Dental articulator apparatus having visible coding of teeth and jaw positions with respect to post-treatment goals

Abstract

A visible coding of components of an articulator apparatus that mount maxillary and mandible casts indicates the relative correspondence between post-treatment goals and the present locations of a person's teeth and jaws. From another aspect, the visible coding indicates at least a direction, and preferably, a direction and a distance, which a person's teeth and/or jaws must be moved to achieve the goals.

1 . An articulator apparatus, comprising:
 at least one jaw cast support component; and   a coding means for marking the at least one jaw cast support component to indicate a correspondence between a current position of a jaw and a post-treatment position for the jaw.   
   
   
       2 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jaw cast support component includes an upper member. 
   
   
       3 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jaw support component includes an upper member and a maxillary cast support member attached to the upper member. 
   
   
       4 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jaw cast support component includes a lower member. 
   
   
       5 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jaw support component includes a lower member and a mandibular cast support member attached to the lower member. 
   
   
       6 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking includes a 
   
   
       7 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 6 , further including a marking on the at least one jaw cast support component indicating a distance to the post-treatment position. 
   
   
       8 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one jaw support component includes an upper member and a maxillary cast support member attached to the upper member; and   the marking includes the upper member having a color selected from the group including black, red and green.   
   
   
       9 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one jaw support component includes a lower member and a mandibular cast support member attached to the lower member; and   the marking includes the lower member having a color selected from the group including black, red and green.   
   
   
       10 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one jaw support component includes an upper member and a maxillary cast support member attached to the upper member; and   the marking includes the upper member having a color selected from the group including black, red and green.   
   
   
       11 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one jaw support component includes a lower member and a mandibular cast support member attached to the lower member; and   the marking includes the lower member having a color selected from the group including black, red and green.   
   
   
       12 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking includes a symbol. 
   
   
       13 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a marking on the at least one jaw cast support component indicating a distance to the post-treatment position. 
   
   
       14 . A combination for assembling a dental articulator, comprising:
 an articulator component; and,   a coding means for marking the articulator component to indicate a correspondence between a post-treatment jaw position and a jaw cast.   
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the articulator component includes an articulator upper member. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15 , further including a maxillary cast support member and means for attaching the maxillary cast support member to the upper member. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the articulator component includes an articulator lower member. 
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 17 , further including a mandibular cast support member and means for attaching the mandibular cast support member to the lower member. 
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the marking includes a color. 
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the marking includes a symbol. 
   
   
       21 . A method for assembling an articulator apparatus, comprising:
 coding a jaw cast support component with a visible marking on the jaw cast component to indicate a correspondence between a treatment goal and a position of a jaw cast; and   connecting a first jaw cast support component coded with the visible marking to a second jaw cast support component.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including providing the jaw cast and supporting the jaw cast in the articulator apparatus with one of the jaw cast support components. 
   
   
       23 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . An articulator apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   a maxillary cast support member connected to the frame;   a mandibular cast support member connected to the frame; and   a coding means for marking one or more portions of the frame to indicate a correspondence between a current position and a treatment position of a jaw.   
   
   
       28 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 27 , the marking including a color selected from a group of colors including black, red and green. 
   
   
       29 . The articulator apparatus of  claim 27 , further including a marking on the one or more portions indicating a distance to the post-treatment position. 
   
   
       30 - 41 . (canceled)