Dental model and process of making same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, a novel dental model is shown generally by the reference number 10.
The novel dental model comprises an elongate, tapered pin 12 that is embedded in a cast mold material 14.
The cast material 14 is formed around the longitudinal side of the pin 12 to encapsulate at least the central portion of the elongate pin 12.
At least one end of the pin 12 extends from an end of the cast mold material, and the second end of the pin may or may not extend from the cast mold material.
An impression of at least two adjacent teeth of a person is formed in the exterior surface of the cast mold material 14.
The dental model is advantageously formed by pouring a first layer of dental casting material into a negative mold (not shown in the drawings) of a person's teeth and gums.
The dental casting material is of the type that is capable of curing into a solid.
An example of a dental casting material is plaster.
The elongate, tapered pin 12 is positioned on the first layer of dental casting material, and additional dental casting material is then poured around the elongate pin 12 to encapsulate at least the central portion of the pin 12 so that the central portion of the pin 12 is positioned adjacent to the teeth impressions of the mold.
At least one end of the pin, and preferably both ends, extend from the dental casting material.
As mentioned previously, both ends may extend from the dental casting.
The pin 12 passes generally through what is referred to as the base of the stone of the model, or at least between the base and the teeth portion of the model.
In the model of the present invention, the teeth portion and the base portion are cast as an integral piece.
After pouring, the dental casting material is allowed to cure into a solid model 10 of the teeth and gums of the mold, with the model having the pin embedded therein.
The model 10 containing the embedded pin 12 is then removed from the negative mold and the model at this stage of development is shown in FIG