352 results about "Bite registration" patented technology

A stapling unit for use with an endoscopic stapling system adapted to be advanced along an endoscope to a predetermined location within a body lumen to staple the portion of tissue, as part of an occlusal or full thickness resectioning procedure. The stapling unit comprises a first casing having a distal end, a proximal end and a stapling device mounted thereto adjacent to a first window extending through a periphery of the first casing. The invention includes methods for the stapling, severing and removal of tissue by using the device.

A computer implemented method of creating a dental model for use in dental articulation includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, and providing hinge axis data representative of the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower dental arches relative to a condylar axis of the patient. A reference hinge axis is created relative to the upper and lower arch images based on the hinge axis data. Further, the method may include bite alignment data for use in aligning the lower and upper arch images. Yet further, the method may include providing data associated with condyle geometry of the patient, so as to provide limitations on the movement of at least the lower arch image when the arch images are displayed. Further, a wobbling technique may be used to determine an occlusal position of the lower and upper dental arches. Various computer implemented methods of dental articulation are also described. For example, such dental articulation methods may include moving at least one of the upper and lower arch images to simulate relative movement of one of the upper and lower dental arches of the patient, may include displaying another image with the upper and lower dental arches of the dental articulation model, and / or may include playing back recorded motion of a patient's mandible using the dental articulation model.

A computer implemented method of creating a dental model for use in dental articulation includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, and providing hinge axis data representative of the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower dental arches relative to a condylar axis of the patient. A reference hinge axis is created relative to the upper and lower arch images based on the hinge axis data. Further, the method may include bite alignment data for use in aligning the lower and upper arch images. Yet further, the method may include providing data associated with condyle geometry of the patient, so as to provide limitations on the movement of at least the lower arch image when the arch images are displayed. Further, a wobbling technique may be used to determine an occlusal position of the lower and upper dental arches. Various computer implemented methods of dental articulation are also described. For example, such dental articulation methods may include moving at least one of the upper and lower arch images to simulate relative movement of one of the upper and lower dental arches of the patient, may include displaying another image with the upper and lower dental arches of the dental articulation model, and / or may include playing back recorded motion of a patient's mandible using the dental articulation model.

When there is an obstruction to the passage of air through the back of the mouth and nose, the soft palate and the bell collide, producing a vibration called snoring. There are various ways of reducing or eliminating snoring, nasal masks introducing air pressure to the throat (CPAP), surgery of the throat (OPPBA) and devices that are introduced into the mouth to cause a mandibular advancement what increases the oropharyngeal area, improving ventilation, among other solutions. The present invention disclosure an intraocclusal removable device in the form of a “U” that is placed covering all of the upper jaw teeth, wherein two steps, one in each extreme of the lower part of the element, which impede the mandible be closed completely on its normal occlusion, forcing it to produce a forward displacement of the lower jaw.

Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and / or detachment region, and / or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).

The invention relates to an apparatus for temporomandibular joint-related corrections of tooth position, taking into account a variant of the registration or construction of the bite predetermined by the user.The invention is characterized in that a base module extending at least on the occlusion-bearing part of one side of the jaw is supported in an intermaxillary manner and has cavities formed by a setup technique to accommodate teeth, by means of which the tension forces necessary for tooth movements can act on the teeth, in that the base module has a three-dimensionally defined jaw support designed in accordance with specifications of the user, and in that the jaw support is formed by bite blocks and / or interceptors which have cavities filled with a filling material of predeterminable elasticity.

The present invention provides an orthodontic appliance including a unitary appliance body positionable about a portion of a single dental arch, where the appliance body may define a lingual portion, a labial-buccal portion, and a contoured portion therebetween. The appliance body may further define an anterior portion and a posterior portion, as well as a first wire coupled to the appliance body, with the first wire extending from the lingual portion of the appliance body to the labial-buccal portion of the appliance body. In addition, a first portion of the first wire may be embedded in the appliance body while a second portion of the first wire extends from the posterior portion of the appliance body. The appliance may further include a second wire disposed about the appliance body between the first wire and the anterior portion of the appliance body. A series of appliances may be used to shift a patient's bite to proper bite orientation.

The self-ligating bracket for use in orthodontics comprisesa base; an occlusal wall and a gingival wall extending from the base and having at least one ligature wing; a slot separating the occlusal wall and the gingival wall; a slide retained in a guide provided in the occlusal and / or gingival wall and arranged for being displaced between a closed position, in which the slide bridges the slot, and an open position in which the slot is open in the labial direction; means capable of retaining the slide in both its closed and open position; at least one recess in which a spring is seated and which is arranged in the gingival or occlusal wall of the bracket and is provided with an opening that faces the slide and from which a spring projects; a first stop on the slide which abuts against the at least one spring in the open position of the slide; a projection is which provided on the slide and which is so arranged that during displacement of the slide to its closed position it will abut against the spring before it reaches its closed position; space on both sides of the projection which accommodates the spring that projects from the recess which expands toward its opening facing the slide so that the spring can bent in the two directions of displacement of the slide; a second stop that abuts the slide in its closed position, once its projection has overcome the at least one spring.

A method for manufacturing a removable dental prosthesis using a three-dimensional (3D) printer includes receiving dental impressions of a patient obtained using a dental impression tray assembly, the dental impressions including a bite registration and at least a mandibular impression or a maxillary impression; receiving information related to the patient's jaw relations obtained using the dental impression tray assembly, the jaw relations including a vertical dimension and a centric relation obtained during the patient's single visit to a dentist; scanning the received dental impressions with a 3D scanner to provide data representative of an edentulous shape of the patient; generating a 3D model of the dental prosthesis based on the data and the received information related to the patient's jaw relations using 3D design software; displaying the generated 3D model on a display, allowing customization of the 3D model; and 3D printing the dental prosthesis according to the 3D model.

Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

An intra-oral pressure monitoring system is provided. The system is beneficial for measuring or monitoring teeth clinching or grinding during sleep. The system includes a generally horseshoe-shaped, elastomeric mouth piece. The mouth piece is dimensioned to reside between the upper and lower teeth of a patient. The mouth piece has a two or more fluid-containing cells embedded therein. The cells are configured to receive pressure applied by the teeth of a patient. The system is able to monitor bite pressures during a patient's sleep or time of resting. A method for monitoring bite pressures of a patient during sleep is also provided.

An indirect bonding tray places orthodontic appliances in precise, predetermined positions on the teeth of a patient. The indirect bonding tray includes a first matrix material that extends over a set of appliances and a second matrix material that extends over the first matrix material. The indirect bonding tray also includes at least one occlusal stop member that is connected to the second matrix material for firm, relatively hard contact with the occlusal tips of the patient's teeth when the tray is received in place over the patient's dental arch.

A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument. In another form of the invention, the suture anchor comprises a substantially wedge-shaped body having a smaller distal end and a larger proximal end, means thereon for retaining a suture, and means thereon for releasable connection to an inserter shaft; a boundary surface and a plow surface of the body intersecting to form a biting edge at the proximal end of the body; and the boundary surface and an abutment surface of the body intersecting to form a cam surface at the proximal end of the body; and the biting edge being adapted to be in engagement with a first wall portion of a bore in a bone and the cam surface being adapted to be in engagement with a second wall portion of the bore opposed to the first wall portion; wherein tension on the inserter shaft is operable to move the cam portion along the bore second wall portion and rotate the body in the bore such that the biting edge bites into the bore first wall portion to lock the body in the bore.

The invention provides a metal wire and a zipper using the same. The metal wire is in a shape of a straight line, and comprises a head part and two leg parts which are connected with the head part and arranged symmetrically, wherein the ends, not connected with the head part, of the two leg parts stretch in opposite directions, a U-shaped groove is formed between the head part and each leg part, mutually symmetric diagonal planes are arranged on two sides, corresponding to the leg parts, of the head part respectively, and the leg parts has sharp corners in the positions of the opening parts of the U-shaped grooves. The zipper comprises a ribbon and zipper teeth arranged on the ribbon in a snap-in manner, and one secondary tooth is arranged between every two chain teeth and is obtained by cutting the metal wire. One secondary tooth is arranged between every two chain teeth, and the distance between two adjacent chain teeth is reduced, so that a sharp object cannot easily pierce the distance or cannot easily take up the ribbon after piercing, the zipper can be prevented from being opened by the sharp object, and the safety is relatively higher.

An intra-oral device includes a tongue shield aspirator, a bite member, a bite grip, and an evacuation tube. The tongue shield aspirator may include a tongue retractor portion and a cheek retractor portion, and may be an open, unitary, and / or flexible component made of position-memory material. The bite member includes a conduit which receives the tongue shield aspirator through one end and the evacuation tube through the opposite end. The free end of the evacuation tube is connectable directly to a HVE valve to aspirate fluid / debris from the mouth. The device may be positioned in the mouth by bending the distal (free) end of the tongue shield aspirator, inserting the bite member into the mouth first, followed by the tongue shield aspirator as the device is moved towards the patient's cheek, releasing the free end of the tongue shield aspirator, and having the patient bite down on the bite member.

An arch-shaped mouthpiece for forming custom dental trays intraorally, which is typically comprised of a sheet of low-melting custom tray material containing a filler, preferably air. The mouthpiece may also have a supporting frame comprised of a facial wall connected to a lingual wall, and a handle. The supporting frame may support the tray material and filler for a single arch, or for both arches. The tray material may contain occlusal pressure indicating means, such as small, rupturable capsules. In typical use, the mouthpiece is heated, the teeth forcefully bite into the tray material and contained filler, thereby molding the tray material to the teeth, the tray material is cooled, the mouthpiece is removed from the teeth, and excess tray material is trimmed away to form a tray.

An indirect bonding tray places orthodontic appliances in precise, predetermined positions on the teeth of a patient. The indirect bonding tray includes a first matrix material that extends over a set of appliances and a second matrix material that extends over the first matrix material. The indirect bonding tray also includes at least one occlusal stop member that is connected to the second matrix material for firm, relatively hard contact with the occlusal tips of the patient's teeth when the tray is received in place over the patient's dental arch.

Methods and apparatus for producing controlled tooth-moving forces are provided. An orthodontic appliance includes one or more occlusal surface features that modify bite forces between opposing teeth during intercuspation to aid in realignment of the teeth. The interception bite forces can be applied between appliance shells on opposing arches, or between an appliance shell and an opposing tooth. These modified bite forces can be used to supply or augment tooth-moving forces, and the tooth moving forces can produce moments to urge rotational movement of a tooth. Also described herein are orthodontic appliances having an occlusal outer surface contours that are distinct from the occlusal inner surface contour within the dental appliance and may be configured to selectively intercuspate.

The invention discloses an automatic tooth arrangement method and an automatic tooth arrangement device, relating to the medical field of digital orthodontics, and solving the problem that the automatic tooth arrangement is poor in accuracy. The main technical scheme is as follows: the automatic tooth arrangement method comprises the following steps: acquiring three-dimensional data of dentition needing orthodontics and three-dimensional data of craniofacial jaw bone; selecting feature points on the three-dimensional data of the dentition and the three-dimensional data of the craniofacial jaw bone; constructing tooth arrangement planes and dental arch curves according to the selected feature points, wherein the tooth arrangement planes comprise a median sagittal plane, a horizontal plane and a tooth arrangement occlusal plane, and the dental arch curves comprise an upper jaw tooth arrangement curve and a lower jaw tooth arrangement curve; moving teeth in the three-dimensional data of the dentition according to the preset tooth positions, so that a target dentition after orthodontics is formed, and the preset tooth positions comprise the target upper and lower dentition sagittal position, the target upper and lower dentition vertical position, and the target upper jaw and lower jaw among-dentition position. The automatic tooth arrangement method and the automatic tooth arrangement device are mainly used for the tooth arrangement in the orthodontics.

A device for maintaining a patient's mouth in an open position during a medical procedure is provided. The device includes a cylindrical body configured to be received in the patient's mouth. A flange extending from an edge of the body is configured to engage the face of the patient, and preferably, the device includes a retainer for retaining the body in the patient's mouth.

Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

An approach is disclosed that involves creating an updated master dental model of a patient's mouth after an implant surgery by aligning new postoperative oral scan data to pre-existing preoperative oral scan data that is more comprehensive (e.g., it includes bite registration). Before surgery a multi-piece stackable surgical guide set is created using the preoperative oral scan data. The surgical guide set is used to facilitate the surgery. After the surgery at least one piece of the surgical guide set is placed back in a patient's mouth and may act as a reference marker because it was created using the preoperative oral scan data, but is also part of the postoperative mouth configuration since it was used to facilitate the surgery. The affected portion of the mouth may then be digitally scanned directly or indirectly by way of a physical impression with the reference marker in place to determine the new characteristics resulting from the surgery such as new implant installation locations and orientations. The new postoperative oral scan data may be combined with the pre-existing preoperative oral scan data by way of the reference marker (since it is a constant between the two sets of scan data) without having to do such things as take a new bite registration, on which a new implant restoration can be easily created.

An impression gingival cuff for taking an impression during a restoration procedure of a dental implant osteointegrated in a jaw bone. The dental implant is engageably connectable with an abutment having a prominent countour. The impression gingival cuff has a tubular-conical shape, a circumferential thin wall, two open ends including an apical end oriented towards a tooth root and a proximal end oriented towards an occlusal direction, an inner surface oriented towards the abutment and an outer surface oriented towards surrounding gingival tissue. During installation of the cuff between the dental implant and the abutment, the apical end retains the prominent contour of the abutment so that the outer surface of the cuff pushes the surrounding gingival tissue away from the abutment. This allows taking an accurate impression of both the dental implant and abutment in order to fabricate a high precision restoration.

The present invention aims to provide an orthodontic appliance capable of efficiently applying vibration to teeth to be aligned and enabling a treatment to be easily and safely continued even at home. This appliance is provided with a load applying mechanism and a vibration generating actuator. The load applying mechanism is mounted on teeth to apply a load for the malocclusion correction to a specified tooth in the teeth. The vibration generating actuator includes a contact portion that is inserted into a buccal cavity containing the teeth and can come into contact with a part of the load applying mechanism corresponding to the specified tooth or the specified tooth, and applies a vibration force from the contact portion to the specified tooth or the part of the load applying mechanism.

A mouthpiece that adjusts manually to accommodate a broad range of different size sets of upper and lower teeth in the mouth and yet seals the treatment area from oxygen exposure. The mouthpiece includes one or more light emitters and one or more heat generators. A series of parallel texture bands are provided to guide and direct the light from the light emitters to diffuse generally evenly onto teeth to be treated. The seal arises from an inner surface of the mouthpiece tilting inwardly so that a seal bead seals in the vicinity of the gum above the teeth to be treated. Method for effecting an oral treatment such as whitening or desensitizing teeth or treating gum disease. For whitening, a whitening gel is applied to the user's teeth, the mouthpiece is then positioned in the user's mouth such that a bite surface is between upper and lower arches, a main body is between a front surface of the teeth and an inner surface of the user's lips, and a seal bead is against the user's gums. Then, the light emitter(s) and heat generator(s) are activated to effect the whitening while causing an increase in the temperature of the main body thereby enabling the user to mold the main body and conform its shape to their mouth.

The invention discloses a method for building a three-dimensional tooth-and-jaw fusion model. The method includes the steps that data is collected in the occlusion state, and a skull CT image is rebuilt, laser scanning of a gypsum occlusion model is subjected to digital processing; picture processing and the image matching function are based on a reverse engineering software Geomagic Studio, a method based on point matching and the iterative algorithm are combined in the reverse engineering software, a gypsum dentition occlusion model and CT rebuilt dentitions are matched, indistinct CT rebuilt dentitions are replaced, and finally, the three-dimensional tooth-and-jaw fusion model matched in the occlusion state that a CT rebuilt jaw model and the gypsum dentition occlusion model are integrated is obtained. CT imaging artifacts caused by intraoral metal and the error, caused by upper-and-lower-jaw dentition overlapping in the occlusion state, between the occlusion relationship and the practical intraoral occlusion position in the fusion model are reduced, and therefore the accuracy of computer aided design and the treating effect are improved.

A generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance is made with a plastic portion with contours on the lingual side and on the labial side, wherein the contours snugly cover the patient's teeth so that the appliance remains in place. One or more flexible wires are imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic portion, whereby the wires apply force on the lingual side of the patient's bite. The appliance is formed by obtaining a plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums, removing plaster teeth from the plaster cast of the gums, reattaching the plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form a cast of proper bite alignment, attaching one or more wires to the labial surface of the aligned plaster teeth so the wires become imbedded within thermosetting plastic placed over the cast, putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine, inserting thermosetting plastic in the machine, and heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast of the proper bite alignment, so the wires are imbedded within the formed appliance after the thermosetting plastic cools. A series of appliances may be used to shift a patient's bite to proper bite orientation.