386 results about "Occlusal surface" patented technology

An oral appliance for treating sleep apnea and bruxism is formed of a maxillary tray and a mandibular tray. The maxillary tray carries a maxillary bite pad projecting downwardly toward an opposed mandibular occlusal surface. The mandibular tray carries a mandibular bite pad projecting upwardly toward an opposed maxillary occlusal surface. The maxillary bite pad is posterior to the mandibular bite pad such that upon sufficient relative posterior movement of the mandibular tray, the maxillary bite pad engages the mandibular bite pad and limits posterior movement of the mandibular tray. At least one surface, chosen from the anterior face of the maxillary bite pad and the posterior face of the mandibular bite pad, defines a guide plane disposed at an upward and forward slant. The maxillary bite pad and the mandibular bite pad are engageable at the guide plane for advancing the mandibular tray along the guide plane upon vertical closure between the trays. A smooth pad is disposed over the occlusal surface of at least one of the trays, guarding the occlusal surface from engagement with the opposed bite pad.

An oral appliance for treating sleep apnea and bruxism is formed of a maxillary tray and a mandibular tray. The maxillary tray carries a maxillary bite pad projecting downwardly toward an opposed mandibular occlusal surface. The mandibular tray carries a mandibular bite pad projecting upwardly toward an opposed maxillary occlusal surface. The maxillary bite pad is posterior to the mandibular bite pad such that upon sufficient relative posterior movement of the mandibular tray, the maxillary bite pad engages the mandibular bite pad and limits posterior movement of the mandibular tray. At least one surface, chosen from the anterior face of the maxillary bite pad and the posterior face of the mandibular bite pad, defines a guide plane disposed at an upward and forward slant. The maxillary bite pad and the mandibular bite pad are engageable at the guide plane for advancing the mandibular tray along the guide plane upon vertical closure between the trays. A smooth pad is disposed over the occlusal surface of at least one of the trays, guarding the occlusal surface from engagement with the opposed bite pad.

An apparatus for intra-oral stimulation of the trigeminal nerve includes an energy source that imparts energy to a tooth to stimulate the trigeminal nerve and an attachment portion to secure the energy source in a mouth in proximity to the tooth. Stimulating the trigeminal nerve in this manner has been experimentally shown to induce and / or enhance relaxation and / or sleep without the adverse side effects associated with traditional drug therapies. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be realized as a “cap” having two legs that engage opposing sides of a tooth and a bridge portion spanning the occlusal surface of the tooth to link the legs.

An upper tray adapted to receive a wearer's maxillary teeth. A lower tray adapted to receive the wearer's mandibular teeth. A first upper ridge is carried on a maxillary occlusal surface of the upper tray. A second upper ridge is carried on the maxillary occlusal surface of the upper tray posterior to and spaced from the first upper ridge. A lower ridge is carried on a mandibular occlusal surface of the lower tray received between the first upper ridge and the second upper ridge. The lower tray is movable to a forward position where the lower ridge abuts the first upper ridge to limit forward movement of the lower tray in relation to the upper tray, and the lower tray is movable to a rearward position where the lower ridge abuts the second upper ridge to limit rearward movement of the lower tray in relation to the upper tray.

A method and workstation for orthodontic treatment planning of a patient. The workstation is based on a computing platform having a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage medium containing digitized records pertaining to a patient including image data (3D image data and / or 2D image data). The workstation further includes a set of software instructions providing graphical user interface tools which the user marks a midline and an aesthetic occlusal plane in a two- or three-dimensional virtual model of the patient, marks an occlusal plane in the virtual model; selects a reference tooth in the virtual model; aligns virtual teeth in the virtual model in a proposed arrangement to treat the patient; manages space between the virtual teeth in the proposed arrangement; and repeats one or more of these steps in an iterative fashion to make any further adjustments in the proposed arrangement. When the adjustments are complete, the user selects or identifies a finalized proposed treatment plan for treating the patient.

An upper tray for receiving the maxillary teeth and a lower tray for receiving the mandibular teeth. Upper bite pads carried by the upper tray and lower bite pads carried by the lower tray. The lower bite pads located anterior to the upper bite pads so that the lower bite pads are free to engage the maxillary occlusal surface of the upper tray, and the upper bite pads are free to engage the mandibular occlusal surface of the lower tray to maintain the occlusal surfaces of the trays in a predetermined spaced relationship. The upper and lower bite pads are arranged to abut each other for advancing the mandible and preventing posterior movement of the mandible while allowing limited vertical and lateral movement. The bite pads are releasably carried by the trays for interchanging different sizes of pads to customize the appliance to the needs of the user's mouth.

Dentition three-dimensional data and jaw-bone three-dimensional data are collected from a patient and they are combined. According to the combined data, dental crown data for making up for data on a lost tooth and occlusion data on a dental crown represented by the dental crown data are created. When an occlusion force according to the occlusion data is exerted on the occlusion face of a dental crown, a mechanical evaluation factor is produced in a jaw bone. The mechanical evaluation factor produced near the place where an artificial tooth root supporting a dental crown is to be implanted is calculated. The implantation place is determined so that the mechanical evaluation factor may be smaller and the mechanical load on the jaw bone from the opposed tooth during mastication may be lighter.

Systems and methods for automatic detection of dental features, such as cusps, ridges, and grooves, are disclosed. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented system and method for automatic detection of dental features for an occlusal surface of a patient's tooth comprises receiving three dimensional data for the tooth's occlusal surface, projecting the three dimensional data into a two dimensional plane, forming a height map from the projected three dimensional data, and detecting a set of points from the height map.

Provided herein are orthodontic devices and methods for patients whose orthodontic devices are causing a lisp. The device can comprise an aligner configured to fit over a patient's dental arch and comprising an occlusal surface section positioned over an occlusal surface of the patient's teeth. The aligner can comprise a barrier portion extending laterally and adjacent to a region of the dental arch, the barrier portion allowing the patient's tongue to form a seal against the barrier portion when the patient is speaking while wearing the device.

The present invention provides a motion analysis system for manufacturing of dental orthotics and prosthetics using computer aided means. The process includes measuring the relative function of one anatomical structure to another based on optical data and in some cases enhanced with other sensor data. The components of hard and soft tissue are used in analysis and where the data can be compared in a time series such that a computer generated occlusal surface from which either a treatment orthosis or prosthesis could be manufactured to aid with dental treatment.

Use of computer technology for image-assisted risk assessment / evaluation of proposed dental treatments is described, in particular a method and apparatus for determining the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s), e.g. to obtain information relating to that impact. Use of a virtual articulator is described to determine the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s). This dental modification includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of one or more teeth by artificial teeth, the replacement of one or more parts of a tooth by a prosthetic reconstruction such as a dental crown or veneer, the rearrangement of one or more existing teeth (orthodontic treatment), the distraction of one or both jaws in order to reposition the teeth (orthognatic treatment) and / or modifications of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

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.

A scanning system for carrying out 3D scanning of dental models in a scanning direction V including a holding device for a whole jaw model which spans an occlusal plane E over a line-shaped mandibular arch, a base, a swivel bearing on a swivel axis normal to the scanning direction V and a stage mounted for rotation on the swivel bearing relatively to the base, on which the dental model to be scanned can be mounted. The stage can be rotated through an angular range δ of at least 150° about the swivel axis, and the whole jaw model can be mounted such that said occlusal plane E is aligned parallel to said scanning direction V. An evaluation unit receives data from a detector to generate a 3D data set.

Custom dental prosthesis or implants each individually designed and manufactured to replace nonfunctional natural teeth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example dental prosthesis / implant includes a dental implant body having a prosthesis interface formed therein to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component. The prosthesis interface has a custom three-dimensional surface shape positioned and formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

A method and apparatus for preventing tooth decay by treating the tooth surface, including the occlusal surface and unexposed surfaces such as subgingival, interproximal, and contact areas, with a laser with a coherent or noncoherent light source are described. This process makes the tooth more resistant to acid and better able to bond fluoride, thus requiring a lower concentration of fluoride. The method allows the treatment to penetrate deeper into the tooth then previously accomplished with other methods and can be used in a dental office or at home.

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.

An indirect bonding tray includes a least on tooth position each tooth portion includes an occlusal surface that conforms to an occlusal surface of an associated tooth of a patient's dentition. At least one of bracket arm includes a bracket arm tip configured to engage an orthodontic bracket. The at least one bracket arm movably attached to at least one tooth portion to move between a first position and second position relative to a bonding surface of the associated tooth. In the second position, the bracket arm is in a position configured to hold an orthodontic bracket in a predetermined treatment position relative to the bonding surface of the associated tooth.

A mouthguard to protect an arch of a user includes an outer wall covering a buccal surface of teeth. The outer wall includes a force absorbing inner layer, a force absorbing outer layer and a force transmitting layer positioned therebetween the force absorbing inner layer and the force absorbing outer layer. An inner wall is positioned opposite the outer wall to cover a palatal surface of the teeth, and includes the force absorbing inner layer and the force absorbing outer layer. A lower wall is disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall to cover an occlusal surface of the teeth. The lower wall includes the force absorbing inner layer and the force absorbing outer layer. The outer wall, inner wall and lower wall form a U-shaped channel that is molded into the shape of the arch. The method of making the mouthguard includes the steps of casting a model of a user's arch, molding a force absorbing inner layer of material to the model to form a force absorbing inner layer of the mouthguard. The method also includes the steps of molding a force-transmitting layer of material over the force absorbing inner layer in a predetermined position, and molding a force absorbing outer layer of material over the force absorbing inner layer and force transmitting layer. The method further includes the steps of finishing the mouthguard to conform to the arch of the user.

Dental implant assemblies, custom dental implants, and custom dental prosthesis and components each individually designed and manufactured to replace nonfunctional natural teeth of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example dental prosthesis / assembly includes a transgingival interlock abutment having a prosthesis interface formed therein to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, and an implant interface form to receive a dental implant body. The prosthesis interface has a custom three-dimensional surface shape formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when connected herewith. The implant interface also has a custom three-dimensional surface shape formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the dental implant component when connected therewith.

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 indirect bonding tray includes a least one tooth portion. Each tooth portion includes an occlusal surface that conforms to an occlusal surface of an associated tooth of a patient's dentition. At least one arm includes an arm tip configured to engage an orthodontic bracket. The at least one arm is movably attached to at least one tooth portion to move between a first position and second position relative to a bonding surface of the associated tooth. In the second position, the arm is in a position configured to hold an orthodontic bracket in a predetermined treatment position relative to the bonding surface of the associated tooth.

Oral appliances adapted to for spacing the occlusal surfaces of the teeth of a user are disclosed. The oral appliances have an integral retention band interconnecting a first bite pad and a second bite pad. The first bite pad can include a first spacer and the second bite pad can include a second spacer that are configured to maintain the spacing of the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth of a user during clenching or upon an impact to the jaw. Methods for the manufacture of composite oral appliances are also disclosed. The methods include forming a composite oral appliance over a model of a user's mouth.

The present invention is disclosed a stent for guiding the location / direction for the insertion of an implant a production method thereof. The method includes the steps of forming a plaster cast modeling of a mouth state using a plastic replica; and manufacturing a plastic cast model having an occlusal surface of the location for the insertion of the implant using the plaster cast; fastening a plastic plate having on corners thereof a plurality of metal balls to an upper end of the plastic cast model; and obtaining computed tomographic (CT) image of the mouth after placing the plastic cast model, on which the plastic plate is fastened, in the mouth, and forming a hole in a predetermined position in the stent to correspond to both a location and a direction of inserting the implant determined by a dentist based on the CT image.

A removable splint for treating certain orofacial disorders has a chewing surface and can be worn while the patient is eating. The splint fits over some or all of the maxillary or mandibular teeth. The chewing surface is preferably shaped like the occlusal surfaces of the natural teeth of the patient. The device may be made to look like natural teeth and gums. Preferably, the natural look is achieved by coloring the material of the splint during or after casting and placing denture teeth in the part of the splint that shows when the patient smiles.

Systems and methods for rapidly and reliably determining an arch with of a patient's dental arch. A patient's dentition may be scanned and / or segmented. Arch width may be determined between points of intersection on the occlusal surface and a long axis of each tooth between one or more of: canine, first bicuspid, first primary molar, second bicuspid, second primary molar, and permanent first molar. Arch widths of different modified versions of the patient's dentition may be dynamically compared the patient's starting dentition, or to each other, and may be dynamically updated as the user modifies or switches between one or more 3D models of the patient's dentition.

An apparatus for preventing sleep apnea in a wearer comprises upper and u-shaped appliances, a bottom protrusion extending from the lower appliance in a direction generally away from an occlusal surface of the lower appliance and a top protrusion extending from the upper appliance, the top protrusion including an adjusting block having a height of between 5 / 16 and 13 / 32 of an inch adjustably extending therefrom and having a leading surface oriented to engage the top protrusion. A method for preventing sleep apnea in a wearer comprises locating the top protrusion below and extending away from the top occlusal surface of a wearer's upper teeth, locating the bottom protrusion above and extending away from the bottom occlusal surface of a wearer's lower teeth and extending the adjusting block in an anterior direction from the top protrusion towards the bottom protrusion.