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.degree. C. after 90 days of less than 1 percent by volume.

Abstract: Improved very high viscosity (putty) two component polymerizable polyorganosiloxane composition for use in making dental impressions, having improved tear strength, handling and wettability. Improved tear strength results from inclusion of a quadri-functional polysiloxane having a vinyl content of 0.16 to 0.24 m-mole/g. Working time is maintained by including sufficient amounts of a retarder composition that delays onset of the vinyl polymerization. Handling is improved by the addition of a very high viscosity linear vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane which reduces tackiness and improves the shelf stability. Wettability is improved by including a surfactant resulting in a surface contact angle with water at three minutes of less than 50.degree.. The surfactant chosen has an HLB of 8-11, such that the wetting contact angle is achieved within less than two minutes and remains wetting throughout the working time of the impression taking, substantially improving the impression making process.

Abstract: The invention provides dental cement compositions and methods of using them for binding hard tooth material, metal and ceramic. The cement compositions include shelf stable complexes of ethylenically unsaturated monomers reacted with cations. The cements have superior adhesion to tooth without separately acid etching dentin or enamel.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluoride releasing dental primer composition which includes a polymerizable acrylic compound, a light activated catalyst, and an organic amino hydrofluoride. This fluoride releasing dental primer composition is used by applying it to dentin and illuminating it with visible light to polymerize the polymerizable acrylic compound. The invention provides a method of priming dentin by applying a fluoride releasing dental primer composition. The fluoride releasing dental primer composition has a polymerizable acrylic compound, a light activated catalyst, and an organic amino hydrofluoride having from about 2 to about 30 carbon atoms. The polymerizable acrylic compound is adapted to polymerize to form polymeric material. The organic amino hydrofluoride is adapted to leach from the polymeric material, chelate to dentin and release fluoride.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a non-metallic dental prosthesis including a ceramic frame and an esthetic ceramic veneer including the steps of: preparing the ceramic frame by press molding a composition comprising from 1 to 50 parts by weight glass particles and from 50 to 99 parts by weight ceramic particles at a molding temperature from 800 to 1300.degree. C.; applying a slurry comprising a dental ceramic veneering composition to the thus prepared ceramic frame; and firing the ceramic frame having the slurry applied thereto at a temperature lower than the molding temperature to produce said dental prosthesis. The dental ceramic veneering composition may have a melting point at least 50.degree. C. less than the molding temperature.

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: The invention provides a kit and method for the preparation of dental products. First, second and third materials are provided in labeled containers. Preferably the first, second and third materials are pastes or powders. The first material has a lightness value (L.sub.1) when formed into a least opaque layer. The second material has a lightness value (L.sub.2) when formed into a less opaque layer. The third material has a lightness value (L.sub.3) when formed into a most opaque layer. The third lightness value is greater than the second lightness value, which is greater than the first lightness value. The lightness value differences between the third lightness value (L.sub.3) and the first lightness value (L.sub.1) are less than 10 CIE L*a*b units.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing a polymer composition, that is free-radical/photochemical and thermal curing epoxide-methacrylate and/or isocyanate-methacrylate adhesives in broadest terms, dental/medical adhesives, and dental restoratives. Furthermore the dual curing epoxide-methacrylate and/or isocyanate-methacrylate adhesives can be used in the optical industry, in optoelectronics and microelectronics, for example for the adhesion of complicated optical components in the combination glass/glass, glass/metal. Advantageous is the small shrinkage during polymerization and the good mechanical properties in combination with the possibility of step-wise or one-step polymerization.

Abstract: Improved two component polymerizable polyorganosiloxane compositions are described, particularly for use in making dental impressions, having improved tear strength and wettability. Improved tear strength results from inclusion of a quadri-functional polysiloxane having a vinyl content of 0.16 to 0.24 m-mole/g. Working time is maintained by including sufficient amounts of a retarder composition that delays onset of the vinyl polymerization. Wettability is improved by including a surfactant resulting in a surface contact angle with water at three minutes of less than 50.degree.. The surfactant chosen has an HLB of 8-11, such that the wetting contact angle is achieved within less than two minutes and remains wetting throughout the working time of the impression taking, substantially improving impression quality.

Abstract: A shaped, high-strength dental ceramic prosthesis is made by pressing a molding composition including from about 1 to 50 percent by weight glass particles and from about 99 to about 50 percent by weight inorganic oxide particles at a pressure of from about 10 to about 40 MPa and a temperature of from about 1000.degree. to about 1200.degree. C. Dental prostheses prepared in accordance with the invention include crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays.

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 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: The invention provides a method of operating a dental scalar system having a vibrating scaling tip by continuously monitoring the amplitude and frequency of vibration of the tip which provides scaling power to a tooth in a patient's mouth. The amplitude and frequency of vibration of the tip is continuously adjusted to maintain a substantially constant scaling power. Preferably, the insert is vibrated at its resonant frequency and the system provides a substantially constant tip motion while the user varies the applied pressure between the tip and the tooth.

Abstract: A transducer activated subgingival tool for contacting subgingival tooth surfaces and directing a fluid adjacent to said surfaces, wherein the tool has an activated tip having a fluid inlet end, a subgingival outlet end, a step in the surface of the outer wall of said tip between said inlet end and said subgingival outlet end, and a fluid passageway wall internal to the tip. The passageway wall is formed in the inlet end generally along the longitudinal center axis of the inlet end of the tip. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step intersects the passageway wall at the orifice edge.

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 low-fusing temperature porcelain compositions, methods of use thereof on metal or porcelain substrates to form dental prostheses and kits therefor. Compositions of the invention have a fusing temperature of less than 800.degree. C. and a coefficient of thermal expansion compatible with a substrate of metal or ceramic. Each composition includes, in weight percent of the composition, from 40 to 65 percent by weight SiO.sub.2, from 6 to 12 percent by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 6 to 12 percent by weight Na.sub.2 O, from 5.5 to 10.50 percent by weight K.sub.2 O, from 1 to 3 percent by weight Li.sub.2 O, from 0.8 to 2.5 percent by weight CaO, from 0.8 to 4.0 percent by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from 0.1 to 0.8 percent by weight CeO.sub.2.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a miniature capsule-like cartridge having a hollow elongated generally cylindrical body having an inner wall with a substantially uniform diameter. The inner wall encloses a chamber. One end of the body is open and formed at the extremity thereof with an annular circular exterior flange. The opposite end of the body is closed by an end wall. A discharge nipple integrally connected to the body and has a passageway therethrough extending from the chamber at the closed end of the body to facilitate discharge of a polymerizable dental composition from the cartridge. The nipple has an outer wall. The outer wall has a proximal diameter proximal to the body and a medial diameter at a medial position along the central axis of the nipple and medial to the body. The medial diameter is greater than or equal to the proximal diameter. A cup-shaped cap is removably connected to the discharge nipple on the body to close the opening of the passageway at the outer end of the nipple.

Abstract: A method of milling and polishing a set of tooth mold parts by milling a first and second tooth mold parts of a set of mold parts using a first and second tool path program, then polishing the mold parts using the first and second tool path program, to form polished mold parts adapted to form an enamel layer of a prosthetic tooth. A method is provided of molding artificial teeth each having a molded enamel layer and high definition labial striations, by milling and then polishing a set of at least three tooth mold parts in mold making material. The milling and polishing is directed by three milling programs which use data, representative of the surface of one of the tooth mold parts. The data is adapted by the milling program to direct the milling and polishing. The milling of each of the parts includes executing a first pass with a first mill and executing a second pass with a second mill. The first mill has a first mill end.