Patent ID: 6979195

Claim:
A method of forming a dental appliance for positioning a patient's mandible and maxilla in centric relation, the method comprising the steps of: providing a rapid setting impression material; providing a dental device comprising: an impression support platform for supporting the rapid setting impression material, the impression support platform having a detachable central portion, the impression support platform sized and shaped so as to be disposed between upper and lower anterior teeth of a patient; a dam joined to the impression support platform such that the impression support platform, the dam and the upper anterior teeth and palate of the patient substantially define a mold for forming a dental appliance when the dental device is positioned in a mouth of the patient; disposing a sufficient amount of the rapid setting impression material onto the impression support platform to substantially fill the mold; positioning the dental device having the rapid setting impression material thereon between the upper and lower anterior teeth of the patient such that the rapid setting of impression material is interposed between the palate and the upper anterior teeth of the patient and the impression support platform; disposing the mouth of the patient in a closed condition such that the upper anterior teeth contact the impression support platform and such that the dam substantially contacts the palate of the patient so as to mold the rapid setting impression material into the dental appliance; removing the dental device having the dental appliance formed thereon from the mouth of the patient; and removing the dental appliance from the dental device such that the detachable central portion detaches from the dental device and remains embedded in the dental appliance.