Dental device and method of use

Abstract

A dental device having one or more fasteners, each having a longitudinal axis and a wing region extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the fastener is configured to mate with a dental attachment on a dental arch. The wing region has a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a longitudinal structure protruding from the top surface. The wing regions also have one or more attachment areas configured to couple with each other and / or with a frame member. The frame member has a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more attachment areas configured to couple with the wing regions of the fastener.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 171,437, filed on April 6, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The field of the present invention is dental devices, and more particularly, a dental implant verification jig for verifying the accuracy of a dental model that relates the exact physical position, rotation, and angulation of one or more dental attachments of a dental arch.

Background Art

[0003] The background description may include information that is useful in understanding the present invention. This is not to admit that any information provided herein is prior art or related to the presently claimed invention, nor is it to admit that any of the specifically or implicitly referenced published documents are prior art.

[0004] Dental technicians design and fabricate custom prostheses to replace missing or extracted teeth in a patient's jaw using digital models or cast physical models. When dental implants are involved, very accurate records are essential to ensure that the prosthesis fits accurately to the corresponding parts of both the model while the prosthesis is being made and the patient for whom the prosthesis is intended. When designing a prosthesis to fit multiple dental implants in the same jaw, a dental implant verification jig is used to verify the accurate records. Since even a very small error between the patient and the model can result in a poor fit of the prosthesis, a verification jig is essential when multiple implants are involved. Currently, conventional methods of casting dental models or intraoral scans of digital models are not accurate enough to fabricate custom prostheses that fit accurately for multiple implants in the same jaw.

[0005] A cast dental model is made by attaching an implant impression coping or a temporary stock coping to a dental implant or a dental implant abutment in a patient's jaw. Using a dental impression material, an impression of the negative form of the patient's jaw is taken together with the coping. Next, a positive replica of the patient's jaw in the form of a mold or model is made from the impression of the negative form that includes a replica or likeness of the dental implant representing the dental implant in the patient's jaw. These models are good enough for manufacturing most dental prostheses that do not require high precision, but due to inherent material dimensional variations and the inconsistent methods of the operators making these cast models, these models lack sufficient accuracy for making prostheses for multiple implants in the same jaw.

[0006] Digital models for computer-aided design of dental prostheses are usually three-dimensionally scanned copies of the cast dental models. In dental laboratories, high-precision three-dimensional desktop scanners manufactured specifically for the dental field are used to create these digital models. However, these scans are only as accurate as the cast dental models being scanned by the scanner. More recently, intraoral scanners (e.g., 3Shape Trios, iTero, Medit, Dentsply PrimeScan) have been able to acquire three-dimensional digital models directly from a patient's mouth. However, currently existing intraoral scanning technologies have inherent limitations that prevent them from achieving sufficient accuracy for making prostheses for multiple implants in the same jaw.

[0007] Therefore, using a dental implant verification jig, verify the accuracy of a digital or cast dental model that relates the exact position, rotation, and angulation of dental implants placed in a patient's jaw. The dental implant verification jig also obtains the exact relative three-dimensional relationship between each implant in three-dimensional space and the others. These jigs are required to have extremely high accuracy so that the accuracy of the cast or digital model can be verified. Only in that case can a dental technician confidently design and manufacture a prosthesis to fit accurately onto the implants placed in the patient's jaw.

[0008] A dental implant verification jig is custom-made by a dental technician by attaching an impression coping or a temporary prefabricated coping to a dental implant replica or analogue on a replication of the cast model of the patient's jaw. Often, dental floss is used to create a scaffold between adjacent copings to hold an adhesive acrylic resin material that is applied around each of the copings and cured between adjacent copings. Once cured, the copings are firmly fixed to each other and can be removed integrally.

[0009] The resin materials used to create these custom jigs tend to shrink during curing, often resulting in some inaccuracies. The more resin is used between the copings, the more dimensional variation there will be from the relative three-dimensional positions the copings should take as the resin cures. To minimize the effects of this shrinkage, the dental technician or dentist first secures all the impression copings to each other with resin material between the implant analogs on the model to create a model jig representing the implant positions on the cast model. Once the resin has fully cured either by UV light or over time in ambient light, the jig is cut into sections to release the tension from acrylic shrinkage and isolate each coping from the others. A small gap remains between the acrylic resins of the two cut pieces of the jig. This "sectioned" jig is used to directly verify the implant positions in the patient's mouth. The clinician then attaches each section of the jig to the corresponding dental implant in the patient's jaw and reconnects the jig with a minimal amount of acrylic resin within the small gap between the sections. Since the amount of acrylic resin between the sections curing is minimal, any shrinkage that occurs is not a problem. At this point, the "verified" jig can be considered the most accurate physical replication of the relative three-dimensional positions of the dental implants in the patient's jaw. This verification jig created in the patient's mouth will be used to verify the accuracy of the physical and digital models. Once these models are verified, a permanent prosthesis can be manufactured with confidence that it will fit accurately to the patient's dental implants.

[0010] These verification jigs are custom-made and labor-intensive in production, so there is still a need for a low-cost, mass-produced dental device that is versatile enough to universally adapt to some variable elements that have so far only been achievable with custom-made instruments. These uncertain elements include, but are not limited to, the number of dental implants to be placed, the size of the mouth during treatment, and the unique connection parts of the dental implant components. If a single mass-produced dental device could universally adapt to most of these variable elements, the fabrication of custom-made prostheses with multiple implants on the same jaw would be significantly simplified. By eliminating the need to create custom verification jigs, which often require time-consuming collaboration among clinicians, patients, and dental technicians, costs would also be reduced.

[0011] Also, there is a significant need to simplify the various steps of the total jaw rehabilitation procedure for the fixation and removability of dental implants. As one of the most complex procedures in dental medicine, the overall complexity of the procedure is significantly reduced with each step removed. By eliminating the need for custom-made verification jigs, time would be saved, costs would be reduced, and it would also be possible for more clinicians to treat more patients.

[0012] It is still required to ensure that the minimum amount of resin is used when making a jig by fixing dental implants to each other as auxiliaries. Since all resins are prone to shrinkage, minimizing the distance between connection parts also minimizes the effect of shrinkage. By using overlapping parts or parts designed to be nested with adjacent parts, the errors caused by resin shrinkage can be significantly reduced.

[0013] Finally, when fitting or bonding components together intraorally using an adhesive or a curing material, there is always a risk that some excess material may inadvertently fall into the threaded holes of the fastening or implant components. This can be a very troublesome problem as the cured material may permanently inhibit the clinician's ability to access the threads and remove the components from the mouth. If this occurs, the clinician may have to surgically remove the dental implant from the mouth. This type of procedure often causes significant trauma to the patient. Therefore, an additional safety feature is needed to prevent such a troublesome problem from occurring. Devices designed to be fitted together intraorally at the implant superstructure would benefit from a safety mechanism that shields or prevents the fitting material from entering the threaded holes and covering the threads that fasten the dental implant component to the dental implant. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0014] Therefore, improved dental devices and methods of using them are still needed. Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] The subject matter of the present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method in which a dental device includes one or more fastening components having a wing region and a frame member. Each fastening component has an upper surface, a bottom surface, and an opening that penetrates from the upper surface to the bottom surface. The opening is sized and dimensioned to receive various dental attachments on the jaw, such as dental implants or abutments, and is fastened with a screw. Since each manufacturer makes its own type of dental implant or abutment, the opening of the fastening component can be sized and dimensioned to accommodate the various dimensions of each manufacturer. The wing region also has an upper surface and a bottom surface. The upper and bottom surfaces of the wing region include one or more attachment areas configured to couple with the frame member. The wing region also has a longitudinal structure that protrudes from the upper surface of the wing region. This longitudinal structure has a front face facing the end of the wing, a side face parallel to the wing, and a back face facing the opening of the fastening component. The front and side faces of the longitudinal structure are configured to couple with the attachment area of the frame member.

[0016] The frame member has an edge, an upper surface, and a bottom surface around the frame. The edge, the upper surface, and / or the bottom surface of the frame member include one or more attachment areas configured to couple with the attachment area of the wing region of the fastening component. The frame member can be coupled with the fastening component using a fitting or adhesive material. The longitudinal structure of the wing region of the fastening component is also designed to prevent the fitting or adhesive material from entering the opening of the fastening component and covering the screw, but once the fitting or adhesive material dries, it becomes very difficult to remove and can cause harmful and troublesome problems for the patient. Taking this into account, the fastening component can be fixed to each dental attachment disposed on the edentulous jaw. When done correctly, the fastening component will adhere to the frame member and create the verification jig described earlier.

[0017] In some embodiments, to assist in holding the co - fitting or adhesive material and improve the co - fitting / adhesive strength, the mounting areas on the upper and bottom surfaces of the frame member and on the upper surface of the wing region can include a plurality of protrusions. To improve the holding of the co - fitting or adhesive material, the protrusions can be tapered or frustoconical. The mounting areas of both the wing region and the frame member can also have undercuts or irregularities that assist in holding the co - fitting or adhesive material. Further, the frame member may be manufactured as a flat grid of holes of any geometric shape that penetrate the frame member from top to bottom. This grid design provides a large three - dimensional structure for the co - fitting material to adhere the frame member to the fastening component. Finally, the mounting area can be considered to be a flat surface or a surface with mating features (e.g., similar contours, nested shapes).

[0018] In some embodiments, to enable adjustment of the orientation of the fastening component and its wing region (e.g., positioning the fastening component such that the wing region extends as close as possible to the palate side within the jaw and to other fastening components), the fastening component is sized and dimensioned to be rotatably coupled to the dental attachment within the mouth. The fastening component can be made in different sizes to fit different sizes or types of existing dental attachments.

[0019] From a method perspective, the subject matter of the present invention provides a method of using the dental device by screwing the fastening components to several dental attachments of a patient's jaw. In that case, the fastening components are rotated about the attachment in order to position the wing regions of each fastening component close to each other. Finally, the wing regions of the fastening components are mated or adhered to the frame member using commonly available dental acrylic or composite material. The method further includes removing the entire device of several fastening components mated to the frame member and using the device to verify the accuracy of a dental model that relates the exact physical position, rotation, and angulation of dental implants or abutment attachments placed in a patient's jaw. It is also contemplated that the plurality of frame members and fastening components can be selected from various sizes and application forms that may be necessary to account for different structures by a human jaw.

[0020] The subject matter of the present invention also provides a method of shielding or preventing the mating or adhesive material from entering the opening of the fastening component and covering the threaded hole using the vertical structure protruding from the upper part of the wing region of the fastening component.

[0021] The subject matter of the present invention also provides an apparatus, system, and method in which a dental device includes a plurality of fastening components, each fastening component having a wing region. Each fastening component can be attached to a dental attachment of a dental arch and arranged such that their wing regions are nested in close proximity to adjacent wing regions. The wing regions can be joined to each other with an adhesive or mating material such that all of the plurality of fastening components are joined to each other to form a single device. The single device can be removed from the dental attachment and used as a verification jig. Before removal, the fastening components can be scanned.

[0022] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Detailed Description of the Invention In the following discussion, numerous exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention are provided. Each embodiment represents a single combination of the inventive elements, but the subject matter of the present invention is considered to include any possible combination of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment includes elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment includes elements B and D, the subject matter of the present invention is considered to include the other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D as well, even if not explicitly disclosed.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a dental device 100 assembled to a dental arch 8. Figure 2 shows a front view of the dental device 100 and the dental arch 8. Figure 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the dental device 100. Figure 4 shows a front exploded view of the dental device 100. The dental device 100 includes a frame member 1 coupled to a fastening component 3, the fastening component 3 being attached to four abutments 4, and the four abutments 4 being attached to four implants 5 of the dental arch 8. The fastening component 3 can be fixed to the abutment 4 using screws or any other known fasteners. The dental arch 8 can include any human maxillary or mandibular arch of any age and / or size. The dental arch can also include an artificial physical model of a human maxillary or mandibular arch. The model can be made of various gypsum materials or resin materials.

[0026] Figure 5 shows a perspective partial exploded view of the dental device 100 with the fastening component 3 fixed to the abutment 4. Figure 6 shows a front partial exploded view of the dental device 100 with the fastening component 3 fixed to the abutment 4. The fastening component 3 has a wing region 2 fixed to the frame member 1. The fastening component 3 can rotate to adjust the arrangement and orientation of those wing regions 2. The length of the wing region 2 extends into the central region of the dental arch 8 to provide a platform for attaching the frame member 1. To ensure there is sufficient space for all the said wing regions 2, the wing regions 2 can be arranged first on the central implant and then on the lateral implants. The Wing area should converge to create a relatively horizontal and stable platform for the frame member.

[0027] Figure 7a shows a side view of the fastening component 3. The fastening component 3 has a cylindrical body with a through-hole having a longitudinal axis "a". The fastening component 3 also has a wing region 2 extending radially outward from the cylindrical body and having a tapered end and a toothed protrusion on the upper surface. Figure 7b shows a perspective view of the fastening component 3. Figure 7c shows a plan view of the fastening component 3.

[0028] Figure 8a shows a front view of the frame member 1. Figure 8b shows a perspective view of the frame member 1. Figure 8c shows a plan view of the frame member 1. The frame member 1 has a trapezoidal shape. However, other shapes are possible, including semi-circular, triangular, square, rectangular, and irregular non-geometric shapes. The frame member 1 is sized and dimensioned to fit within the dental arch 8. The frame member 1 can be scored (e.g., measured, sized) to facilitate making the frame the appropriate size for the dental arch. For example, the frame member 1 can be scored to indicate its general size with respect to its overall length and width. The length and width of the frame member 1 should fit within the patient's dental arch and be laid as evenly as possible across all of the wing regions 2. The frame member 1 should also have a space between the frame member 1 and the longitudinal axis cylinder body of the fastening component 3 for accurate scanning. The frame member 1 can be made of resin, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), stainless steel, cobalt chrome, or titanium, and includes a radiopaque material for visibility in X-ray imaging and a non-abrasive surface for good visibility in intraoral scanning.

[0029] Once the fastening component 3 is positioned in place at the implant site, the frame member 1 is placed and coupled over the wing region 2. The frame member 1 can be coupled to the wing region 2 with a fitting material or an adhesive material. To improve mechanical adhesion with the fitting or adhesive material, the frame member 1 has a plurality of openings and the wing region 2 has a plurality of teeth. Possible fitting materials include dental cements or any material that adheres to the surface and cures. Possible adhesive materials include self-curing acrylic resins, bis-acrylic composite resins, dual-cure acrylic resins, chemical adhesives, and dental cements. The fitting or adhesive material is placed on the wing region 2 or the frame member 1 before placing and holding the frame member 1 over the wing region 2.

[0030] To assist in holding the coapted and / or adhesive material and improve the strength of the adhesion, it is also conceivable that the frame member 1 and / or the wing region 2 may have an undercut or unevenness. In yet other embodiments, the attachment areas of both the wing region 2 and the frame member 1 may be flat, or it is considered that they may have similarly shaped / contoured areas that fit or nest with each other to improve the mechanical engagement between the wing region 2 of the frame member 1. The coapted or adhesive material can be selected based on the composition of the wing region 2 and the frame member 1 and the configuration of the attachment area (e.g., flat surface, protrusion, etc.).

[0031] Figure 9 shows an exploded side view of the fastening component 3, the abutment 4, and the implant 5.

[0032] Figure 10 shows a fastening component 13 similar to the fastening component 3 except that it has an abutment region 14. The abutment region 14 has a tapered surface sized and dimensioned to fit into the opening of the implant 5, thereby eliminating the need for the abutment 4.

[0033] Figure 11 shows a side view of either the fastening component 3 or 13 fastened to the implant 5.

[0034] Figure 12 shows an exploded perspective view of the dental device 200 and the dental arch 8. The dental device 200 is similar to the dental device 100 except that the two central fastening components 3 are replaced with the fastening components 13. Figure 13 shows an exploded front view of the dental device 200 and the dental arch 8. Figure 14 shows an exploded side view of the dental device 200 and the dental arch 8.

[0035] Figure 15 shows a dental device 300 on the dental arch 8. The dental device 300 includes a plurality of fastening components 23. The fastening components 23 are similar to the fastening components 3 except that they have longer wing regions. Each wing region is positioned so as to be very close to an adjacent wing region. Once positioned very close to an adjacent wing region, the wing regions are joined to each other using an adhesive or a fitting material 11 as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18. Once joined to each other, the fastening components 23 can be scanned with an intraoral camera to record their positions, orientations, and angulations. The fastening components 23 can also be removed as a single unit and used as a verification jig. The dental device 300 is different from the dental devices 100 and 200 in that the frame member 1 is not required.

[0036] Figure 19 shows a perspective view of a dental device 400 assembled to the dental arch 8. Figure 20 shows a front view of the dental device 400 and the dental arch 8. Figure 21 shows a perspective exploded view of the dental device 400. Figure 22 shows a front exploded view of the dental device 400. The dental device 100 includes a frame member 41 coupled to a fastening component 43, and the fastening component 43 is attached to four abutments 44, and the four abutments 44 are attached to four implants 5 on the dental arch 8. The fastening component 43 can be fixed to the abutment 44 using a screw or any other known fastener. The dental arch 8 can include any human maxillary or mandibular arch of any age and / or size. The dental arch can also include an artificial physical model of a human maxillary or mandibular arch. The model can be made of various plaster materials or resin materials.

[0037] The said fastening component 43 and the said frame member 4 1 minimize, or eliminate, dimensional variations of the device during and after fabrication of the device due to shrinkage of the cured resin over its service life. The fastening component 43 and the frame member 4 1It can be made of any non-resinous and non-shrinking material, preferably including a dimensionally stable material that maintains strength and rigidity over a long period in either a dry / wet environment or a high / low temperature environment.

[0038] Figure 23 shows a perspective partial exploded view of a dental device 400 in which a fastening component 43 is fixed to an abutment 44. Figure 24 shows a front partial exploded view of the dental device 400 in which the fastening component 43 is fixed to the abutment 44. The fastening component 43 has a wing region 42 that is fixed to the frame member 41. The fastening component 43 can rotate to adjust the arrangement and orientation of those wing regions 42. The length of the wing region 42 extends into the central region of the dental arch 8 to provide a platform for attaching the frame member 41. To ensure there is sufficient space for all of the said wing regions 42, the wing regions 42 can be arranged first on the central implant and then on the lateral implants. The Wing area 42s should converge to create a relatively horizontal and stable platform for the frame member 41.

[0039] Figure 25a shows a side view of the fastening component 43. The fastening component 43 has a cylindrical body with a through-hole having a longitudinal axis 47. The fastening component 43 also has a wing region 42 that extends radially outward from the cylindrical body and the longitudinal axis 47. The fastening component also has a longitudinal structure 48 that protrudes upward from the wing region 42. Figure 25b shows a perspective view of the fastening component 43. The longitudinal structure 48 has four faces, namely, a front face facing away from the longitudinal axis 47, a rear face facing the longitudinal axis 47, and two side faces that extend parallel to each other (e.g., parallel to the length of the wing region 42) between the front face and the rear face. The upper part of the longitudinal structure 48 is higher than the opening of the longitudinal axis 47, which helps to shield the opening 47 so that the curing material does not fill it. This wing region 42 provides a flat surface for attaching the frame member 41. Figure 25c shows a plan view of the fastening component 43.

[0040] Figure 26a shows a front view of the frame member 41. Figure 26b shows a perspective view of the frame member 41. Figure 26c shows a plan view of the frame member 41. The frame member 41 is similar to the frame member 41 in that it has a body member 51 having a trapezoidal shape. However, the frame member 41 also has fins 52 extending from the trapezoidal body member 51. The fins 52 are useful as handles for positioning the frame member on the wing region when the dental device is in the patient's mouth.

[0041] The frame member 41 is sized and dimensioned to fit within the dental arch 8. The size of the frame member 41 should fit within the patient's dental arch and be laid as evenly as possible across all of the wing region 42. The frame member 41 should also have a space between the frame member 41 and the cylindrical body of the fastening component 43 for accurate scanning. The frame member 41 can be made of resin, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), stainless steel, cobalt chrome, or titanium, and includes a radiopaque material for visibility in X-ray imaging and a non-abrasive surface for good visibility in intraoral scanning.

[0042] Once the fastening component 43 is positioned in place at the implant site, the frame member 41 is placed and coupled on the wing region 42. The frame member 41 can be coupled to the wing region 42 with a fitting material or an adhesive material 11. To improve mechanical adhesion with the fitting or adhesive material 11, the frame member 41 has a plurality of openings and the wing region 42 has a plurality of openings. Possible fitting materials include dental cement or any material that adheres to the surface and cures. Possible adhesive materials include self-curing acrylic resin, bis-acrylic composite resin, dual-cure type acrylic resin, chemical adhesives, and dental cement. The fitting or adhesive material is placed on the wing region 42 or on the frame member 41 before placing and holding the frame member 41 on the wing region 42.

[0043] To assist in holding the coapted and / or adhesive material and improve the strength of the adhesion, it is also conceivable that the frame member 41 and / or the wing region 42 may have an undercut or unevenness. In yet other embodiments, the Wing area attachment areas of both the 42 and the frame member 41 may be flat, and it is considered that they may have similarly shaped / contoured areas that fit or nest with each other to improve the mechanical engagement with the 42 of the frame member 41. The coapted or adhesive material 11 can be selected based on the composition of the wing region 42 and the frame member 41 and the configuration of the attachment area (e.g., flat surface, protrusion, etc.). Wing area

[0044] Figure 27 shows an exploded side view of the fastening component 43, the abutment 44, and the implant 5.

[0045] Figure 28 shows a fastening component 53 similar to the fastening component 43 except that it has an abutment region 54. The abutment region 54 has a tapered surface sized and dimensioned to fit into the opening of the implant 5, thereby eliminating the need for the abutment 44.

[0046] Figure 29 shows a side view of either the fastening component 43 or 53 fastened to the implant 5.

[0047] Figure 30 shows an exploded perspective view of the dental device 500 and the dental arch 8. The dental device 500 is similar to the dental device 400 except that the two central fastening components 43 are replaced with the fastening components 53. Figure 31 shows an exploded front view of the dental device 500 and the dental arch 8. Figure 32 shows an exploded side view of the dental device 500 and the dental arch 8.

[0048] ​FIG. 33 shows a dental device 600 on a dental arch 8. The dental device 600 includes a plurality of fastening components 43. The fastening components 43 are similar to the fastening components 3 and 23 except that they have a longitudinal structure 48 and wing regions 42 of different shapes. Each wing region 42 of the fastening component 43 is positioned so as to be very close to an adjacent wing region 42. Once positioned very close to an adjacent wing region 42, the wing regions 42 are joined to each other using an adhesive or a fitting material 11 as shown in FIGS. 34 to 36. Once joined to each other, the fastening components 43 can be scanned with an intraoral camera to record their position, orientation, and angulation. The longitudinal structure 48 can help prevent the fitting material 11 from entering the holes of the fastening components 43. The longitudinal structure 48 can also help improve the efficiency and / or accuracy of the scanning method by providing an easily recognizable three-dimensional structure having known dimensions for the algorithm to reference. The fastening components 43 can be removed as a single unit and used as a verification jig. The dental device 600 is different from the dental devices 500 and 400 in that it does not require a frame member 41.

[0049] From a method perspective, the subject matter of the present invention is a method of using a dental device having one or more fastening components and a frame member, the method comprising: (i) coupling the one or more fastening components to one or more dental attachments of a dental arch; (ii) positioning wing regions of the one or more fastening components by rotating the one or more fastening components about the dental attachment; and (iii) applying an adhesive or a curing material to an attachment area of the wing regions of the fastening components and an attachment area of the frame member and waiting for the attachment area and the adhesive or curing material to cure together to form a single rigid device, thereby adhering or fitting the frame member to the one or more fastening components.

[0050] In yet other aspects, the method can further include removing the frame member and the one or more fastening components as a single device from the one or more dental attachments, and using the assembled device as a verification jig used to verify the accuracy of a dental model that relates the exact physical position, rotation, and angulation of the one or more dental attachments of the dental arch. The method can further include (i) selecting the one or more fastening components from a plurality of fastening components having wing regions of various angles and different lengths, and (ii) selecting the frame member from a plurality of frame members having different sizes, wherein the selected frame member is adapted to the dental arch and is selected to rest on all of the wing regions of the one or more fastening components.

[0051] In yet other aspects, the method can include applying a common dental impression material around the one or more fastening components to obtain an impression of the gingival tissue that relates the structure of the gingival tissue surrounding the one or more fastening components to the position of the one or more dental attachments.

[0052] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the terms "attached to" and "coupled to" are intended to include both direct coupling (where two elements coupled to each other are in contact with each other) and indirect coupling (where at least one additional element is present between the two elements). Thus, the terms "coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously.

[0053] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more variations are possible without departing from the concept of the invention as described herein, in addition to those already described. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present invention is not to be limited except as defined by the scope of the amended claims. Further, when interpreting both this specification and the claims, every term should be construed in the broadest possible sense consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as non-exclusively referring to elements, components, or steps, meaning that the recited elements, components, or steps may be present, used, or combined with other elements, components, or steps not explicitly recited. When this specification refers to at least one of the things selected from the group consisting of A, B, C... and N, the sentence should be construed to mean that there may be one element from the said group, rather than, for example, N in addition to A, or N in addition to B.

Claims

1. Three or more fastening components each having a vertical axis and a wing region extending radially outward from the vertical axis, A dental device comprising a frame member having a top surface and a bottom surface including three or more mounting areas for mounting three or more fastening components, wherein the vertical axes of the three or more fastening components are configured to coincide with dental attachments of a patient's dental arch, wherein the wing regions of the three or more fastening components have a top surface, a bottom surface, and a vertical structure protruding from the top surface, wherein the vertical structure has a front face facing away from the vertical axis, a back face facing the vertical axis, and one or more side faces extending parallel to the length of the wing region between the front face and the back face, and the vertical structure is higher than the vertical axis, and the wing region has one or more attachment areas configured to couple with the attachment areas of the frame member, a dental device.

2. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the three or more fastening components and the frame member are made of a material configured to minimize or eliminate dimensional variations after the fastening components are attached to the frame member.

3. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the frame member has a shape selected from the group consisting of trapezoidal, semi-circular, triangular, square, and rectangular.

4. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the frame member has a size and dimensions that fit the dental arch.

5. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is scored to facilitate sizing the frame to fit the dental arch.

6. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment areas of the wing regions of the three or more fastening components have multiple teeth.

7. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the wing regions of the three or more fastening components are tapered.

8. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting areas of the frame member and the wing regions are flat surfaces.

9. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting areas of the frame member and the wing regions have a plurality of undercuts or grooves.

10. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting areas of the frame member and the wing regions have through holes.

11. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the three or more fastening components include at least six fastening components.

12. The dental device according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive for adhering the mounting area of the frame member to the mounting area of the wing region of the fastening component.

13. The dental device according to claim 1, further comprising a curing material for fitting the mounting area of the frame member to the mounting area of the wing region of the fastening component.

14. A method of using the dental device according to claim 1, comprising: coupling the three or more fastening components to three or more dental attachments of the dental arch; positioning the wing regions of the three or more fastening components by rotating the three or more fastening components about the dental attachments; and Applying an adhesive or a curable material to the attachment area of the wing region of the fastening component and the attachment area of the frame member, and waiting for the attachment area and the adhesive or curable material to cure together to form a single rigid device, thereby adhering or fitting the frame member to the three or more fastening components.

15. Removing the frame member and the three or more fastening components as a single device from the three or more dental attachments, and using the assembled device as a verification jig used to verify the accuracy of a dental model that relates the exact physical position, rotation, and angulation of the three or more dental attachments of the dental arch of the patient. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of using.

16. Selecting the three or more fastening components from a plurality of fastening components having wing regions of various angles and different lengths, and Selecting the frame member from a plurality of frame members having different sizes, wherein the selected frame member is adapted to the dental arch and is selected to rest on all of the wing regions of the three or more fastening components. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of selecting.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising applying a general dental impression material around the three or more fastening components to obtain an impression of the gingival tissue that relates the structure of the gingival tissue surrounding the three or more fastening components to the position of the three or more dental attachments.

18. The dental device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal structure is configured to shield the opening so as to prevent an adhesive material or a fitting material from entering the opening of the longitudinal axis of the three or more fastening components.

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