Abstract: A shade guide (10) has a base (11) and a plurality of indicia tabs (15) carried by stems (14). Base (11) also includes a shade calculation table (20) containing at least the necessary recipe components of a foundation, body and enamel layers (22, 23 and 24) to achieve the shade of a given tab (15).

Abstract: A composite material is provided which, while having an unusually high filler content may be extruded from a dental syringe and remains easily adaptable in the dental cavity. When materials of the present invention are cured, dental restorations are provided which have unusually high surface hardness and yield strength, as well as a low volume shrinkage on curing. This is achieved by use of a mixture of filler particles with a specific size, size range, and size relationship. Such a combination of properties makes the material of the present invention particularly useful for restoring cavities in posterior teeth.

Abstract: An oral prophalaxis paste includes a preselected grade and amount of abrasive material such as pumice clay or diatimoceous earth. The abrasive material is moistened with water and a moisture retention agent such as glycerin is included. A curing system is employed, such as using sodium silicate and methyl salicylate. The formulation provides antimicrobial properties by the inclusion of triclosan.

Abstract: An evacuation hand piece for collecting debris during dental procedures. The hand piece is adapted for attachment to evacuation apparatus and provides both intra- and extra-oral suction. A body member of the hand piece has a contoured outer gripping surface which makes the hand piece easier to grasp. A mask is disposed at one end of the hand piece to create a suction area which is larger than the cross sectional area of the body member. The mask is attached to a spherical tip of the body member to form a ball and socket-type connection which permits directional adjustment of the mask, thereby maximizing the effective extra-oral suction of the hand piece. The mask is formed from transparent material to allow viewing through the mask during dental procedures.

Abstract: A system for treating teeth and associated tooth structure using a pressurized air propellant mixed with abrasive material includes a manifold which defines air passages leading from the pressurized air source to dispensing chambers which hold the abrasive material. The manifold further provides a convenient structure for mounting a number of the system components. The manifold simplifies assembly of the system and improves the integrity of air passages within the system. The air abrasion system also has a mixing block and continuous purge feature which eliminate crosstalk and backflow problems when switching between abrasive materials. Evacuation apparatus incorporating a cyclone separator is integrally provided with the system which requires minimal regular maintenance and maximizes suction flow through the apparatus.

Abstract: Dental adhesive container dropping system, characterized by the combination of (a) a dental adhesive polymerizable with visible light dissolved in acetone or acetic acid ethyl ester; (b) a light impermeable bottle (1) for the dental-adhesive, elastically deformable for the drop formation, with a laminated wall (3) comprising (b1) at least one polymer layer (15) impermeable to acetone or acetic acid ethyl ester, and (b2) at least one light impermeable, elastically deformable polymer layer (13); (b3) a compatibilizer guaranteeing the laminate structure and which can be formed as at least one intermediate layer (17) or which can be admixed to the elastically deformable polymer layer (13); (c) a light impermeable and evaporation-proofsealable dropper insert (20) of light impermeable plastic material with a dropper conduit (50) enlarging from the inner to the outer part, whereby; (c1) the diameter at the inlet end corresponds to the desired drop size; and, (c2) the diameter at the discharge end is within the range

Abstract: A dental handpiece (10) is provided with a drive motor (13), a drive shaft (12) operatively affixed to the drive motor (13) at one end of the drive shaft (12). A dental tool (11) is operatively affixed at the other end of the drive shaft (12). The drive shaft (12) is journaled within a axial displacement bearing (60), such that manipulated rotation of the dental tool (11) causes a first drive shaft section (61) to be axially displaced from and relative to a second drive shaft section (62). The axial displacement bearing (60) is caused to contact a bearing (51) thereby causing the drive shaft (12) to bind due to the frictional forces generated by that contact. This allows sufficient force such that the dental tool 11 can be disengaged from the handpiece (10).

Abstract: A tooth surface treatment composition includes an acidic component which is at least one water-soluble acid in an aqueous solution, such that when the composition is applied to the tooth surface and not subsequently washed, it will increase the adhesiveness of the tooth structure. A method of treating a tooth structure includes contacting the tooth structure with such a composition.

Abstract: A dental stone casting mold device (10) for use with a hardenable stone material (21) includes associated first and second side walls (11, 12) first and second end walls (13, 14) and a floor (15), forming an open top cavity (16). Each first and second side walls (11, 12) and first and second end walls (13, 14) extend from the floor (15) in a lateral direction, such that each has a portion (17) proximate to the floor (15) and a portion (18) distal thereto. There is also at least one slot (22) in the floor (15) removably receiving a stone retaining spine (20). In a preferred embodiment, each of first and second side wall (11, 12) carries a plurality of spaced indexing ribs (60). In another embodiment, each distal end 18 of the first and second side walls (11, 12) have integrally associated lateral extensions or webs (80) therefrom. Device (10) may also be provided with indexing bar or articulator attachment structures (101, 110).

Abstract: An abrasion hand piece for use with an air abrasion system to perform dental procedures. The hand piece is adapted for connection to the air abrasion system by a hose and has a body member which allows tips to be releasably attached thereto. The releasable tip feature allows the body member to be used with a number of different tips, thereby reducing the number of tools that the dentist must have on hand and must sterilize between procedures. The tips have an outer coating which is softer and warmer to the patient when placed in the mouth. The outer coating is color coded so that the orifice size of the tips may be readily identified. An illumination device is attached to the hand piece to allow the dentist to better monitor the procedure and to provide for aiming the hand piece at the desired tooth area.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

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. A low viscosity impression material is provided and includes a base component and a catalyst component. Both components are siloxane-based materials.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

Abstract: Epoxide-amine dendrimers synthesized by a repetitive and step-wise addition reaction of epoxides comprising functional moieties which are available for conversion into amino groups followed by a reaction of these groups to primary amino moieties. The amino terminated dendrimers are reacted with (2,3-epoxypropoxy) methacrylate, a monoepoxide and/or a monoisocyante. The methacrylate terminated dendrimers are polymerizable using redox initiators and/or photoinitiators. The resulting dendrimers show a very low volume shrinkage from that of the starting materials, on the order of less than about 5 percent by volume.

Abstract: A filter is provided for a dental device of the type including a hand-held working portion which utilizes air and water and a utility supply portion which supplies air and water to the hand-held working portion through respective air and water conduits therein. The filter comprises a filter body defining an air opening therethrough and a water opening therethrough. The air and water openings are respectively positioned for alignment with corresponding air and water openings of at least one of a hand-held working portion and a utility supply portion. The filter body has a filter medium for filtering air and water passing through the respective air and water openings thereof.

Abstract: A device (10) for positioning the location of an emitted x-ray (1 2a) has an optical mirror (20) having at least two leg portions (31, 32) separated by stepped portion (30) formed therewith. Leg portions (31, 32) and stepped portion (30) have substantially uniform x-ray transmisivity. A light emitting assembly (21) for transmitting a locating beam of light (14) onto the stepped portion (30). The device also includes mounting means (13, 22) for mounting the optical mirror (20) proximate to the x-ray emitting device (11) and completely encompassing the emitted x-ray (12a). The locating beam of light (14) is caused to be directed toward the target (15) by the angle of the mirror (20).