Abstract: The present invention relates to dental devices utilized during the restoration of teeth and more particularly a dental wedge, for use in the inter-proximal space between adjacent teeth, the dental wedge comprising: a wedge body; and a guard releasably engaged to the wedge body, wherein the guard is transformable between a first position adjoined the wedge body and a second position disengaged from the wedge body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dental crowns for use in restoring a prepared tooth wherein the dental crown comprises a universally sized crown shell and crown matrix to enable the sizing and fitting of the dental crown to the patient in a single sitting and without an impression or laboratory procedure.

Abstract: A matrix band retainer for dental restoration has a unitary member of a stiff planar spring material. The unitary member has an open ring substantially in a first plane, with the plane of the material of the ring perpendicular to the first plane. A tine at each end of the open ring extends substantially normal to the plane of the ring. Each tine has a first planar portion extending from the ring and a second planar portion extending from the first planar portion. The second planar portion is at an angle to the first planar portion and adjoins the first planar portion to define a ridge. The ridges of each tine face each other across a gap. Each tine may be bifurcated at the end distal from the ring so that the distal portion of each of the first planar portion and the second planar portion are divided by a notch. A dental wedge can be inserted through the notch with the matrix band retainer in place.

Abstract: A dental contact matrix system is described for the placement of dental fillings. The dental contact matrix system includes a matrix, a retainer for placing and retaining the 5 matrix and an elastic wedge. The retainer includes two lugs or tines that fit between two teeth on the buccal and lingual sides of the teeth. The lugs are connected by spring member that presses the lugs against the lingual and buccal sides of the teeth. There is an adaptation to hold the elastic wedge in a stretched condition between the lugs.