Abstract: Oral appliances, methods of making oral appliances, and bite registration devices for use in making oral appliances are provided. An oral appliance includes a lower segment, and upper segments. The upper segments are operably connected to the lower segment using threaded elements. Rotational manipulation of the threaded elements causes the upper segments to be displaced horizontally relative to the lower segment about the lengths of the threaded elements, and the lengths of the threaded elements are substantially parallel to each other. A bite registration device for use in making an oral appliance includes a top surface including a protrusion and a bottom surface including a receptacle configured to receive the protrusion. The device is configured to be maintained in stacked relation to a like configured second bite registration device by mating the protrusion of the bite registration device with a receptacle of the second bite registration device.

Abstract: In a shade guide, a plurality of shade tabs whose colors are mutually different are arranged regularly based on the colors. The arrangement of the plurality of shade tabs is an arrangement determined based on: S values and V values that are determined according to to which areas, from among areas partitioned by a plurality of straight lines in an L*-C* plane, the coordinates of the colors of the shade tabs belong, and H values that are determined according to to which areas, from among areas partitioned by a plurality of straight lines in an a*-b* plane, the coordinates belong. S groups, each of which is a shade tab group having a common S value, are arranged in the shade guide. V rows, each of which is a shade tab group having a common V value, are arranged in each S group. In each V row, the plurality of shade tabs have mutually different H values and are aligned in an order that is in accordance with the H values.

Abstract: A cradle, assembly, system and method for installing a prosthesis at a surgical site. The cradle temporarily engages the prosthesis and holds it in the correct orientation and position adjacent the surgical site. An aperture is defined in the cradle and a portion of the prosthesis is received therein. In one embodiment, the cradle, assembly and system are used to install a final dental prosthesis in a patient's mouth in a single visit to the dentist's office. A securement member pins the surgical template and subsequently the cradle to the jaw. A metal sub-structure on the final dental prosthesis is received in the aperture in the cradle. Cylinders attached to implants anchored in the jaw extend through holes in the sub-structure and are bonded to the prosthesis. The cradle is detached from the jaw and from the prosthesis prior to screws being re-inserted through the cylinders and into the implants.

Abstract: An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on one surface thereof and a reservoir containing at least one active agent. A capillary channel extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver active agent(s) to one or more outlets. In one aspect, a vibration-producing device is provided to vibrate at least a portion of the implement to enhance the function of tooth cleaning elements and the delivery of the active agent through capillary action. A variety of active agents can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling.

Abstract: A dental implant system including an implant and an abutment is disclosed. The implant includes a generally cylindrical body, a central axis, a distal end for anchoring in a patient's bone and a proximal end opposing the distal end. The proximal end includes a roughened lateralized surface that surrounds an abutment-engaging region. The lateralized surface is disposed at a negative slope relative to the central axis. The abutment includes an upper portion for supporting a tooth-like prosthesis and a lower portion for engaging the abutment-engaging region of the dental implant. The diameter of the lower portion of the abutment is smaller than the diameter of the implant at its proximal end. The lower portion includes a first surface with a soft-tissue enhancing material. The first surface and the lateralized surface defining a circumferentially extending recess having a V-shaped cross-section for receiving and attachment to the soft tissue.

Abstract: A coupling assembly, particularly for dental implants, having at least one pin, which can be coupled rigidly to a bone portion, and a supporting element, which can be associated with a prosthesis. The pin has, at its end portion that lies opposite the one designed for connection to the bone portion, a protruding tab that can be accommodated by elastic forcing in a respective cavity formed in the supporting element so as to produce a stable coupling configuration between the pin and the supporting element. The tab is shaped like a substantially equatorial portion of a sphere with an outer lateral surface adapted to abut, with at least one part thereof, against the internal side wall of the cavity, to determine stable coupling configuration.

Abstract: The system of a preferred embodiment uses a process whereby a true replication of the patient's jaw structure is created in a digital three dimensional model. This true replication is then used to precisely locate and/or copy the anatomical landmarks of the patient for use in fabricating a denture base for use in a denture for the individual patient. This system is able to create a denture with precisely located features corresponding to the anatomical landmarks of the patient with little manual intervention.

Abstract: An abutment (10) for supporting a dental prosthesis including a post (30) and a shoulder (10a), wherein the shoulder comprises a concavely curved chamfer surface extending radially outwards from a base of the post, the post comprising at least one flat surface (35) which runs directly into the chamfered surface such that the chamfered surface is non-uniform.

Abstract: A dental implant has a body and a plurality of distinct roots that extend outwardly from the main portion that generally define a coronal-apical axis. A porous tantalum metal portion is disposed at the body for engaging bone and the plurality of distinct roots are configured to resist a torsional force that is applied to the dental implant and around the coronal-apical axis.

Abstract: A fabric ribbon for use in dental applications. The fabric ribbon includes a transverse set of fibers aligned generally transverse to a length of the ribbon; and a axial set of fibers, intertwined around the transverse set of fibers and aligned generally axially along the length of the ribbon, each of the axial set of fibers having a thickness greater than a thickness of each of the transverse set of fibers. The fabric ribbon may be used for a dental appliance, for example in a periodontal splint, a pontic beam, a composite restoration, or to bridge a crack in teeth.

Abstract: A system, an abutment, a dental implant, kits and a method for implanting a prosthesis onto a jaw of a patient. The proximal end of the abutments is a flat connection of a predefined shape that is circularly symmetrical with a proximad decreasing radius. The prosthesis is attached to the distal ends of the abutments, and each abutment corresponds to a dental implant in the jaw. The dental implants are not all parallel to each other and may form any angle between them. The flat connection allows substantial tolerance in attaching the prosthesis to the dental implants. The predefined form may be a proximal disc connected to a distal truncated cone, wherein the proximal disc is congruent to the proximal face of the truncated cone. One system comprises abutments, dental implants, elastic supporting elements and extension elements.

Abstract: Disclosed within is a dental restorative system including a dental abutment having a longitudinal axis, lingual and facial aspects, a base portion for engagement with a dental implant, and a tapered coronal portion. The dental abutment further includes an emergence profile portion between the base portion and the tapered coronal portion. The emergence profile portion includes at least a first concave surface and at least a first convex surface. The dental abutment may further include an interproximally sloping margin shoulder and a reduced terminal portion located at the upper end of the tapered coronal portion. Alternative embodiments of the dental abutment are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for insertion and removal of an archwire into low-profile orthodontic brackets includes a handle section and at least one end section having a pair of claws separated by a gap. Each of the pair of claws has a pair of lobes with internal pathways for accommodating an archwire. This enables the archwire to be alternately pushed into and pulled away from an orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: In some aspects, drill guide positioning rings to be coupled to a template material of a surgical guide in a region to be drilled can include one or more retention features to receive one or more of a series of drill guides, where the retention features are configured to temporarily engage, retain, or otherwise secure the drill guide within the drill guide positioning ring, where the temporary engagement axially couples the drill guide along its longitudinal axis with respect to the drill guide positioning ring.

Abstract: An oral appliance is provided for delivering a medicament to at least a portion of teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside a mouth. The oral appliance contains an interior surface having a medicament disposed in or on at least a portion of and/or the entire interior surface of the oral appliance. The interior surface of the oral cavity is formed to fit contours of at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the oral cavity and is configured for holding the medicament in contact with at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the oral cavity to deliver the medicament to strategic areas in need of treatment. In some embodiments, computer, network and computer readable storage media are provided.

Abstract: A dental implant has a hollow shell with outer bio-compatible surface for engaging a soft tissue socket left in gingival tissue after a tooth has been extracted, to promote healing. The shell tapers outwardly from a first to a second perimeter, the second perimeter being asymmetrically scalloped with opposite distal and mesial peaks and opposite lingual and facial valleys between the peaks. A dental implant in the bone socket left after tooth extraction is rigidly connected to a temporary post, the temporary post extending in the shell. The shell engages against the soft tissue socket without gaps and without requiring alignment between the shell and implant axes.

Abstract: An archwire stop defines a non-linear path through the stop that results in a bend moment between an orthodontic stop and the portion of an orthodontic archwire passing through the stop. The bend moment is accommodated by elastic deformation of the archwire and stop, resulting in a predictable frictional engagement between the stop and the archwire that is useful in maintaining a stop mounted on an archwire during packaging, shipping and handling in a clinical setting. A non-linear path through an archwire stop may be created by a non-linear tubular stop or may be created by appropriate internal features of the stop. The non-linear path through the stop may be selected so that the frictional engagement is greatest toward the free ends of the archwire, preventing the stop from sliding off the ends of an archwire, while permitting adjustment of the stop at the front of the mouth during patient treatment.

Abstract: An improved rotary endodontic file includes a multi-planar pre-curved apical portion having a first and a second curvature. The pre-curved apical portion begins at about one-third to one-quarter of the working length as measured from the tip end of the endodontic instrument. The first and second curvature permit the file to continually search and engage the walls of a tooth root canal in a forced inside-forced outside manner. As the file works its way down, it breaks free of any ledges encountered, probes lateral- and delta-type openings, and does not allow the file to stray from the curvature of the canal.

Abstract: A dental handpiece (1) includes a head (2) suitable for driving a tool, a body (3) having a proximal section (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (I-I) and intended to be connected, by a proximal end surface (5), to a distal surface of a drive motor, an indexing device (8) suitable for rotatably positioning the body (3) of the dental handpiece (1) about the longitudinal direction (I-I) relative to the drive motor, an electric device (9) for lighting the working area of the tool, and a device (10) for supplying electric power to the electric lighting device (9). The indexing device (8) is retractable or set back from the proximal end surface (5), and the electric supply device (10) includes a retractable electrical connection device (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical turbine handpiece, in particular a dental turbine handpiece, having a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the front end region of the handpiece and to which a tool can be connected, as well as a turbine wheel arranged so as to be non-rotatable on the drive shaft and is arranged in a turbine chamber realized in the end region, into which turbine chamber a supply line for a flowing pressure medium for driving the turbine wheel opens out at an inlet opening and from which turbine chamber a removal line extends at an outlet opening, wherein at least one cross connecting channel for the pressure medium is realized in the wall of the turbine chamber, the cross connecting channel connecting the axially remote edge region of the turbine chamber to a region of the turbine chamber that is axially close to the drive shaft.