Patent Application
20080050694
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment of the Invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. In
Base former 65 for the upper (maxilla) dental casting model is similar if not identical to base former 70 for the lower (mandible) dental model. Upper maxillary base former 65 is used to form upper dental cast 76, and lower mandibular base former 70 is used to form lower dental cast 78, as seen in
Base formers 65 and 70 are connectable to mold stud 55. Mold stud 55 comprises stud anchor 52 and socket ball 50 connected by shaft 51. Mold stud 55 is preferably constructed of hard plastic or other material having adequate strength to support the components of dental articulator 10.
Socket ball 50 mates inside arm socket 40, which is formed integrally with articulator arm 25. Of course, alternatively, socket ball 50 and arm socket 40 can switch places, such that shaft 51 terminates in a socket and the socket ball is connected to articulator arm 25, thus forming an equivalent ball-and-socket joint as described in detail herein. Articulator arm 25 further comprises ball securement 35, which is a screw, preferably hand-tightenable, that mates within socket threaded channel 36. In the preferred embodiment, socket threaded channel 36 is threaded, but alternatively may be sized such that friction, adhesives, or similar securement means retain ball securement screw 35. Further, if threaded, socket threaded channel 36 should be capable of supporting axial and lateral forces exerted by ball securement screw 35 when ball securement screw 35 is screwed down tight. Thus, articulator arm 25 should be composed of material strong enough to provide such support, such as metal or a hard plastic. Alternatively, socket threaded channel 36 may be lined with a threaded channel insert (not shown), typically metal, providing engagement support for ball securement screw 35.
After socket ball 50 is snapped into arm socket 40, it is locked into position by tightening down ball securement screw 35. As seen in
Dental articulator, 15, as seen in
Optionally, a lubricant can be sprayed or wiped on the interior surfaces of base formers 65 and 70 to afford ease in later peeling away the base formers 60 from the hardened casting stone. Pourable hardenable casting stone is poured into base formers 65 and 70. The positive dental impression 75 is then pressed into the soft stone, and excess soft stone flowing over former top edge 66 is wiped or scraped away. The positive dental impression 75 is positioned in base formers 65 and 70 such that it protrudes away from the soft stone to emulate the patient's dental orientation, as is typical in the art. As the soft stone hardens forming base 77, it binds to the positive dental impression, which together form dental cast 79 (
When dental cast 79 has hardened, base former 77 is pulled away for later re-use, leaving dental cast 79 and mold stud 55 embedded and attached via stud anchor 52.
In the preferred embodiment, dental articulator 15 is pre-assembled. Two articulator arms 25 are connected together by hinges 90. Socket balls 50 are snapped into respective arm sockets 40, and ball securement screw 35 are left untightened.
Upper dental cast 76 and lower dental cast 78 are aligned to mechanically simulate axes of articulation, planes and arcs of occlusion, lines, planes and axes of symmetry found in the patient's mouth, as seen in
Fine vertical and horizontal alignment adjustments of the upper and lower dental casts are made while the ball securement screws 35 are still loose. When the alignment of the upper and lower dental casts is proper, the ball securement screws 35 are tightened down, impinging on plungers 58 and thereby securing and fixing socket balls 50 within arm sockets 40. At this stage, the only dental articulator 15 free movement is that which is about hinge 90. Thus, the upper dental cast 76 and lower dental cast 78 are free to rotate vertically in simulation of the patient's natural jaw motion.
By removing mold studs 55 from articulator 15, the dental casts can be shipped and stored in a smaller volume, thus providing additional storage space and smaller shipping containers. Dental articulator 15 can easily be reattached to the dental casts and adjusted by the dentist, the dental technician or the laboratory technician. The same dental articulator 15 can be reused on any dental cast 79 having the inventive mold stud 55.
The improved dental articulator of the present invention, and many of its intended advantages, will be understood from the foregoing description of an example embodiment, and it will be apparent that, although the invention and its advantages have been described in detail, various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made in the manner, procedure, and details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims, or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely an exemplary embodiment thereof.
