Dental treatment method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes the step of positioning the patient's head at a generally vertical attitude.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the determining step includes the step of visually estimating said difference in the A/P positions.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the finding step is carried out using the center of the patient's forehead as the reference position.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of measuring the cant of the patient's forehead at the reference position relative to an estimated frontal plane of the patient's head.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the using step includes the steps of: if the cant is equal to or less than about 7°, choosing the A/P goal position as the A/P position of the reference position; and if the cant is greater than about 7°, choosing the A/P goal position as the A/P position of the reference position plus about 0.6 mm anterior for each degree of cant greater than 7°.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of positioning the patient's head at a generally vertical attitude prior to the imagining step.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of transferring positional information, corresponding to the goal position, to a dental articulator.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: inserting a bite fork, including a bite fork extension, into the patient's mouth; and positioning a bite fork extension against the maxillary central incisor teeth.

Claim 15

The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of positioning a verticalizer against the reference position on the patient's forehead.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 wherein the verticalizer positioning step includes the steps of: determining the vertical distance between the midpoint of the most prominent of the maxillary incisor teeth and the midpoint of the center of the forehead, the verticalizer including a protractor element, a tooth element and a coupling element adjustably coupling the protractor element and tooth element; adjusting the vertical distance between the protractor element and the tooth element; adjusting the A/P position of the protractor element inversely according to an estimated difference in the A/P positions of the most prominent of the maxillary incisor teeth relative to the reference position; placing the protractor element against the reference position; coupling the tooth element to the most prominent of the maxillary incisor teeth; and determining the cant of the forehead at the reference position from the relative angular orientations of the protractor element and the coupling element.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of leveling the coupling element by moving the patient's head prior to the cant determining step.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein the verticalizer positioning step includes the step of suspending an elongate locating member vertically from a position transversely aligned with the reference position.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein the measuring step includes the step of recording the location of the locating member along a portion of a facebow frame.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of physically coupling the tooth element of the verticalizer directly to the bite fork extension.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: mounting a facebow to the patient's head, the facebow including a frame and ear plugs mounted to the frame, by inserting the ear plugs into the ear holes of the patient; and leveling the frame while the coupling element of the verticalizer is maintained at a horizontal orientation.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of suspending a locating member vertically from a position associated with the reference position.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19 wherein the suspending step is carried out by suspending the locating member vertically from the protractor element of the verticalizer.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 wherein the suspending step is carried out so the locating member passes adjacent a scale portion of the frame of the facebow, said portion including a scale.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 wherein the measuring step includes the step of recording the location of the locating member along the scale portion of the frame.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 wherein the finding step is carried out using the center of the patient's forehead as the reference position.

Claim 27

The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of securing the bite fork to the facebow frame to create a fork/frame unit while the frame of the facebow and the leveling element of the verticalizer are horizontal.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of measuring and recording the angle between the facebow frame and a line coupling the naison on the patient's face and an estimated temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ) on the facebow, and measuring and recording the distance between the naison and the estimated TMJ.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of removing the verticalizer from the fork/frame unit.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of removing the fork/frame unit from the patient.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of: mounting the fork/frame unit to a first part of a dental articulator, the dental articulator including a second part coupled to the first part at a hinge joint; leveling the facebow frame; mounting a first dental cast to the bite fork; and securing the first dental cast to the first part of the dental articulator.

Claim 32

The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of physically transferring A/P goal position information to the first part.

Claim 33

The method of claim 29 wherein the A/P goal position information is based upon the actual position the reference position and the cant of the patient's forehead at the reference position.

Claim 34

The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of: inverting the dental articulator; leveling the second part; mounting a second dental cast to the bite fork; and securing the second dental cast to the second part.

Claim 35

A dental articulator comprising: an upper part; a lower part; A hinge joint, corresponding to the TMJ axis of a patient, pivotally coupling the upper and lower parts; and means for indicating the distance between the anterior/posterior (A/P) position of a chosen point on the patient's forehead and the A/P position of the hinge joint.

Claim 36

A dental articulator comprising: an upper part; a lower part; A hinge joint, corresponding to the TMJ axis of a patient, pivotally coupling the upper and lower parts; and means for indicating the distance between the anterior/posterior (A/P) position of a chosen point on the patient's forehead and the A/P position of the hinge joint.

Claim 37

The articulator of claim 32 wherein the chosen point is the center of the patient's forehead.

Claim 38

The articulator of claim 33 wherein the indicating means includes means for indicating an A/P treatment goal position for the patient's maxillary central incisor teeth, the treatment goal position being based at least in part upon the cant of the patient's forehead at the center of the forehead.

Claim 39

A dental articulator comprising: an upper part; a lower part; a hinge joint pivotally coupling the upper and lower parts; and means for indicating the A/P treatment goal position for the maxillary central incisor teeth of a patient, the indicating means including a series of closely-spaced open areas adapted to vertically secure an elongate indicator to the dental articulator at a series of closely-spaced positions.

Claim 40

A dental articulator comprising: an upper part; a lower part; a hinge joint pivotally coupling the upper and lower parts; and means for indicating the A/P treatment goal position for the maxillary central incisor teeth of a patient, the indicating means including a series of closely-spaced open areas adapted to vertically secure an elongate indicator to the dental articulator at a series of closely-spaced positions.

Claim 41

A combination of a dental bite fork and a dental verticalizer comprising: the dental verticalizer including: a leveling member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; the dental bite for comprising: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate; and an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; and means for coupling the dental verticalizer to the bite fork.

Claim 42

A combination of a dental bite fork and a dental verticalizer comprising: the dental verticalizer including: a leveling member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; the dental bite for comprising: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate; and an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; and means for coupling the dental verticalizer to the bite fork.

Claim 43

A dental facebow, for use in conjunction with a dental articulator, comprising: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring the anterior/posterior (A/P) distance from a chosen position on the forehead to the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the frame is horizontal.

Claim 44

A dental facebow, for use in conjunction with a dental articulator, comprising: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring the anterior/posterior (A/P) distance from a chosen position on the forehead to the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the frame is horizontal.

Claim 45

A dental facebow comprising: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the frame is horizontal; and a protractor device including an arm pivotally mounted to the frame for pivoted movement about the estimated TMJ axis.

Claim 46

A dental facebow comprising: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the frame is horizontal; and a protractor device including an arm pivotally mounted to the frame for pivoted movement about the estimated TMJ axis.

Claim 47

The dental facebow of claim 38 wherein the protractor device includes a direct reading angular scale for indicating the angle between the arm and a plane passing through the estimated TMJ axis and lying parallel to the frame.

Claim 48

The dental facebow of claim 38 wherein the arm includes a transversely directed rod extending from the arm in a direction generally parallel to the estimated TMJ axis, the rod positionable at positions along the face of the patient.

Claim 49

A dental facebow, verticalizer and bite fork assembly comprising: a dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable aganist a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; a dental bite fork including: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate; and an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; means for coupling the verticalizer to the bite fork; and a dental facebow including: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the scale is horizontal; means for coupling the bite fork to the facebow.

Claim 50

A dental facebow, verticalizer and bite fork assembly comprising: a dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable aganist a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; a dental bite fork including: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate; and an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; means for coupling the verticalizer to the bite fork; and a dental facebow including: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the scale is horizontal; means for coupling the bite fork to the facebow.

Claim 51

A dental facebow and bite fork assembly comprising: a dental bite fork including: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; a dental facebow including: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the scale is horizontal; means for coupling the bite fork to the facebow; and; a protractor device including an arm pivotally mounted to the frame for pivoted movement about the estimated TMJ axis.

Claim 52

A dental facebow and bite fork assembly comprising: a dental bite fork including: an arch-shaped plate configured for positioning between the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch of a patient; a handle extending from the arch-shaped plate an extension extending from a chosen one of the arch-shaped plate and handle, the extension having a contact surface positioned to contact an anterior surface of a maxillary central incisor tooth of the patient when the arch-shaped plate is secured between the maxillary and mandibular arches; a dental facebow including: a generally U-shaped frame including a base and first and second legs, each said leg having a distal end; ear plugs at the distal ends; the frame including an estimated axis for a temporomandibular joint (estimated TMJ axis); a scale mounted to the frame for measuring anterior/posterior (A/P) distances from the estimated TMJ axis; a level mounted to the frame for determining when the scale is horizontal; means for coupling the bite fork to the facebow; and; a protractor device including an arm pivotally mounted to the frame for pivoted movement about the estimated TMJ axis.

Claim 53

The assembly of claim 42 wherein the protractor device includes a direct reading angular scale for indicating the angle between the arm and a plane passing through the estimated TMJ axis and lying parallel to the scale.

Claim 54

The assembly of claim 42 wherein the arm includes a transversely directed rod extending from the arm in a direction generally parallel to the estimated TMJ axis, the rod positionable at positions along the face of the patient.

Claim 55

A dental verticalizer comprising: a superior horizontal member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the superior horizontal member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the superior horizontal member is level and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude.

Claim 56

A dental verticalizer comprising: a superior horizontal member including a level; and a protractor device mounted to the superior horizontal member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the superior horizontal member is level and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude.

Claim 57

The verticalizer of claim 45 wherein the protractor device includes a direct reading protractor pivotably mounted to the superior horizontal member.

Claim 58

The verticalizer of claim 45 further comprising: an inferior horizontal member positioned beneath the superior horizontal member; and means for positioning the inferior horizontal member adjacent the maxillary central incisor teeth of a patient.

Claim 59

The verticalizer of claim 47 wherein the positioning means includes a generally vertical member adjustably secured to the superior and inferior horizontal members by a coupling element.

Claim 60

A dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; and an elongate, vertically oriented locating member pendulously supported from the protractor device to hang along the side of the patient's face.

Claim 61

A dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; and an elongate, vertically oriented locating member pendulously supported from the protractor device to hang along the side of the patient's face.

Claim 62

The verticalizer of claim 49 wherein the locating member hangs nominally from a position transversely aligned with the chosen position on the patient's forehead.

Claim 63

The verticalizer of claim 49 further comprising means for adjusting the anterior/posterior (A/P) position of the locating member according to the cant of the patient's forehead.

Claim 64

The verticalizer of claim 51 wherein the A/P position adjusting means includes means for making no adjustment of the A/P position for angles of cant less than a chosen amount.

Claim 65

The verticalizer of claim 52 wherein the chosen amount is about 7°.

Claim 66

The verticalizer of claim 53 wherein the A/P position adjusting means increases the A/P position by about 0.6 mm for each degree of the angle of cant above 7°.

Claim 67

A dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; means for positioning the protractor device relative to the maxillary central incisor teeth of a patient, the positioning means including a generally vertical member adjustably secured to the leveling member by a coupling element; and the leveling member including a scale for indicating the position of the coupling element along the leveling member.

Claim 68

A dental verticalizer comprising: a leveling member including a level; a protractor device mounted to the leveling member, the protractor device including a pivotal part positionable against a patient's forehead for indicating the cant of the patient's forehead at a chosen position when the leveling member is horizontal and the patient's head is at a generally vertical attitude; means for positioning the protractor device relative to the maxillary central incisor teeth of a patient, the positioning means including a generally vertical member adjustably secured to the leveling member by a coupling element; and the leveling member including a scale for indicating the position of the coupling element along the leveling member.