| 摘要 |
A method is set forth for making a computer model of patient's jaws, teeth, soft tissues, pharyngeal airway, tongue, condyles, tempromandibular joints and associated structures and recording the relationship of these structures at specific positional orientations of the upper jaw to the lower jaw. This computer model allows for the virtual design of dental devices that are custom, one of a kind appliances using computer controlled milling or computer controlled layered manufacturing. The three dimensional (3D) data set of the patient's anatomy can be sent via the Internet to any health care provider involved in treatment and allows for visualization of the device prior to manufacture. Design changes can be made to the virtual device prior to its manufacture. The process revealed in this patent has specific utility in the construction of appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea and conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint or muscles of mastication.
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