Abstract: A device is disclosed for recording a specific horizontal reference line of a patient that enables the alignment of an upper jaw model to this horizontal reference line. The device serves not only to determine the horizontal reference line with the active communicative aid of the patient but also comprises a bite fork, which can be aligned in accordance with the description and can also be provided by this means. The adjusted bite fork may then be inserted into an articulator and may be fixed in place so that the model of the upper jaw is mounted parallel to the horizontal reference line of the patient.

Abstract: Precipitation hardenable stainless steel endodontic files and methods for their manufacture, wherein the most preferred precipitation hardenable stainless steel is 17-4PH and aging is preferably not one of the manufacturing steps. Precipitation hardenable stainless steels used in embodiments of this invention are iron-chromium-nickel grades that have the desired properties of flexibility, strength, hardness, wear resistance, stiffness, resistance to permanent deformation, resistance to variable torque, and biocompatibility for endodontic files.