Abstract: Appliances for intraoral delivery of agents are provided. In some embodiments, an appliance includes a shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to apply a repositioning force to a patient's teeth, and the outer surface oriented away from the patient's teeth. The appliance can also include a reservoir integrally formed in the outer surface of the shell, the reservoir being configured to store at least one agent. The appliance can further include a membrane covering at least a portion of the reservoir to control release of the agent into an intraoral cavity of the patient. The membrane can include a plurality of pores that are configured to open based at least in part on a temperature of the patient's intraoral cavity to allow the at least one agent to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A dental prophylactic treatment device having: a prophylactic contra-angle handpiece having a handle part extending along a longitudinal axis, a head part adjoining the handle part, a tool holder rotatably disposed in the head part and extending along an axis of rotation, wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle part and the axis of rotation of the head part are disposed at an angle to one another, and a dental tool having a tool shaft and a prophylactic treatment section, wherein the tool shaft extends from a handpiece end of the dental tool over a length up to the prophylactic treatment section, wherein at least a section of the tool shaft is detachably received in the tool holder, so that the dental tool together with the tool holder can be rotated about the axis of rotation, and wherein the length of the tool shaft is a maximum of 10.0 mm.

Abstract: Wax-based compositions for making barrier layers used in oral treatment devices are thermally stable when formed into a flat sheet or three-dimensional article to a temperature of at least 45° C. and are plastically deformable at room temperature (25° C.). The wax-based compositions include a wax fraction homogeneously blended with a polymer fraction. The wax fraction includes at least one wax and the polymer fraction includes at least one polymer selected such that, when the at least one wax and at least one polymer are homogeneously blended together, they yield a wax-based composition having the desired properties of thermal stability and plastic deformability. Barrier layers and oral treatment devices made from such wax-based compositions are dimensionally stable to a temperature of at least 40° C. without external support and can be plastically deformed in a user's mouth to become at least partially customized to the size and shape of user's unique dentition.

Abstract: A root canal treatment instrument 100 continues drive of a cutting tool 5 in forward rotation drive until reaching 180 degrees, and when a load applied to the cutting tool 5 is equal to or greater than a reference load, drive of the cutting tool 5 is switched to reverse rotation drive until reaching 90 degrees. In the root canal treatment instrument 100, when a cumulative amount of rotation is equal to or greater than a reference amount of rotation, change to a drive pattern is made, forward rotation drive is continued until reaching 90 degrees, and when a load applied to the cutting tool 5 is equal to or greater than the reference load, drive of the cutting tool 5 is switched to reverse rotation drive until reaching 180 degrees.

Abstract: A mouth mirror apparatus includes a carrier seat that has first and second receiving spaces and multiple outlet passages embedded in a surrounding wall and intercommunicating the first and second receiving spaces. The mouth mirror apparatus further includes a handle grip cooperating with the carrier seat to define an air inlet passage that communicates with the second receiving space, a mirror body rotatably disposed in the first receiving space, and an impeller connected to the mirror body and driven by air which flows from the air inlet passage. Through combination of the mirror body, the impeller, and the arrangement of the air outlet passages, the mouth mirror apparatus can direct air current to render different functions.

Abstract: A curable composite material containing nanodiamonds, denture bases and other dental prosthetics made from the composite material and methods for treating dental stomatitis using these prosthetics.

Abstract: A comparative orthodontic treatment planning tool that can provide multiple treatment plan options based on a single initial tooth data set. A user can use the treatment planning tool to select a treatment plan based on factors, including cost, treatment duration, treatment complexity, and material or feature selection. Tooth arrangements at different treatment stages can be compared. In some cases, a tooth arrangement at one treatment stage can be superimposed over a tooth arrangement at a different treatment stage or over a tooth arrangement from a different treatment plan.

Abstract: A curable composite material containing nanodiamonds, denture bases and other dental prosthetics made from the composite material and methods for treating dental stomatitis using these prosthetics.

Abstract: An adjustable denture retention system may include an elongated baseplate configured for adjustable longitudinal positioning within a mouth of a patient. The baseplate may be adapted to magnetically engage a denture in order to retain the denture in place in the mouth without the use of an adhesive. The denture may include one or more magnets and the baseplate may include a ferromagnetic material. The system may include spacers for engaging permanent dental implants within the patient's mouth and for spacing the baseplate from the gingiva to promote dental hygiene. A number of spacers of different heights allows for an adjustable height of the baseplate above the gingiva regardless of the thickness of the gingiva.

Abstract: A dual aligner assembly including a plurality of aligners, including a first aligner and a second aligner. The first aligner has a first shape corresponding to a set of target tooth positions and applies an orthodontic force against a set of target teeth. The first orthodontic force generates movement of the set of target teeth to the set of target tooth positions. The second aligner has a second shape corresponding to a combination of current tooth positions of the set of target teeth, the set of target tooth positions, and a thickness of the first aligner. The second aligner partially encloses the first aligner and provides an anchor for at least a portion of the first aligner. Via the anchor, a combination of the first aligner and the second aligner provides an orthodontic force that prevents the set of target teeth from moving to unwanted tooth positions during orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: Methods for designing orthodontic appliances for repositioning a patient's teeth are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a movement path to move one or more teeth from an initial arrangement to a target arrangement, determining a force system to produce movement of the one or more teeth along the movement path, and determining an appliance geometry for an orthodontic appliance configured to produce the force system. The orthodontic appliance can include an outer shell comprising a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities and an inner structure positioned on an inner surface of the outer shell. The inner structure can have an elastic modulus different than an elastic modulus of the outer shell. The method can also include generating instructions for directly fabricating the orthodontic appliance using a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing technique.

Abstract: Systems for modeling a patient's teeth are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes a scanner operable to capture a scanned image of at least a portion of a surface of a first crown component of a first patient tooth, and to generate scanned image data representing a partial portion of the surface of the first crown component. The system can also include a processor configured to create a digital data set representing the scanned image data, select a digital tooth template that includes a second digital crown portion corresponding to the scanned image, create a morphed digital tooth crown model based on the selected digital tooth template, and merge the morphed digital tooth crown model with the digital data set representing the scanned image data of the first patient tooth to generate a complete digital patient tooth crown model.

Abstract: Ultrasonic devices, systems, and methods for orthodontic treatment performed with aligners are described. Such devices, systems, and methods are to provide multiplicative treatment duration shortening for patients under orthodontic treatment with aligners, such as clear aligners. Communication of desired ultrasound treatment can be communicated from an aligner to an ultrasound device by a communication module using an identification number on the aligner and entering the identification number into the system, an identification number on an external document and entering the identification number into the system, a scannable code and code reader, and an assessment by a dentist and entering the assessment into the system, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder and RFID reader, a change in material properties of the aligner and reading the material properties, or a change in optical properties and reading the optical properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dental implant (1) having a post part (2) which can be placed in a jaw bone and having a structural part (4) associated with said post part, to which structural part a denture piece can be attached, the structural part comprising an integrally molded contact pin (8) which can be placed in an associated shaped recess (10) in the post part (2) with a positive fit, it is to be possible on the one hand to suitably index the implant in a simple and reliable manner, on the other hand a particularly high level of mechanical stability against rotation being ensured, even with an overall height which is kept low.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a treatment plan for arch expansion where a polymeric shell appliance is utilized to generate one or more activation forces that facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: Dental matrix band devices including a housing with a band, a tensioning device for the band with the control for the tensioning mechanism controllable by a control knob external to the housing, and at least one deflector pushbutton. The deflector pushbutton(s) applies pressure on an upper or lower portion of the band causing the geometry of the band to change. The resulting band geometry forms a conical loop better matching the configuration of a tooth. In one embodiment two deflector pushbuttons are provided and positioned to apply pressure on the upper or lower portion of the band depending on which deflector pushbutton is depressed in the housing. In another embodiment a single deflector pushbutton unit is provided with a pushbutton at each end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dental implant with a post element that can be inserted into a jawbone with a mounting element attached to the post element, and a dental element affixed to the mounting element, with the post element designed as a ceramic body of yttrium and/or aluminum oxide stabilized zirconium oxide. The dental implant should have an even additionally improved ingrowth or integration behavior during the osseous implant healing, compared with the prior art.

Abstract: Bone-secured dental arch veneers and methods for fabricating and utilizing the same. The dental arch veneers include a veneer assembly having one or more tooth veneers and a support structure configured to support the tooth veneer(s). The dental arch veneers also include a coupling structure configured to interconnect the veneer assembly to a bone mount that is anchored along a user's maxilla or mandible. The coupling structure also is configured to permit the veneer assembly to be selectively and repeatedly interconnected with and disconnected from the bone mount. The methods include determining a target region within the user's mouth, obtaining a representation of the target region, manipulating the representation to create a desired arrangement of the user's teeth within the target region, determining anchoring positions proximate the target region for anchoring the bone mount, and forming the dental arch veneer based on the anchoring positions and the desired arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental prosthesis forming block (10) for producing a dental prosthesis (50). The forming block having a pin (20) with a self-tapping outer thread, which is arranged on a first surface (11) of the dental prosthesis forming block (10). The invention further relates to a method for producing a dental prosthesis (50). In this method the dental prosthesis block (10) is provided and the dental prosthesis (50) is produced by removing material from the dental prosthesis forming block (10) by a CAD/CAM method, such that the pin (20) forms part of the finished dental prosthesis (50).

Abstract: Provided is a non-incisional dental implant surgical method, and more particularly, a non-incisional dental implant surgical method using a guide pin, whereby a dental implant surgery may be conducted accurately by easily determining an outer shape of an alveolar bone of a patient, into which an implant fixture is to be placed, when forming an implant hole in the alveolar bone and placing the implant fixture in the implant hole to place an implant in the alveolar bone of the patient.