentist tool includes simulation of predetermined horizontal, vertical, and tilt movements to be followed by a cutting tool to remove a predetermined part of tooth structure for further treatment of a tooth. An overlay is determined to fit the tooth by determining a first guiding edge within the overlay corresponding to the predetermined movements and determining a second guiding edge within the overlay spaced apart from the first guiding edge and corresponding to the predetermined movements. The first and second guiding edges are provided to contact the cutting tool so as to guide horizontal, vertical, and tilt movements of the cutting tool such that the cutting tool follows the predetermined horizontal, vertical, and tilt movements for removal of the predetermined part of tooth structure. The determined overlay is produced with the first and second guiding edges and such that it fits the tooth.

Abstract: A jig device holding a work piece is used with a milling machine that cuts from the work piece a prosthesis having a surface essentially free of defects. The jig device is inserted repeatedly into the machine in the same predetermined location, even upon inverting the jig device. This maintains the spatial relationship between the jig device and milling so, at start up, they are always in the same exact spatial relationship. The milling machine partially cuts through a first side of the work piece to form in the work piece a cavity having a surface part corresponding to at least a portion of the prosthesis being made. The jig device is then removed from the machine, inverted and reinserted into the machine at the same predetermined location. A support material is placed in the cavity prior to reinserting the jig device. Upon reinserting the jig device, the machine precisely cuts through an opposed side of the work piece to form within the work piece a prosthesis having a surface essentially free of defects.

Abstract: A machining device for a workpiece wherein a first feed axis extends through a workpiece holder, a first machining tool is disposed on a first side of the feed axis, and a second machining tool is disposed on a side of the feed axis opposing the first side. Between a first feed axis and perpendicular to a second feed axis, at least one machining tools has a predetermined fixed angular offset.

Abstract: The dental model trimmer includes a wheel having an abrasive surface, a motor for rotating the wheel, and ultraviolet light source powerful enough to inactivate bacteria. The components are located in an enclosure that has an opening to permit access to the abrasive surface of the wheel. The light source is mounted within the enclosure to illuminate a section of the abrasive surface of the wheel that is spaced from the access opening. The enclosure includes wall means interposed between the light source and the access opening for preventing direct light emitted from the UV light source from exiting the access opening. The enclosure is provided with an interlock switch that will automatically turn off the light source when the enclosure is opened. The same switch can be used to deactivate the motor and a source of water provided to the abrasive surface, if desired.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment of the invention encompasses an apparatus for intraoral imaging of teeth of a patient which includes a camera, a robotic arm coupled to the camera which arm is capable of rotating the camera for selectively positioning the camera into the mouth of the patient, least one sensor coupled to arm to sense the relative position of the teeth and/or mouth with respect to the camera, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor and arm for controlling the arm to avoid any collision between the teeth or the interior of the mouth and the camera and/or arm, where the controller further selectively moves the arm to track any movement of the patient to keep the camera in a constant relative position with respect to the teeth or mouth.

Abstract: The dental model trimmer includes a wheel having an abrasive surface, a motor for rotating the wheel, and ultraviolet light source powerful enough to inactivate bacteria. The components are located in an enclosure that has an opening to permit access to the abrasive surface of the wheel. The light source is mounted within the enclosure to illuminate a section of the abrasive surface of the wheel that is spaced from the access opening. The enclosure includes wall means interposed between the light source and the access opening for preventing direct light emitted from the UV light source from exiting the access opening. The enclosure is provided with an interlock switch that will automatically turn off the light source when the enclosure is opened. The same switch can be used to deactivate the motor and a source of water provided to the abrasive surface, if desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milling/grinding machine for the manufacture of dental-medical or dental-technical workpieces, having a workpiece receiver (3) and a tool (7) which can be moved, with respect to a workpiece (1) arranged in the workpiece receiver (3), linearly along three axes (X, Y, Z) standing perpendicularly of one another. In order to provide a milling/grinding machine for highly exact and economic manufacture of medical, dental-medical and dental-technical prosthetic parts for the medical technician, dentist, dental assistant and the dental technician directly in the medical laboratory, practice or commercial laboratory, the tool (7) and the workpiece receiver (3) are each arranged rotatably and/or pivotably.

Abstract: A device for the axial and rotational movement of a sample is disclosed comprising a mount member for mounting the sample, which is rotatable about and movable along an axis, characterised in that the mount member has a helical screw thread which produces the movement along said axis simultaneously with the rotation. A sample may be scanned or machined whilst being axially and rotationally moved. The screw thread may be disengageable perphaps by relative movement of co-operating screw threads into and out of engagement with each other by a lever to allow movement of the mount member along the axis without rotation when desired. The screw thread on one of the members may be formed from a piece or layer of a deformable material, which deforms to form a mating screw thread upon being brought into engagement with the screw thread on the other member. Also desclosed is a method of scanning a sample.

Abstract: A machine for machining a volume, in particular an inlay, by automatic duplicating, includes an abrasive disc having a rotatable drive, a support for a blank of the volume, the disc and the blank being rotatable, a rotatable duplicator support a touch-sensing probe capable of being urged into contact with the duplicator outer surface, there being relative displacement between the blank support and the disc and between the duplicator support and the touch-sensing probe so as to enable the disc and the touch-sensing probe to remain permanently in contact with the blank and the duplicator, and a mobile carriage having at least two degrees of freedom on which are mounted the support for the blank and for the duplicator, the carriage commanding and controlling the drive of the rotatable disc and the duplicator support.

Abstract: A device for planning and further placing a dental implant comprises a rigid base, a column that projects from the base with a regulating mechanism for the height and support of a bi-directional head. The head has two hubs, which have binding mechanisms for certain positions and are furnished with a mechanism for indicating the angle position. One of the hubs is furnished with a drill and also a device for fixing guides. Also described and claimed are a method for planning correct placing of a dental implant, a pre-tomographic guide obtained with the method, and a surgical template obtained using the method.

Abstract: A dental milling instrument includes a base connected to a guide column for a vertically adjustable milling arm which receives a milling unit. The milling arm can be displaced by its supporting slide along a guideway of the guide column, by means of an electromotive height-adjusting drive. A threaded spindle, capable of being driven by an adjusting motor, is in engagement in a backlash-free and self-locking manner with a spindle nut provided in the supporting slide. Vertical positioning and vertical fixation are accomplished entirely from an operating panel provided on the base.

Abstract: At an initial office visit, the dentist makes an impression of the portion of the mouth in which the tooth is located, with upper and lower occusal surfaces at or below the gum line. After preparation of a crown, the dentist presses the surface contour tool against the biting surface of the tooth to determine the depth settings for at least one burr in a surface tool that will remove the upper surface of the tooth and create a working surface for the material removal device. The dentist inserts at least one burr with the proper length in this tool so that when the tool is lowered onto the tooth, a flat surface will be created. The flat surface tool and the center hole drilling burr are operated with a device that locks onto the tooth and ensures that the top surface of the tooth will be perpendicular to the central line of the tooth. The dentist inserts the guide pin of the material removal device in the center hole and begins to remove material from the side of the tooth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milling/grinding machine for the manufacture of dental-medical or dental-technical workpieces, having a workpiece receiver (3) and a tool (7) which can be moved, with respect to a workpiece (1) arranged in the workpiece receiver (3), linearly along three axes (X, Y, Z) standing perpendicularly of one another. In order to provide a milling/grinding machine for highly exact and economic manufacture of medical, dental-medical and dental-technical prosthetic parts for the medical technician, dentist, dental assistant and the dental technician directly in the medical laboratory, practice or commercial laboratory, the tool (7) and the workpiece receiver (3) are each arranged rotatably and/or pivotably.

Abstract: A device for planning and further placing a dental implant comprises a rigid base, a column that projects from the base with a regulating mechanism for the height and support of a bi-directional head. The head has two hubs, which have binding mechanisms for certain positions and are furnished with a mechanism for indicating the angle position. One of the hubs is furnished with a drill and also a device for fixing guides.

Abstract: A dental milling instrument includes a base connected to a guide column for a vertically adjustable milling arm which receives a milling unit. The milling arm can be displaced by its supporting slide along a guideway of the guide column, by means of an electromotive height-adjusting drive. A threaded spindle, capable of being driven by an adjusting motor, is in engagement in a backlash-free and self-locking manner with a spindle nut provided in the supporting slide. Vertical positioning and vertical fixation are accomplished entirely from an operating panel provided on the base.

Abstract: An articulated milling arm for a milling instrument, which includes a milling arm support movably attached to a frame to allow vertical displacement of the milling arm support; a first vertical axle, rotatably connecting the first milling arm support to a middle portion of the milling arm to allow swiveling of the middle portion of the milling arm horizontally about a vertical axis of the first vertical axle, the first vertical axle being provided with a braking surface; a second vertical axle, rotatably connecting the middle portion of the milling arm to a milling unit support to allow swiveling of the milling unit support horizontally about a vertical axis of the second vertical axle, the second vertical axle also being provided with a braking surface. The milling arm is provided with a movable braking plate, on the middle portion of the milling arm, which movably contacts the braking surface of the first vertical axle and the breaking surface of the second vertical axle.

Abstract: A pattern sizing tool for use as a milling device for removing a portion of a surface of a stiff material to leave a desired thickness of material and is particularly useful for milling a hard plastic coping like that produced in a tooth replacement procedure for forming, from that coping, a crown as a replacement tooth in a practice of a "lost wax casting procedure". The tool includes a pair of upper and lower arms that are coupled together at their ends to be scissored and are spring biased apart. The upper arm includes a mount with an arrangement for maintaining a dental rotary grinder thereon that has a chuck for mounting a milling burr.

Abstract: Apparatus for machining a human tooth includes a rotary cutter that is moved along a predetermined path dictated by motor energizing signals. The cutter is moved vertically by one drive, laterally by another drive and in or out by a third drive. The apparatus is clamped selectively to the patient's jaw or to a model thereof. The dentist's manual work is actually done on a model, with the apparatus being secured to the model in a fixed position. The vertical drive, the lateral drive, and the in or out drive are energized in response to the dentist's manipulation of a joy stick to move the cutter along paths necessary to achieve the desired tooth configuration. A second joy stick is manipulated to vary the attitude of the cutter, about roll and/or pitch axes. Signals proportionate to the extent of each drive operator are delivered to a computer in the sequence and for the period during which the drives are activated.

Abstract: A rotary table saw for sectioning dental models having a housing with a base portion and a working table mounted on the base portion. The working table is controllably depressible so as to be moved upward and downward with respect to the base. The motor housed in the base drives a rotary blade oriented in a vertical direction. A slit in the work table permits the blade to emerge therethrough as the work table is depressed. The vacuum outlet is placed in flow communication with the surface of the work table during depression of the work table to remove saw dust from the work table. The dental model is first marked and scored on the occlusal surface and then its base is placed on the work table with the blade hidden beneath the work table. The work table is depressed to permit emerging of the rotary blade cutting from the underside of the dental model.

Abstract: A router for performing finishing operations on a dental model having a housing with a base in which a motor is positioned. A storage compartment mounted on the base includes a pivotal cover. The cover forms a horizontal work platform on which the dental model is supported during the operations. The motor extends into the storage compartment and a tool is secured to the shaft for vertical projection above the work platform through a hole in the cover. Apertures in the cover permit dust to fall down into the storage compartment from which a vacuum extracts the dust. A novel method of routing dental models is provided wherein the dental model is placed on a horizontal work surface and finished using a vertically oriented tool.

Abstract: A method for fabricating three directional dental prosthetics. A wax setup of the patient's arches containing artificial dentures is prepared. The wax setup is tried in the patient's mouth to determine centric occlusion. A matrix of the setup is prepared when the centric occlusion is satisfactory. A setup of pumice teeth is then prepared by pouring a pumice compound into the matrix and allowing the compound to harden. A duplicate setup containing pumice teeth is prepared by transferring the pumice teeth onto duplicate models of the patient's upper and lower arches. The duplicate setup is then mounted in the patient's mouth and incisal-occlusal surfaces corresponding to the patient's natural mandibular movement are abrasively milled on the pumice teeth by exercising the duplicate setup in the patient's mouth. Incisal-occlusal surfaces milled in the pumice teeth are then mechanically reproduced on artificial dentures in the wax setup from the duplicate setup on a mill-in-jig.

Abstract: A novel dental surveyor for use in analyzing and working upon dental models is disclosed. The surveyor contains one or more vertical tools, such as marking tools, wax relieving tools and tapered tools. Rotation of a spindle received within a sleeve about its longitudinal axis, combined with horizontal sliding of tool housings upon tool support means attached to said spindle, allows the tools to contact the entire surface of a dental model while always remaining oriented in the vertical direction. The surveyor may also be equipped with e.g. a grinding or drilling tool and means for locking such a tool against horizontal movement while in use.