Abstract: Orthodontic force modules and assemblies for use in correcting class II and/or class III malocclusions include an elongate hollow outer body extending between proximal and distal ends, a plunger, spring, and push rod. The plunger and push rod are slidably received within different ends of the hollow outer body. The spring is positioned within the hollow outer body and provides an expansion force during use as the force modules or assemblies is compressed (e.g., when closing the jaw). The expansion force provides a desired corrective force for corrective Class II and/or III malocclusions. The outer body, plunger, spring, and push rod can be configured in a telescoping relationship in order for the components to be telescopically compressed and expanded during use. The distal end can include a bendable pin or latch mechanism for attachment to a buccal tube. The push rod can include a hook, hole, or slot for attachment to an archwire.

Abstract: Methods and associated kits for use in selectively conditioning and remineralizing teeth. An exemplary method comprises the steps of applying a conditioning composition to one or more of a person's teeth, and applying a remineralizing composition to the person's teeth. The conditioning composition includes a conditioning agent, and the remineralizing composition includes a remineralizing agent comprising calcium ions and/or fluoride ions. The conditioning composition may be applied prior to or after application of the remineralizing composition. In one embodiment, both the conditioning composition and the remineralizing composition include different remineralizing ions (e.g., one including calcium, one including fluoride).

Abstract: A hollow syringe barrel for use in syringe mixing systems for mixing a two-component composition. A hollow body of the syringe barrel includes a proximal end, a distal end, and continuous cylindrical wall defining an internal chamber for containing a first component. A rupturable membrane disposed at the distal end caps and seals off a single dispensing orifice. A second syringe barrel can be coupled to the distal end of the hollow syringe barrel to form a syringe-to-syringe mixing system. First and second plungers disposed within the hollow syringe barrel and second syringe barrel, respectively, are used to mix and cycle back and forth first and second components initially contained within the hollow syringe barrel and second syringe barrel. The two components are initially separated by the rupturable membrane, which is irreversibly ruptured by applying sufficient pressure to the first plunger within the hollow syringe barrel prior to mixing.

Abstract: Dental bleaching compositions include a dental bleaching agent, a generally linear high molecular weight (i.e., greater than about 500,000) polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and/or polyethylene oxide (PEO) tissue adhesion agent included in amount that imparts a high level of adhesiveness, a rheology-modifying agent such as fumed silica or fumed alumina that reduces or eliminates stringiness otherwise caused by the high molecular weight PVP and/or PEO, and a solvent or carrier. Dental bleaching compositions may include carboxypolymethylene instead of or in addition to PVP and/or PEO, wherein the fumed silica or fumed alumina increases long-term rheological stability even in the presence of a high concentration of dental bleaching agent. Dental treatment devices including a barrier layer and a quantity of the dental bleaching composition positioned adjacent to the barrier layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to laser etched, sintered ceramic orthodontic brackets. Such a bracket can comprise a working surface including an archwire slot and a ligating structure. The bracket can also include a laser etched tooth attachment surface that is laser etched after sintering of the ceramic orthodontic bracket. In another example, a method of increasing the average bonding strength of a sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket can comprise laser etching a tooth attachment surface of the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket. In one specific example, the method can further comprise the preliminary steps of forming a ceramic material into a shape of an orthodontic bracket and sintering the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: Composition and methods include a dental bleaching agent, potassium nitrate a fluoride salt for enhanced whitening and reduced tooth sensitivity. The potassium nitrate and fluoride salt both reduce or eliminate tooth sensitivity that may otherwise be caused by the bleaching agent. For prolonged treatment of teeth, lower quantities of potassium nitrate (e.g., 0.5%) have actually been found to work better than larger quantities (e.g., 3%). The dental compositions may be applied directly to the person's teeth, or they may be loaded into a comfortable fitting, flexible, thin-walled dental tray and placed over the person's teeth. In that case, the dental compositions will include a tackifying agent, such as carboxypolymethylene, which assists the composition in retaining the dental tray over the person's teeth as a result of the adhesive properties of the dental composition rather than due to mechanical interlocking of the tray over the person's teeth.

Abstract: Coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket systems (100) allow a practitioner to insert one or more ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108) into a metal bracket system (1001), replacing selected metal brackets (102?, 1041, 106?, 108?) with ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108), and vice-versa. Thus, both a ceramic bracket system (100) and a metal bracket system (1001) are provided, in which corresponding brackets of each system include substantially identical “in-out” slot floor cross-sectional thicknesses so that corresponding brackets are interchangeable with each other, without any need for compensating bends or later treatment to correct unintended buccal-lingual tooth movement.

Abstract: Fluoride varnish compositions for temporary application and adhesion to a person's teeth. The composition includes a carrier comprising a resin and an adhesion promoting agent comprising an alkyl phosphoric acid. A fluoride ion source (e.g., a fluoride salt such as sodium fluoride) is dispersed within the carrier so as to provide biologically available fluoride ions to the tooth tissue being treated. The composition adheres only temporarily to tooth tissue (e.g., for a period of at least about 4 minutes, but not more than about 1 year), after which the composition spontaneously wears away as a natural result of the action of the tongue, saliva and/or other factors.

Abstract: A dental bleaching composition comprises a dental bleaching agent and a polyvinylpyrrolidone thickening agent. The bleaching composition may include water, flavoring agents, a basic substance and desensitizing agents, as desired. Polyvinylpyrrolidone avoids acid etching and chelation of teeth that were problematic in bleaches using carbomer as a thickener. A delivery system for delivering the bleaching composition comprises the aforementioned dental bleaching composition in combination with a moisture-resistant barrier layer such as a dental tray or a flexible strip of material.

Abstract: A pin connector for attaching an orthodontic force module to an orthodontic appliance is configured to preferentially bend in a middle segment along an elongate pin body of the pin connector. The pin connector includes an elongate pin body and an extension rod extending laterally from an end of the pin body for interconnecting the pin body and an orthodontic force module. The elongate pin body includes first, second and third segments, with the second segment having reduced cross-sectional diameter relative to the first and third segments so that pin body preferentially bends in the second segment rather than the first and third segments when attaching the orthodontic force module to the orthodontic appliance. This provides a preselected amount of distance or play between the orthodontic force module and the orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A non-custom, dental tray device includes a moisture-resistant barrier layer having a labial-buccal wall, a lingual wall, and a bottom wall. The dental tray device includes at least one of the following structural features to enhance the fit of the device; (1) the bottom wall includes an abrupt reduction of width at a location corresponding to where the first bicuspid meets the canine; (2) a bottom wall in the posterior region having a width that is equal to or less than the width of the bottom wall in the anterior region, with no lingual wall in the posterior region; or (3) a transition portion between the bottom wall and either the labial-buccal wall or the lingual wall has a larger radius of curvature as compared to a radius of curvature at a transition portion between the bottom wall the other of the labial-buccal wall and the lingual wall.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and related systems for evaluating and demonstrating various performance characteristics of one or more dental curing lights. The method and system employs a performance evaluation member (e.g., in the shape of a disc) comprising a carrier material (e.g., any of various suitable polymeric materials) and a color-changing material on or within (e.g., impregnated within) the body material. A user is able to use the performance evaluation member to demonstrate and evaluate performance characteristics relating to the presence of particularly desired wavelengths within the light emitted by a dental curing light, footprint size and shape of emitted light, uniformity of intensity within the emitted footprint, as well as relative intensities of desired wavelengths provided by two or more dental curing lights.

Abstract: Systems and methods for viewing stereoscopic video images are disclosed. One system comprises a first video camera configured to generate a first video feed of a subject. A second video camera is spaced a pupilary distance from the first video camera and configured to generate a second video feed of the subject. A tracking module associated with the first video camera and the second video camera is configured to cause the first video camera and the second video camera to be directed to a desired convergent point relative to a selected tracking point to maintain stereopsis. A zooming module associated with the first video camera and the second video camera is configured to provide a desired magnification of the near real-time stereoscopic video image.

Abstract: A dental curing light system is configured to include a dental curing light (100) having a device body (102) with a proximal handle portion (106) and a distal head portion (104). One or more light sources (120) for generating light are disposed on or within the device body (102). Generated light is emitted from the distal head portion (104) and includes wavelengths greater than about 420 nm and wavelengths less than 420 nm. A separate head attachment member or device (160) is coupleable over the distal head (110) of the device body (102) so as to receive substantially all light emitted from the distal head portion (104) of the device body (102).

Abstract: System and method for teaching a dental practitioner an appropriate pressure to apply during a dental procedure. The system includes a dental tool for use in a dental procedure and a substrate including a coating of a removable scratch-off material. The scratch-off material is adhered to the substrate so as to have an adherence strength that is specifically configured so that the scratch-off material coating is removable from the substrate by manipulating the dental tool against the scratch-off material coating upon application of a minimum threshold pressure that is substantially equal to that to be applied during a selected actual dental procedure. In this manner, an inexperienced practitioner is able to learn the appropriate magnitude of pressure to be applied during a procedure (e.g., application and burnishing of a hemostatic composition into bleeding soft tissue) in a non-threatening environment without having to actually work on a live, bleeding patient.

Abstract: Provided herein is a retraction device for retracting soft tissue from the dental surfaces in the oral cavity of a patient. The retraction device is comprised of a topology conformable structure, where the topology conformable structure is adaptable to be delivered to the oral cavity in a constrained shape. The device can then undergo a conformation change in the oral cavity, where the device transforms into its unconstrained shape. The unconstrained shape of the device creates a useable working field in the oral cavity. The useable working field can provide increased accessibility to and/or visibility within the oral cavity. Also provided herein are methods for using the device and kits.

Abstract: A retraction cord dispenser can comprise a container with an open end and can be configured to hold retraction cord. The dispenser also includes a dispenser cap for attachment to the open end, and comprises a cap body with a narrow passage for dispensing retraction cord from the container, and the narrow passage can be associated with a retention flap to prevent retraction cord from re-entering the container once it has been dispensed.

Abstract: Fluoride varnish compositions for temporary application and adhesion to a person's teeth. The composition includes a carrier comprising a resin and an adhesion promoting agent comprising an alkyl phosphoric acid. A fluoride ion source (e.g., a fluoride salt such as sodium fluoride) is dispersed within the carrier so as to provide biologically available fluoride ions to the tooth tissue being treated. The composition adheres only temporarily to tooth tissue (e.g., for a period of at least about 4 minutes, but not more than about 1 year), after which the composition spontaneously wears away as a natural result of the action of the tongue, saliva and/or other factors.

Abstract: Activating endodontic points and dental tools are sized and configured to be placed in the root canal of a tooth. The activating endodontic points or dental tools are coated or impregnated with a curing agent that initiates or accelerates polymerization of a sealer or filler composition when placed in contact with the sealer or filler material. Curing agents can include amines that can destabilize a peroxide in the sealer or filler material to initiate or accelerate polymerization, or they may comprise the peroxide. An implement can be dipped in a concentrated curing composition just prior to inserting the implement into a root canal to contact the filler or sealer composition. Kits may include a plurality of curing agent compositions having different concentrations and/or amounts of curing agent. Kits may also include a curable resin material that includes a first part of a multi-part curing system and a curing composition that includes, as curing agent a complementary part of the curing system.