Abstract: A dental articulator for connecting upper and lower dental models made from dental impressions of teeth and for moving the mandible in opening and closing, protrusive and lateral motions generally comprises upper and lower arms each having a front end for attachment respectively to upper or lower model. The upper arm includes a pair of condylar slots for receiving journals of the lower arm such that the lower arm may perform the opening and closing motion, the protrusive movement, and lateral movement of the mandible. A cantilever spring attached to the upper arm biases the journals toward the centric occlusion position. Slot stops limit protrusive movement and axle stops limit lateral movement.
Abstract: A dental system including a precision base and an abutment pattern for making a cast custom abutment for attachment to a dental implant body in a patient's jawbone. The base is made of a cast-to metal such as a gold alloy, and the abutment pattern is made of a burn-out material such as plastic. Wax may be added to the pattern for shape augmentation, and the pattern may also be machined for shape reduction. The pattern has a tapered post which is angulated with respect to a central axis of the base, thereby enabling construction of an angulated abutment which corrects for imperfect placement of the implant body in the jawbone.
Abstract: A dental laboratory die tray having first and second side members and a bottom member with the side members being joinable to form a housing with an open top and an open bottom, and with the bottom member being holdable between to the side members to close the open bottom when the side members are in a housing closed position. The side members may be moved away from each other to a partially closed position permitting removal and reinsertion of the bottom member, thereby providing a die tray with a closed bottom for some operations and with an open bottom for other operations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 6, 1988
Date of Patent:
September 18, 1990
Assignee:
Vident, Inc.
Inventors:
Vanik N. Jinoian, Ray E. Morrow, Wayne W. Whitehill