Abstract: An integrated modular dental measuring apparatus and method of use for producing edentulous dentures. The apparatus is a set of components including a lower dental tray having a removable modular contact plate with an upwardly extending shoulder surrounding a tapered opening, a ball nut retained in the tapered opening, and a post adjustably secured to the ball nut. A modular striking plate may be removably attached to an upper dental tray or an integrated striking sector on a bottom surface of the upper dental tray is utilized to accurately obtain an established occlusal vertical and centric relation positions. The contact plate and striking plate are each configured as snap-in components to the respective trays. One size contact plate and one size striking plate fit on all sizes of dental trays. Additionally, the contact plate may be utilized as a spacer between the dental trays once the post and ball nut are removed.

Abstract: A denture teeth device having a wire, strand or thread, or a plurality of wires adjustably coupled to a plurality of denture teeth to form a unit. The wire may be adjustably coupled along the lingual-apical portions of the denture teeth. The wire may be flexible to permit development of a dental arch form so that the denture teeth can be readily adapted to individual patient needs. The wire may also serve to improve denture tooth retention in a processed denture base. The wire may be adjustably coupled to the denture teeth so as to not constrain the denture teeth along the length of the wire, allowing for customized arrangement of the denture teeth, including the incorporation of denture tooth overlaps, vertical and horizontal discrepancies, diastemata and facial-lingual and mesial-distal angular variation. The apical and lingual portions of the denture teeth may be contoured to facilitate the creation of anatomically realistic and hygienically favorable papilla forms and occlusion or the patient's bite.

Abstract: A method and component devices for producing edentulous dentures. The method includes obtaining a cast impression of a jaw, any teeth and gingiva area with a first set of dental trays including selecting a properly sized upper dental tray and a properly sized lower dental tray, applying impression material in each said tray and placing each said dental impression tray with said impression material in said oral cavity in order to deform uncured impression material. A second set of dental trays is utilized including a lower dental tray having a contact plate with an upwardly extending shoulder surrounding a tapered opening, a ball nut retained in the tapered opening, and a post adjustably secured to the ball nut. A striking plate is attached to a second upper dental tray in order to accurately obtain an established occlusal vertical and centric relation positions. A third upper dental tray with a wax impression is inserted for esthetic blue printing to establish the shape of the patient's upper lip and mouth.

Abstract: A pair of dental burs for shaping mandibular teeth into the proper sloped configuration for lingual occlusion or denture teeth. The first bur is provided with a non-cutting central portion that is flanked by two slightly angled cutting surfaces, and the second bur is provided with a cutting central portion that is flanked by two slightly angled non-cutting surfaces. The angulation of the two cutting surfaces on the first bur may or may not match each other on a given set of burs, and the angulation of the two non-cutting surfaces on the second bur may or may not match each other on a given set of burs, but the angles of the cutting surfaces on the first bur match the angles of the non-cuffing surfaces on the second bur. The burs are used sequentially; i.e. the first bur is used first and the second bur is used second, to achieve the desired slope and center floss for the mandibular teeth without cutting too deeply.