Abstract: A tooth cleaning system having a unitary elastomeric injection molded flexible protective shield, and a nozzle having an end portion extending into the shield. The shield is connected to a source of vacuum and has an inner wall having an inner wall perimeter. The nozzle is connected to a fluid source. The fluid from the fluid source travels directly from the nozzle to less than half of the area enclosed by the perimeter. The nozzle is pivotally supported whereby the nozzle is readily repositioned to positions angularly offset from the central axis of the shield to direct fluid from the nozzle to the entire tooth surface enclosed by the perimeter of the shield. The invention provides a method of cleaning teeth including providing a flexible plastic shield positioned against a tooth surface while pressure within the chamber formed by the flexible protective shield and the tooth surface is reduced to a pressure below ambient atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A composition and method of treating a dental tooth surface and adhering a restorative material to the treated dental tooth surface is provided. A liquid composition is applied to at least the portion of the tooth to form a treated surface. The composition includes at least 50 percent by weight of a volatile organic solvent, at least 15 percent by weight of one or more polymerizable acrylate compounds and an effective amount of a photoinitiator. At least a portion of the polymerizable compounds are multifunctional polymerizable compounds having at least three acrylate moieties. The polymerizable compounds are substantially soluble in the solvent. The composition is adapted to form a polymeric material which is adapted to adhere to dentin with a bond strength of at least 12 MPa. Restorative material is then adhered to the treated surface with a bond strength of at least about 12 MPa.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dental tooth treatment system including an ultrasonic dental handpiece, a fluid reservoir housing and a power control housing. The reservoir housing is supported by the control housing. The reservoir housing encloses two containers which are connected to the selector valve. The selector valve is connected to a control housing conduit which is connected to the handpiece. The control housing encloses a power control circuit which is connected to the handpiece. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a fluid dispenser includes at least one readily removable reservoir container supported by a reservoir housing having a pivotable cover and a fluid control valve. The cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The valve is closed by the cover when the cover is in its open position.

Abstract: A method and material for forming translucent wear resistant dental enamel and the dental enamel material formed which has an opacity less than 50 percent and a localized wear volume loss of less than 0.025 mm3. The dental enamel material is formed from a polymerizable matrix and a filler. The material for forming translucent wear resistant dental enamel having an opacity less than 50 percent, a localized wear volume loss of less than 0.025 mm3 and a localized extended wear volume loss of less than 0.04 mm3, comprises a polymerizable matrix forming liquid and inorganic filler particles. The liquid comprises polymerizable material having a first refractive index. The filler comprising a first plurality of particles having a second refractive index. The first plurality of particles being formed from a low and a high median particle size plurality of particles. The low median particle size plurality of particles having a median particle size between 0.1 and 1.0 micrometers.

Abstract: The invention provides dental composition system having curable liquid which is useful alone as a light curable composition and which is useful by mixing with a powder in preselected proportions to form dual cure compositions. The composition system is useful as bonding agent, cement, liner, base, restorative, pit and fissure sealants, and/or core build-up material, having improved adhesion to dentin. After storing the powder and the liquid in separate containers for at least two weeks and then mixing a portion of the powder and a portion of the liquid to form a mixture, the polymerizable compound polymerizes within 20 minutes of the mixing to form a first polymeric material having a flexural strength of at least 50 MPa, and an expansion in water at 37° C. after 90 days of less than 1 percent by volume.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat formable tray having a bite block and a method of forming the tray to a patient and forming a final impression in a single visit to the dental office by the patient. A custom fitting variable dimension bite registration dental impression tray, is provided which includes a bite registration member, and a dental impression tray. The dental impression tray comprises a heat adjustable material having a softening point above 38 ° C. and below 120 ° C. The variable dimension bite registration dental impression tray is used in a method for making an impression of dental tissue, comprising the steps of: a) providing a variable dimension bite registration dental impression tray, b) heating the dental impression tray to softened state, c) adjusting the dimensions of the dental impression tray, d) cooling the heat adjustable material so that it solidifies; and e) enveloping the tissue with the dental impression material, whereby a final dental tissue impression is obtained.

Abstract: Irrigants to be used with vibratory scaling apparatus and lavage are provided. The irrigants of the invention are characterized in that they contain medicaments for the treatment of conditions in the mouth and have a viscosity and deliquescence adapted to substantially optimize the efficiency of the apparatus. The irrigants are formulated so that they have minimal stickiness on drying, minimal foaming and do not gum-up the apparatus in which they are used. Also provided is a method for treating dental diseases comprising applying the irrigants of the invention through a vibratory scaring apparatus to substantially optimize the efficiency of said apparatus and to substantially optimize destruction and removal of infectious bacteria using said apparatus and the removal or inactivation of endotoxins derived from bacteria or the host.

Abstract: A composition and method of treating a dental tooth. The composition includes a polymerizable aryl compound having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one polymerizable group, and a polymerizable compound having at least one polymerizable group and at least one phosphorous containing group. A preferred composition includes at least 50 percent by weight of a volatile organic solvent, at least 15 percent by weight of one or more polymerizable acrylate compounds and an effective amount of a photoinitiator. At least a portion of the polymerizable compounds are multifunctional polymerizable compounds having at least three acrylate moieties. The polymerizable compounds are substantially soluble in the solvent. The composition is adapted to form a polymeric material which is adapted to adhere to dentin. Compositions of the invention have superior adhesion to tooth without separately acid etching dentin or enamel.

Abstract: A prosthetic tooth having an enamel layer which has a zone of substantially constant thickness. This tooth is molded using a dental tooth mold part prepared by imaging a dental pattern of a prosthetic tooth shade layer and/or shader mold part outer surface, and forming the dental pattern in a mold by program directed milling. A family of prosthetic teeth is provided including a first tooth in a first set of teeth having a first overall labial length, and a first back length, and a second tooth in a second set of teeth having a second overall labial length, and a second back length. The invention provides a prosthetic incisor tooth including a tooth body having two generally symmetrical curved grooves between three curved ridges on the labial face of the body at the incisal end of the body. The grooves are deepest at the incisal end and extend substantially from the incisal edge to at least about 15 percent of the overall tooth length.

Abstract: A denture includes a tooth and denture base. The tooth includes an interpenetrating polymer network polymeric matrix and at least 0.1 percent by weight of self-lubricating particles having a particle size less than 500 microns effectively bonded to and distributed in the polymeric matrix. The denture has a bond strength between the tooth and the denture base of at least 4,480 psi.

Abstract: The invention provides a camera system including a handpiece having a lens, and a cable connector connected to opposite ends of a cable and a plurality of power source bases. The cable connector includes a video processor. Each power source base has a base connector and a light source. The cable connector is adapted to be connected to each base connector. The camera system is used by connecting the cable connector one at a time to each of the base connectors. The handpiece is enclosed by a disposable sleeve. The sleeve is held against the handpiece by an autoclavable rigid jacket. The portable dental camera is maintain sterile by enclosing at least the distal end of the handpiece with a first sleeve, and generating an image of first patient with the camera and a first power source base in a first dental operatory room. The first sleeve is then removed from the handpiece and replaced with a second sleeve.

Abstract: A shaped, high-strength dental ceramic prothesis is made by pressing a molding composition comprising about 1-50 wt % glass particles and about 50-99 wt % ceramic particles to form a ceramic frame, veneering the frame and firing the coated frame.

Abstract: An abrasive or polishing device for dispensing and applying primers, cavity liners, varnishes, therapeutic agents, and/or adhesives into or onto tooth structure or within a cavity in a patient's tooth. The primers, liners, varnishes, or adhesives may contain a therapeutic agent or a drug, such as fluoride-containing compound or a tooth desensitizing agent, such as a cationic salt of oxalic acid, potassium nitrate, or similar compounds. The adhesive or therapeutic may be applied directly to the tooth surfaces by the elastomeric abrasive or polishing impliments. Alternatively they may be impregnated within the devices and applied directly, optionally using water as a vehicle. The application devices may also, optionally, contain an abrasive so that the application device simmultaneously abrades the tooth structure while applying an adhesive or therapeutic agent.A dispensing and abrasive device for simultaneously dispensing primer and/or adhesive and abrading tooth material within a cavity in a patient's tooth.

Abstract: A stacking system includes a reservoir housing, a base housing and a handpiece. The reservoir housing supports a readily removable container. The reservoir housing has feet and a pivotable cover, which in closed position encloses two containers which are connected by conduits to a valve. Each container has a cap with a first and a second cap connector. Each cap connector is connected to a housing connector. The handpiece is connected by conduits through the base housing to the containers. The cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The cover, in closed position, prevents the cap from moving sufficiently for the cap connector to disengage from the housing connectors. The reservoir housing is supported by and positioned above the base housing. The base housing has an upper face. The upper face has grooves. The feet are positioned in the grooves.

Abstract: The invention provides a tooth polishing paste holder having a cup member, a connector member and a base member. The cup has an inner wall. The inner wall has a circumference less than 10 cm. The connector connects the cup to the base. The base is adapted to support the cup in an upright position on a horizontal surface.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound, a polymeric product formed by polymerization of the liquid crystalline compound, a dental composition including the liquid crystalline compound and method of using the dental composition. Polymerization of the liquid crystalline compound results in an low volume percent shrinkage and a high conversion to polymer. The composition of the invention is useful for dental adhesive, primer, cement, pit and fissure sealant and restorative.

Abstract: The invention provides polymerizable dental, compounds, compositions, including the compounds and products for mixing the compositions and methods of using the compositions. Aryl acid compounds are provided in accordance with the invention. The compositions include at least one polymerizable aryl acid compound, an effective amount of a polymerization initiator, and at least 10 percent by weight of ceramic, metal and/or metal oxide filler particles having a particle size less than 500 microns. The dental products of the invention include a polymerizable composition in an enclosure having at least two chambers separated by a wall adapted to be ruptured prior to or during mixing of the composition. Compositions of the invention are preferred for use in these enclosures. Core build up material including a polymerizable acid containing compound is used to support dental crowns and adhere them to teeth in accordance with the invention.