DENTAL MODEL AND DIE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

An assembly useful for preparing a prosthetic crown for fitting to a tooth of a patient is accordingly described herein. The assembly includes (a) a polymer dental model having a shape corresponding to at least a portion of a dental arch of a patient and a socket formed therein, the socket having a socket wall, and (b) a polymer die having an upper portion configured in the shape of a tooth of a patient and a lower stem configured for insertion into the socket. At least one of the stem and the socket wall are configured to have both a relaxed position when the die is not in the socket, and a tensioned position when the die is fully inserted in the socket, so that the stem is firmly and accurately engaged by the socket when the die is inserted therein.