System and Method for Making Dental/Medical Devices Using Patient Mouth as Articulator

A system for creating artificial teeth for a patient using the patient's mouth as an intra-oral articulator comprising:

• a lower dental tray for creating an impression of the patient's lower gum ridge of the patient's mouth;
• an upper dental tray for creating an impression of at least a portion of the patient's upper mouth portion including the palatal arch;
• and
• a tooth-holding mechanism for temporary and replaceable, secured holding of one or more artificial teeth thereon.

A method of creating at least one final dental replacement tooth for the upper and/or lower mouth of a patient, while using the patient's mouth as an intra-oral articulator for placement of said tooth (teeth) thereon prior to forming said artificial tooth (teeth) into a final dental replacement tooth comprising:

• a) providing a device within the patient's mouth with an artificial tooth-holding mechanism;
• b) replaceably providing one or more artificial teeth with a holding means for temporary and then locked securement to said tooth-holding mechanism;
• c) placing one or more of said artificial teeth onto said tooth-holding mechanism and adjusting the same according to dental principles;
• and then;
• d) locking said artificial teeth in position on said tooth-holding mechanism and removing from the patient's mouth said device and said artificial tooth (teeth) for further processing into finished a final dental replacement tooth (teeth).

A method of making a dental/medical appliance for the mouth of a patient comprising the steps:

• a) providing a mechanical device sized for placement in the mouth of the patient;
• b) providing a mechanism for holding one or more temporary and replaceable components to said mechanical device within the patient's mouth;
• d) using the patient's mouth as an intra-oral articulator for determining a best fit of the temporary and replaceable components;
• e) removing the mechanical device from the patient's mouth;
• and
• f) further processing to form a final version of the dental/medical appliance.