Abstract: A method treating a root canal in a tooth by introducing into the pulp chamber of a tooth and pulsing a laser light into the fluid reservoir so as to disintegrate pulp within the root canal without generation of any significant heat in said liquid fluid so as to avoid elevating the temperature of any of the dentin, tooth, or other adjacent tissue more than about 5° C.

Abstract: Inventions herein include at least mostly optically clear orthodontic braces and feet orthotics (collectively referred to as “appliances”) with backscatter based sensors. These two categories of appliances share a common property requiring that the given appliance must be correctly custom manufactured to fit a patient's own particular geometry and dimensions of their teeth and/or feet in order to perform as intended. Incorporating such appliances with backscatter based sensors enables simple, easy, fast, efficient, and cost effective measurements, in real-time or near real-time, of stresses, forces, structural changes, and/or the like in the given appliance; which in turn can aid in determining if adjustments or re-manufacture of the appliance may be needed or desired; and/or wherein such measurements may aid in evaluating performance of the given appliance. In some embodiments, such measurements may also be taken remotely away from a practitioner; and then communicated to a remotely located practitioner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mouthpiece for performing a treatment of teeth such as teeth whitening. Accordingly, the mouthpiece may be arranged for cosmetic treatment. The treatment is based on illumination of the teeth of light with a suitable wavelength. The mouthpiece is designed so that light from light sources, e.g. LED's, is sufficiently homogenized so that the light irradiance at the teeth is sufficiently uniform to achieve good treatment results. Furthermore, the mouthpiece is designed so that the irradiance at the teeth is sufficiently high to achieve efficient treatment and so that heating of the teeth is minimized to an acceptable heating.

Abstract: A lower region of a temporary abutment includes an anti-rotational feature for non-rotationally mating with a dental implant. An upper region of the temporary abutment includes a first anti-rotational structure and at least one retention groove. A top surface of the temporary abutment includes one or more informational markers that provide information concerning the dental implant. A temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled to the upper region of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has at least one projection configured to mate with the at least one retention groove of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap has a second anti-rotational structure that is configured to slidably engage the first anti-rotational structure of the temporary abutment. The temporary abutment cap is configured to be coupled with a temporary prosthesis such that the temporary prosthesis and the temporary abutment cap are removable from the temporary abutment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental prosthesis production device and method of manufacturing a dental prosthesis in which the dental prosthesis has an implant (40) and an abutment (10) which has a shape that is compatible with the implant (40) and on or to which abutment a dental structure (28) that is made of a dental material, in particular ceramic and/or plastic, and produced with the aid of a CAM process using rapid prototyping or compression molding technology can be secured. The abutment is mounted on the implant (40) via a releasable connection, in particular a screw connection (44), having an anti-rotation mechanism (50), and an anti-rotation device (groove 22) is formed between the abutment (10) and the dental structure (28).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth or re-restoration of a previously filled tooth, and to dental capsules and dental composite resin dispensers that may be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth.

Abstract: A method treating a root canal in a tooth by introducing into the pulp chamber of a tooth and pulsing a laser light into the fluid reservoir so as to disintegrate pulp within the root canal without generation of any significant heat in said liquid fluid so as to avoid elevating the temperature of any of the dentin, tooth, or other adjacent tissue more than about 5° C.

Abstract: An interproximal reduction tool and method preferably includes at least one polishing strip; at least one abrasive wheel; and a low speed and high torque dental electric motor. First, the area between two adjacent teeth is manually polished with the a plurality of polishing strips. The polishing strip is held between a forefinger and thumb and moved in a horizontal plane. Each abrasive wheel preferably includes an abrasive disc and a shaft. The abrasive disc includes a disc base and abrasive material. The abrasive material is adhered to opposing sides of the disc base. It is preferable to have an annular space between an outer edge of the disc base and an outer perimeter of the annular abrasive material. The low speed/high torque motor preferably utilizes an existing dental motor and modifies the dental motor to have a preferable gear reduction of at least 16:1.

Abstract: The present invention discloses occlusal locks and positioning handles as part of an upper and/or lower denture or other prosthetic solution, the locks facilitating alignment construction and delivery of the conversion prosthesis, expediting the clinical procedure, and ensuring accurate alignment that improves the accuracy of rapid tooth replacement procedures.

Abstract: A denture lock is disclosed, comprising a tubular bushing extending between a distal end and a proximal end. The denture lock is configured with a bore accommodating a locking pin displaceable between a locked position at which the locking pin projects from the distal end of the bushing, and an unlocked position at which the locking pin is at least partially retracted. At least an external surface portion of the bushing is configured with a coupling arrangement for removably securing a denture therewithin.

Abstract: A system for reducing aerosols emitted from a patient on which a medical procedure is being performed. The system comprises a transparent dome and an adapter assembly configured to releasably support the dome. The system additionally comprises a support assembly configured to support the adapter assembly and the dome. The support assembly is adjustable such that the dome can be selectively positioned over an intended body area of the patient and block aerosols emitted from the intended body area.

Abstract: A dental instrument hanger has the body of a reader/writer, or an antenna connected to the body, arranged in a hanger unit so as to read identification information from a wireless tag, in a state that an instrument having the wireless tag preliminarily attached thereto is placed in the hanger unit. The hanger includes: an identification information storage that stores the read identification information in a database; a reading history detector that, in response to a driving instruction having been inputted, detects the latest reading history and a reading history read before the instrument displaced from the hanger unit has been displaced with reference to said storage; an identification information specifier that determines a difference between the two reading histories to specify a wireless tag attached to the instrument which has been instructed to drive; and a usage information generator that generates usage information of the instrument.

Abstract: A dental restoration system is disclosed. A dental restoration system includes an implant, retention component, dental component and driver tool. The retention component is sealable in a retention chamber of the implant. The retention component includes a driver section for interfacing with a driving head of the driver tool and a dental component engagement section with a threaded surface. The dental component includes a retention component interface surface with threads. The dental component engages the retention component via the threaded surface interlocking with the threads of the retention component interface surface when the dental component is inserted in the implant. The driver tool is used to rotate the retention component to engage the dental component apically. The retention component contacts the retention component wall and the dental component contacts an annular shoulder of the implant when the dental component is fully attached to the implant.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket may include a housing portion having a first channel extending from a first end to a second end through the housing portion. The first channel is configured to slidably receive an archwire therethrough. The bracket also include a body portion configured to be received within the housing portion. The housing portion is configured to rotatably mount to the body portion about a first axis and a second axis. The first axis may be in an apico-coronal direction of the tooth. The second axis may be in a buccopalatal direction of the tooth. The bracket further includes a base portion configured to attach to a surface of the tooth. The body portion is configured to slidably mount on the base portion along the apico-coronal direction of the tooth.

Abstract: An intra-oral device comprising upper and lower jaw applicators, the upper jaw applicator comprising upper left and upper right components, and the lower jaw applicator comprising lower left and lower right components; a transverse adjustment mechanism for simultaneously adjusting a distance between the upper left and upper right components, and the lower left and lower right components wherein the transverse adjustment mechanism comprises: a threaded rod having one end portion engageable with the upper left and lower left components, and another end portion engageable with the upper right and the lower right components.

Abstract: A method of placing a dental implant without the use of traditional tools such as a mallet or an electric drill to create the opening in the patient's jaw bone that will receive the dental implant is provided. This method may include the steps of creating an implant opening, incising the opening, refining the opening and inserting the dental implant in the opening. A piercing instrument may be used to create the opening, a first cutting tool may be used to incise the opening, a second cutting tool may be used to refine the opening and a hand operated driver may be used to insert the dental implant into the opening. In at least one embodiment, only a hand force is applied to the instruments used to carry out the method without the use additional instruments to create or augment the force being applied to the instruments being used.

Abstract: A mouth appliance for maintaining effective airflow in a user's airway comprises a frame formed to engage the user's upper and lower teeth to retain the frame in a selected position in the user's mouth in accord with the user's natural bite. A tongue depressor is mounted to the frame and formed to extend to a rear portion of the user's throat and to exert pressure directly on the tongue in the area of the user's soft palate, thereby facilitating comfort and ease in occasional swallowing, while providing airflow effectiveness to prevent the user from snoring and experiencing sleep apnea.

Abstract: Orthodontic bracket assemblies with archwire cradles that pivot in correspondence with the rotation of pivot-adjusting drums. The orthodontic bracket assemblies include a pivot-adjusting drum that is configured to be selectively rotated relative to a bracket base about an adjustment axis within a range of operative rotation positions, an archwire cradle that is configured to be selectively pivoted about a cradle axis relative to the bracket base within a range of operative pivot positions, and an adjustment driver that is operatively coupled to the archwire cradle and the pivot-adjusting drum and causes the archwire cradle to pivot relative to the bracket base in correspondence with a rotation of the pivot-adjusting drum. A rotation of the pivot-adjusting drum about the adjustment axis adjusts the torque that is applied to the patient's tooth during prescriptive use of the bracket assembly.

Abstract: An apex locator system constructed to enable visualization of an apex location at a vicinity of the mouth of a patient and more specifically on a lip clip, hand file and/or file clip of the apex locator system.

Abstract: An orthodontic correction device includes a correction unit that is adapted to be removably worn on a dental arch. The correction unit includes at least one first receiving part for receiving at least one first tooth which needs correction. The shape of the first receiving part allows the first tooth to move toward the alveolar bone. At least one elongated opening is formed on the occlusal surface of the correction unit and extends to the lingual surface and the buccal surface of the correction unit. The opening exposes parts of the occlusal surface, the lingual surface and the buccal surface of the first tooth. A force exerting assembly is configured to contact the first tooth through the opening, thereby exerting a force on the first tooth to press the first tooth into the alveolar bone.