382 results about "Occlusal surface" patented technology

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.