Abstract: A method of inspecting a positive dental model having an impression plane comprises the step of first projecting a small beam of light of predetermined cross section on individual teeth of the model generally perpendicular to the impression plane, that is the plane perpendicular to which the impression fork was fitted to and removed from the patient's jaw. Thus the beam forms on each tooth a spot having a shape dependent on the contours of the respective tooth and the inclination of the respective tooth surface to the beam. The spot is moved from tooth to tooth on the model and the shapes of the spots of the beam on adjacent teeth are compared. If the shape changes, the teeth are not parallel and if there is a shadow or interruption of the teeth there is an undercut, and both conditions have to be corrected by regrinding the patient's tooth stumps. Similarly as the spot is moved, it can be used to measure the height and width of the teeth, the space between them, and even the overall arch length.

Abstract: A method for the registration and evaluation of dental findings corresponding to dental examination points. The method is carried out with an evaluation apparatus including a marking apparatus having spatial allocations corresponding to each examination point and a marking element associated with each spatial allocation. The method comprises the steps of examining the points, one after the other, in a predetermined order to obtain respective dental findings; entering the finding corresponding to each examination point into the evaluation apparatus; and marking the finding of each examination point in the corresponding spatial allocation on the marking apparatus by use of the associated marking element.