Method and apparatus for preparing denture

A method of measuring jaw relations and obtaining a gum impression of a patient's mouth using a single set of trays comprising a lower tray and an upper tray to fabricate a denture, the method, which allows obtaining the gum impression during a patient's single visit to a dental professional, comprising:

• inserting the lower tray retaining a polymer material and the upper tray retaining the polymer material individually into the patient's mouth to obtain the gum impression comprising a first partial gum impression and a second partial gum impression,
• wherein:
• the lower tray comprises a first piece that is curved at about a central portion to form a right end portion and a left end portion and a pair of second pieces including a right piece that is attached to the right end portion and a left piece that is attached to the left end portion;
• the first piece and the pair of second pieces are configured to be assembled and disassembled;
• the right piece and the left piece are independent pieces that are not coupled to any other element when the right piece and the left piece are not attached to the first piece;
• a size of the lower tray is consistent when the pair of second pieces are attached to the first piece;
• and
• the upper tray comprises a third piece configured to measure the jaw relations of the patient's mouth along with the first piece of the lower tray and a fourth piece configured to be detachably coupled to the third piece;
• removing the lower tray and the upper tray with the obtained gum impression from the patient's mouth;
• attaching an intra-oral tracer to the first piece removed from the patient's mouth;
• re-inserting the first piece, to which the intra-oral tracer is attached and retaining the first partial gum impression, and the third piece retaining the second partial gum impression together into the patient's mouth;
• measuring the jaw relations by adjusting an adjusting member of the intra-oral tracer that is in contact with a surface of the third piece in the patient's mouth, the first piece retaining the first partial gum impression and the third piece retaining the second partial gum impression during the measurement of the jaw relations;
• filling a gap formed between the first piece of the lower tray and the third piece of the upper tray that are in the patient's mouth with bite registration material, the first piece, to which the intra-oral tracer is attached, retaining the first partial gum impression and the third piece retaining the second partial gum impression while the gap is filled with the bite registration material;
• and
• removing the first piece, to which the intra-oral tracer is attached and retaining the first partial gum impression, and the third piece retaining the second partial gum impression, the bite registration material filled between the first piece and the third piece, from the patient's mouth.