Abstract: An improved adjustable attachment for a labial arch retainer. The retainer is of the type having a palatal section configured to conform to the roof of the mouth of a patient, a pair of extension wires extending anterially from the palatal section, an attachment hook provided at the terminal end of each extension wire, and a resilient synthetic band adapted to exert pressure against the teeth of the patient. The adjustable attachment is connected between the resilient band and the attachment hook in a manner which permits the length of the resilient band to be varied thereby permitting adjustment of the pressure exerted against the teeth of the patient.

Abstract: A device adapted to be placed in the human mouth for treating among other things temporomandibular joint dysfunctions comprising an elongated flexible plastic body having occlusal portions at the extremities thereof, the occlusal portions being interconnected at their forward or anterior ends by a labial portion. The occlusal portions each are provided with an enlarged fluid-containing passage. The passages in the occlusal portions are interconnected by a restricted passage which transverses the labial portion of the body. The occlusal portions form enlarged cells which are adapted to be positioned between the posterior teeth on each side of the mouth, and constitute occlusal pressure responsive means for hydrostatically compensating for any differences in pressure resulting from occlusal forces applied to each of the cells by the posterior teeth of the mouth. As a result, the occlusal forces which would normally be applied to the teeth are equalized and are axially oriented.

Abstract: Method for making a tooth positioning and retaining appliance with air holes. The apparatus includes a mold with a cavity having models of the upper and lower teeth arranged so that when an appliance is molded thereby the appliance will have upper and lower archways for receiving upper and lower arches of a person, tooth sockets in the archways arranged in ideal relationship and preselected positions to urge the teeth received thereby into the preselected positions of the sockets. The mold additionally includes air hole or airway forming means extending across the models of the teeth in the mold and being insertable into the mold prior to the molding operation and thereafter removable from the mold with the molded appliance. The air hole forming means is easily separable from the appliance to ultimately define the air holes between the archways and between the labial and lingual sides of the appliance. The method of making the air holes concerns the handling of the mold and the air hole forming means.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of forming accurate hinge axis tooth positioners prepares models of the upper and lower teeth of a patient with the teeth relocated to predetermined positions, takes an interocclusal record of the prepared models mounted on an articulator in the occlusal position but spaced apart the thickness of the tooth positioner material, duplicates the models and mounts them on a correlator in indexed engagement with the interocclusal record, removes the interocclusal record from between the duplicated models and substitutes therein a resilient deformable material, returns the duplicated models to the established interocclusal record position to form impressions of the teeth in the material, and cures the material through the application of heat.

Abstract: A frontal mouth plate is more sharply curved in its middle than at its ends so as to accommodate normal teeth position and provide prophylactic effects to infants. A holding ring is provided on the plate which is separable for cleaning purposes.