Method and apparatus for repositioning teeth
First Claim
1. A device for reconfiguring a model dental structure which comprises:
- a casting of a plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth casting is made of a rigid material;
a casting of a gum, wherein the gum casting is made of a flexible material and is positioned in contact with the teeth casting;
a plurality of elongated posts, with each post having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each post is embedded in a respective tooth of the teeth casting with the second end of the post extending therefrom and into the gum casting; and
an articulating tool respectively engageable with the second end of each of the posts for selectively and independently orienting each post and the tooth therewith, to reconfigure the dental structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for straightening teeth includes a casting of teeth that is made of a rigid material, and a gum casting made of a flexible material that is joined to the teeth casting. A respective articulating tool for each tooth is provided with a post that is embedded into the tooth. Tooth moving components, accessible through the gum casting, are mounted on each post to selectively provide for left-right, fore-aft, and rotational tooth movements. In its operation, the system involves selectively orienting individual teeth in the teeth casting, to prepare a series of sequentially useable appliances that will straighten teeth in accordance with a pre-planned procedure.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for reconfiguring a model dental structure which comprises:
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a casting of a plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth casting is made of a rigid material;
a casting of a gum, wherein the gum casting is made of a flexible material and is positioned in contact with the teeth casting;
a plurality of elongated posts, with each post having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each post is embedded in a respective tooth of the teeth casting with the second end of the post extending therefrom and into the gum casting; and
an articulating tool respectively engageable with the second end of each of the posts for selectively and independently orienting each post and the tooth therewith, to reconfigure the dental structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for orienting a prosthetic tooth in a model dental structure, the system having an articulating tool which comprises:
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a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an axis;
a first component mounted on the distal end of the main shaft for back and forth movement in a first radial direction;
a first means for selectively moving the first component to a predetermined position;
a second component mounted distally on the first component for back and forth movement in a second radial direction, wherein the second radial direction is substantially perpendicular to the first radial direction;
a second means for selectively moving the second component to a predetermined position;
a post for holding the prosthetic tooth, the post having an end thereof swivel mounted on the second component for universal rotation about a point thereon; and
a clamping means for fixedly holding the post at the point on the second component to orient the prosthetic tooth. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for manufacturing a system for orienting prosthetic teeth in a model dental structure which comprises the steps of:
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creating an impression of a plurality of teeth in a dental structure of a patient;
positioning a plurality of articulating tools in the impression, wherein each tool includes a post and each post is positioned relative to a respective tooth defined in the impression;
making a teeth casting of the plurality of teeth, wherein the teeth casting is made of a rigid material, and wherein each post is embedded in a respective tooth of the teeth casting;
forming a gum casting, wherein the gum casting is made of a flexible material and is positioned in contact with the teeth casting to surround portions of each articulating tool; and
establishing a support casting made of the rigid material, wherein the support casting is positioned in contact with the gum casting, and wherein the gum casting is positioned between the teeth casting and the support casting, and further wherein the support casting contacts each articulating tool to stabilize the plurality of posts on the device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification