Abstract: A dental flosser including a plastic handle having proximal and distal ends, a flosser head at the distal end of the handle, and two spaced apart arms extending from the flosser head. Two distal end portions extend from the arms and secure a strand of floss. The distal end portions may be wider than the respective arms to increase the force required to pull the floss through the distal end portions. The distal end portions may intersect and extend through an interior and exterior plane defined by the interior and exterior surfaces of the arms.

Abstract: A handle of a toothbrush has at least two faces for refracting light. A graphic insert having a visual design is positioned within the handle. Light transmitted from the graphic insert may be refracted by the at least two faces to provide a unique and attractive design. As the handle is rotated, the design may change appearance. The handle may include a front handle part and a rear handle part to hold the graphic insert. A securing material may be overmolded onto the front handle part and rear handle part to secure the two parts relative to one another.

Abstract: A handle for removably attaching to a moldable orthosis positions the orthosis in boiling water. The handle includes an arm with an oral orthosis engaging member at one end. The engaging member includes one of a tab or slot which removably engages the oral orthosis. In a preferred embodiment, the arm further includes a hook-like member for supporting the oral orthosis on the rim of a container of boiling water during the molding process. In one embodiment, the handle forms the cover of a storage case for the orthosis.

Abstract: An oral orthosis includes a holder in the shape of a mouthpiece, including a curved arcuate trough-like upper section which receives a formable material. The formable material does not occupy the entire trough but rather includes voids between the formable material and the inner surfaces of trough of the holder to allow expansion of the formable material into the voids during the molding process when tooth pressure is placed on the formable material. This design results in elimination of the excess formable material which otherwise would require removal by trimming. Additionally, the formable material is placed in the trough in a configuration which includes indexing indentations along the centerline of the material, such that, during the molding process, the mouthpiece containing the formable material is easily centered along the edges of the user's teeth to provide a precise fitting.

Abstract: A replacement head for an electromagnetic toothbrush drive includes a mechanical linkage assembly for converting linear drive motion into rotational movement of the brush head. The mechanical linkage assembly includes a fixed shaft and a lever arm that extend between a movable bottom member and a fixed top member, and a link member rotatably connected to the top member and the brush head. The lever arm pivots about a fulcrum formed in the top member, and engages the link member. When the bottom member oscillates as a results of the actuation of the electromagnet in the drive unit, the lever arm pivots about the fulcrum and drives the link member to rotate in an arc shaped pattern. The rotation of the link member consequently rotates the brush head.

Abstract: An oral orthosis includes a holder in the shape of a mouthpiece, including a curved arcuate trough-like upper section which receives a formable material. The formable material does not occupy the entire trough but rather includes voids between the formable material and the inner surfaces of trough of the holder to allow expansion of the formable material into the voids during the molding process when tooth pressure is placed on the formable material. This design results in elimination of the excess formable material which otherwise would require removal by trimming. Additionally, the formable material is placed in the trough in a configuration which includes indexing indentations along the centerline of the material, such that, during the molding process, the mouthpiece containing the formable material is easily centered along the edges of the user's teeth to provide a precise fitting.

Abstract: A dental flosser including a plastic handle having proximal and distal ends, a flosser head at the distal end of the handle, and two spaced apart arms extending from the flosser head. Two distal end portions extend from the arms and secure a strand of floss. The distal end portions may be wider than the respective arms to increase the force required to pull the floss through the distal end portions. The distal end portions may intersect and extend through an interior and exterior plane defined by the interior and exterior surfaces of the arms.

Abstract: An composition for application to a disordered tissue, the composition including an antipathogenic agent, a healing agent and an optional soothing agent. The antipathogenic agent can include cineole, and the healing agent can include an amino acid such as L-arginine or L-carnosine. The cineole can be of dual function, for example, it can operate as an antipathogenic agent, and also operate to enhance penetration of at least one of the antipathogenic agent, healing agent and/or soothing agent into the disordered tissue, which can be skin of a subject. The disordered tissue can be afflicted by an infection, for example, a Type I herpes infection, and can be in the form of a cold sore. The composition can be in a form, such as a cream or a lip balm, adapted for topical application to the disordered tissue. A method for treating the disordered tissue with the composition is also provided.

Abstract: An oral care composition including a hydrophilic, aliphatic, polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane, a glycol polymer, and a poly(N-vinyl lactam). These components form a tacky film having a thickness of about 1 mils to about 50 mils. A whitening agent, such as a peroxide, can be absorbed into the tacky film, and adapted to desorb from the tacky film to whiten teeth to which the film is joined. A method is also provided in which the components are extruded through a twin screw extruder and output to a die to produce the film. The whitening agent can be deposited on the film and absorbed by the film to form a relatively stable oral care composition including the whitening agent.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head and a movable portion affixed to the head. In one embodiment, the head includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface. A recess extends into the upper surface and includes a floor, and a pair of walls extending upwardly from the floor to the upper surface. A central support may be suspended above the floor by a pair of arms that extend from opposite ends of the central support and into notches in the opposing sidewalls of the recess. A portion of the arms may be affixed in the respective notches, and a portion of the arms may be spaced from the walls of the notches to enable the arms to twist within the notches, and this enable movement of the central support.

Abstract: A one-piece molded bruxism treatment device which in upright orientation has top and bottom parts, including: an elongated band having a generally U-shape defining a closed front end part and legs extending rearward and adapted to be positioned around the outer surfaces of a person's upper gums and teeth, and two generally planar resiliently deformable bite pads oriented generally horizontally, each extending from one of the feet of the band medially toward the other.

Abstract: A dental flossing device formed of a handle has proximal and distal ends, a flosser head extending from the distal end of the handle, the flosser head including a base, two spaced apart arms extending from the base and having distal ends, and a strand of dental floss extending between and secured to the distal ends of the arms, and a hinge connecting the distal end of the handle to the flosser head. The flosser head has a first position generally co-planar with the handle, the flosser head being bendable about the hinge to a second position that is angled relative to the handle. The arms in the first position of the flosser head are spaced apart a first distance. The device includes an engagement latch for securing the flosser head in the second position and urging the distal ends of the arms to be spaced apart a second distance greater than the first distance to thus stretch the strand of dental floss to be more taut.

Abstract: An oral orthosis includes a holder in the shape of a mouthpiece, including a curved arcuate trough-like upper section which receives a formable material. The formable material does not occupy the entire trough but rather includes voids between the formable material and the inner surfaces of trough of the holder to allow expansion of the formable material into the voids during the molding process when tooth pressure is placed on the formable material. This design results in elimination of the excess formable material which otherwise would require removal by trimming. Additionally, the formable material is placed in the trough in a configuration which includes indexing indentations along the centerline of the material, such that, during the molding process, the mouthpiece containing the formable material is easily centered along the edges of the user's teeth to provide a precise fitting.