Elastically Deformable Bite Fork Stabilizer and Associated Methods

An apparatus for use in recording a maxillary-arch relationship of a patient's teeth, comprising:

• a bite fork in the form of a plate in a general shape of a row of teeth;
• and
• an impressionable material coupled to a top surface of the bite fork;
• and
• a bite fork stabilizer that is elastically deformable and coupled to a bottom surface of the bite fork, wherein the bite fork stabilizer is generally u-shaped having a first leg and a second leg, and wherein the bite fork stabilizer consists of:
• an elastically deformable foam layer that is generally u-shaped and has a thickness of about 4 mm to about 13 mm, wherein the elastically deformable layer comprises an open cell polyethylene foam;
• and
• an adhesive layer disposed between the elastically deformable foam layer and the bite fork, wherein the adhesive layer comprises adhesive tape adhering the bite fork stabilizer to the bite fork.

A method of stabilizing a bite fork, comprising:

• coupling an impressionable material to a top surface of the bite fork coupling a bite fork stabilizer to a bottom surface of the bite fork, wherein the bite fork stabilizer is elastically deformable, wherein the bite fork stabilizer is generally u-shaped having a first leg and a second leg, and wherein the bite fork stabilizer comprises:
• an elastically deformable foam layer that is generally u-shaped and has a thickness of about 4 mm to about 13 mm;
• and
• an adhesive layer disposed between the elastically deformable foam layer and the bite fork, wherein the adhesive layer comprises adhesive tape adhering the bite fork stabilizer to the bite fork.