Abstract: A characteristic of optimal facial harmony is a correlation of the A/P (Anterior/Posterior) position of the maxillary incisors with the forehead. When the forehead is canted about 7 degrees or less, the A/P position of the maxillary incisors should match that of the middle of the forehead. For every degree the forehead is canted more than 7 degrees, the A/P position of the maxillary incisors should be 0.6 millimeters more anterior than the middle of the forehead. The extent to which the A/P position of the maxillary incisors is forward or back of the forehead's midpoint can be judged in millimeters quite accurately by viewing a patient in profile with the patient's forehead and maxillary incisors fully bared. Once the linear decision is made then the A/P treatment goal position can be physically measured and recorded using a novel bite fork (58), an improved facebow (56), and a new piece of equipment called a verticalizer (60).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determination of the jaw relation and for instrumental occlusion analysis, which permit a reliable diagnosis and treatment for the occlusion. For this purpose, a maxillary model and mandibular model from a patient are fixed in plaster independently of one another and anatomically correctly and are placed one upon the other in an instantaneous occlusal position. For the instantaneous occlusal position, the positioning of the articular cavities of the maxillary model relative to the hinge axis of the mandibular model is determined, and the maxillary model is then displaced three-dimensionally relative to the mandibular model, with symmetrical alignment of the articular cavities relative to the hinge axis. The resulting jaw relation is fixed for an analysis of the malocclusions.

Abstract: The invention described facilitates accurate placement of orthodontic brackets on a patient's mal-occluded teeth. An indexed dental cast of the patient's mal-occlusion is produced by the present apparatus. In process steps for indexing the crown model, various adjustment devices hold a selected mal-occluded crown model of the cast in an "ideal" or corrected position in space. The cast is thus positioned and held while a drill is used to form index holes in the cast material. The index holes record the "ideal" position of the selected crown model even though the crown model remains in its original mal-occluded position in the cast. Positioning of a bracket against the selected crown model is accomplished by a bracket holder and adapter using the index. The holder receives the bracket while the adapter is positioned, using probes inserted into the index holes. The holder may be moved to a selected tip angle and bracket placement height through adjustments on the adapter.

Abstract: A method for constructing dentures which completely accommodate a patient's mandibular movements is provided. The method includes the steps of mounting a three dimensional recording device to the patient's jaws and forming intra-oral tracings of the patient's mandibular excursions and a Gothic arch tracing of the patient's mandibular excursions. The recordings and the tracing are utilized to mount upper and lower denture bases in a dental articulator, which also forms a part of the present invention, and to calibrate the articulator to precisely duplicate the patient's mandibular movements. Teeth are mounted on the upper and lower denture bases and ground to provide dentures which completely accommodate the patient's mandibular movements.

Abstract: A method and device for reconstruction of teeth in an upper jaw wherein anterior guidance of the natural state is achieved even when front teeth are missing through the scanning of the contour curve of a tooth in the sagittal plane and the transferring by copying of the curve to each tooth to be reconstructed.

Abstract: This occlusion simulator for dental prostheses, reproducing mandible motions, mainly consists of two articulated forks connected by a small rod. The upper fork is connected to the small rod via the fork-holder and the longitudinal articulation pin. The lower fork is connected to the small rod via the lower fork-holder and the ball-joint whose lateral excursion is limited by side plates mounted on the sides of the upper fork-holder and by pistons with return springs.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately placing orthodontic brackets on the lingual or labial surface of a model of a patient's maloccluded teeth in conjunction with an indirect bonding procedure or the like. A model support incorporates an immovable base forming a spherical surface segment which receives a complimentary spherical surface segment of a movable model platform thus providing for rotation of the platform in all planes of space about a centroid region. The maloccluded model is placed on the movable platform with a selected tooth thereof located at the central region of a sphere of which the spherical surface segments form a part. A tooth orienting template is releasably supported in fixed relation to the base structure and is selected according to the centrally positioned tooth of the model. The optimum position of the selected tooth relative to an optimum dental arch at the labial surface thereof is identified for bracket attachment to the labial surface.

Abstract: A tooth setting aid arrangement for use for positionally correctly setting artificial teeth in a complete lower denture on a lower jaw model in accordance with a Pound's line includes a holder which is positionally fixable with respect to the lower jaw model and is arched along an imaginary skullcap-shaped surface with a sagittal and transversal compensation curve, and two insert members which are pivotable and shiftable on the holder within the imaginary skullcap surface as well as arrestable in selected positions thereof relative to the holder for adjustment to the Pound's line. The holder is constituted by a bridge member which includes two plate-shaped bridge elements which are juxtaposed with one another and spaced from each other by a distancing element so as to bound an insertion space. Each of the insert members includes a straight portion and two arm portions which extend at an angle from one side of the straight portion.

Abstract: A dental articulator with two teeth aligning plates is provided. The plates are respectively attached to the upper and lower base means by means of which horizontal, vertical and lateral adjustments of the condylar members can be accomplished independent of one another. The condylar joints are pivoted about a horizontal axis which can be adjusted both laterally and vertically.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dentures comprising a base, an articulating member pivotally mounted to the base and adjustable with respect thereto, magnets on the base adapted to hold a metal plate in a fixed position on the base, and a probe on the articulating member for spacing the articulating member a predetermined distance above the base. Measurements are taken on a patient's mouth and his preexisting dentures are placed on the plate. Plaster of paris or other suitable material is placed on the articulating member in a non-solidified state and retained thereto. The measurements taken are used to adjust the probe and the relation of the dental cast to the plate, and the denture may be raised or lowered with respect to the base, using loose magnets and shims, to provide the desired position and angularity to the denture.

Abstract: An adjustable occlusal plane table for use with an articulator having a dental arch model mounted thereon includes a planar surface that is three dimensionally adjustable so as to be positioned along the plane of occlusion defined by the arch model. The occlusal plane table includes grid lines on the planar surface for recording the initial position of the arch model on the surface and for recording the change in position of the arch model with respect to the original plane of occlusion thereof. An intrusion ruler having equal steps formed along one edge is used to measure vertical displacement of said arch model from said occlusal plane surface.

Abstract: A rigid, non-yielding precision dental articulator instrument for preserving and making available the occlusion plane required to build accurate incuspation of teeth. The device provides initial mounting of maxillary models using a facebow. A 20 degree sliding mounting plate is also provided for aiding in the setting of the Occlusal Plane.

Abstract: A dental articulator comprising upper and lower bows connected by vertical support members, the upper bow being pivotally connected to the support members for raising and lowering relative to a planar mounting table which is positionable between the bows and parallel to the lower bow, the mounting table having a mounting bar extending perpendicularly from one surface and the mounting table being reversible to dispose a desired surface thereof uppermost and the table also having a supporting pin detachably connected to the forward end thereof for reversible positioning to extend from either surface of the table, and the upper bow also having adjustable pivot means operable selectively to effect lateral movement of the upper bow relative to the table and lower bow when in one position of adjustment but only permit pivotal movement when in a second position.

Abstract: The surface characteristics of an organ that needs restoration, for example, a tooth which has been prepared for an inlay insertion, are read by means of a noncontact scan-head. The three-dimensional shape parameters of the implant required to restore the tooth in function and appearance are computed on the basis of the recorded contour data. These parameters are then used in a program sequence which controls a milling, cutting or erosive process in order to manufacture the restorative inlay while the patient waits.

Abstract: It comprises an upper maxillary support (14) and a lower maxillary support (47). The lower support comprises a movable piece (27) on a rack (24) supporting an arm (31) mounted to slide vertically on the movable piece (27) with a limited travel for its vertical displacement on the movable piece (27). The arm (31) carries two intersecting orthogonal slideways (41,42). The upper slideway (42) carries a table (47) mounted on a spherical knuckle. The articulator allows accurate recording and accurate reproduction of the occlusion position of the maxillaries and of the closure of the mandible, without seeking to reproduce the condylar articulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an accessory device for a dental articulator by means of which the differences of the joint positions between central occlusion (intercuspidal occlusion position) and central relation (retral contact position) can be measured in all three dimensions. The accessory device consists of an upper frame portion for a dental articulator which, in lieu of the ball sockets, has measuring means mounted on the bearing shafts 12 so as to be laterally shiftable, said measuring means 60 having a ball contacting face 61 provided with a measuring label for determining the deviations on the x and z axes, and each bearing shaft 12 having an axial point 62 capable of extending through a bore 63 in the ball contacting face 61 in order to mark the central relation on the adhered measuring label by perforation thereof, said measuring means additionally having a distance measuring surface 64 disposed parallel to the ball contacting face 61 for measurement of the transversal shift on the y axis.

Abstract: An articulator for use in making dentures or parts thereof comprises two principal members that are movably interconnected by means of a condylar mechanism. Each of two condylar track members of said condylar mechanism is pivotable around two different axes for allowing different attitudes of the condylar track to be set, and there is a lock for locking each of said condylar track members in a desired attitude. This lock comprises for each condylar track member a locking mechanism enabling simultaneous locking against movement around the two axes, as well as enabling simultaneous unlocking for allowing movement around either or both of these axes.

Abstract: A surgical dental articulator having a pivotable frame to which a pair of independently adjustable cantilevers carrying opposed dental casts are mounted. The dental casts are mounted to the cantilever for movement along the cantilever axis and for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis normal to the cantilever axis. The cantilevers are each mounted to the frame by a cantilever support assembly which includes linear support and pivot assemblies. The linear support assembly includes a first transverse support fixedly mounted to the frame and defining a first linear path and a second transverse support slidably mounted to the first transverse support for movement parallel to the first linear path and defining a second linear path perpendicular to the first linear path. The pivot assembly is slidably mounted to the second linear support along the second linear path via a pair of pivot arms.

Abstract: To reproduce jaw movements, electric distance measuring devices are fixed at the lower jaw and the upper jaw in the mouth of a patient to measure, with relative movements between upper and lower jaws, the distances between defined points of the two jaws and to supply the data to a memory. In accordance with the recorded measuring data a mobile portion of an articulator carrying a jaw model is so guided that it reproduces the recorded sequence of motion, the combinations of the measured distances between the defined points of lower jaw and upper jaw being repeated in the same way as in the measuring operation.

Abstract: An articulator for constructing dentures, for use with a gothic arch tracing apparatus, comprising first and second members, having means for holding the members in spaced relationship, without being connected, and having means for mounting dental casts between the members, said tracing apparatus being removably mountable in said casts, in operable relationship, and means for forming a set of gothic arch traces, for controlling relative movement of the members in accordance with movement of the tracing apparatus.

Abstract: In the construction of dentures, a method for calibrating an articulator, comprising the steps of forming a set of intra oral gothic arch traces, the traces defining a three dimensional envelope of motion, and utilizing the intra oral traces to form a substantially identical second set of gothic arch traces on the articulator, whereby relative movement of the articulator may be confined to the envelope of motion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing jaw position and movements and for converting the sensed data to dental articulator settings for simulating said movement are disclosed. Included are a pair of clutches which are fitted to the patient's maxillary and mandibular teeth. The respective clutch plates are removably secured to the housing of a jaw movement recording device and to a movable indicia-bearing arm. At least three indicia are mounted at the inner end of the arm in a manner such that they are viewable from three mutually orthogonal directions. Photoresponsive means are included for sensing and/or recording the indicia during and/or following displacement of the indicia-bearing arm during and/or following condyle movements of the patient's mandible. By this means, information as to the position and skew angle of the indicia in three dimensions is provided.

Abstract: A dental surveyor and method therefor for use in preoperative evaluation of the rotational and translational movements required for corrective surgery are disclosed. The dental surveyor has a movable stylus or scribe that can be selectively positioned with respect to articulated mandibular and/or maxillary dental models. When the models are articulated in the two positions representing the malocclusion and the proposed corrective occlusion, the movable stylus provides a means for marking and thereby visually identifying the relative locations of a point of anatomical interest in the two positions.