Abstract: A dental shade system that includes one or more triangular pillars on three faces of which many different color samples are arranged and by which the natural tooth color can be compared with the color samples with one or two actions and decided visually in terms of three coordinates in color space, in order of Value (lightness), Chroma (color saturation), and Hue (color).

Abstract: A dental implant that includes a cylindrical body which can be positively secured against micromotion within a bore in a jawbone by a spindle-shaped expansion mechanism and further secured against the contamination by microorganism through a gap in an internal channel of tubular portion by a compressive contact mechanism.

Abstract: An articurator is comprised of a mandibular frame being provided with condyles, a maxillary frame mounted on the mandibular frame via condylar guide mechanisms, an anterior guide table provided on the front end of the mandibular frame, and an anterior guide pin provided on the front end of the maxillary frame. The anterior guide table comprises a table portion and lateral wings. The table portion has a sagittal inclination angle adjusting mechanism, and the lateral wings has lateral wing angles adjusting mechanisms. The anterior guide pin makes contact with and slides on an anterior guide mechanism formed by the surface of the anterior guide table. The condylar guide mechanisms in which the condyle is positioned have condylar path inclination angle adjusting mechanisms. The sagittal inclination angle, the lateral wing angles, and the condylar path inclination angles are to be adjusted by two steps to specified values of a first group and to specified values of a second group.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the three-dimensional position and attitude of upper and lower clutches attached on patient's maxillary and mandibular teeth for computerized measurement of the mandibular movements necessary for the fabrication of dental prostheses is disclosed. The apparatus includes a part of a sphere that is fixed to the mandible and which is marked with a reference line and a part of another sphere of substantially the same radius as that of the above sphere, which is fixed to the maxilla and which is also marked with a reference line. The surfaces of the two spheres are caused to slide against each other, with their centers being in alignment, thereby achieving the measurement of the relative attitude of the two spheres.

Abstract: A melting and pressure casting device characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical electric heating means set in a closed chamber reducible and increasable in gas pressure, a vertically long crucible set in the heating means, a mold provided below the crucible and connected thereto, and an upper sprue communicating between the lower portion of the pouring cup and the sprue formed in the mold, wherein the melt for casting is held by its surface tension in the pouring cup and the melt thus held is poured under pressure by pressurizing the chamber into the mold through the upper sprue to thereby make a casting.

Abstract: An articulation detector for articulators of the kind wherein condylar elements mounted on a lower jaw member and glenoid fossae assemblies of an upper jaw member are made of a conductive material, comprises an electric power source, a luminous element and a pair of detecting electrode, all of which are connected in series. The electrodes are adapted to be connected to the lower jaw member and an incisal pin mounted on the upper jaw member of the articulator when the detector is in use. The adjustment of the articulator or prosthetic appliances may be detected by observing the light emitted from the luminous element.

Abstract: A facebow for use in measuring the positions of the temporomandibular joints of a patient relative to the maxillary teeth of the patient so that such positions may be transferred to an articulator may be constructed so as to utilize two normally spaced side arms which are connected by a mechanical structure permitting the arms to be moved linearly toward and away from one another. A mechanical structure is provided for accomplishing such movement in such a manner that when either of the arms is moved the other arm is concurrently moved in a corresponding manner. The connecting structure carries a frame including a bite fork or equivalent adapted to be positioned in the mouth of a patient along or adjacent to the maxillary teeth in making an impression of these teeth. The frame carrying the bite fork is capable of being adjusted relative to the connecting structure and thus relative to the arms.

Abstract: A dental articulator comprises a lower jaw member having a pair of condylar elements and a pair of upwardly extending arms, and an upper jaw member having a pair of glenoid cavities, each condylar element being held in each of the glenoid cavities to articulate the upper and lower jaw members, wherein a pair of condylar shafts for supporting a pair of condylar elements are mounted on the free ends of the arms in horizontal and inward directions.