Abstract:
An improved dental impression tray system provides a way to accommodate multiple arch sizes by incorporating a plurality of arch accommodating markers (AAM) and adaptive locking Mechanisms (ALM) into one adaptive dental impression tray (ADIT). Upon trying in an impression tray for a patient, the size of the ADIT can be adjusted by removing one or more AAMs and securely affixing the male ALM (hereafter mALM) into the female ALM (hereafter fALM) until a customized sized tray is configured which best fits the patient&#39;s anatomy. This novel arch accommodating and adaptive locking mechanism allows the operator to customize one tray to ideally fit each patient in a manner which, among other benefits, reduces time, cross-contamination, waste, expense, improves the accuracy of the intended impression and reduces patient discomfort because the ALM protects the patient from any rough or sharp edges. Additionally, the ADIT can be manufactured in various manners such as but not limited to: for disposable/single-use or sterilizeable/multiple use, can be made of one piece or multiple interlocking pieces, and can be designed to accommodate single-arch/open mouth impressions or dual-arch/closed bit impressions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application 62/103,514, titled Adjustable Dental Impression Tray with Adaptive Lock, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the field of dentistry, a dental impression is a negative imprint of hard and soft tissues (teeth and gums, generally) in the mouth from which a positive reproduction of a cast or mould can be formed. The present invention allows dental professionals to more efficiently create positive reproductions from negative imprints of single and double arch dental impressions, and from these positive reproductions, create base models, in fewer steps than are currently used in the profession, and with less waste. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    The current state of the art for taking dental impressions with impression material requires an impression tray that best accommodates each patient&#39;s individual intra-oral anatomy. Dental impression trays come in various shapes and sizes and are commonly categorized into single-arch/open mouth and dual-arch/closed-bite varieties. Additionally, these trays can be either reusable (sterilizeable) or disposable. Common steps required to select the appropriate tray for a dental impression are as follows:
       The dental professional will select a series of different sized trays which he/she believes may best suit the patient and sets the trays in the dental operatory, along with the impression tray material, in preparation for the patient&#39;s visit.   Dental operators have the choice of selecting reusable (sterilizeable) or disposable impression trays.   To maximize the efficiency of the appointment, the dental operator often selects three trays of different sizes, before the patient arrives, so that the operator is prepared with multiple options in one place to find the best fit for the patient. Only selecting one tray in the hopes that it is the perfect fit could cause time delays, for example, causing an appointment time to be extended, if that first tray does not fit. The dental operator would then leave the dental operatory, remove his/her gloves, follow proper infection control protocol to select and prepare a larger or smaller impression tray, and repeat the process.   The dental operator also has the choice of selecting a single-arch/open mouth or dual-arch/closed-bite impression trays.
           If the dental operator selects a single-arch/open mouth impression design, the operator may have to prepare small, medium, and large upper impression trays as well as small, medium, and large lower impression trays for a total of six impression trays in order to find the best fit for the upper and lower arches.   If the dental operator selects a dual-arch/closed-bite impression design, the operator may have to prepare small, medium, and large dual-arch/closed-bite impression trays for a total of three impression trays in order to find the best fit as the dual-arch/closed-bite impression design simultaneously captures both the upper and lower arches in one impression.   
           Several size dental impression trays are prepared and tried into the patient&#39;s mouth in order to select the one that best captures the patient&#39;s oral anatomy.   If the impression tray design selected is a:
           single-arch/open mouth tray, the operator must try in each upper tray and each lower tray individually to determine which fits the best. This process could require that six or more trays be tried in, three or more on the upper and three or more for the lower. Each time a tray does not fit and it is a:
               reusable tray, each tray must be cycled through the sterilization process, which takes time and takes up space in the sterilization process that may impact other instruments in the sterilization process required for other, more expensive or urgent dental procedures.   disposable tray, it must be discarded in order to comply with proper infection control procedures since it has been presented and exposed to aerosols in the dental operatory from patient treatment, sneezing, airborne contaminants, etc., and cannot be sterilized for use with another patient, which costs money for each tray discarded. Optionally, disposable trays could be properly protected from such contaminants so that they would not be exposed but this process requires additional time, materials and costs.   
               dual-arch/closed bite tray, the operator may try in three or more trays to determine the best fit which is less than the single arch technique since these trays capture both the upper and lower impressions simultaneously, however each tray may cost more than a single arch tray. Each time a tray does not fit and it is a:
               reusable tray: each tray must be cycled through the sterilization process, which takes time and takes up space in the sterilization process that may impact other instruments in the sterilization process required for other, more expensive dental procedures.   disposable tray: it must be discarded in order to comply with proper infection control procedures since it has been presented and exposed to aerosols in the dental operatory from patient treatment, sneezing, airborne contaminants, etc and cannot be sterilized for use with another patient, which costs money for each tray discarded. Dual-arch/closed bite impression trays typically cost more money than single-arch/open mouth impression trays which adds up quickly in this scenario. Optionally, disposable trays could be properly protected from such contaminants so that they would not be exposed but this process requires additional time, materials and costs.   
               
           Furthermore, every time an impression tray is tried into a patient&#39;s mouth and does not fit, the tray has to be removed, the operator has to select another tray, the operator has to try in the next tray and repeat this process until the appropriate size tray is found for each arch. This process takes time, can cause frustration for the patient and the operator, and costs money.   Furthermore, patients are repeatedly asked to open their mouths so that a tray can be tried in increases the chance that the patient may be injured in this process. (E.g., splitting a lip due to the stretching to place and remove the tray, cutting the lip/cheek/tongue/vestibule/soft tissue with a tray edge or sectioned remnant, etc.)   Additionally, every time an impression tray is tried into a patient&#39;s mouth and does not fit, it costs money and time to either sterilize and restock the reusable impression trays or dispose of and re-order new disposable impression trays.   Some single-arch/open bite impression materials allow for breaking off of a posterior section of the tray to accommodate the arch size, but this can distort the tray and leave rough/sharp edges that can irritate or injure the patient.   Utilizing the wrong size tray or a distorted tray can lead to distorted models which can result in ill-fitting dental restorations, appliances, etc., which would require the process to be repeated at a substantial cost to the dental office and source of frustration to the patient. Therefore, it is important that the correct size dental impression tray be used for each individual patient.   Dental offices often take impressions using a single-arch/open mouth and dual-arch/closed-bite impression tray for many procedures including but not limited to: crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, veneers, implants, application of therapeutics, whitening trays, mouthguards, nightguards, study models, orthodontic models, custom tray fabrication, removable prosthodontic appliance fabrication/repair, sleep/snore appliances, delivery of medications, customized scenarios, or other uses.   Embodiments of the current invention may be customized to meet these and other demands by creating a customizable system that allows the user to create the desired modeling system. Generally, embodiments of the invention allow creation of discrete dental impressions, to concomitantly creating a range of modular impressions.       
 
       FURTHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    This invention relates generally to a dental instrument and, more particularly, to trays for obtaining an impression of a patient&#39;s oral anatomy. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIOR ART 
       [0026]    Dental impression trays for obtaining an impression of a patient&#39;s dentition are known. Such trays generally include tray portions anatomically contoured to fit at least a part of a patient&#39;s upper and/or lower oral anatomy, of which an impression is to be obtained. Each patient has a different size dental arch which requires that an appropriate size impression tray is chosen so as to best fit the patient and captured the desired anatomy. The anterior portion of an impression tray can be considered somewhat universal in arch form which can allow for a tray to be sectioned at an anterior portion so as to most adequately fit children and adult patients. Typically the length of the arch from the anterior teeth to the posterior teeth and width of the arch from left to right increases with the dental age of the patient. 
         [0027]    Creating universal anterior sections and adjustable posterior sections, and sections thereof, may allow operators to better customize an impression tray by choosing the best fitting length and width posterior section of a tray and combining it with the more universal anterior portion so as to best accommodate the various arch widths and lengths in one customizable tray. Where the anterior section (hereafter Section A) is universal, even for children, there is a benefit to having the anterior portion being adaptable for predictable section A&#39;s (due to similar anatomy to most section A&#39;s). Maintaining the same section A&#39;s in this invention reduces cost, time, and space required for dental impressions, among other benefits. The posterior sections of embodiments of this invention (hereafter Section “B&#39;s”) provide a mechanism for managing the anatomic variables in various patients. 
         [0028]    There are mainly two techniques to taking dental impressions; the single arch or open mouth and the dual arch or closed bite techniques. In both techniques it is imperative that the correct size impression tray that best matches the patient&#39;s oral anatomy and arch form be used. In a single arch technique, the tray portion is loaded with a suitable dental impression material and situated over the part of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy of which an impression is desired: the upper or lower arch or a section thereof. The operator then guides the single-arch impression tray over the oral anatomy to form an impression of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy in the impression material. In the closed bite technique, the tray portion is loaded with a suitable dental impression material and situated over the part of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy of which an impression is desired. 
         [0029]    The patient then bites into the impression material to form an impression of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy in the impression material. As the patient bites into the impression material in a dual-arch/closed bite impression tray, the oral anatomy forces the impression material up against the teeth and then against the tray walls which then captures the anatomy of the upper and lower arches at one time. 
         [0030]    After the impression material sets, it is used as a mold, into which plaster or dental stone can be poured which upon setting forms a model of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy. In addition, the set impression material in the impression tray may also be used directly as a mold for other purposes such as but not limited to: the fabrication of temporary restorations, the process of teeth whitening, and multiple other uses known in the art and referenced above and below. A problem encountered in the use of conventional single or dual arch dental impression trays is that trays come in different sizes which must be properly selected by the operator in order to capture an accurate recording of the patient&#39;s oral anatomy. Previously, the operator must prepare several sizes of impression trays before the patient arrives and then try each one into the patient&#39;s mouth to determine which offers the best fit. These trays can be either reusable or disposable. If reusable, each tray that was not selected for the patient must be disinfected, sterilized, and restocked. If disposable, any tray that was not selected must be discarded unless it was properly presented in the dental operatory to make sure it was not contaminated in any way. Each process creates the potential for added time, frustration, potential patient injury, and expense to the impression taking process. 
         [0031]    Disposable/single-use or sterilizeable/multiple use, single-arch/open mouth or dual-arch/closed bite impression trays come in various shapes and sizes each of which must be tried into a patient&#39;s mouth prior to taking the impression in order to determine which tray size is best suited for the patient&#39;s unique oral anatomy. Historically, the process of discovering which tray size is most suitable and processing or discarding or sterilizing and restocking the impression trays that were not selected is time consuming, costly, and potentially frustrating and injurious to the patient. 
         [0032]    Attempts have been made to create single arch impression trays which can be adjustable. For example, some disposable single-arch impression trays offer removable sections  FIG. 01  which can be adjusted to create different sized or shaped trays. However, these trays tend to be sectioned at the posterior portion of the tray which can create sharp or rough edges which can injure the patient, create irregularities, or cause the tray to become distorted which can cause the impression to be inaccurate. See  FIG. 02 . 
         [0033]    Dual-arch/closed bite impression trays present a substantial obstacle to creating an adjustable impression tray due to the fact that some contain a mesh membrane ( FIG. 03 ) which is housed between the two halves of many dual-arch impression trays. This membrane holds the impression material as it is being placed into the tray and is used to support the impression material as the tray is carried to the patient&#39;s mouth through which a patient will bite. This membrane is located at the midline of some dual-arch/closed bite impression trays and held in place by both halves of the dual-arch/closed bite impression tray. These trays also include a posterior bar ( FIG. 04 ), which is vital to capturing the desired anatomy as it provides a framework to support the membrane, which supports the impression material and holds it in the proper position over the intended oral anatomy. 
         [0034]    This posterior bar ensures the impression material does not slough, slant, or slide off of the mesh membrane or tray walls. This posterior bar creates a posterior support system to help keep the impression material in place and make certain that the impression material captures the most posterior portion of the oral anatomy as this bar wraps around the distal portion of the oral anatomy as shown in  FIG. 05 . 
         [0035]    This invention will overcome this problem by keeping the membrane and the posterior bar intact to make certain that it is in position to accomplish the aforementioned objectives by creating an innovative system in which the tray is sectioned in the middle of the tray as outlined in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . As one can see, the posterior bar is unaffected and remains intact to perform as designed since the AAM and ALM are located anterior to the posterior bar. This invention has created a unique section A which can be modified to accommodate different arch sizes from children to adults and has created a way to allow section B to follow common tray dimensions to become locked into Section A to create a customized, adjustable, stable single or dual-arch impression tray. 
         [0036]    Single arch impression trays do not need such a membrane since the tray itself holds the impression material as shown in  FIG. 06 . It is easier to simply remove a posterior section of a single arch impression tray by sectioning it along a pre-perforated margin or cut along a predefined line, as shown in  FIG. 01 , than to remove a section of a dual-arch/closed bite impression tray since, by doing so, the operator would be removing the posterior bar of the dual-arch/closed bite impression tray which is vital to holding the impression material in the proper position over the oral anatomy, supporting the membrane, and providing a posterior foundation to properly capture the posterior anatomy as the patient bites into the impression material and tray as shown in  FIG. 07 . 
         [0037]    Currently, two popular dental impression materials used by dental professionals are the vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) and the alginate-based impression materials. In fact dental professionals take millions of these types of impressions each year. Alginate is one of the most popular impression materials due to its accuracy, ease of removal from the teeth, inexpensive price, and ease of use. The VPS&#39;s are quite popular because they are accurate, rigid, dimensionally stable, and give predictable results; although they are much more expensive. A need exists to help take these impressions using the most popular impression materials more conveniently with an adjustable/customizable impression tray system. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, it is an objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a dental impression tray that offers the operator the ability to adjust either a single or double arch impression tray or derivative thereof to best fit the oral anatomy of the patient for the various forms of impression materials, such as, but not limited to, alginate and VPS impression materials. 
         [0039]    It is a second objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide arch accommodating markings (AAM) which are designed to assist the operator in customizing the tray for each patient. 
         [0040]    It is a third objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide not only a way to connect or lock two pieces of the adjustable tray together, but also can reduce or eliminate any rough/sharp edges present after adjusting the size of the impression tray so as to prevent or eliminate any injury to the patient called the Adaptive Locking Mechanism (ALM). Rough or sharp edges are not uncommon when using trays with perforated, removeable portions. The rough or sharp edges can reduce accuracy of an impression due to the discomfort caused the patient. These rough, sharp, or irregular edges can also injure a patient. 
         [0041]    It is a fourth objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to contain arch accommodating markings and adaptive locking mechanisms that maintain the integrity of the poster bar of dual arch impression trays. 
         [0042]    It is a fifth objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a sterilizable/reusable fixed or adjustable flat, low profile Arch Measuring Device (hereafter “AMD”) that can be utilized to help measure the arch to assist with proper tray selection. 
         [0043]    It is a sixth objective of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide interchangeable/interlocking sections which can allow the operator to further customize the impression tray. 
         [0044]    It will be readily understood that objectives of the invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, will have additional benefits and objectives, and the list of objectives are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, but are merely representative of those embodiments. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    There are a significant number of dental impressions taken each day. Various embodiments of this invention may help to save the impression-taker a significant amount of time, money, and material costs which will then free them up to be more efficient and productive on other dental procedures in the office.
       In order for an impression to be taken, one needs an appropriate size of a dental impression tray.   Currently, the operator must try in different impression trays to determine which tray best fits the patient.   Each impression tray that has not been selected must either be sterilized and restocked if it is reusable or discarded if not both of which costs time and money.   Attempts have been made to create adjustable single-arch/open mouth impression trays but these trays can leave rough/sharp edges occur as a result of the removal of arch length segments at the posterior aspect of the impression tray which must pass by the lips and soft tissue upon placement. These rough/sharp edges due to the can injure the patient or cause the patient to move during the impression taking process as the rough/sharp edge can contact the patient&#39;s soft tissue and cause pain.   Also, the removal of the arch length segments can cause the impression tray to distort which can negatively impact the impression and subsequent treatment.       
 
         [0051]    The present invention is an improved dental impression tray that provides a way to accommodate multiple arch sizes by incorporating a plurality of arch accommodating marking (AAM) and Adaptive Locking Mechanism (ALM) into one adaptive dental impression tray (ADIT). Upon sizing an impression tray for a patient, the size of the ADIT can be adjusted by removing numerous AAMs and securely affixing them to the ALM until a customized sized tray is configured. This novel arch accommodating and adaptive locking mechanism allows the operator to customize one tray to ideally fit each patient in a manner which reduces time, cross-contamination, waste, expense, and improves the accuracy of the intended impression while protecting the patient from any rough or sharp edges and distorted impression trays. Additionally, the Arch Measuring Device (hereafter “AMD”) can be either a reusable or disposable way to also help measure the arch to assist with proper tray selection. 
         [0052]    This invention takes advantage of the fact that one single or dual-arch impression tray can be adjusted to accommodate many different arch sizes, which can save money and time. This invention has analyzed the different impression trays and identifies common dimensions in the various single and dual-arch impression trays that allow this invention to create the embodiment that will allow one tray to be adjusted to capture the desired anatomy of different size arches without creating rough/sharp edges or distorting. Therefore, this invention can be customized to work with any size impression tray and the different shapes within each (Full arch, Dual arch, Single Arch, Quadrant, Sextant, Anterior, Posterior, etc.) 
         [0053]    One embodiment of this invention may require as little as one tray to take an impression of what previously would require six (or more) different trays to be tried in. Previously, a single-arch/open bite impression could require three or more upper and three lower impression trays to be tried in to determine which fits the best. Each tray that was not used either had to be sterilized and restocked or discarded; each of which costs time and money. 
         [0054]    This invention allows the operator to try in one tray to size both the upper and lower arches at the same time. If the tray does not fit, the operator can immediately and easily adjust the tray without leaving any rough/sharp edges or distorting the tray so that the tray fits perfectly. 
         [0055]    This invention may save a significant amount of time and materials per impression set because this process can reduce the amount of trays that are required to be tried in from six or more to one and the time it takes to size the impression tray accordingly. 
         [0056]    There are multiple sizes, shapes, materials, etc., used to fabricate different embodiments of the present invention which will allow it to be used with various single and double arch impression trays to create an adjustable impression tray which can be used to create the desired model type for many different dental procedures such as but not limited to: tooth whitening trays, mouth guards, therapeutic impression trays, medicament delivery trays, night guards, snore guards, sleep/snore medicine appliances, orthodontic models, study models, etc. 
         [0057]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides a dental impression tray contoured to fit over at least a portion of a patient&#39;s oral anatomy. The dental impression tray includes cavity defining means including at least a first wall defining a receiving cavity for receiving an impression material; and a plurality of arch accommodating marking elements that are structurally connected to the first wall, each of the arch accommodating elements defining a marking which can help the operator know where to properly cut or section the tray so as to change the overall tray size or dimensions in order to best customize the tray to fit the patient&#39;s oral anatomy. 
         [0058]    In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of connecting multiple pieces of an impression tray in a manner in which the pieces become securely locked and help to prevent, reduce or eliminate any rough/sharp edges present after adjusting the size of the impression tray so as to prevent or eliminate any injury to the patient called the Adaptive Locking Mechanism (ALM). 
         [0059]    In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of obtaining a dental impression of a patient. The method includes the steps of filling a suitable amount of a dental impression material into a receiving cavity of an open or closed bite dental impression tray, properly placing the dental impression tray in a desired location inside the mouth of the patient and forming the impression after either the operatory seats the tray in a single or open bite impression or the patient bites into the dental impression material in the dual arch or closed bite dental impression tray. 
         [0060]    These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0061]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a dual-arch/closed-bite dental impression tray embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative enlarged view of an embodiment of the dental impression tray, showing the sizing and locking mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0063]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of dental impression trays according to the present invention and depicts a single arch-open bite impression tray. 
           [0064]      FIG. 4  illustrates another possible variation of dental impression trays according to the present invention and depicts a quadrant impression tray. 
           [0065]      FIG. 5 . Illustrates shows an enlarged view of an embodiment of a locking mechanism. 
           [0066]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, with an embodiment of a series of breakaway arch accommodating marker modules to adjust an arch impression tray to best fit the oral anatomy of a patient, and where the tray receives impression material. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0067]    Preferred embodiments of this invention can be many different styles including but not limited to a one-, two-, or multiple-part system. For example, the invention may have several configurations, such as but not limited to: Male and female components joined horizontally/vertically/etc or any other orientation. Components may fit into/onto/within/etc other components to help create the desired result 
         [0068]    Further, this invention allows the user to adjust the impression tray and interchange the components as needed using the adapter options concomitantly. 
         [0069]    Multiple embodiments of the present invention may exist in many styles and to serve multiple purposes. For example, embodiments of the invention may include a single or multiple part interlocking system that will allow the operator to have several female Section “A” handles (hereafter “A”) and male Section “B” adapters (hereafter “B”) to connect to create a more customized impression tray that will allow the user to use one A and the desired B so that they can create the desired combinations such as but not limited to:
       a. A single system in which A and B are in one adjustable impression tray so that the Arch Accommodating Markings (AAM) can be removed from Section B to create the desired impression tray length.   b. A multiple part system in which A and B are individually made the male ALM of Section B can connect to and lock into the female ALM of Section A to create the desired impression tray length.       
 
         [0072]    Another embodiment of this invention includes a system which has a male base and female handle section “A” with several adapters Sections “B” that will allow the user to purchase and use multiple male and female Sections so that they can create the desired combinations. In this way, the dental professional has the ability to select the appropriate components of this invention to create the desired impression tray configuration such as but not limited to: full arch, sextants, quadrants, ¾ arch, dual arch, single arch, etc. 
         [0073]    Although the embodiments shown and described herein are for dental impressions, there can be embodiments created for uses outside of dentistry to include but not limited to medicine, veterinary, etc. 
         [0074]    This invention can be customized to be used with different impression trays to create different, adjustable tray sizes. 
         [0075]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of a one-piece-system design of a dual-arch/closed-bite dental impression tray according to the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , the arch accommodating markings (“AAM”)  3  are illustrated along with the potential breakaway modules of an Adaptive Locking Mechanism (hereafter “ALM”) (see  1  and  2 ) in one adaptive dental impression tray (hereafter “ADIT”). Each ADIT can be created with various AAMs to accommodate the desired anatomy. 
         [0076]      FIG. 3  shows how utilizing the AAMs can change the overall arch length and size of the impression tray. Removing one AAM can reduces the length of the tray by a pre-defined dimension and can be created to accommodate countless dimensions. Removing an AAM, further reduces the length as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 2  is a close up view the AAM which is an area at which the impression tray can be sectioned by the operator with scissors or similar means, thus shortening the length of the tray. If the operator tries to place the tray in the user and determines that the tray is too big, the operator can section the AAM at, for example, at the nth AAM marker (1 st  AAM and 2 nd  AAM are shown in  FIG. 2 ) to reduce the size accordingly. 
         [0078]      FIG. 2  shows the 1 st  AAM and 2 nd  AAM  2  intact  3  while also displaying the male (hereafter “mALM”)  2  and female  1  Adaptive Locking Mechanism (hereafter “fALM” or “ALM” to describe both). 
         [0079]    Average dimensions of Section A in this example are shown below but these dimensions, geometry, size, shape, etc can be altered to accommodate any preferred embodiment of this invention. 
         [0080]    Depth as measured from the most anterior tray wall to the most posterior portion could be any dimension. In one embodiment, this depth would range from 20 to 60 mm at the farthest point. Width could be any dimension but in typical embodiments could range from 60 to 90 mm at the widest point. Height could be any dimension but typical embodiments could range from 2 mm to 30 mm at the highest point and could include accommodations for common oral anatomical features like frenum, tori, etc. 
         [0081]    The anterior section may or may not contain a handle which can be of any depth, width, or height of general use in the relevant field (e.g., oral surgery, medicine, veterinary, dentistry). Depth as measured from the most anterior to the most posterior portion of the handle, could be any dimension but in this example could range from 20 to 60 mm at the longest point. Width could be any dimension but in this example could range from 2 to 40 mm at the widest point. Height could be any dimension but in this example could range from 0.50 mm to 4 mm at the highest point. 
         [0082]    Average dimensions of the tray can be altered, but typical measurements include depth as measured from the most anterior tray wall to the most posterior portion of the anterior section from 20 to 60 mm at the longest point. Width could be any dimension but in this example could range from 60 to 90 mm at the widest point. Height could be any dimension but in this example could range from 0.50 mm to 30 mm at the highest point and could include accommodations for common oral anatomical features like frenum, tori, etc. This section may or may not contain a handle which can be of any depth, width, or height as set forth above. 
         [0083]    In a multiple piece embodiment of this invention, anterior and posterior sections (sections “A and B”) can be manufactured as separate pieces which allows the operator to select the desired Section A and B in order to create a customized tray. Once A is connected to B, it can be tried into the patient&#39;s mouth. If the tray does not fit, B can be discarded and the proper B chosen and attached. The cost of Section B will be much less than A which will help reduce costs. 
         [0084]    Each tray can have one or multiple AAMs depending on the manufacturer&#39;s desire to accommodate multiple sizes in the one-piece system or there could be multiple variations of A and B in the multiple-part system to accommodate any impression dimension or size. A difference between the prior art and this innovation is that for single arch and dual arch impressions, the locking mechanism and the adaptive marking will allow the operator to break the tray and customize it to best accommodate the patient&#39;s anatomy. Other adjustable impression trays are designed to section the tray at the posterior portion which creates posterior remnant pieces which can interfere with the process of creating the dental impression when the mold is forming. This invention eliminates the remnants from being in the back of the tray where they could hurt the patient, leading to irregularities, discomfort of the patent, etc. 
         [0085]      FIG. 1  shows how A and B connect and lock together. Sectioning impression trays can cause remnants to remain which could be rough or sharp which could cause injury to the patient and/or make the patient move during the impression which could distort the impression and/or could interfere with the pre-defined and machined locking mechanism. It is impossible to predict how the operator will section each AAM or to predict the exact size of any remnants created which may have caused previous invention failures. This invention overcomes this challenge be creating the fALM which includes the adaptive component  4  which accommodates any remnants so that they are protected from causing the aforementioned injuries, distortions, and interferences with the locking mechanism. In embodiments of this invention, adaptive component  4  may be designed to be large enough to accommodate the remnants in all 360 degrees while also providing the space and security to lock the mALM into the fALM securely so that Section A and B of the impression tray are fixed and stable for the impression taking process. 
         [0086]      FIG. 1  shows the mALM securely locked into the fALM with the remnant being accommodated so as not to injure the patient, cause distortions, and or interfere with the locking mechanism. 
         [0087]    In  FIG. 5 , the fALM contains an area which is larger than and receives the remnant portion of the mALM which can be created from sectioning the AAM at, for example, AAM- 2  or AAM- 3  in  FIG. 2 . Since the fALM has area which is larger than required to receive the male locking mechanism, the fALM allows the mALM to slide into the fALM and further allows any remnant into the adaptive locking mechanism easily and tightly so as to create a tight lock. This lock can be further accentuated by including a tapered shape of the fALM and mALM or any other configuration that would allow the two pieces to be joined in such a manner as to create a tight fit and lock so that the two pieces can function as one to hold the impression material and capture an impression. 
         [0088]    The illustrations of the preferred embodiment of this invention are not limited to the aforementioned but include and are not limited to a countless options, variations, dimensions, AAMs, ALMs, which can all be static one-piece configurations, adjustable multiple-piece configurations, are adjustable one-piece configurations and adjustable multiple-piece configurations. 
         [0089]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a single-arch/open bite impression tray utilizing the AAM and ALM technology to adjust the size. Typically previous impression trays which offer the ability to adjust the tray length be sectioning the back of the tray can leave remnants which can be rough or sharp and are not protected by the ALM so they can injure the patient, cause pain which can cause the patient to move which can distort the impression or the physical act of sectioning the tray can distort the impression tray which can further cause the impression to become distorted. The single-arch/open bite ADIT show in  FIG. 3  can help to prevent the aforementioned problems will providing the operator the ability to adjust the tray length as needed to create the best fitting impression tray. 
         [0090]    The dual-arch/closed bite impression tray provides a unique opportunity to capture the upper, lower and bite registration impressions at one time which previously would require two separate single-arch/open bite impressions and a bite registration impression each take one at a time. An ADIT may contain AAMs but without the ALMs as another embodiment of this invention which is specific to single-arch/open bite ADITs. The AAMs may be designed to minimize/eliminate remnants and distortion when sectioned with scissors. 
         [0091]    An ADIT may contain another set of AAMs but without the ALMs as another embodiment of this invention which is specific to single-arch/open bite ADITs. The AAMs are designed to minimize/eliminate remnants and distortion when sectioned with scissors. Portion  6  shows the AAMs preplaced as an example of the many markings which could be created depending on the desired length of the ADIT. 
         [0092]    Another embodiment of the invention is a flat, for example an about 2 mm embodiment of this invention called an Arch Measuring Device (hereafter “AMD”) which can be manufactured in an inexpensive manner to help speed up the dental arch sizing of a patient without costing a lot of time or money such as but not limited to: (a) being made out of a low cost sterilizable or disposable material which is of a know size or adjustable and tried in the patient&#39;s mouth to make sure it fits correctly so that the operator can then select the corresponding sized impression tray to use for the impressions. (This will speed up the impression taking process and reduce the cost of discarding one, low cost disposable item or sterilizing a 2 mm AMD which is much more efficient that sterilizing or discarding up to six impression trays of at least 20 mm or more in size. 
         [0093]    If reusable, this can take up a lot of room in a sterilizer, if disposable, these tray costs can add up quickly.) (b) Being made out of an impressionable material, paper, device, scanner that records the patient&#39;s arch form. This information can then be used for many purposes, one of which is to choose the appropriate size of impression tray. Or (c) Include an adjustable measuring device which allows the AMD to be adjusted in or out of the mouth, then placed into the patient&#39;s mouth until Section B matches the patient&#39;s best arch form. The AMD recording would then be used to select the appropriate Section A and Section B for that patient. 
         [0094]    A multiple-piece ADIT embodiment of this invention may be used in which Section A and Section B can be manufactured separately so that an operator can use an AMD to first determine the size of the arch and then select the appropriate Section A for the desired impression technique (full arch, quadrant, sextant, etc) and the appropriate Section B for the best arch length for the patient for that impression technique. Embodiments of this invention may make the following processes faster, easier, less time consuming, and may reduce material cost for procedures such as but limited to taking dental impressions for procedures including but not limited to: crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, veneers, implants, whitening trays, mouthguards, nightguards, study models, orthodontic models, custom tray fabrication, removable prosthodontic appliance fabrication/repair, sleep/snore appliances, delivery of medications, customized scenarios, periodontic/orthodontic, endodontic, pedodontic, general dental, and prosthodontic procedures, removable prosthodontic appliance fabrication/repair, etc. 
         [0095]    Features of one embodiment may be used in combination with features of other embodiments as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, whether or not explicitly described as such. Exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, and all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.