DENTAL MODELING AND ARTICULATING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A dental articulator and method (10, 90) to duplicate at least a portion of a patient's mouth for use in producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays (11, 12) pivotally coupled together by a hinge (20) integrally formed with the trays. On one of the trays, the hinge includes a pivot axle (22) and a shoulder (24) extending at least partially around the pivot axle. On the other tray, the hinge includes a pair of fingers (26a, 26b) pivotally positioned both 1) on opposite sides of the pivot axle, and 2) on opposite sides of the shoulder. A thin membrane (44, 44b) is disposed across a registration pin hole (40, 41) in a tray to close off the registration pin hole and resist dental casting material from substantially filling the registration pin hole. The thin membrane is breakable by a registration pin (42) inserted into the registration pin hole with the registration pin being extendable through the thin membrane.