Tray modeling system and articulator for producing a dental model

An improved tray system and articulator for use with a replication of a dental patient's teeth taken by a conventional dental impression in the creation of a dental model of the patient's mouth. A first tray and a second tray are provided, each tray having a substantially planar surface upon which a substrate layer of a stone material is applied. An insert is detachably secured to each of the trays and includes an upper keyed portion about which the stone layer bonds. An upper conventional dental impression is secured to the substrate stone layer of the first dental tray and a lower dental impression is secured to the substrate layer of the second dental tray. A reusable articulator includes first and second hinged members which secure to the first and second trays and mount the trays so as to position the teeth replications.