Dental training device

Abstract

A dental training aid and method which assists a student in learning how to determine the position of a root canal apex, repair of dental decay, and how to perform crown and bridge procedures. In certain embodiments, modular inserts are utilized that include structure thereon for performing root canal procedures, repair of dental decay procedures, crown and bridge procedures or other procedures. The inserts can be assembled and configured to all provide practice on the same procedure or on different procedures and can be exchanged for other inserts once they are no longer reusable or because the user wants to train on a different procedure.

1 . A human jaw manikin for practicing dental procedures, said jaw comprising:
 a) a first tray including:
 i) a planar base portion having an insert-engaging surface; and 
 ii) an upwardly extending wall portion joined to said base portion and surrounding said insert-engaging surface; 
   b) said first tray sized and shaped to receive at least one gum insert.   
   
   
       2 . The manikin of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a second tray including:
 i) a planar base portion having an insert-engaging surface; and 
 ii) an downwardly extending wall portion joined to said base portion and surrounding said insert-engaging surface; 
   b) said second tray sized and shaped to receive at least one gum insert.   
   
   
       3 . The manikin of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a) a first gum insert sized and shaped to releasably secure to said first tray; and   b) a second gum insert sized and shaped to releasably secure to said second tray.   
   
   
       4 . The manikin of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said first tray is sized, shaped and arranged to simulate a mandible; and   b) said second tray sized, shaped and arranged to simulate a maxilla.   
   
   
       5 . The manikin of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said first and second trays each includes a rear portion; said manikin further including:   b) a hinge configured and arranged to articulatingly connect the rear portion of said first and second trays.   
   
   
       6 . The manikin of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a) support frame including said hinge.   
   
   
       7 . The manikin of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) said hinge includes a spring.   
   
   
       8 . The manikin of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a gum insert having at least two sockets sized and shaped to releasably receive a tooth unit.   
   
   
       9 . The manikin of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a) said gum insert includes at least two gum inserts.   
   
   
       10 . The manikin of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a) said insert-engaging surface being associated with at least one of a magnet and a magnet-attracting plate for releasably securing a gum insert to said insert-engaging surface.   
   
   
       11 . The manikin of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a) said insert-engaging surface comprising a magnet-attracting plate for releasably securing a gum insert having a magnet associated with a tray-engaging surface of said gum insert.   
   
   
       12 . The manikin of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) said insert-engaging surface including a first magnet for releasably securing a gum insert having a second magnet associated with a tray-engaging surface of said gum insert; said first and second magnets being configured and arranged to attract each other.   
   
   
       13 . The manikin of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a screw for releasably securing a gum insert to said planar base.   
   
   
       14 . A dental manikin for simulating the human mouth during dental procedure training, the manikin comprising:
 a) an articulating support having an upper portion and a lower portion;   b) a simulated maxilla attached to said upper portion and including an upper tray and an upper gum insert interchangeably attached to an insert-engaging surface of said upper tray; said upper gum insert having at least two tooth-receiving sockets;   c) a simulated mandible attached to said lower portion and including a lower tray and a lower gum insert interchangeably attached to an insert-engaging surface of said lower tray; said lower gum insert having at least two tooth-receiving sockets;   d) a plurality of teeth received in the teeth-receiving sockets.   
   
   
       15 . The dental manikin according to  claim 14  wherein:
 a) at least one of the teeth is removable from a socket associated therewith and said teeth are selected from the group consisting of simulated human teeth and extracted human teeth.   
   
   
       16 . The dental manikin according to  claim 14  wherein:
 a) said articulating support includes a hinge.   
   
   
       17 . The dental manikin according to  claim 16  wherein:
 a) said hinge is spring-loaded.   
   
   
       18 . The manikin of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a) at least two securing subassemblies for securing said gum inserts to said trays, said securing subassemblies selected from the group consisting of a magnet and a plate attracted to said magnet, a pair of magnets, and a screw.