Abstract: A dental separator device includes an elastic body having a first end and a second end. A first surface engager is connected to the first end of the body. The first surface engager includes a first distal section and a first mesial section and a notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section. The first distal section and the first mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. A second surface engager is connected to the second end of the body. The second surface engager includes a second distal section and a second mesial section, and a notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section. The second distal section and the second mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. The hands are for engaging teeth and/or for creating adaptation pressure on a dental matrix stabilizer and/or dental matrix.

Abstract: A circumferential matrix system having a matrix band and a body, such that the body comprises a handle, a housing and a base, and a spindle within the body is attached to the handle. The matrix band on one end is permanently affixed to the spindle and the matrix band on another end is permanently affixed to an inside wall of the housing. The circumferential matrix system can be tightened around a tooth without the need or use of a retaining ring.

Abstract: Instruments and associated methods for performing endodontic treatment and that demand less time and fatigue onto the dentists and patients, while presenting the following accomplishments: debride the root canals in three dimensions and performing the optimal treatment; shape the root canals to facilitate the irrigation; these instruments are resistant to breakage and pressure while operating at high speed and torque; the instruments are capable of bypassing most obstacles, broken files, hypercalcification, curved roots canals, shoulders, and residual resistant pastes; and they present an alternative to arduous and expensive surgeries like endodontic or implant surgeries. As a result, they prevent fractures and procedural errors in making false canals or perforations of the root canals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a denture base having a plurality of tooth socket compartments where one or more of the tooth socket compartments comprises a convex surface configured in step-like structure, and one or more prominences on the step-like structure. The invention further relates to a dental prosthesis including the denture base, at least one bonding agent, and a plurality of artificial teeth. Artificial teeth are bonded within tooth socket compartments such that each artificial tooth can rest upon the top of each prominence in the tooth socket compartment, maintaining a predetermined amount of bonding agent between the artificial tooth and the denture base. The denture base and dental prosthesis of the invention can better address the need for easier, more efficient and reliable set-up of artificial teeth in a denture base, and ensuring more consistent and predictable bonding of artificial teeth in a denture base.

Abstract: An implant-supported denture placement and alignment system may include a denture apparatus. The denture apparatus may have a denture base and a denture base positioning system. The denture base may be connectable to implants. Moreover, the denture base positioning system may position the denture base in substantially the same position as a surgical guide used to place the implants. In this manner, the denture apparatus may be positioned so that it is mountable to the implants placed according to the surgical guide following their placement in a patient's mouth. In this manner, variations in the placement of the implants arising during the process of installing the implants may be compensated by transferring the actual implant positioning to the denture apparatus when it is positioned by the denture base positioning system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device having a circuit. The circuit includes at least one boost converter receiving power from an energy source, a square wave driver in series with the boost converter, an inductor in series with the square wave driver for converting a square wave to a sinusoidal wave, and a piezoelectric transducer in series with the inductor, the piezoelectric transducer connectable to a load. The device further includes a phase-locked loop coupled to the circuit to determine a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transducer when the piezoelectric transducer is connected to the load.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance can include a shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a patient's teeth is disclosed. The orthodontic appliance may comprise an interior surface and an exterior surface, and an elastic coating covering at least a portion of one or more of the interior surface or exterior surface of the shell. A stiffness of a portion of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the portion of the shell covered by the elastic coating can be determined by a stiffness of the elastic coating.

Abstract: A cap part (1) placed on an interface (100) or on an attachment to act jointly as a scanning post. The cap part has a cavity (2) for housing at least one cylindrical portion (101) with a circular base of the interface or of the attachment. The cap part is configured by a single body having an upper portion (11) formed by a solid head (3) without holes or notches, and a lower portion (12) provided with a longitudinal blind hole forming the cavity (2). The blind hole has a retaining segment (4), the inner wall of which is partially or entirely formed by a concave, cylindrical retaining surface (40) with an elliptical or oval-shaped base for retaining by embedding an essentially cylindrical portion (101) of the interface (100) or of the attachment.

Abstract: An endodontic file, for manual or motor driven use by an endodontist, includes a color-coded handle, a shank, and a serrated cutting edge. The cutting edge of the endodontic file is side-cutting with pyramidal teeth and ends in a pointed tip. The endodontic file is used manually inside the root canal in an “up and down” axially aligned motion and these pyramidal teeth will provide a ripping action. A second type of endodontic file has a curved cross section and a sharpened tip. with pyramidal teeth lining the edges of curved blade section. A third type of endodontic file has a flat debriding side which tapers to a point; with a series of adjacent 3-D pyramids emerging from this surface for removing loose material or in urging already loosened material from a root canal.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatuses and methods for making a final hybrid prosthesis to be attached to one or more dental implants. One preferred method includes the step of making a temporary hybrid prosthesis and at about the same time also making a duplicate temporary hybrid prosthesis. The duplicate temporary hybrid prosthesis permits the final hybrid prosthesis to be made with fewer visits to a restorative dentist and with less dental laboratory time than is currently needed when making a final hybrid prosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and method for preconditioning lingual tissue for lingual orthodontic treatment, including the application of lingual braces. Protuberances may be affixed to the lingual surfaces of one or more of a patient's teeth prior to the introduction of an orthodontic appliance to allow time for the tongue to adapt to the presence of foreign structures. The protuberances may promote keratinization of the lingual tissue. The protuberances may be removed prior to the application of the orthopedic appliance. The protuberances can be pre-fabricated or fabricated in situ on the surfaces of the teeth. The protuberances may be any suitable material, including metal, polymer, or ceramic.

Abstract: An abutment for use with a dental implant. The abutment includes a connecting pin configured to be introduced into an associated receiving channel of the dental implant. The connecting pin includes a screw channel for a connecting screw for connecting the abutment to the dental implant. An inner diameter of the screw channel over its entire length up to an opening on an end face is at least as large as the diameter of a screw head of the connecting screw, and a plastically deformed retaining element is provided in order to support the connecting screw.

Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

Abstract: An intraoral device (1) with a pair of dental aligners (10), each aligner having an outer shell (100) of rigid plastic in the shape of a rounded V defining branches joined at the front part (10a) of the outer shell. The front part has a truncated part in the form of an elongate notch (104), which confers flexibility on the outer shell in a plane orthogonal to the median sagittal plane of the aligners by bringing together or spacing apart the branches of the V. The outer shell includes an impression (106) formed in the front part on the outer face of the outer shell and extending on either side of the elongate notch. The notch cooperates with an attached wedge (50) which serves as a mechanical abutment for blocking flexion of the outer shell at a given curvature when the attached wedge (50) is fixed in the impression (106).

Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such a mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

Abstract: A dental implement is disclosed that includes a proximal end portion; a distal end portion that includes a cutting head defining at least one cutting surface; and a guide body that is positioned proximally of the cutting head. The guide body defines at least one flute that extends in generally parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the dental implement and is configured to direct irrigation fluid to a surgical site within a patient.

Abstract: A dental tool or instrument having a shank located adjacent a first end thereof and a working area located adjacent an opposite second end. At least one elongate cut is formed along the working area and a memorized shape, having at least one protrusion, is formed in the working area. The dental tool or instrument is manufactured from a nitinol wire which initially has a transition temperature that is below room temperature, while the dental tool or instrument, following manufacture, has a final transition temperature of about 90.5±4 degrees Fahrenheit (i.e., 32.5±3 degrees Celsius). When the dental tool or instrument is at a temperature below its final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument is moldable to facilitate insertion into a root canal, but as soon as the dental tool or instrument is at or above the final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument automatically adopts the memorized shape.

Abstract: A device for the drying of tooth or bone surfaces includes a radiation source for irradiating the tooth or bone surface to be dried, a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor.