Abstract: An apparatus including a device including fluoride is provided. The device may be configured to be held by a dental bracket and to hold a dental arch wire in place. The device may alternatively, or additionally, include calcium phosphate. The device may be a dental ligature or a dental cap. The apparatus may include the dental bracket. The fluoride may be configured to leach out of the device as part of a material which leaches out of the device, and the amount of fluoride in the material may be less than one part of fluoride per million parts of material. A method is also provided including placing a device including fluoride in a person's mouth so the device is held by a dental bracket and holds a dental arch wire in place. The device may be as previously described.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a filter comb, having a body portion is provided. The filter comb may be substantially ring shaped and may have a center which is hollow. The filter comb may have a plurality of inner projections each of which project towards the center of the filter comb. The plurality of inner projections may be spaced out substantially uniformly along an inner ring of the filter comb. The diameter of the filter comb may be approximately five and one half to ten inches. The filter comb may be made of plastic. There may be a gap between each of the plurality of inner projections and an adjacent inner projection and wherein the gap may be less than 0.075 inches.