Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus for treating a breathing condition includes an oral appliance, a mask, and a tensioning device. The oral appliance is configured to receive at least some of a wearer's teeth and a mask. The mask is configured to deliver gas to the wearer. The mask includes a chamber configured to cover the wearer's mouth. The chamber is at least partially enclosed by an interior of the mask. The tensioning device couples the mask to the oral appliance and includes a flexible tension element at least partially disposed between the oral appliance and the mask and within the chamber. The flexible tension element is configured to apply a tensile force between the mask and the oral appliance.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in treating a breathing condition includes a first dental arch, a second dental arch, two bodies coupled to the first dental arch, and two receivers coupled to the second dental arch. The first dental arch is configured to receive at least some of a wearer's teeth. The second dental arch is configured to receive at least some of a wearer's teeth. Each body includes a front stop, a rear stop, a threaded member, and a hook. The threaded member is configured to be coupled between the front stop and rear stop of the body and configured to rotate relative to the body. The hook comprises a threaded passage configured to engage the threaded member, and an arm configured to engage a second dental arch. The hook is configured to travel between the front stop and rear stop of the body in response to rotational adjustment of the threaded member to adjust the lower dental arch relative to the upper dental arch.

Abstract: A therapeutic dental mouthpiece-forming substrate includes: a flexible board on which an electrical component used for dental arch treatment is mounted; and a thermosoftening resin sheet in which the flexible board is embedded in an airtight or watertight state.

Abstract: An intra-oral device used for people that snore or have sleep apnea is designed to move a user's lower jaw forward relative to the user's immovable upper jaw and to prevent the user's mouth from inadvertently opening while sleeping. The device includes upper and lower appliances fitted to the user's respective upper and lower dental arches. The lower appliance possesses a partially embedded bracket. An adjustment element is integrated into the upper portion of the bracket. With the user's mouth closed and the upper and lower appliances positioned over the user's respective dental arches, the adjustment element is moved rearward by worm action into load bearing contact against the forward facing immovable vertical contact wall of the upper appliance. This action moves the lower appliance forward, and thus, the user's lower jaw with its anatomically attached tongue are also moved forward relative to the mouth which in turn opens the user's airway.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system of virtually planning a dental restoration in a patient are disclosed, including steps, units or code segments for virtually planning a first dental restoration. First production data is based on the planned first dental restoration for production thereof or of a product related to a medical procedure for installing at least a portion of the first dental restoration in an oral cavity of the patient. Scan data is provided including factual position data and/or factual shape data based on the first dental restoration when at least partly installed in the oral cavity of the patient. The second dental restoration is virtually planned, including adjusting the planned first dental restoration in dependence of the scan data. Second production data is provided based on the planned second dental restoration useful for production of the second dental restoration.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for accurately characterizing a tooth's movement. One method embodiment includes associating an abnormal tooth shape with a model tooth shape from a reference library of model tooth shapes, mapping a predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape onto at least a portion of the abnormal tooth shape, and adding a location of the predefined dental reference to the abnormal tooth shape based on the mapped predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape.

Abstract: An oral appliance is provided for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The oral appliance includes an upper tray adaptable to conform to a user's maxillary dentition and a plurality of lower trays, each of the lower trays adaptable to conform to the user's mandibular dentition. At least some of the lower trays are structured to engage the upper tray, each of the lower trays are structured to impart a different fixed amount of mandibular advancement.

Abstract: The occlusal position of a patient is measured by means of light transmission through a layer of a polysiloxane which is not cross-linked. This material forms an exceptionally accurate impression of a patient's bite essentially instantaneously and enables subsequent recording and analysis of the bite in a matter of minutes.

Abstract: An orthodontics assisting system includes index members which indicate respective reference positions of a pre-correction dentition model and a post-correction predictive dentition model; an arranging device for arranging the index members; an image data generating device for generating image data by imaging the pre-correction dentition model and the post-correction predictive dentition model; a screen display for screen-displaying a pre-correction dentition image an a post-correction predictive dentition image respectively based on the image data, a position adjusting device for adjusting mutual display positions of the pre-correction dentition image and the post-correction predictive dentition image; and a tooth position adjusting device for adjusting the display position of a teeth image.

Abstract: A device for the registration of a mandibular position that is protruded relative to the normal position, with an impression plate that is flat on both sides and whose shape corresponds to the bite of the upper and the lower jaw, whose inner and outer contour is U-shaped, that comprises, in the area of the limbs of the U, finger-like registration surfaces that extend from the inner contour to the outer contour and are arranged at a distance from each other, and that is capable of limited elastic deformation in this area. Centered in relation to the limbs of the U, bite cones for accepting the upper incisors are arranged on the upper surface of the impression plate.

Abstract: Non-invasive reference device to be temporarily fixed on a tooth. The reference device is made of biocompatible, radiopaque material and allows the determination of anatomical structures in a jaw.

Abstract: A surface mapping and generating device which has devices for the process and/or cost optimization, in particular raw material recovery devices, an automatic control of the intensity of a used laser light, devices for carrying out a calibrating procedure by evaluating overlap errors at matching points, devices for archiving especially three-dimensional data of the jaw and/or for modeling the bite position of the upper and the lower jaws, devices for the optimized preparation of at least one dental stump for the production and placement of a dental prosthesis thereon and/or devices for taking into consideration the bite position of the upper and lower jaws.

Abstract: An apparatus to replicate and analyze movement of a mandible relative to a maxilla with dental casts thereof includes a base frame, an arm connected to the base frame and a suspension assembly positionable by a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators. The arm connects to the base frame and supports the dental cast of the maxilla in a fixed position relative to the base frame. The suspension assembly, having opposing first and second sides, supports the dental cast of the mandible in working relation to the dental cast of the maxilla. The plurality of actuators each selectively impart movement to the sides of the suspension assembly such that the movement of the mandible obtained during a recording process can be replicated on the apparatus in real time.

Abstract: A multifunctional diagnostic tray configured to clasp an oral structure when positioned in a mouth. The tray may be digitally designed from surface scan data of the mouth and manufactured. The tray provides a temporary positioning reference location that may be viewed in a tomography scan data set. The tray may be used to orient and verify the tomography scan data set and the surface scan data set to create a combined master data file that may be used to determine the appropriate location for a dental implant or other dental procedure.

Abstract: An occlusion correction improvement instrument includes an upper mold-mounting member provided with a plate-shaped member that is parallel to a Camper's plane of an upper model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a maxillary tooth row and with a plane parallel to the Camper's plane when the upper mold-mounting member has been mounted on the upper model; and a lower mold-mounting member mountable on a lower model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a mandible tooth row and provided with a pin-shaped projection portion that can be fixed, with a position thereof adjusted from side to side and up and down, and with an adjustment member that can adjust a position of the lower mold-mounting member relative to the upper mold-mounting member on the plane parallel to the Camper's plane, with the projection portion abut on the plate-shaped member of the upper mold-mounting member.

Abstract: An occlusal plane analyzer (5) is composed of an analysis board (7) made of a magnetic material and held above a lower jaw model (2), a magnet (8) which can attract the analysis board (7) with magnetic force and which has a circular support hole (15) going through in an attraction direction of the magnetic force, and a Monson curve imparting tool (9) composed of a spherical body section (17) which is made of a magnetic material with a diameter larger than an inside diameter of the support hole (15) and which can be attracted to the support hole (15), an extended section (18) extending from the spherical body section (17), and a spherical surface regenerating section (19) further extending from a distal end of the extended section (18) for drawing a circular arc concentric with the spherical body section (17).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring mandibular position is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first slide operable to adjustably couple to a second slide, such that the second slide is operable to travel in a direction substantially parallel to a long axis of the first slide, and an indicator configured to indicate a location of the second slide relative to the first slide in the direction substantially parallel to the long axis of the first slide. The apparatus further comprises an adjustment mechanism coupled to the first slide and the second slide, the adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the distance between the first slide and the second slide in a direction substantially orthogonal to the long axis of the first slide.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a dental occlusion includes: a position sensor (30) for detecting a position and posture of a lower jaw (12) relative to an upper jaw (11) and; an arithmetic circuit (31) for computing a posture relative to a translation distance in a state of occlusal contact. The computation is derived from the position and posture of the lower jaw (12) relative to the upper jaw (11) detected by the position sensor (30). The apparatus also includes a display monitor (32) for displaying the posture relative to the translation distance computed by the arithmetic circuit (31).

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to develop an apparatus that can examine the occlusal contact patterns during the sleep bruxism, which can not be evaluated by the observation of the interior of oral cavity or by means of the articulator, in order to establish a convenient evaluation means for employing bruxism in daily and clinical diagnosis. The present invention relates to a bruxism evaluation sheet having a layer comprising an aqueous solution composition of an organic solvent comprising a dye and a thermosetting resin on a base sheet made of a thermoplastic resin, and a method for producing a convenient bruxism evaluation apparatus comprising heating the bruxism evaluation sheet, vacuum pressing it onto a model and then molding, and the like.

Abstract: One embodiments of the present subject matter include a method that includes fixing a top pantograph to a patient via clutches to the top teeth of the patient, fixing a bottom pantograph to a patient via clutches to the bottom teeth of the patient, optically monitoring the bite of the patient by monitoring the relation of the top pantograph to the bottom pantograph during a bite cycle, storing data relating to the actual bite, fitting the top pantograph and bottom pantograph to casts that are fixed to an automatically adjustable articulator and replicating the bite by moving the automatically adjustable articulator and optically monitoring said movement to replicate the monitored bite using feedback by comparing optical data relating to the replicated bite to the data relating to the actual bite.

Abstract: A method is set forth for making a computer model of patient's jaws on the basis of digital information. Digital data about the jaws, teeth, soft tissues and artificial teeth is joined in computer space to create aesthetic and functional plans for the removal of teeth, shaping of supporting bone and placement of dental implants. Artificial teeth and pre-manufactured prosthetic devices are made and attached to the dental implants at the time of surgery. The aesthetic and functional position of artificial teeth is determined prior to surgical removal of natural teeth and the ideal position of implants and the proper form of the remaining bone are determined prior to surgery. Surgical guides used to shape bone, record occlusal orientation and position dental implants are manufactured using computer milling or layered manufacturing.

Abstract: A system and method for determining condyle displacement during jaw articulation includes a physical model with corresponding reference points. The physical model is positioned and scanned to obtain positional data representing a first and second bite position. This positional data is used to generate a transformation matrix. The position of at least one condyle is determined in reference to positional data scanned from the physical model. The transformation matrix is used to map the position of the condyle with respect to the second bite position.

Abstract: A system and a method for manufacturing a dental implant surgical guide are disclosed. The dentist may obtain a cast model of the patient's jaw and then make a CT scan appliance with a plurality of radiopaque markers out of the cast model. The patient wears the appliance under CT scanning to obtain a plurality of CT images of the jawbone and teeth. The system comprises a cast model navigation device, a controlling module, and a computer system. The navigation device comprises an articulated arm capable of holding a tool and a plurality of braking elements. The computer system comprises a memory storing a software program and a processor. The articulated arm is operated to measure the positions of the markers to provide the position registration between the cast model and the plurality of CT images. Once registered, the articulated arm is operated to simulate the target implant position under the guidance of the CT images.

Abstract: A system for generating an electronic model having a common coordinate system includes a scanning device; a first plate module; and a second plate module. Each of the plate modules is configured to separately couple to the scanning device. The plate modules also can be moveably coupled together using an articulation device. Each of the plate modules includes alignment structures (e.g., spheres) to facilitate determining a position and orientation of the plate modules within a coordinate system of the scanning device.

Abstract: An orthodontics assisting system includes index members which indicate respective reference positions of a pre-correction dentition model and a post-correction predictive dentition model; an arranging device 6 for arranging the index members; an image data generating means for generating image data by imaging the pre-correction dentition model and the post-correction predictive dentition model; a screen display means for screen-displaying a pre-correction dentition image and a post-correction predictive dentition image respectively based on the image data; a position adjusting means for adjusting mutual display positions of the pre-correction dentition image and the post-correction predictive dentition image; and a tooth position adjusting means for adjusting the display position of a teeth image.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for performing pan-oral imaging. A plurality of data points are generated which are representative of spatial positions of an actual dentition of a patient with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system. A fitted curve through at least a portion of the spatial positions of the dentition is computed using the plurality of data points. A pan-oral image acquisition trajectory is then computed with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system using the fitted curve. A pan-oral image of the dentition is then acquired along the pan-oral image acquisition trajectory.

Abstract: A system for generating an electronic model having a common coordinate system includes a scanning device; a first plate module; and a second plate module. Each of the plate modules is configured to separately couple to the scanning device. The plate modules also can be moveably coupled together using an articulation device. Each of the plate modules includes alignment structures (e.g., spheres) to facilitate determining a position and orientation of the plate modules within a coordinate system of the scanning device.

Abstract: This present invention concerns a locating and measuring device of facial anatomical parameters of a human face. It includes in particular a frame intended to be positioned in front of a face, and a bite yoke mounted on a cross member of the frame, intended to be inserted into the mouth and bitten onto by a patient. In a manner that is characteristic, the invention also includes materialization and positioning for an incisive line, materialization and positioning for a bi-pupillary line, and materialization and positioning for a Camper's plane on at least one profile of the face. The device of the invention finds a particular application in the fields of dental and periodontal reconstruction and repair in accordance with the aesthetic harmony of the face.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes: accessing a bite register with a post, upper and lower dental models, and a fixture having upper and lower plates and a clamp; coupling the register post to the fixture, such that the register post has a first orientation; coupling the upper and lower models to the register; coupling the upper and lower models to the upper and lower plates; uncoupling the register; coupling an appliance post to the fixture, such that the appliance post has a second orientation the same as the first orientation; and forming a custom oral appliance coupled to the appliance post and maintaining the second orientation of the appliance post. In one embodiment, a device is configured to couple to an articulator and to position and retain a bite register post. The device includes a lower member, first and second couplers, an upper member, and an adjustor.

Abstract: A device for determining the position of at least one of a dental patient's dental midline and incisal plane relative to the patient's facial midline. The device includes an impression/bite tray for obtaining a dental impression of at least one of the patient's maxillary arch and mandibular arch, and a plane indicator including at least one of a vertical alignment bar and a horizontal alignment bar, pivotally mounted to the impression/bite tray for rotatable movement relative to the impression/bite tray. The at least one of the vertical alignment bar and the horizontal alignment bar can be aligned with the dental patient's facial midline and an imaginary plane perpendicular to the facial midline, respectively, by rotating the plane indicator relative to the impression/bite tray while the impression/bite tray is retained in the patient's mouth during positioning and securing of the at least one of a vertical alignment bar and a horizontal alignment bar.

Abstract: An occlusion correction improvement instrument includes an upper mold-mounting member provided with a plate-shaped member that is parallel to a Camper's plane of an upper model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a maxillary tooth row and with a plane parallel to the Camper's plane when the upper mold-mounting member has been mounted on the upper model; and a lower mold-mounting member mountable on a lower model having a tooth model-shaped surface of a mandible tooth row and provided with a pin-shaped projection portion that can be fixed, with a position thereof adjusted from side to side and up and down, and with an adjustment member that can adjust a position of the lower mold-mounting member relative to the upper mold-mounting member on the plane parallel to the Camper's plane, with the projection portion abut on the plate-shaped member of the upper mold-mounting member.

Abstract: A digital data set representing a pre-scanned tooth geometry, including generic crown data, is merged with data representing a scanned patient tooth crown image, which lacks sufficient data to completely represent a complete tooth crown.

Abstract: The dental device of the present invention is used to transfer information about registration of an anterior midline between central incisors and a horizontal plane of the teeth after the teeth have been drilled and final impressions have been taken. This information is communicated to the lab technician for fabrication of crowns and or veneers. The dental device allows the dentist to consistently communicate the location and position of the anterior midlines and horizontal plane to the dental laboratory. The dental device is placed between the patient's upper and lower teeth after tooth preparation. The dental device is positioned in a correct midline and horizontal plane. After alignment, the dental device is secured to the teeth using a bite registration material. The dental device is forwarded to the lab technician together with the model of the teeth after preparation.

Abstract: An oral measuring system has a recording unit provided with a picture sensor, and an interface. The interface, connected to the recording unit, includes a light-conducting Bauernfeind prism that is provided with a recording surface and a picture surface. The recording surface during use is brought into the vicinity of and/or in contact with one of the above sides of a set of teeth to be measured or into an oral cavity, and which picture surface is connected to the recording unit.

Abstract: An oral appliance having upper and lower channel elements attached, respectively, to upper and lower bite blocks. The two channel elements are oriented at a right angle with respect to each other. One of the channel elements carries a removable insert having an array of adjustment holes. A removable coupling member has a support rod with an anchor piece and anchor pin at one of its ends. The anchor piece is received by the channel element carrying the insert, while the anchor pin is received by one of the insert's adjustment holes. A base at the other end of the support rod is received by the other channel element, so that the coupling member may releasably connect the two channel elements together.

Abstract: A tracing device for use in the mouth cavity can include an upper jaw plate, a lower jaw plate, and a coupling tool that connects the above jaw plates. The upper jaw plate can be provided with a guide prop stud, a stud installation pore, a tracing pin, a tracing pin installation pore as well as an auxiliary stud. The lower jaw plate can include a guide tracing table, a connection pore, as well as a movement line formation table. Different structures can be made of a magnetic material or associated with a magnet. A lower jaw inducement guide plate can be made of plastic and have three dimensional slopes, and a guide tracing table can have a tracing plate, and can be freely attachable/detachable to/from the main body of the lower jaw plate.

Abstract: An occlusal state correction -supporting apparatus, a program therefor, and a recording medium thereof are provided, which can generate necessary, effective information in order to complete the shape of teeth excellently bitten. A shape-extracting means 10 extracts and stores shaped data of an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A position-extracting means 20 extracts and stores absolute coordinate data of reference points. A condition setting and distance-computing means 30 computes the distance between a upper jaw model 100 and a lower jaw model 200 while gradually bringing them close in a perpendicular direction. The condition setting and distance-computing means 30 also sets a condition of occlusal contact point, executes such approach movement again, and computes the distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the set relative position of a patient in a dental panorama X-ray apparatus during which the curvature of a front area of a dental arch of a patient is determined. Set position coordinates for the patient are calculated based on this curvature and on a projection arch surface. In addition, the curvature of a middle area and/or of a rear area of the dental arch is determined and is taken into consideration during the calculation of the position coordinates. During a method for determining the set path of a diagnostic unit, the curvature of a front area of a dental arch of a patient is determined and is fixed at a location in the X-ray apparatus located within the space scanned by an X-ray source and by a detector unit. In addition, the curvature of a middle area and/or of a rear area of the dental arch is determined and a set path curve for the diagnostic unit is calculated based on the measured curvatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system integrating three-dimensional anatomical information with a cast model. The system combines the advantages of a digitalized three-dimensional image and the virtues of a cast model. Users may utilize a fully integrated environment provided by the present invention to make treatment planning more promptly and accurately.

Abstract: This present invention concerns a locating and measuring device of facial anatomical parameters of a human face. It includes in particular a frame intended to be positioned in front of a said face, and a bite yoke mounted on a cross member of the said frame, intended to be inserted into the mouth and bitten onto by a patient. In a manner that is characteristic, the device of the invention also includes means for materialisation and positioning of the incisive line, means for materialisation and positioning of the bi-pupillary line, and means for alignment of the Camper's plane on at least one profile of the face. The device of the invention finds a particular application in the fields of dental and periodontal reconstruction and repair in accordance with the aesthetic harmony of the face.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing dental occlusion of a person under test includes a dental occlusion sensing unit that includes two occlusion force sensors mounted fixedly and respectively to two mounting ends of a connecting tube and operable to sense an occlusion force applied on each of top and bottom faces thereof so as to output an electrical signal corresponding to the occlusion force sensed thereby, and two transmission lines connected electrically to the occlusion force sensors and a processing unit and extending through the connecting tube for transmitting the electrical signals from the occlusion force sensors to the processing unit. The processing unit is operable to generate occlusion force information in relation to the electrical signals from the occlusion force sensors and to be displayed on a display unit.

Abstract: System and method for automatic construction of the tooth's axes in terms of three orthogonal unit vectors are disclosed. Three dimensional data for a tooth is used to automatically construct the tooth's axes. System and methods for automatic construction of the axes for different types of teeth such as incisors, canines, premolars, and molars are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a pair of one-piece, flat recording plates that are mirror symmetric about a sagittal plane S, or which an upper part (200), which is provided with a stylus (202), can be affixed to the upper jaw of the patient, and a lower part (100), which is provided with a writing surface (101), can be affixed to the lower jaw of the patient. A recording plate comprises a planar base area (110; 210), planar transition areas (113, 114; 213, 214), which border thereon, and supporting surfaces (111, 112; 211, 212), which border on the latter and which have continuous retention openings (119; 219). The base area is approximately shaped in the form of a forward tapering isosceles trapezoid, which is mirror symmetric about the sagittal plane S, whereas each transition area is approximately shaped in the form of an elongated parallelogram, which is angled away both from the base area as well as from the supporting surface.

Abstract: A medical simulation apparatus is provided, which is capable of performing a simulation by correlating a three-dimensional image with an entity model. Coordinates of measurement marks MP1, MP2, MP3 on a surface of a lower dental arch model 62 in a coordinate system defined by three reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 are acquired before and after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62. The coordinates thus acquired are converted into coordinates in a coordinate system defined by reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3 on the basis of a relationship between the reference marks MK1, MK2, MK3 and the reference marks PK1, PK2, PK3. Then, changes in the coordinates after displacement of the lower dental arch model 62 are determined, and a region preliminarily specified in a three-dimensional image displayed on a display 5 is displaced on the basis of the coordinate changes thus determined.

Abstract: Impression devices are provided for making an impression of a desired feature. The impression devices include: a flexible bladder having a cavity formed therein, the flexible bladder being capable of conforming to the details of the desired feature; a rheological material, such as a magnetorheological fluid, disposed in the cavity of the flexible bladder; and an activator for applying an external stimulus to the rheological material to change the state of the rheological material and thereby capture an impression of the desired feature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for making a computer model of a patient's jaws on the basis of digital information from computed tomography and non-radiographic digital imaging of the patient's teeth or dental casts of their teeth.

Abstract: A dental bite configuration recording device comprises an upper base, a lower base, a first biting portion, a second biting portion, and a movable guiding portion. After the user's lower jaw moves to the front, to the left and to the right respectively, these guiding rods of the movable guiding portion will move or slide along the corresponding guiding recessed surfaces of the guiding recessed blocks. And, these recording rods will leave the three-dimensional moving paths on the path recording materials. So, this invention has multiple-positional and three-dimensional bite configuration recording. The guiding recessed blocks are replaceable. And, It will not yield the tongue of the user.

Abstract: A handheld dental instrument has a horizontal level indicator and a vertical midline angle marker pin mounted on a bite line plate. The bite line plate has an arcuate front and a pair of protruding positioning pins. The bite line plate is rotatably mounted to a handle. The dental device is used in the formation of custom fitted lab fabricated dental prosthesis to improve dental bite registration recording of a patient's horizontal and vertical angles by the dentist and transferred to the dental lab technician to permit the formation of a prosthesis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging a dental occlusal registration impression; developing a digital 3D surface contour model of the occlusal registration impression from the image data; electronically transferring the data representing the digital 3D surface contour model of the occlusal registration impression; fabricating a physical replicate of the occlusal registration impression; correlating features on upper and lower jaw dental models with features on the replicate occlusal registration impression model; and determining occlusal alignment of the upper and lower jaw dental models using the replicate occlusal registration impression model.

Abstract: This invention is a method and an apparatus to assist in accurate placement of teeth and jaws of a patient during orthognathic surgery. An indicator member when independently inserted into the slot of the teeth indexing member assists in designing and making osteotomies relative to the reference planes.