TOOTH CUTTING GUIDE OR TOOTH RIDGE LAP GUIDE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

A tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing at least one prefabricated artificial tooth from a set of prefabricated artificial teeth using a subtractive processing method, the tooth cutting guide comprising a base body, at least one retainer for receiving and positioning the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth, which is formed in the base body, wherein an inner surface of each of the at least one retainer form fits to a first surface area of one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth from the set of prefabricated artificial teeth, and at least one through hole which is located in the at least one retainer, wherein the at least one through hole exposes at least a part of a basal surface or an occlusal surface of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth if inserted into the corresponding retainer.

Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing prefabricated artificial teeth and a method for producing a denture using first said method.

Claims

1. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing at least one prefabricated artificial tooth from a set of prefabricated artificial teeth using a subtractive processing method, the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprising: a base body, at least one retainer for receiving and positioning the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth, which is formed in the base body, wherein an inner surface of each of the at least one retainer form fits to a first surface area of one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth from the set of prefabricated artificial teeth, and at least one through hole which is located in the at least one retainer, wherein the at least one through hole exposes at least a part of a basal surface or an occlusal surface of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth if inserted into a corresponding retainer.

2. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth is insertable from a first side of the base body into the at least one retainer and at least the part of the basal surface or occlusal surface of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth is processable from a second side of the base body opposite the first side of the base body, if the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth is inserted into the corresponding retainer.

3. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the base body is produced using a CAM method or is printed using a 3D printer.

4. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 3, wherein the base body is produced using a CAD method which is calculated from: A) a virtual denture model which fits to a specific patient and the virtual denture model is separated into a virtual model of a denture base and at least one virtual model of the at least one processed artificial tooth which is processable from the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth using the subtractive processing method, and B) at least one virtual model of the set of prefabricated artificial teeth.

5. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein a basal part or an occlusal part of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth protrudes through the at least one through hole, if the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth is inserted into the corresponding retainer.

6. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the base body is made from a plastic material or a printing resin.

7. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 6, wherein the plastic material or the printing resin has a hardness which is lesser than a hardness of the material of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth.

8. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the at least one retainer form fits the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth bordering on the at least one through hole.

9. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the material of the base body has a strength of less than 1 mm in the area of the at least one retainer which covers the basal surface or the occlusal surface of each of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth inserted into the corresponding retainer.

10. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the base body has a color or surface eliciting a visible contrast to the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth.

11. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 1, wherein the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide further comprises a holding element, which holds the at least one specific prefabricated artificial tooth in the at least one retainer.

12. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 11, wherein the holding element is fixed or fixable to the base body by fixing means.

13. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 12, wherein the fixing means are part of the holding element or part of the base body or part of both the holding element and the base body.

14. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 11, wherein the holding element comprises at least one recess, each one for each of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth, wherein an inner surface of each of the at least one recess form fits to a second surface area of one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth from the set of prefabricated artificial teeth.

15. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 14, wherein the second surface area of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth is located on the opposite side of the first surface area of the one of the at least one prefabricated artificial tooth, which form fits the inner surface of each of the at least one retainer.

16. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing at least two prefabricated artificial teeth of a set of prefabricated artificial teeth using a subtractive processing method, the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprising: a base body, a plurality of retainers for receiving and positioning a plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth which are formed in the base body, wherein inner surfaces of each retainer form fits to a first surface area of one of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth from the set of prefabricated artificial teeth, and at least two through holes which are located in more than one of the plurality of retainers, wherein the at least two through holes each expose at least a part of a basal surface or an occlusal surface of at least two of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth if inserted into a corresponding retainer.

17. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the prefabricated artificial teeth are insertable from a first side of the base body into the retainers and at least the part of the basal surface or the occlusal surface of the at least two of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth are processable from a second side of the base body opposite the first side of the base body.

18. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the base body is produced using a CAM method or is printed using a 3D printer.

19. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 18, wherein the base body is produced using a CAD method which is calculated from A) a virtual denture model which fits to a specific patient and the virtual denture model is separated into a virtual model of a denture base and at least one virtual model of a plurality of processed artificial teeth which are processable from the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth using the subtractive processing method, and B) virtual models of the set of prefabricated artificial teeth.

20. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein a basal part or an occlusal part of the at least two of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth protrude through the at least two through holes if the at least two of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth are inserted into the corresponding retainers.

21. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the base body is made from a plastic material or a printing resin.

22. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 21, wherein the plastic material or the printing resin has a hardness which is lesser than a hardness of the material of the prefabricated artificial teeth.

23. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the inner surfaces of the retainer's form fit the at least two prefabricated artificial teeth bordering on the at least two through holes.

24. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the material of the base body has a strength of less than 1 mm in the area of the plurality of retainers which covers the basal surface or the occlusal surface of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth if inserted into the corresponding retainer.

25. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the base body has a color or surface eliciting a visible contrast to the at least two prefabricated artificial teeth.

26. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 16, wherein the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide further comprises a holding element, which holds the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth in the plurality of retainers.

27. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 26, wherein the holding element is fixed or fixable to the base body by fixing means.

28. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 27, wherein the fixing means are part of the holding element or part of the base body or part of both the holding element and the base body.

29. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 26, wherein the holding element comprises a plurality of recesses, each one for each of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth, wherein an inner surface of each of the recesses form fits to a second surface area of one of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth from the set of prefabricated artificial teeth.

30. Tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to claim 29, wherein the second surface area of the one of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth is located on the opposite side of the first surface area of each one of the plurality of prefabricated artificial teeth, which form fits the inner surface of each retainer in the base body.

31. Method for manufacturing at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing prefabricated artificial teeth, the method comprising the following steps: calculating a virtual model of a denture based on data from a virtual model of an oral cavity of a patient and data of virtual models of prefabricated artificial teeth from a set of prefabricated artificial teeth, separating the virtual model of the denture into a virtual model of a denture base and a virtual model of processed prefabricated artificial teeth such that the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth form fits to sockets in the virtual model of the denture base, calculating a difference in shape of the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth compared to the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth, calculating at least one virtual model of at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide from the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth and the calculated difference in shape, wherein each of the at least one virtual model of the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprises a virtual model of a base body which comprises or which each comprise retainers for each of the prefabricated artificial teeth, calculating inner surfaces of each retainer to have a form fit to a first surface area of the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth in areas where there is no difference in shape compared to the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth, calculating through holes into the virtual model of the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide inside the virtual model of the base body, the through holes being located in the retainers, wherein borders of the through holes being defined by boundaries of the difference in shape of the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth compared to the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth, and manufacturing the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide by a CAM method.

32. Method according to claim 31, comprising calculating the virtual model of the denture by: defining a contact area for the virtual model of the denture base, which is calculated from the virtual model of the oral cavity of the patient, placing the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth inside the virtual model of the oral cavity taking patient specifics into account, calculating the virtual model of the denture by adding volume to the contact area such that the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth are embedded on their base side and such that interdental papilla are formed, and calculating the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth by basally shortening the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth or by occlusally shortening and moving the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth in an occlusal direction such that the virtual model of the denture base gains a minimum thickness and sockets are formed which basally form fit the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth in areas.

33. Method according to claim 31, comprising: calculating a virtual model of at least one holding element as an additional part of the virtual model of the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide, and locating a plurality of recesses in the virtual model of the at least one holding element, each one for each of the prefabricated artificial teeth, wherein an inner surface of each of the recesses form fits to a second surface area of one of the virtual models of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth.

34. Method according to claim 31, comprising calculating the virtual model of the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap to either be: A) one virtual model of one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for each of the prefabricated artificial teeth, or B) one or more virtual models of at least two tooth cutting guides or at least two tooth ridge lap guides for groups of at least two of the prefabricated artificial teeth, or C) one virtual model of one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for all of the prefabricated artificial teeth.

35. Method for producing a denture using a method according to claim 31, comprising: placing the prefabricated artificial teeth in the retainers of the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide, subtractively processing the prefabricated artificial teeth in areas which are exposed by the through holes, manufacturing a denture base by using a CAM method based on the virtual model of the denture base, and inserting and fixing the processed prefabricated artificial teeth into sockets of the denture base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] Further embodiments of the invention will now be explained with reference to eleven schematic Figures below, however without limiting the invention, wherein:

[0105] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective side view on two tooth cutting guides or tooth ridge lap guides according to the invention;

[0106] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view on top of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the invention;

[0107] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view on top of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to FIG. 1 with prefabricated artificial teeth inserted;

[0108] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view on a holding element of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide;

[0109] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view on a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the present invention;

[0110] FIG. 6 shows a virtual model for generating a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the present invention;

[0111] FIG. 7 shows a tooth cutting guide 4 or tooth ridge lap guide made from the virtual model according to FIG. 6;

[0112] FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective side view on a different tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the invention with prefabricated artificial teeth inserted;

[0113] FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view on top of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to FIG. 8 with no prefabricated artificial teeth;

[0114] FIG. 10 shows a schematic perspective view on a base body of a further different tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the invention; and

[0115] FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view on the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to FIG. 10.

[0116] For the sake of comparability and simplicity the same reference numbers are partially used also for different but similar embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0117] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective side view on two tooth cutting guides or tooth ridge lap guides according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view on top of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to FIG. 1 having prefabricated artificial teeth 1 inserted.

[0118] The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide on the right side of FIG. 1 is shown having inserted prefabricated artificial teeth 1, while tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide on the left side is shown without artificial teeth. The tooth cutting guides or tooth ridge lap guides have a holding element 2 as a lower part and a base body 4 in form of a jig as an upper part. The upper side of the base body 4 has an inner wall 5, which height and shape is defined by the limits of basal sides of a virtual model of processed prefabricated artificial teeth which suit to an individual denture base of an individual denture, which has been calculated from virtual models of an oral cavity situation of a patient and of a set of prefabricated artificial teeth 1, from which the denture will be manufactured.

[0119] The base body 4 comprises through holes 6 through which the basal sides of the unprocessed prefabricated teeth 1 protrude. The borders of the through holes 6 in the inner wall 5 of the base body 4 define a line to which the inserted prefabricated artificial teeth 1 are to be cut or milled, so that the so processed prefabricated artificial teeth will fit to a denture base according to the virtual model of the denture. For this purpose, the borders of the through holes 6 and the adjoining surface areas of the base body 4 are built to be in contact and form fit to the inserted prefabricated artificial teeth 1. These adjoining areas build retainers 7 for the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in the base body 4. The retainers 7 hold the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in place by form fitting to their surface areas surrounding the border lines defined by the through holes 6 in an occlusal direction.

[0120] The occlusal side of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 are held by the holding element 2, which secures the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 from falling out of the retainers 7 and holds them in the correct position with respect to a Z-axis of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 which is aligned from the basal to the occlusal side of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1. The relative position and alignment of the holding element 2 and the base body 4 relative to one another are defined by the inserted prefabricated artificial teeth 1 and are additionally defined by fixing elements 8, 10 being fixed to the holding element 2 and to the base body 4. Because of that the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide can easily be handled by the technician or worker who mills or cuts the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 basally by hand according to the form defined by the through holes 6.

[0121] After the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 have been manually basally abraded by milling or cutting they are inserted and glued or fixed otherwise into sockets of a denture base (not shown) which is manufactured according to a virtual model of the denture base, which is calculated from a virtual model of the denture, as known from the state of the art. Thereby a complete denture is produced which can afterwards be finished by polishing and removing excess glue.

[0122] The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide for processing the prefabricated artificial teeth 1, is manufactured by first calculating the virtual model of a denture based on data from a virtual model of an oral cavity of a patient and data from virtual models of prefabricated artificial teeth from a set of prefabricated artificial teeth. The virtual model of the oral cavity can be produced by directly scanning the oral cavity at the patient or by scanning an impression of the oral cavity which is taken at the patient. Methods to calculate the virtual denture are known from the state of the art. Next, as a second step, the virtual model of the denture is separated into a virtual model of a denture base and a virtual model of processed prefabricated artificial teeth such that the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth form fits to sockets in the virtual denture base. Such techniques are also known from the state of the art. As a third step, a difference in shape of the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth compared to the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth is calculated by using Boolean operations analogue to the calculation of the virtual models of the denture, the denture base and the processed artificial teeth. The fourth step is calculating at least one virtual model of the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide from the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth and the calculated difference in shape, wherein the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprises a virtual model of the base body 4 which comprises retainers 7 for each of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1. The inner surfaces of each retainer 7 is calculated to have a form fit to a first surface area of the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in areas where there is no difference in shape compared to the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth. Furthermore, the through holes 6 are calculated into the virtual model of the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide inside the virtual model of the base body 4, the through holes 6 being located in the retainers 7, wherein borders of the through holes 6 being defined by the boundaries of the difference in shape of the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth compared to the virtual model of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1. As a last step the base body 4 can easily be manufactured by means of a CAM method like RP methods. Preferably, the base body 4 is printed using a 3D printer.

[0123] The virtual model of the denture can be calculated by defining a contact area for the virtual model of the denture base, which is calculated from the virtual model of the oral cavity of the patient, placing the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth inside the virtual model of the oral cavity taking patient specifics like the occlusion or the articulation into account, calculating the virtual model of the denture by adding volume to the contact area such that the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth are embedded on their base side and such that interdental papilla are formed, and calculating the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth by basally shortening the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth or by occlusally shortening and moving the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth in an occlusal direction, such that the virtual model of the denture base gains a minimum thickness and sockets are formed which basally form fit the virtual model of the processed prefabricated artificial teeth in areas.

[0124] The holding element 2 is manufactured by calculating a virtual model of the holding element 2 as an additional part of the virtual model of the at least one tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide. It can be provided that a multitude plurality of recesses (not shown) are calculated into the virtual model of the holding element 2, each one for the occlusal side of each of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1, wherein an inner surface of each of the recesses form fits to the occlusal surface of one of the virtual models of the prefabricated artificial teeth 1. This allows the holding element 2 to readily fix the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide.

[0125] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view on top of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the invention. The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprises a base body 4 and a holding element 2 which are stacked upon each other. The base body 4 comprises through holes 6 which end in an inner wall 5 of the base body 4. The inner wall 5 has a height and a shape which is defined by the limits of basal sides of a virtual model of processed prefabricated artificial teeth which fit to an individual denture base of an individual denture, which has been calculated from virtual models of an oral cavity situation of a patient and of a set of prefabricated artificial teeth, from which the denture will be manufactured. The borders of the through holes 6 in the inner wall 5 of the base body 4 define a line to which prefabricated artificial teeth (not shown in FIG. 2), which are to be inserted, are to be cut down or milled down, so that the so processed prefabricated artificial teeth will fit to a denture base according to a certain and individual virtual model of the denture. For this purpose, the borders of the through holes 6 and the adjoining surface areas of the base body 4 are in contact and form fit to the inserted prefabricated artificial teeth. These adjoining areas build retainers 7 for the prefabricated artificial teeth in the base body 4. The retainers 7 hold the prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in place by form fitting to their surface areas surrounding the border lines defined by the through holes 6 in an occlusal direction.

[0126] The occlusal side of the prefabricated artificial teeth (not shown) are held by the holding element 2, which secures the prefabricated artificial teeth from falling out of the retainers 7 and holds them in the correct position with respect to a Z-axis of the prefabricated artificial teeth. The holding element 2 is formed like a plate and comprises recesses 12 for each prefabricated artificial tooth to be inserted. These recesses 12 form fit to the occlusal cups of the prefabricated artificial teeth. The relative position and alignment of the holding element 2 and the base body 4 relative to one another are defined by the inserted prefabricated artificial teeth.

[0127] After the prefabricated artificial teeth have been manually basally abraded by milling or cutting they are inserted and glued or fixed otherwise into sockets of a denture base (not shown) which is manufactured according to a virtual model of the denture base, which is calculated from a virtual model of the denture, as known from the state of the art. Thereby a complete denture is produced which can afterwards be finished by polishing and removing excess glue.

[0128] The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide itself is produced like described in the previous embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0129] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic side view on a holding element 22 of an alternative tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide and a schematic perspective view on the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the present invention. The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide comprises the holding element 22 and a base body 24. The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to this embodiment can hold two prefabricated artificial teeth 1, basal ends of which partly protrude through two through holes, which are located in two retainers in the base body 24. The retainers form fit areas of the two prefabricated artificial teeth 1 adjacent to the two through holes. The holding element 22 secures the two prefabricated artificial teeth 1 in the two retainers of the base body 24. Apart from being applicable for only two prefabricated artificial teeth the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar to the previous embodiments and can be manufactured using the same method.

[0130] FIG. 6 shows a virtual model for generating a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide according to the present invention, by which the occlusal sides of a set of prefabricated artificial teeth can be manually milled or cut. This virtual model comprises a virtual model of a set of artificial teeth 31 and a virtual model of a lower jaw 33 comprising mucosa and teeth. In the virtual model the set of artificial teeth 31 are brought to a desired occlusion with the teeth of the virtual model of the lower jaw 33. The virtual model of the set of artificial teeth 31 and the teeth of the virtual model of the lower jaw 33 partially overlap, because the artificial teeth 31 have been positioned so the virtual model of the set of artificial teeth 31 fit to a virtual denture base (not shown) which together form a virtual model for a specific full denture for the upper jaw of a patient. At the overlap, the teeth 31 for the upper denture and the teeth of the lower jaw 33 share a volume in the virtual model shown in FIG. 6.

[0131] In the contact area of the virtual artificial teeth 31 and the virtual models of the teeth of the lower jaw 33, a virtual model of a base body 34 in form of a disk is created in which the overlaps and the shared volumes of the teeth 31 for the upper denture and the teeth of the lower jaw 33 are included as well as a volume around these areas. The overlaps and the shared volumes and the thickness of the areas surrounding them define the thickness of the disk shaped base body 34. The virtual model of the base body 34 is calculated by Boolean operations so that the surfaces of the teeth 31 for the upper denture and the surfaces of the teeth of the lower jaw 33 are used to create formfitting negative surfaces in the virtual model of the base body 34. The areas in the virtual model of the base body 34 which are formed by the shape of the virtual models of the teeth 31 will become retainers and the lines which border the overlapping shared volumes will define the through holes of the base body, which is produced from the virtual model of the base body 34.

[0132] FIG. 7 shows a base body 44 produced by a CAM-method, preferably simply produced by 3D printing, from the virtual model of the base body 34 according to FIG. 6. The base body 44 having retainers 47 and through holes through which cups of a set of prefabricated artificial teeth 1 for producing an upper denture protrude. The artificial teeth 1 are placed in retainers on the opposite side of the base body 44. The bass body 44 is a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide, which can be used for reducing the heights of the artificial teeth 1 according to the virtual model shown in FIG. 6. The protruding parts of the cups of the artificial teeth 1 can easily be cut or milled by a technician and fixed to a denture base (not shown), which was produced according to the model used in the previous step according to FIG. 6. Because of the model according to FIG. 6, a full denture for the upper jaw can be generated from the so processed artificial teeth 1, by gluing the processed artificial teeth 1 in a denture base produced from the virtual model of the denture base.

[0133] Apart from being applicable to process the occlusal sides of prefabricated artificial teeth 1 the embodiment according to FIG. 7 is similar to the previous embodiments and can be manufactured using a corresponding method.

[0134] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide having a base body 54 to be used as a jig for basally processing a set of artificial teeth 1 for an upper denture for the upper jaw by milling or cutting the basal sides of the artificial teeth 1. The tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide further having a holding element 52, which holds the artificial teeth 1 inside the base body 54 in position. The relative position of the base body 54 and the holding element 52 is defined and can easily be held in position by means of fixing elements 58, 60, four of which are provided on each of the holding element 52 and the base body 54, on different sides. The prefabricated artificial teeth 1 inserted in the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide can easily be milled or cut where they protrude through holes 56 in retainers fitting to basal areas of the artificial teeth 1. FIG. 8 shows the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide having the artificial teeth 1 inserted and FIG. 9 shows the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide without artificial teeth, so that the through holes 56 can be easily recognized.

[0135] The embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 is similar to the previous embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 3 and can be manufactured using the same method.

[0136] FIG. 10 shows a base body 64 of a tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide to be used as a jig for basally processing a set of artificial teeth (not shown) for a lower denture for the lower jaw by milling or cutting the basal sides of the artificial teeth. FIGS. 10 and 11 shows the whole tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide further having a disk-shaped holding element 62, which holds inserted artificial teeth inside the base body 64 in position. For this purpose, recesses 72 are formed in the holding element 62, which have the shape of occlusal surfaces of the artificial teeth to be inserted. The relative position of the base body 64 and the holding element 62 is defined and can easily be held in position by means of fixing elements 68, four of which are provided on the base body 64, on different sides. The holding element 62 comprises indentations which form fit the ends of the fixing elements 68. The prefabricated artificial teeth inserted in the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide can easily be milled or cut where they protrude through holes 66 in retainers 67 fitting to basal areas of the artificial teeth. FIG. 10 shows the base body 64 only and FIG. 11 shows both parts of the tooth cutting guide or tooth ridge lap guide without artificial teeth.

[0137] The embodiment according to FIGS. 10 and 11, which, apart from being suited to process artificial teeth for the lower jaw, is similar to the previous embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 and can be manufactured using the same method.

[0138] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the claims, Figures, and exemplary embodiments can be essential both individually and in any combination for implementing the various embodiments of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0139] 1 artificial teeth [0140] 2 holding element [0141] 4 base body [0142] 5 inner wall [0143] 6 through hole [0144] 7 retainer [0145] 8 fixing element [0146] 10 fixing element [0147] 12 recess [0148] 22 holding element [0149] 24 base body [0150] 25 inner wall [0151] 31 virtual artificial teeth [0152] 33 virtual model of lower jaw [0153] 34 virtual model of base body [0154] 44 base body [0155] 47 retainer [0156] 52 holding element [0157] 54 base body [0158] 56 through hole [0159] 58 fixing element [0160] 60 fixing element [0161] 62 holding element [0162] 64 base body [0163] 66 through hole [0164] 67 retainer [0165] 68 fixing element [0166] 72 recess