Abstract: A composite filler comprising thermally processed porous inorganic mixed particles of silica and at least one heteroparticle selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, or yttria and a polymer occupying the pores of the porous inorganic mixed particles, wherein the porous inorganic mixed particles are thermally processed at a temperature of from 650 to 900° C., as well as a dental restorative comprising a resin and a composite filler, and optionally other fillers, wherein said resin has a refractive index that increases upon curing, and wherein the opacities of the both uncured and cured restorative are less than 45.

Abstract: A user-wearable illumination assembly comprising eyeglass frames supporting a pair of lenses, a mounting structure on a bridge of the eyeglass frames, a headlamp removably coupled to the mounting structure, a battery housing removably coupled to the headlamp, and a battery inside the battery housing.

Abstract: A user-wearable illumination assembly comprising eyeglass frames supporting a pair of lenses, a mounting structure on a bridge of the eyeglass frames, a headlamp removably coupled to the mounting structure, a battery housing removably coupled to the headlamp, and a battery inside the battery housing.

Abstract: A loupe assembly that provides enhanced protection against the transmission of infectious diseases from a patient to a dental professional. In various embodiments, the loupe further inhibits the transparencies of the eyewear frame from fogging by providing a humidity sponge on the transparencies or in close proximity thereto.

Abstract: A composite filler comprising thermally processed porous inorganic mixed particles of silica and at least one heteroparticle selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, or yttria and a polymer occupying the pores of the porous inorganic mixed particles, wherein the porous inorganic mixed particles are thermally processed at a temperature of from 650 to 900° C., as well as a dental restorative comprising a resin and a composite filler, and optionally other fillers, wherein said resin has a refractive index that increases upon curing, and wherein the opacities of the both uncured and cured restorative are less than 45.

Abstract: A composite filler comprising thermally processed porous inorganic mixed particles of silica and at least one heteroparticle selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, or yttria and a polymer occupying the pores of the porous inorganic mixed particles, wherein the porous inorganic mixed particles are thermally processed at a temperature of from 650 to 900° C., as well as a dental restorative comprising a resin and a composite filler, and optionally other fillers, wherein said resin has a refractive index that increases upon curing, and wherein the opacities of the both uncured and cured restorative are less than 45.

Abstract: Described herein are directed to dental filler particles and methods of making the same. The dental filler particles include a polymer coating with a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated groups on the surface of the coating. Also described herein are dental restorative materials comprising the particles.

Abstract: Rotational alignment apparatus and methods for interchangeable loupe telescope(s) are provided. Some embodiments include an indexing ring including a projection. The ring is fixed to the telescope upon rotational alignment of the telescope. The alignment may involve use of a laser and test fixture. The projection mates with a corresponding indexing notch of a loupe anchoring device. Loupes may comprise one or more anchor assemblies, and one or more interchangeable telescope assemblies. The interchangeable telescope assemblies are held to the anchor assemblies by magnetic attraction between one or more magnets and/or one or more magnetic components affixed to corresponding surfaces of the corresponding assemblies. Mating of the projection with the notch ensures appropriate relative rotational alignment of the assemblies.

Abstract: A user-wearable illumination assembly comprising eyeglass frames supporting a pair of lenses, a mounting structure on a bridge of the eyeglass frames, a headlamp removably coupled to the mounting structure, a battery housing removably coupled to the headlamp, and a battery inside the battery housing.

Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.

Abstract: A headlight of the type worn by medical and dental professionals includes a housing having an opening therein. A light source is positioned in the housing to output light through the opening. A singlet lens is mounted in the housing proximate the opening, and a doublet lens is disposed between the light source and the singlet lens.

Abstract: A method of treating a hoof of an ungulate animal. The method comprises coating one or both of (i) at least a portion of a bottom surface of the hoof or (ii) at least a portion of a block surface with a curable polymer and allowing the polymer to cure for a period of time. The polymer is cured within 60 seconds or less of the coating and the cured polymer has a Shore D hardness of about 10 to about 50. The curable polymer is provided as a two component system. The first component is a reaction product of (a) comprises 4-4?-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate, castor oil, isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and wherein (b) comprises dicyclohexylmethane-4,4-diisocyanate, polyether polyol, 4,4?-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI), and triethoxy(3-isocyanatopropyle)silane. The second component comprises polyoxypropylene oxide ether polyol, diol (2000 MW), polyxoypropylene oxide ether polyol, triol (450 MW), tetrahydroxypropylethylendiamine, metaxylenediamine, and organobismuth catalyst.

Abstract: A curing light device includes a body with a tip portion that has a plurality of elements for providing electrical energy to the distal end of the tip and for removing heat from the distal end of the tip. A light engine includes at least one light emitting element operable for emitting light and is positioned on the distal end of the tip portion. A power supply is positioned in the body and is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element. Spring electrical contacts are positioned in the body and electrically coupled with the ultracapacitor element. The spring electrical contacts are spaced along the length of the body and configured for electrically engaging the tip portion along its length for delivering power to the light engine and for provide a spring alignment of the tip portion in the body.

Abstract: An adapter for coupling a compule with a dental handpiece including a piston. The compule contains a dental material. The adapter includes a coupling portion that defines openings for attaching the adapter to the compule and for attaching the adapter to the dental handpiece. A plunger portion extends through one opening and engages the piston. A breakable tab connects the coupling portion and the plunger portion and breaks during dispensing of the material. The plunger portion is then movable relative to the coupling portion. A tip for use with the dental handpiece includes a housing that defines a chamber. A needle extends from the housing and defines a lumen having an opening from which the dental material is dispensed. A plunger slides within the chamber to push the dental material through the lumen and includes a rib that seals the plunger against the chamber during sliding movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A user-wearable illumination assembly comprising eyeglass frames supporting a pair of lenses, a mounting structure on a bridge of the eyeglass frames, a headlamp removably coupled to the mounting structure, a battery housing removably coupled to the headlamp, and a battery inside the battery housing.

Abstract: In one aspect, a user-wearable illumination assembly includes eyeglass frames and a headlamp removably coupled to the eyeglass frames. Electrical circuitry may be integrated with the eyeglass frames. The headlamp and the eyeglass frames have mounting structure that cooperate to removably support the headlamp thereon. A light source is disposed within the headlamp and electrical communication between the light source and the electrical circuitry of the eyeglass frames is provided by electrical contacts associated with the mounting structures of the headlamp and eyeglass frames. In another aspect, a user-wearable illumination assembly for use with eyeglass frames includes a clip assembly that is selectively removably couplable to a bridge portion of the eyeglass frames, and a headlamp coupled to the clip assembly. The illumination assembly further includes a battery that is selectively removably couplable to the eyeglass frames and at least one electrical conductor coupling the battery to the headlamp.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method for forming an all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute for a hoof having a hoof side wall and bottom wall forming an interior recess, where the method comprises adding a resin formulation to the interior recess of the hoof to form a resin plug that substantially fills an entirety of the interior recess and extends a predetermined amount beyond the bottom wall of the hoof for ground contact. The resin formulation is configured to freely flow throughout the interior recess of the hoof when added thereto and cure at a predetermined rate to form the resin plug without spillage of the resin formulation from the hoof. The formed resin plug is not attached to an external shoe. Embodiments are also directed to the all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitutes for a hoof formed via such method.

Abstract: A curing light device for curing a compound includes a housing and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. A light emitting device operable for emitting light in a wavelength range suitable for curing a light curable compound is positioned at the distal end of the tip structure. Electrical components are positioned at the proximal end of the tip structure and coupled with the at least one light emitting device and are configured for engaging complementary electrical components positioned in the housing for providing power to the light emitting device. A portion of the tip structure extends beyond the proximal end of the tip structure and is configured to be received by a feature in the housing for physically aligning the tip structure in the housing and for aligning the electrical components. A power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes an ultracapacitor element.

Abstract: A curing light device includes a body with a tip portion that has a plurality of elements for providing electrical energy to the distal end of the tip and for removing heat from the distal end of the tip. A light engine includes at least one light emitting element operable for emitting light and is positioned on the distal end of the tip portion. A power supply is positioned in the body and is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element. Spring electrical contacts are positioned in the body and electrically coupled with the ultracapacitor element. The spring electrical contacts are spaced along the length of the body and configured for electrically engaging the tip portion along its length for delivering power to the light engine and for provide a spring alignment of the tip portion in the body.

Abstract: A dental restorative composition is provided that includes a polymerizable resin, a substantially translucent structural filler, a nanofiller having a mean particle size less than 100 nm, and at least one rheology-modifying additive. In one embodiment, the structural filler has a refractive index substantially similar to that of the polymerizable resin, a coarse particle fraction, and a fine particle fraction having a mean particle size greater than 0.1 ?m and smaller than the mean particle size of the coarse particle fraction. The relative ratio of the coarse particle fraction to the fine particle fraction is in the range from about 12:1 to about 2:1 by volume, the particle size distribution of each fraction is essentially monomodal, and the D(90) of the fine particle fraction is less than or equal to the D(10) of the coarse particle fraction.