Abstract: A dental impression forming apparatus including a dental impression tray in which a negative impression of a dental area is to be formed in dental impression material. Apertures are provided in the tray for passage of dental impression material therethrough. A cover member is supplied with the dental impression material, and is fitted over the tray. Upon application, in situ, of the cover member onto the tray, the dental impression material is forced through the apertures into the tray and around the dental area so that the negative impression can be formed. Preferably, guide pins are provided on the tray and corresponding holes are provided in the cover member to align the cover member with the tray, and guide the cover member toward the tray when a force is applied on the cover member.

Abstract: A dental impression tray for forming a negative impression of a dental area to be restored. Application devices on the tray permit injection of dental restorative material into a mold cavity defined between the negative impression formed in the tray and the dental area after preparation thereof for restoration. In this manner, a dental prosthesis can be formed in situ utilizing the dental impression tray itself as part of the mold forming device. In a modified form, the tray can be separated into two half sections, whereby in further embodiments thereof, the half sections can be joined together and are interchangeable with half sections of different sizes.

Abstract: A disposable electrode comprising an annulus of foam, a substantially uniform electrode gel in a central region of the annulus, a conductive layer in the electrode gel and making electrical contact with it, and a cap over the conductive layer, electrode gel and annulus of foam. The electrode is made in a plastic tray by placing said annulus in a recess in the tray, placing the conductive layer on the annulus, pouring hot electrode gel into the center region of the annulus, covering the gel with the cap and covering the tray with a sheet whcih is heat sealed to the tray with the electrode inside.

Abstract: A lingual dental splinting device having an elongated bar-like body member with at least two tubular members extending perpendicularly from one side thereof, the tubular members being received in corresponding holes which respectively extend transversely through adjacent teeth when the body member is disposed in a side wall channel laterally extending between the adjacent teeth, the tubular members including axial openings therethrough. A brace member is disposed in an opposing side wall channel which also laterally extends between the adjacent teeth. A U-shaped wire has its legs passing through or extending from the brace member. The legs extend from the opposing side wall through the axial openings in the tubular members so as to extend from the bar-like body member. Restraining devices are then disposed at the distal ends of the legs so as to hold the body member in place.

Abstract: A dental splinting device preferably for use in conjunction with at least one anterior tooth. The device includes an elongated bar-like body member having a rear wall, a front wall, and a base wall interconnecting said front and rear wall. Preferably, the front wall has a longitudinally extending portion shorter than the rear wall to thereby define a J-shaped cross sectional configuration. Two tubular members extend perpendicularly from the base wall. A spacer block is provided for receiving the tubular members during the initial drilling of bores in the teeth. Subsequently, the tubular members are inserted directly into the bores formed in the teeth and dental material is placed around the splinting device to retain it in place. In a modified form, pairs of tangentially engaging tubular members extend perpendicularly from the base wall, where one tubular member of each pair may be shorter than the other tubular member thereof.

Abstract: A holding device for a dental prosthetic structure having an externally threaded elongated post which can be inserted within a bore in a tooth stub. An elongated slot is formed on the outer surface of the post. A retaining nut threads onto the post and includes a plurality of pointed tabs which serve as restorative material retainers. One of the tabs enters into the slot to thereby prevent rotation of the retaining nut with respect to the post. A screw may be threaded into the tooth stub to prevent rotation of the retaining nut relative to the tooth stub.

Abstract: A retaining device for removably securing a dental prosthesis in position, having a fixed male section for securement to the side of a fixed tooth and a cooperating free female section for securement within the dental prosthesis. The male section includes a projection which is received in an inverted U-shaped housing at the forward end of the female section. A spring loaded plunger member positioned within the female section extends into the housing and engages a recess formed in the projection thereby locking the two sections together. A jig is provided for suitably placing spaced apart male sections in alignment and in proper parallel relationship.

Abstract: A dental anchor is disclosed comprising an elongated body member for insertion into a channel in a tooth in order to anchor a superstructure to the tooth. The body member has at least one section with a substantially square cross-section. The longitudinal corner portions of the section are provided with self tapping threads for threading into the channel. Preferably, the body member includes two similar sections joined together by a reduced thickness portion so that one section can be bent relative to the other section when seated in the channel to provide an anchoring portion for the superstructure. Two dental anchors may be joined together by a reduced thickness frangible member, where the thickness of the reduced thickness portion of each dental anchor has a thickness greater than any thickness of the frangible member.

Abstract: A flexible dental retaining splint which is disposable in a channel extending between adjacent teeth, the retaining splint being formed of a wire core with a wire coil being wound about the core with the turns of the coil being in a juxtaposition. Wire loops are formed at both ends of the wound core. The splint can also be formed with several sections of wire cores each surrounded by a wire coil and having a wire loop connecting adjacent sections. The loops function to anchor or secure the splint in the channel, either by the inlay material or pins passing through the openings provided by loops.

Abstract: A dental tool for use in conjunction with a dental retaining splint, the dental tool including an elongated handle having a splint manipulating device at one end thereof which provides a spring held twist-lock clamp for the dental splint to facilitate the placing and removing of the splint from the teeth. The other end of the handle includes a splint positioning and holding device which can enter into an axial opening in the dental splint for anchoring the splint in place on a tooth in order to accurately drill holes in adjacent teeth using the dental splint as a drill guide.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument is described which includes a handle from which extends an endo blade. The handle includes an elongated sleeve member formed of resilient material which surrounds a core member secured within the sleeve member. The core member has a longitudinal body portion radially spaced from the inner walls of the sleeve to define therebetween a flexure space for accommodating the deformation of the sleeve member upon gripping of the handle during use of the instrument. Preferably, the sleeve member is provided with gripping ribs thereon.

Abstract: A dowel pin for removably mounting a dental model cast relative to a base cast. The dowel pin includes a head portion and a shank portion axially extending therefrom. The head portion is adapted to be fixedly secured in the dental model cast and the shank portion is adapted to be removably insertable into a complementary opening in the base cast. The head portion includes an externally threaded male member axially extending therefrom with a collar surrounding the base of the male member. The outer diameter of the collar proximates the diameter of the shank portion so that it can enter into the opening in the base cast. The shank portion has an internally disposed complementary thread which receives the male member therein. A tool is provided for engaging a free end of the shank portion in order to both thread and unthread the shank portion to and from the head portion, so that the dental model cast or segments thereof can easily be replaced and removed from the base cast.

Abstract: An improved gel comprises a first polymer that dissolves, disperses or hydrates in hot water and forms or can be made to form a rigid gel on cooling, a second polymer that is insoluble in hot water and that dissolves or hydrates on cooling and is compatible with said hot water soluble polymer, and water. The gel is made by combining the first polymer and water, heating the resulting solution enough that the first polymer dissolves or hydrates, adding the hot water insoluble polymer, and then cooling.

Abstract: A disposable electrode comprising an annulus of foam, a substantially uniform electrode gel in a central region of the annulus, a conductive layer in the electrode gel and making electrical contact with it, and a cap over the conductive layer, electrode gel and annulus of foam. The electrode is made in a plastic tray by placing said annulus in a recess in the tray, placing the conductive layer on the annulus, pouring hot electrode gel into the center region of the annulus, covering the gel with the cap and covering the tray with a sheet which is heat sealed to the tray with the electrode inside.

Abstract: An adjustable dental drill guide for locating and permitting the drilling of accurately spaced apart holes for receiving a dental retaining splint. The drill guide includes two telescopically arranged portions which can be secured together in a preselected extended position to form a composite rigid body member. A locating pin depends from the distal end of one of the portions for being received in a hole provided in a first tooth when the body member is disposed in a channel extending from the first tooth to at least one adjacent tooth. A drill bushing passes through the distal end of the other body portion and extends upwardly therefrom for guiding a drill during formation of a hole in an adjacent tooth. Preferably, the body portion provided with the locating pin is a bar, and the body portion provided with the drill bushing is a hollow member for slidably receiving the bar therein.

Abstract: A dental guide for locating suitable positions at which bores are to be drilled in teeth for receiving a dental retaining splint, the guide being formed of a material which is detectable under x-rays. The guide includes a continuous rod shaped into a configuration having a U-shaped front section for overlying the labial surface of the teeth. The legs of the U-shaped front section extend into laterally disposed arms for overlying the occlusal surface of the teeth, and the arms terminate in downwardly extending pins. Each of the pins respectively is disposed in a common plane with an associated one of the legs of the U-shaped front section. With the pins positioned in drill guides, an x-ray taken of the teeth will reveal the location of the legs of the U-shaped section with respect to the teeth, so that a proper orientation of the bores to be drilled can be determined.

Abstract: A dental positioning device for facilitating the accurate placement of a drill guide on teeth in order to drill spaced apart aligned bores in which a dental retaining splint is to be received. The positioning device is formed of a continuous wire including a U-shaped top section lying in a horizontal plane with an anchoring pin vertically extending from one arm of the top section, and a loop depending from the other arm thereof, the loop also lying in a horizontal plane. The anchoring pin is inserted through the axial opening of a first tubular member upwardly extending from a drill guide and further inserted into a first hole drilled in the tooth. The loop fits around a second tubular member also extending upwardly from the drill guide and spaced from the first tubular member. The axial opening in the second tubular member is then used to drill a second hole accurately spaced apart from the first hole.

Abstract: A dental splinting device includes an elongated bar-like member having a tapered mid-section along its elongated direction, which separates wider end sections to provide a dog bone-like configuration. A substantially flat surface is provided on one face thereof, and four cylindrical members extend perpendicularly from that face. The cylindrical members are received in bores provided in adjacent teeth, with the body member being disposed in a channel extending between the adjacent teeth. The bar-like member has a U-shaped or V-shaped cross sectional configuration. In use, a channel is formed across the adjacent teeth and then bores are formed, preferably using the dental splinting device, in the adjacent teeth registered so as to receive the cylindrical members. The splinting device is then positioned in the channel with the cylindrical members disposed in the bores, and an inlay fills in the channel and covers the splinting device.