Abstract: An absorbent insert of compressed matrix of absorbent material, including a filler dispersed therein to improve stiffness/rigidity of the insert and controls the absorbency of the compressed absorbent material. The insert is pre-shaped and sized for inserting into a tooth cavity, such as a pulp chamber or a root canal space. The compressed insert expands or swells upon absorbing fluid within the tooth cavity, so as to more completely dry the tooth cavity. The absorbent insert also serves as a substrate of an applicator for medical agent to be applied to a tooth cavity. The absorbent insert is provided (e.g., coated or impregnated) with a medical agent, which medical agent is released into the tooth cavity as the absorbent material absorbs fluid in the tooth cavity.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a chamber structure configured to contain endodontic material. An electrically conductive heating layer is provided adjacent to the chamber structure. A first electrode is positioned at one side of the cartridge, with the first electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer, and a second electrode is positioned at a second side of the cartridge, with the second electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer. An outer sleeve encases the chamber structure, the heating layer, and the electrodes, with an air gap being formed between the outer sleeve and the heating layer.

Abstract: An endoactivator tool for activating intracanal reagents in a dental root canal system during endodontic procedures, with the tool comprising a flexible activator tip having a proximal end connected to a coupler to a driver and extending distally from the coupler to terminate at a most distal end, wherein the activator tip being shaped such that when the driver is activated, the coupler will induce vibrations in at least an activating portion of the activator tip, wherein the activating portion comprises at least one curved offset section displaced from the vibration axis in a plane including the vibration axis, wherein the activating portion has a length extending through a prepared dental root canal and a diameter sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the prepared root canal such that the activating portion can vibrate in the dental root canal when activated, and wherein the activating portion being made from a flexible, non-cutting material having a hardness less than the hardness of a root canal wall

Abstract: A system for providing endodontic material includes an application device and a docking station for the application device. The application device includes a cartridge having a chamber structure containing endodontic material, with the chamber structure capable of being heated by magnetic induction. The application device also includes a handle assembly configured to hold the cartridge. The docking station includes a slot configured to contain the application device with a part of the application device positioned in the slot. The docking station is provided with an induction heating coil positioned adjacent to the slot, with the induction heating slot being configured to heat the cartridge of the application device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved root canal filling point/cone having a structure that can be manufactured precisely to result in better obturation with less micro-leakage. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a molded root canal filling point having progressively decreasing tapers from the smaller tip end to the larger end. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a thermo-pressure molding process for manufacturing root canal filling appliances (e.g., Gutta Percha points).

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved root canal filling point/cone that can be manufactured precisely to result in better obturation with less micro-leakage. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a molded root canal filling point/cone. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a thermo-pressure molding process for manufacturing root canal filing appliances (e.g., Gutta Percha points). Another aspect of the present invention is directed to the structure of the mold for undertaking thermo-injection molding. A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a production line comprising the thermo-injection process.

Abstract: A root canal filling cone made of a material having a composition that can maintain its physical and chemical characteristics and shelf life after sterilization, and a process of sterilizing the point/cone prior to shipment to a user. In one aspect, the cone is made of a composition that includes a plurality of base polymers of substantially equal amounts, and nanoparticles, which can withstand sterilization by gamma irradiation. In one embodiment, the compound includes Gutta Percha based polymers. In another aspect, the Gutta Percha based cone is packaged and sterilized by irradiation prior to shipment to a user. In one embodiment of the present invention, the irradiation is gamma irradiation.

Abstract: A carrier based root canal obturator, with the carrier core provided with predefined surface features including axially and/or circumferentially distributed protrusions along the surface of the carrier core. The protrusions provide a stop, and also a support for the layer of surface coating dental filling/sealing material to guide insertion and seating of the carrier based obturator in the root canal. The carrier core includes a conical body having a flat surface in the axial direction, with a conical taper. The surface features defined at the surface of the conical body include discrete protrusions at two or more axial locations. In one embodiment, the heights of the protrusions are substantially flush with the external surface of the coating material. In manufacturing, the protrusions of the carrier core provide a mechanism to set the thickness for over-molding the surface coating layer onto the carrier core.

Abstract: A root canal filling material incorporates heat conductive particles of sub-micron size dispersed in a heat flowable matrix of endodontic filling material. The particle size is 1 micron or less (e.g., 0.5 to 1 micron, or nanoparticles of 100 nm or less). The addition of high heat conductive particles in the heat flowable matrix material improves the overall heat conductivity of the root canal filling material. During root canal treatment procedure, the filling material softens more thoroughly to fill the root canal apex and to form a seal of higher integrity at the root canal apex area, at a significantly lower operating temperature. The inventive filling material may be provided in bulk (e.g., pellet form) for use with an injection tool that heats and injects softened filling material into root canal cavities, or pre-shaped in the form of dental root canal filling cones (or points).

Abstract: An absorbent insert of compressed matrix of absorbent material, including a filler dispersed therein to improve stiffness/rigidity of the insert and controls the absorbency of the compressed absorbent material. The insert is pre-shaped and sized for inserting into a tooth cavity, such as a pulp chamber or a root canal space. The compressed insert expands or swells upon absorbing fluid within the tooth cavity, so as to more completely dry the tooth cavity. The absorbent insert also serve as a substrate of an applicator for medical agent to be applied to a tooth cavity. The absorbent insert is provided (e.g., coated or impregnated) with a medical agent, which medical agent is released into the tooth cavity as the absorbent material absorbs fluid in the tooth cavity.

Abstract: A system for providing endodontic material includes an application device and a docking station for the application device. The application device includes a cartridge having a chamber structure containing endodontic material, with the chamber structure capable of being heated by magnetic induction. The application device also includes a handle assembly configured to hold the cartridge. The docking station includes a slot configured to contain the application device with a part of the application device positioned in the slot. The docking station is provided with an induction heating coil positioned adjacent to the slot, with the induction heating slot being configured to heat the cartridge of the application device.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a chamber structure configured to contain endodontic material. An electrically conductive heating layer is provided adjacent to the chamber structure. A first electrode is positioned at one side of the cartridge, with the first electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer, and a second electrode is positioned at a second side of the cartridge, with the second electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer. An outer sleeve encases the chamber structure, the heating layer, and the electrodes, with an air gap being formed between the outer sleeve and the heating layer.

Abstract: A root canal filling cone made of a material having a composition that can maintain its physical and chemical characteristics and shelf life after sterilization, and a process of sterilizing the point/cone prior to shipment to a user. In one aspect, the cone is made of a composition that includes a plurality of base polymers of substantially equal amounts, and nanoparticles, which can withstand sterilization by gamma irradiation. In one embodiment, the compound includes Gutta Percha based polymers. In another aspect, the Gutta Percha based cone is packaged and sterilized by irradiation prior to shipment to a user. In one embodiment of the present invention, the irradiation is gamma irradiation.

Abstract: A root canal filling material incorporates heat conductive particles of sub-micron size dispersed in a heat flowable matrix of endodontic filling material. The particle size is 1 micron or less (e.g., 0.5 to 1 micron, or nanoparticles of 100 nm or less). The addition of high heat conductive particles in the heat flowable matrix material improves the overall heat conductivity of the root canal filling material. During root canal treatment procedure, the filling material softens more thoroughly to fill the root canal apex and to form a seal of higher integrity at the root canal apex area, at a significantly lower operating temperature. The inventive filling material may be provided in bulk (e.g., pellet form) for use with an injection tool that heats and injects softened filling material into root canal cavities, or pre-shaped in the form of dental root canal filling cones (or points).

Abstract: A root canal filling material incorporates heat conductive particles of sub-micron size dispersed in a heat flowable matrix of endodontic filling material. The particle size is 1 micron or less (e.g., 0.5 to 1 micron, or nanoparticles of 100 nm or less). The addition of high heat conductive particles in the heat flowable matrix material improves the overall heat conductivity of the root canal filling material. During root canal treatment procedure, the filling material softens more thoroughly to fill the root canal apex and to form a seal of higher integrity at the root canal apex area, at a significantly lower operating temperature. The inventive filling material may be provided in bulk (e.g., pellet form) for use with an injection tool that heats and injects softened filling material into root canal cavities, or pre-shaped in the form of dental root canal filling cones (or points).

Abstract: A cartridge for storing root canal filling material cartridge and an applicator device for use with the cartridge to deliver root canal filling material. The cartridge includes its own heating mechanism, built-in the cartridge body. The heating mechanism includes an electrical heating element provided around the chamber of the cartridge body, which contains root canal filling material packed in the chamber. Electrodes are provided on the exterior of the cartridge body for the heating element. The cartridge is inserted into the barrel/chamber of an applicator device, with the cartridge electrodes coming into contact with electrodes provided on the applicator barrel/chamber walls, providing external power to the heating element on the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved root canal filling point/cone that can be manufactured precisely to result in better obturation with less micro-leakage. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a molded root canal filling point/cone. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a thermo-pressure molding process for manufacturing root canal filing appliances (e.g., Gutta Percha points). Another aspect of the present invention is directed to the structure of the mold for undertaking thermo-injection molding. A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a production line comprising the thermo-injection process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved root canal filling point/cone having a structure that can be manufactured precisely to result in better obturation with less micro-leakage. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a molded root canal filling point having progressively decreasing tapers from the smaller tip end to the larger end. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a thermo-pressure molding process for manufacturing root canal filling appliances (e.g., Gutta Percha points). A further aspect of the present invention is directed to the structure of the mold for undertaking thermo-injection molding.

Abstract: A root canal filling material incorporates heat conductive particles of sub-micron size dispersed in a heat flowable matrix of endodontic filling material. The particle size is 1 micron or less (e.g., 0.5 to 1 micron, or nanoparticles of 100 nm or less). The addition of high heat conductive particles in the heat flowable matrix material improves the overall heat conductivity of the root canal filling material. During root canal treatment procedure, the filling material softens more thoroughly to fill the root canal apex and to form a seal of higher integrity at the root canal apex area, at a significantly lower operating temperature. The inventive filling material may be provided in bulk (e.g., pellet form) for use with an injection tool that heats and injects softened filling material into root canal cavities, or pre-shaped in the form of dental root canal filling cones (or points).