Patents Examined by Matthew P Saunders
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Patent number: 10765491Abstract: A combination includes a dental handpiece and a prophy angle. The dental handpiece includes a nosecone threadably connected to the dental handpiece. The prophy angle includes a proximal body that matingly attaches to the nosecone. A plurality of elongated torque members are formed on each of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone. Each of the torque members is a male torque member or a female torque member and each male torque member formed on one of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone matingly couples with a female torque member formed on the other of the nosecone and the prophy angle proximal body. The prophy angle, including the plurality of elongated torque members formed on the prophy angle, is formed to also be attachable to a known standard doriot-style nosecone. Other specific features of the handpiece and prophy angle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: AVID, Inc.Inventor: Chris J. Carron
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Patent number: 10751147Abstract: A method of using hardenable dental articles. The method can include placing a film (30) onto a dental structure (40) to cover at least a portion of the dental structure (40); providing a hardenable dental article (10); and applying the hardenable dental article (10) to the dental structure (40) covered by the film (30).Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Jie Yang, Naimul Karim, Todd D. Jones, Dwight W. Jacobs, Steven Keck, Kristen Keller, Richard Yufeng Liu
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Patent number: 10722329Abstract: The present disclosure provides intraoral devices for repositioning the relationship between upper and lower dental arches, particular those in a Class III relation. The devices are attached to appliances on molar teeth of each arch and can be reactivated without removal or replacement of substantial components of the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: James D. Cleary
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Patent number: 10722324Abstract: An adapter for a tailpiece for a dental valve is disclosed which has a body having an exterior surface, a valve receiving end, a tailpiece receiving end, a lumen formed between the valve receiving end and the tailpiece receiving end, the lumen having an interior surface, an interior annular groove formed in the interior surface, and an exterior annular rib formed in the exterior surface, with the exterior annular rib being positioned near the tailpiece receiving end and the interior annular channel being positioned near the valve receiving end.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: STOMA VENTURES, LLCInventors: Edward Arguello, Charles Thomas
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Patent number: 10716644Abstract: A dental instrument comprising a shaft and a working part adjoined thereto, with the working part having a coating in which abrasive bodies are embedded, is proposed, Firstly, the average proportion of the surface of the abrasive bodies which is covered by the coating can be at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, most preferably at least 70%. Secondly, the coating can, moreover, also consist of a nickel ahoy which additionally contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron and cobalt. In addition, a process for coating a working part, in particular for producing a dental instrument of this type, and also the use of such a dental instrument for cutting machining of solid bodies are proposed.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: COLTÈNE/WHALEDENT AGInventors: Ralf Kollefrath, Ulrich Müller, Martin Schlüter
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Patent number: 10716651Abstract: An oral care device for providing oral-cavity information to a user or a manager includes: a liquid supply unit; a mouthpiece connected to the liquid supply unit and including a spatial portion configured to accommodate at least one of an upper tooth side and a lower tooth side when the mouthpiece is inserted into an oral cavity; a pump connected to the mouthpiece and configured to suction liquid from the liquid supply unit and introduce the liquid into the spatial portion and to suction fluid from the spatial portion; a storage unit connected to the pump and configured to store or discharge fluid suctioned from the spatial portion; and a measuring unit connected to the storage unit and configured to measure a state of fluid stored in the storage unit, wherein liquid is introduced to the spatial portion from the liquid supply unit only by suction force of the pump.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: DR. PIK CO., LTD.Inventor: Ki-Bong Hyun
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Patent number: 10702356Abstract: A masticatory orthodontic correction device adapted to use occlusal loads generated during mastication as a correction force to achieve orthodontic correction, includes at least one correction unit with a rigid body. The correction unit is worn on a maxillary or mandibular dental arch of a patient during mastication, and the shape of the correction unit is maintained without deformation when accommodating teeth. At least one first recess is formed in the correction unit and has a shape which allows a first tooth of the maxillary or mandibular dental arch in malposition to move to the envisioned finish position. At least one buffering member is formed in the first recess configured to transmit and buffer the occlusal loads generated during mastication-between the first recess and the first tooth, wherein when the correction unit is worn during mastication, the buffering member deforms and contacts the first tooth over an area.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Inventor: Cheng-Hsiang Hung
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Patent number: 10667889Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is inserted into the mouth so as to isolate the dental part or area of the mouth to be treated, allowing improved vision, preventing the cheek and the tongue from impinging on the working area, and protecting the tissues of the patient from the dental instruments. Furthermore, the sucking capacity of the device prevents the saliva or any other fluid generated during the treatment from affecting both vision and the performance of a correct technique for carrying out the dental treatment.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: DentalTOR, Inc.Inventor: Ignacio Rippes Silva
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Patent number: 10653504Abstract: Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages are disclosed herein. The methods include operatively engaging an orthodontic bracket with an engagement structure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, electronically determining a present orientation of an archwire slot of the orthodontic bracket, displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot, and adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot based on the displayed orientation. The orthodontic brackets include a base, a body, a retention structure, an orientation-determining structure, and a transmitter. The tools include an engagement structure, an orientation-determining structure, and an orientation indicator.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Inventor: Christopher C. Cosse
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Patent number: 10653501Abstract: A dental article includes a shell defining a volume, the shell including a circumferential base and an incisal/occlusal region distal from the circumferential base. A hardenable dental composition is located within the volume of the shell, and an isolation film is located at the circumferential base of the shell.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Bhaskar V. Velamakanni, Helmar B. Mayr, Holger Hauptmann
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Patent number: 10646306Abstract: A capsule for mixing and dispensing a dental material which has a capsule body and a cavity extending into the capsule body. The cavity is closed by a liquid container. The liquid container has a cartridge forming a channel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening of the cartridge. Further the cartridge has a front foil closing the front opening and a rear foil closing the rear opening. The front foil is attached at the cartridge along a closed path circumferentially around the front opening. The front foil and the cartridge in at least a partial area of the circumferential path are separably sealed with each other, thus defining an openable valve through that path. The capsule has further a piston received in the channel of the cartridge and arranged such that the liquid is enclosed in the cartridge between the front foil and the piston. The capsule facilitates the preparation of a two-component dental material.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Andreas J. Boehm, Marc Peuker, Peter Braun, Dieter Poschmann, Juergen Hella
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Patent number: 10631962Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for cleaning teeth and gingival pockets are disclosed herein. A fluid platform can include a pressure wave generator configured to propagate pressure waves through a treatment fluid. The pressure waves may be sufficient to remove undesirable dental deposits from a treatment tooth, neighboring gums, and/or spaces between the tooth and gums.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: SONENDO, INC.Inventors: Bjarne Bergheim, Mehrzad Khakpour
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Patent number: 10610333Abstract: An implant fixture is disclosed. The implant fixture contains an elongated shaft section, and a head section comprising a concavity along the head section's perimeter, wherein the concavity provides an area for bone growth therein to compensate for jawbone deterioration adjacent to the implant fixture due to craniofacial growth.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Nobel Biocare Services AGInventors: Fereidoun Daftary, Oded Bahat
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Patent number: 10588721Abstract: A dental prosthesis attachment system is for an endosseous dental implant. The dental prosthesis attachment system includes: a removable dental prosthesis; a dental prosthesis portion secured to the removable dental prosthesis; and a dental implant portion securable to the dental implant and removably engageable with the dental prosthesis portion. The dental prosthesis portion includes an open-ended dental prosthesis sleeve having an outer surface and an inner cavity. The outer surface is secured to the dental prosthesis and the inner cavity is lined with a retention material defining an inner peripheral wall having at least one of a protrusion and a recess. The dental implant portion includes an attachment pillar removably insertable within the inner cavity of the dental prosthesis portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: PANTHERA DENTAL INC.Inventors: Jean Robichaud, Florent Miquel
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Patent number: 10543029Abstract: The invention relates to methods of stabilizing bone implants, including inserting a self-tapping implant having at least two helical grooves running in opposite directions around the implant.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: INTRA-LOCK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Thierry Giorno
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Patent number: 10531936Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for installation on a tooth includes a bracket body defining an archwire slot, the bracket body including a lingual surface configured to be mounted on a tooth. One or more posts extend outward from a first surface of the bracket body, and a ligating member is moveable along the first surface between a first, open position which allows access to the archwire slot, and a second, closed position which restricts access to the archwire slot. The ligating member includes projections to contact the one or more posts and maintain the ligating member in at least one of the open position, closed position, and a transition movement between the open position and the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: INNOVATIVE MATERIAL AND DEVICES, INC.Inventor: Xiaoping Long
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Patent number: 10524650Abstract: A method for taking an impression for producing a dental prosthesis involves: A) generating an impression of regions of the upper jaw and lower jaw of a patient using an at least two-part tray, whereby the tray is inserted into the oral cavity of the patient; B) fixing the at least two tray parts to each other or against each other; C) determining the position and orientation of the at least two tray parts with respect to each other; and D) taking the tray parts out of the oral cavity of the patient. Also disclosed is the tray for implementing the method, whereby at least one marking is arranged on the surface of each tray part, and a device for intra-oral determination of the orientation and position of the marking and, thus, the at least two tray parts, is provided, whereby the device comprises a computer and a recording facility.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: KULZER GMBHInventors: Mario Beyer, Norbert Ueberück, Uwe Böhm
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Patent number: 10517705Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a uniform coating onto a tooth surface, which method includes: forming droplets by spraying an orally acceptable coating material through a spray nozzle, and depositing the droplets onto the tooth surface to thereby form a uniform coating. In the method, the droplets have a volume-averaged droplet size of about 1 ?m to about 100 ?m, a spray including the droplets travels from a tip of the spray nozzle towards the tooth surface at a spray rate of less than about 10 milliliters/minute, and the droplets include a film-forming polymer, a therapeutic agent and/or a cosmetic agent.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive CompanyInventors: Rong Dong, Guofeng Xu, Shaotang Yuan, James Thomas, Kevern Fraser
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Patent number: 10485638Abstract: A method for monitoring a property of the appearance of the teeth of a patient, said method including: A) acquiring, by means of a first acquisition apparatus, at least one first two-dimensional image of said teeth and of a first reference gauge, referred to as “initial image”; B) acquiring, by means of a second acquisition apparatus, at least one second two-dimensional image of said teeth and of a second reference gauge having the same appearance as the first reference gauge, referred to as “updated image”; C) standardising the initial and updated images such that the representations of the first and second reference gauges on the standardised initial and updated images have the same appearance; D) before or after step C, marking the same region of the teeth on the initial and updated images; and E) comparing the appearance of said region in the standardised initial and updated images.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: DENTAL MONITORINGInventors: Philippe Salah, William Ayache, Laurent Debraux, Guillaume Ghyselinck, Thomas Pellissard
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Patent number: 10485636Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided, including a backend surface, a frontend surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a passageway. The backend surface is adapted for attachment and is opposite the frontend surface. The first and second side surfaces are connected between the backend surface and the frontend surface. The passageway extends from the first side surface to the second side surface. The cross-section of the passageway includes an access opening, an archwire slot, a path portion, and at least one rotation portion. The access opening is configured to allow the archwire to enter the passageway. The archwire slot is configured to receive the archwire. The path portion connects the access opening and the archwire slot. The rotation portion is provided in the path portion to allow the archwire to change its orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Inventor: Cheng-Hsiang Hung