A method of producing a retention piece having a guidance package configured to provide a desired movement profile including: obtaining data descriptive of mandibular and maxillary arches, an index position of the mandibular arch at a maximum closure position, and a temporomandibular joint of a recipient; specifying an appropriate guidance package based on the desired movement profile; positioning a retention piece comprising at least a portion of the specified guidance package about virtual representations of at least one of the mandibular and maxillary arches within a virtual articulator; modeling relative movement of the virtual representations of the mandibular and maxillary arches within the virtual articulator; and generating data that can be used by a computer aided machining (CAM) process to create at least one physical retention piece comprising the specified guidance package configured to provide the desired movement profile.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method includes the steps of: providing the virtual articulator including a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further includes: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for coupling to a patients dentition are provided. An example apparatus includes a base region, an extension member connected to the base region, a first arm configured to couple to a first side of the patients dentition, a second arm configured to couple to a second side of the patients dentition. The extension member is configured to protrude out from the patients mouth and includes an includes an attachment assembly for removably connecting with a position indicator system. The apparatus may include a registration tool that removably couples the position indicator system and includes a scan end configured to be scanned with the patients dentition. The apparatus may include a removable alignment apparatus that includes at least one dentition fitting surface configured to fit to a surface of the patients dentition.

Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for coupling to a patients dentition are provided. An example apparatus includes a base region, an extension member connected to the base region, a first arm configured to couple to a first side of the patients dentition, a second arm configured to couple to a second side of the patients dentition. The extension member is configured to protrude out from the patients mouth and includes an includes an attachment assembly for removably connecting with a position indicator system. The apparatus may include a registration tool that removably couples the position indicator system and includes a scan end configured to be scanned with the patients dentition. The apparatus may include a removable alignment apparatus that includes at least one dentition fitting surface configured to fit to a surface of the patients dentition.

A method of producing a retention piece having a guidance package configured to provide a desired movement profile including: obtaining data descriptive of mandibular and maxillary arches, an index position of the mandibular arch at a maximum closure position, and a temporomandibular joint of a recipient; specifying an appropriate guidance package based on the desired movement profile; positioning a retention piece comprising at least a portion of the specified guidance package about virtual representations of at least one of the mandibular and maxillary arches within a virtual articulator; modeling relative movement of the virtual representations of the mandibular and maxillary arches within the virtual articulator; and generating data that can be used by a computer aided machining (CAM) process to create at least one physical retention piece comprising the specified guidance package configured to provide the desired movement profile.

A method of producing a retention piece having a guidance package configured to provide a desired movement profile including: obtaining data descriptive of mandibular and maxillary arches, an index position of the mandibular arch at a maximum closure position, and a temporomandibular joint of a recipient; specifying an appropriate guidance package based on the desired movement profile; positioning a retention piece comprising at least a portion of the specified guidance package about virtual representations of at least one of the mandibular and maxillary arches within a virtual articulator; modeling relative movement of the virtual representations of the mandibular and maxillary arches within the virtual articulator; and generating data that can be used by a computer aided machining (CAM) process to create at least one physical retention piece comprising the specified guidance package configured to provide the desired movement profile.

One embodiment of the apparatus and method comprises a physical recording instrument (2000) for forming a right and a left side engraved analog (150), the analogs (150) being subsequently attached to a physical articulating instrument (3000), the analogs (150) with timing controls then serving as guides for simulating the motion of mounted patient dental models (142). Another embodiment comprises a digital recording system (4000) for generating the right and left side virtual engraved analogs (150), the analogs (150) being subsequently milled or digitally formed in a CNC rapid prototyping machine, the analogs (150) then being attached to the physical articulating instrument (3000), the analogs (150) with the timing controls serving as guides for simulating the motion. Some of the foregoing embodiments facilitate production of technologist fabricated dental restorative and orthodontic treatments. Another embodiment comprises the digital recording system (4000) for generating the right and left side virtual engraved analogs (150) and a virtual articulating instrument (5000) for virtual simulating of mandibular jaw motion. Some of these digital workflow embodiments facilitate production of milled or digitally fabricated dental restorative and orthodontic treatments.

One embodiment of the apparatus and method comprises a physical recording instrument (2000) for forming a right and a left side engraved analog (150), the analogs (150) being subsequently attached to a physical articulating instrument (3000), the analogs (150) with timing controls then serving as guides for simulating the motion of mounted patient dental models (142). Another embodiment comprises a digital recording system (4000) for generating the right and left side virtual engraved analogs (150), the analogs (150) being subsequently milled or digitally formed in a CNC rapid prototyping machine, the analogs (150) then being attached to the physical articulating instrument (3000), the analogs (150) with the timing controls serving as guides for simulating the motion. Some of the foregoing embodiments facilitate production of technologist fabricated dental restorative and orthodontic treatments. Another embodiment comprises the digital recording system (4000) for generating the right and left side virtual engraved analogs (150) and a virtual articulating instrument (5000) for virtual simulating of mandibular jaw motion. Some of these digital workflow embodiments facilitate production of milled or digitally fabricated dental restorative and orthodontic treatments.

A system and method for creating a model of a patient's mandible and any teeth supported from the mandible and manipulating the mandible relative to anatomical features of the patient's maxilla. The system uses markers positioned on the mandible and on the maxilla to create a functional mandibular axis that approximates an axis through the condyles of the patient. The functional mandibular axis and geometric and anatomical information about the patient's upper and lower jaw are then used to create prostheses for the patient. The system is also used for making corrections to the prosthesis.

A system and method for creating a model of a patient's mandible and any teeth supported from the mandible and manipulating the mandible relative to anatomical features of the patient's maxilla. The system uses markers positioned on the mandible and on the maxilla to create a functional mandibular axis that approximates an axis through the condyles of the patient. The functional mandibular axis and geometric and anatomical information about the patient's upper and lower jaw are then used to create prostheses for the patient. The system is also used for making corrections to the prosthesis.