Abstract: A dental water jet flossing apparatus comprises an elongated, flexible tubing attached at one of its ends directly to a household water supply, preferably at a point where water temperature can be controlled, as at the water outlet pipe mounting a shower head. The opposite end of the tubing is connected to a hand-held unit that is configured to releasably mount a dental water jet nozzle. A water flow control valve is included in the hand unit and configured to engage the flexible tubing and selectively constrict the latter to various desired degrees to selectively control the amount and rate of water delivered through the tubing and hence expelled from the nozzle. A syphon cup containing mouthwash or the like may be provided in-line to meter desired fluids into the water being delivered out of the nozzle and into the user's mouth.

Abstract: In root canal preparation, there is provided a smooth sided pilot ended endodontic K-type file, a K-type reamer file, a H-type Hedstroem file, an S-type file, and a R-type file (rhomboid), with the safe end of the instrument or file measured from D1 from 1-3 mm before the cutting edges are developed on all types of endodontic cutting instruments and on all sizes from 06-140.The smooth sided pilot end of the apex file can be incrementally increased based upon the increasing size of the instruments. For example, #15=1 mm smooth sided pilot end, #20=2 mm safe end, #25=3 mm smooth sided pilot end, etc. This is to be used for ease with the step back preparation technique. The smooth sided pilot ended apex file instrument has the ability to act as pathfinder into the root canal without damaging the apex portion during this phase.The smooth sided pilot ended endodontic file of this invention avoids forcing debris and filling material out the apex and creates a proper apical stop of proper retention and resistance.

Abstract: An improved dental instrument is provided for facilitated placement of retraction cord into the gingival crevice surrounding a tooth. The instrument includes a narrow working tip defining a concave and face adapted for secure, substantially slip-free engagement with retraction cord in the course of packing the cord into the gingival crevice. The retraction cord can thus be placed quickly and easily without significant risk of damage to periodontal attachment tissue at the base of the gingival crevice.

Abstract: Dental implant fixtures having external diameters less than 3.0 mm., and external threads which are deeper at the apical end of the fixture than elsewhere are described. The deeper threads near the apical end serve to pull the fixture into a prepared bore in the patient's jawbone. There results a firm close contact between the fixture and the host bone to promote osseointegration. Ultra-slim implant fixtures are provided which can be used in thin sections of human jawbone where dental implants were previously contra-indicated.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthodontic bracket assembly having a trapezoidal configuration for ease of positioning and aligning the bracket on the tooth. The bracket assembly comprises a pair of tie wings, each having non-parallel mesial and distal edges and further having an occlusal edge substantially parallel to the occlusal plane and to the sight line of the archwire slot. The edges of the tie wings form sight lines that intersect at a focal point located at the tip of the root tooth to assist in positioning the bracket. The edges of the tie wings also are substantially parallel to the tooth edges to assist in aligning and positioning the bracket on the tooth. Further, a V groove is provided along the longitudinal axis of the bracket and forms a sight line that also intersects the focal point to facilitate alignment of the bracket during mounting.

Abstract: A dental probe assembly includes a tool having a handle portion at one end thereof and a portion detachably connected to the handle. A probe tip is mounted to the neck portion. The probe tip is a disposable light conducting and emitting member. Light is transmitted to the probe tip. The tool also transmits the amount of light emitted by the probe tip. In use, the probe tip would be inserted into a gum pocket and the amount of light would be sensed which would correspond to the length of the probe tip outside of the pocket. This value would be compared with a standard value which corresponds to the full length of the probe tip and the comparison would indicate the depth of the pocket.

Abstract: A compact vacuum therapy system useful in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction is provided which includes a pump body which is designed for removable mounting on a tube in both storage and operational positions. The pump body includes a reciprocable piston having a circumscribing groove of a width to permit axial shifting of an O-ring sealing member therewithin during movement of the piston within the pump body. The shifting sealing member thus acts as a valve to alternately seal and open a slot defined in the piston transverse to the groove during the reciprocating strokes of the piston. The piston is axially oriented with the intake and the tube when the pump body is mounted to the tube.

Abstract: A radially expandable hair curler comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body, a detachable holding strap stretching from one longitudinal end of the body to the other, and internal mechanical devices for expanding and contracting the curler body.

Abstract: A dental prophylaxis angle formed of molded plastic parts is provided, which includes two accurately supported rotors extending at right angles to each other in an easily manufactured construction. The prophylaxis angle includes an elbow-shaped forward housing member (54, FIG. 2) which surrounds the output rotor (18) and the forward portion of the input rotor (14), and a rearward housing member (60) which snaps into arrangement with the rear of the forward housing member. The rearward housing member has a rotor-engaging shoulder (72) that can abut the shoulder (44) at the rear end of the input rotor forward portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting tooth tissue by generating laser radiation at a wavelength which is absorbed more strongly by hydroxyapatite than by water; producing a succession of pulses of the generated radiation with an energy level, pulse duration, and repetition rate selected to cut the tooth tissue without causing harmful side effects; and concentrating the radiation pulses on the tissue to a spot sufficiently small to cause cutting of the tissue.

Abstract: For the separation of a mixture of solids and liquids, which is produced in dental suction units, a separator is used which comprises a housing in which a mixture inlet, a liquid collecting chamber and a lower sedimentation chamber are provided. A drain opening for clarified liquid is associated with the liquid collecting chamber. The drain opening is arranged above a maximum settling level of the solids, and a first section of a drain line extends vertically upwards from the drain opening. To eliminate disturbance of the settling of solids in the sedimentation chamber to the greatest possible extent, the collected clarified liquid is discharged in each case, when a predetermined flood level of the first section of the drain line is reached. The sedimentation chamber is formed in a removable collector bowl so that the collected solids can be discharged.

Abstract: A plurality of strands are disposed in a braided relationship to form a multi-strand filament. Each of the strands is formed from a material having substantially fifty five percent (55%) titanium and forty five percent (45%) nickel by weight. The strands have the properties of being formed to any desired configuration in an arched relationship at a suitable temperature such as approximately 490.degree. C. The multi-strand configuration is then bent from the desired configuration at a temperature below a particular temperature such as 10.degree. C.-15.degree. C. to conform to the actual configuration of the teeth in the patient's mouth and is attached to the patient's teeth in this bent configuration. The multi-strand filament returns to the desired configuration while attached to the patient's teeth, thereby causing the position of the teeth in the patient's mouth to become disposed in the desired configuration. In another embodiment, the multi-strand braid envelopes a centrally disposed wire.

Abstract: An improved display device, which includes an enclosure having first and second opposing planar sections each having at least one opening formed therein. A plurality of elongated spools are mounted inside the enclosure, a first pair of the spools being disposed at opposing each of the first planar section and aligned along a plane parallel to the plane of the first planar section, a second pair of the spools being disposed at opposing ends of the second planar section and aligned along a plane parallel to the plane of the second planar section. The spools have upper and lower belt engaging devices. A motor is operatively connected to at least one of the spools. Upper and lower endless belts operatively engage the belt engaging devices and sequentially connect the plurality of spools, effecting simultaneous rotation thereof.

Abstract: Differences in the diameters of successive cutting instruments, either hand- or engine-powered, within sets of instruments described herein progress sequentially by constant percentages of increase, rather than by constant linear increase as is currently the practice in the dental manufacturing industry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dental equipment for treating a root canal. According to the present invention, two input signals with different frequencies are superposed. The difference between impedances corresponding to the two different frequencies at a given position in the root canal where the impedances hardly vary, is obtained. This value and a clinically determined value are used to detect the desired position in the root canal.

Abstract: The device for extracting dental crowns has two levers, each having a handgrip and a jaw. The levers are pivotally connected so that the jaws are moved apart by moving the handgrips closer together. A body is articulated to one of the jaws and guided in a seat of the other jaw, and supports two opposite hook-like elements which oscillate in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the levers. The other jaw has abutments adapted to rest on teeth adjacent the crown to be extracted. In the position of mutual approach of the jaws, the hook-like elements engage the edges of the crown so that by acting on the levers a force is exerted for the extraction of the crown against the resting reaction of the abutments on the adjacent teeth.

Abstract: A heater for dental impression compound includes an insulative holder made of two hinged Teflon leaves which hold a metal container against an electrically heated plate to elevate the temperature of the compound to a working temperature. The holder enables manual handling of the heated container.

Abstract: A dental tape is disclosed comprising a light-curable, non-toxic paste layered between two cover sheets, at least one of which releasably adheres to the paste, and a dental article is disclosed comprising an orthodontic bracket having a base and a light-curable, non-toxic paste sandwiched between the base and a releasably adhering substrate.

Abstract: A dental fixator device includes a vertical staff, an upper horizontal arm, a lower horizontal arm, and a pair of clamps on each of the two arms, one of the clamps of each arm being adjacent the rear thereof and slidable on a jig towards the front clamp of the arm, each pair of clamps thereby holding releasably a dental model or cast against the associated arm. The clamps can be pivoted in a horizontal plane and include barrel-shaped serrated gripping surfaces on opposite ends thereof. Each arm has a front flange through which a longitudinal screw runs to the jig for moving the jig along the arm. The upper arm is connected to a cylinder, in turn connected to the staff so that the arm can be rotated around its longitudinal axis. The front end of the cylinder may be pivotably connected to the upper arm and locked in position at a selected angle to the cylinder to accommodate work on the dental models or casts borne on the arms.

Abstract: Dispensing device for dispensing orthodontic O-rings wherein the O-rings are individually dispensed and are easily accessible.