US 6,142,779 A · Breakaway devices for stabilizing dental casts and method of use

Abstract

A device for efficiently, accurately and consistently securing dental casts while an articulator is attached thereto includes a spine connecting a first stabilizing pad at one end to a second stabilizing pad at an opposite end. The device includes a breakaway feature which allows a connection between the casts to be broken with manual force. The first stabilizing pad and the second stabilizing pad are secured to maxillary and mandibular casts with an adhesive or the like, or by other methods such as magnets, to create a rigid connection between the accurately related maxillary and mandibular casts. The breakaway feature allows a technician to easily break the connection between the maxillary and mandibular casts with manual force after the articulator has been attached to the casts.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A brace for securing accurately related maxillary and mandibular casts while an articulator is attached to the casts, comprising:

a spine having first and second ends;
a first stabilizing pad at the first end of the spine and a second stabilizing pad at the second end of the spine, the first stabilizing pad and the second stabilizing pad each being securable to a wet or moist cast material in order to create a connection between accurately related mandibular and maxillary casts;
and
a breakaway element in one of the spine, the first stabilizing pad, and second stabilizing pad;
wherein force applied to the spine breaks the connection at said breakaway element.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Breakaway devices for stabilizing dental casts and method of use

Life of this patent

Breakaway devices for stabilizing dental casts and method of use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38