Abstract: A handheld dental instrument has a horizontal level indicator and a vertical midline angle marker pin mounted on a bite line plate. The bite line plate has an arcuate front and a pair of protruding positioning pins. The bite line plate is rotatably mounted to a handle. The dental device is used in the formation of custom fitted lab fabricated dental prosthesis to improve dental bite registration recording of a patient's horizontal and vertical angles by the dentist and transferred to the dental lab technician to permit the formation of a prosthesis.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket design is disclosed together with the associated method of attachment to a tooth wherein the bracket contains an integral light source such as a solid state emitter. The bracket is placed on a tooth using a tool that also provides electrical power to the bracket to cause the integral light emitter to produce radiation of an appropriate wavelength to cure the adhesive used to attach the bracket to a tooth. The electrically powered bracket system overcomes many of the variabilities associated with the current clinical present practice of bonding orthodontic brackets to teeth to provide faster, stronger, and more consistent bonding.

Abstract: An orthodontic model has a single block body made of catalyzing acrylic resin with a pair of prism boxes inversely positioned and interconnected by a pair of posterior walls with a window, the prism boxes have covers of the same shape and are provided with perimetral depressions for fitting to the boxes and to reach a welding of edges of each dental arch or the model, and a method of its production is proposed.

Abstract: A dental material delivery system includes an applicator having a proximal segment, a median bending segment and a tip; an elongated handle; and a cap. The proximal segment of the applicator is nonremovably frictionally mounted within a proximal bore section of the handle, the median bending segment of the applicator is aligned generally longitudinally with an annular weakened wall line of the handle, and the tip of the applicator extends into a distal bore section of the handle. A quantity of dental material is disposed within the distal section of the handle. The cap is mounted to the handle adjacent the distal end of the handle to seal the handle. The wall of the handle is separable at the annular weakened wall line to permit withdrawal of the applicator tip and transfer of the dental material to a surface.

Abstract: Endosseous dental implants include an at least partly, externally-threaded body portion, an internal cavity or shaft with an opening to the cavity or shaft at the top surface of the implant, and, in the internal cavity or shaft, a threaded portion, and a two part interlock chamber contiguous to said threaded portion including multi-lobed surfaces in a first part, and a plurality of lobes, slots or grooves in a second part.

Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets include a marking system for identifying which tooth or subset of teeth a specific bracket within a set of non-identical brackets pertains and/or for assisting in aligning a bracket on a tooth. The bracket includes a temporarily visible mark that is visible during placement of the bracket onto a tooth but which does not remain visible during long term use of the orthodontic bracket to straighten teeth. The marking may be removable or it may be hidden during use of the bracket to straighten teeth. The orthodontic brackets are advantageously included within a set or kit intended for placement onto the teeth of a patient. They advantageously include a ligation cover selectively movable between an open, non-ligating position relative to an arch wire slot in a bracket base and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot.

Abstract: A system and method for tooth bleaching are disclosed wherein a patient's mouth is prepped for tooth bleaching treatment, a light activated tooth bleaching composition is applied on a tooth surface to be bleached, a lamp assembly is placed in position to activate the oxidizing compound in the bleaching composition, and one or more spacer is coupled to the patient and to the lamp assembly to set a distance between the two.

Abstract: A dental scaler for cleaning teeth having an orthodontic appliance. The scaler includes a handle with at least one scaling portion having a scaling element. The scaling portion of the device consists of a plurality of sections connected by a plurality of angles and is designed to permit the scaling element to fit between a brace wire and a tooth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a utility line extension and retraction system for enabling users thereof to selectively extend a utility line for utility line use and retract the utility line for utility line storage. The utility line extension and retraction system essentially comprises a plurality of utility line cassettes. Each utility line cassette essentially comprises two laterally-spaced, pulley-receiving walls, an anterior line outlet end, a posterior line inlet end, a stationary pulley assembly adjacent the anterior line outlet end; a traveling pulley assembly intermediate the anterior line outlet end and the posterior line inlet end, and a utility line extending from the posterior line inlet end to the anterior line outlet end, which line imparts motion to the traveling pulley assembly. The traveling pulley assembly travels along a closed path comprising an ascension path, a descension path, and an extended-state rest stop intermediate the ascension and descension paths.

Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic appliance including a base, one or more pivotally and movably mounted jaws on the base, and a spring member actuable to coact with the base and jaws and selectively move the jaws between open and closed positions.