Abstract: The invention provides an improved dental/medical restorative/prosthetic composition employing a polymerizable unsaturated substituted butane moiety with acid or reactive acid derivative functionality having the general formula:(RO.sub.2 C).sub.x --C.sub.4 H.sub.6 --(CO.sub.2 R').sub.ywhere R is an acid radical or a reactive acid derivative and R' is a polymerizable unsaturated radical having from 2 to 13 C and x is 2 to 3 and y is 1 to 2.

Abstract: This invention provides hardenable compositions useful as construction media for a wide range of applications. Particular utility is found in the dental and medical arts where such compositions are highly suitable for the formation and construction of denture base, denture baseplates, denture liners, denture repair, custom trays, veneering for crowns and bridgework, artificial teeth, veneers and repair for natural teeth, and tooth restorative fillings. Such materials having improved impact strengths and elastic moduli when hardened are disclosed which include rubber-modified polymer.

Abstract: A heat cured pasty composition adapted to form a dental veneer which is resistant or immune to interdental cracks while in use on crowns and bridges. The composition includes polymerizable urethane-acrylic monomer, inorganic fillers, pyrogenic silica, heat activated polymerization initiators, and fractured organic filler particles. Heat polymerization of the composition above about 100.degree. C. forms a polymer which has a microhardness of at least HV 0.1/10 18.0 Kp/mm.sup.2, and an impact strength of at least 2.0 KJ/m.sup.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new urethane polyacrylate having at least one terminal isocyanato acrylic pendent radical. Preferably the molecular chain within the acrylate caps has been extended with a polyhydroxy compound just before final end capping with isocyanato acrylic. The isocyanato acrylic is preferably isocyanato ethyl methacrylate and the urethane is diisocyanate capped polyether and the polyether radical is oxyalkylene. The method for producing the urethane polyacrylate involves end capping a polyol with diisocyanate yielding a reaction product with two reactive equivalents of isocyanate and then capping less than all of the isocyanate with a hydroxyacrylate, after which the remaining isocyanate is reacted with polyol to provide chain extension. The chain extending polyol is then capped with a isocyanato acrylic.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present application is a method of curing a dental impression material by passing actinic light through a tray while the tray is in contact with the impression making composition, a new dental impression composition that is polymerizable by having an initiator activated by actinic light within the visible light range of 360 to 600 nanometers, a new composition of matter that is a compound having at least two terminal acrylate unsaturations and an organosilicone containing backbone and a new method of forming dental prosthetics by directly forming against the soft tissue of the oral cavity and then setting with visible light curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for scaling of teeth and lavage of the gingival sulcus is provided. The apparatus comprises a base unit which contains reservoirs for the medicaments used in the lavage procedure, and a handpiece connected to the base unit by a conduit, which contains an insert for scaling of teeth. Switches on the base unit and a footswitch make it possible for the practitioner to use the apparatus for scaling only, lavage only, or for simultaneous lavage and scaling.

Abstract: A test system viewer for fluorescence evaluation has been designed to facilitate the simultaneous evaluation of multiple test samples, to provide consistency in the process for the evaluation of the fluorescence and to protect the operator from the harmful effects of the ultraviolet radiation associated with the viewer.The viewer contains a base and a viewing shield, with the base having the fluorescent light source and an internal fluorescent standard. The viewing shield contains an internal ledge and a viewing area with a fixed viewing angle to the internal fluorescent standard. The internal ledge and the viewing angle cooperate to block ultraviolet rays from the fluorescent light source and to prevent the operator from directly viewing the light source during operation of the viewer. The use of a fixed light source, internal standard, viewing area and viewing angle insures observation consistency during the evaluation procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and apparatus and a method for finishing and polishing a dental composite restorative material in a tooth. The system of the invention uses an elastomeric polymer disc which is impregnated with an abrasive for reducing of the composite, and a felt, suede, or elastomeric polymer foam element for polishing the composite. A method of using the above apparatus in a finishing/polishing system is also provided.

Abstract: A prophy angle having a single snap-in retention mechanism that is integral with the housing for retaining the prophy cup rotating member in permanent field position and providing good smooth rotation performance and a detent drive shaft snap-in retention mechanism that locks in position when the dental handpiece is connected.

Abstract: A self contained heated root canal dental instrument which combines the operations of a root canal spreader, a root canal condenser and a root canal filling material heater is provided. The instrument has batteries in its handle for use as a power source for heating root canal filling material and employs a non-corrosive dental tool that has a resistive element in its tip to provide the heating when electricity from the batteries is conducted through the tip. A method for making the dental tool is provided which comprises threading a resistive element through a cannula which is used as a dental tool.

Abstract: A method for cushioning dental appliance in the mouth using a visible light cured polymeric material which can also be used in a method for intraoral medicament delivery in the mouth is provided. When used with an orthodontic bracket, for example, the light cured polymeric material is dispensed on the orthodontic bracket after the bracket is in place and the material is light cured on the bracket. When used in a method of intraoral delivery of a medicament, a medicament is added to the polymeric material and the polymeric material is applied in the same manner as described for cushioning an orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: A biologically compatible adhesive dental primer that is shelf stable as a single component adhesive and includes a mixture of an adhesive promoting and polymerizable monomer system having a free radical polymerizable monomer or prepolymer having ethylenic unsaturation and a phosphorus containing adhesion promoter which is free from halogen atoms bonded directly to a phosphorus atom, and optionally a free radical polymerization catalyst, and an accelerator for the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a dental impression using an improved band technique. The method comprises placing an actinic light transparent band containing light polymerizable impression material over a tooth or a tooth preparation, and polymerizing the impression material and contacting the band with the polymerized impression material with tray impression material and incorporating the band into the overall impression.

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 scaling 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: An anaesthetic apparatus having a plurality of vaporizers is provided which utilizes an interlocking device which prevents more than one vaporizer from being activated at one time. The interlock device can be used with any number of vaporizers mounted side-by-side. The interlock device comprises a cam follower which is adapted to be received in a rotating cam which is used to activate the vaporizer. The cam follower is connected to a pair of cranks which activate bars which interact with bars on adjacent interlocking devices, when one of the interlocking devices is activated, thereby locking all the other vaporizers in a inoperative position. Also provided is a safety lock connector which is used for connecting hose to an anaesthesia apparatus.

Abstract: A dental composite carrier and a packaging means for a composite used for posterior restorations in a tooth is provided. The composite carrier comprises a handle having a lever with a jaw on one end, and the package comprises individual incremental portions of composite material contained in ampules, and a number of ampules packaged in a tray. The composite carrier is used to pick an ampule out of the tray, carry it to a tooth, and deliver it into a cavity in the tooth. Optionally, the handle may have a condenser on its opposite end to be used for packing and smoothing the composite in the tooth.

Abstract: A method of producing dental appliances, especially orthodontic appliances, but also including dentures and other dental prosthesis. The method includes placing a self-merging dental gel especially as a stream on a dental cast and under and around preformed dental parts mounted on the cast and merging the dental gel into a homogeneous form of the complete part and then curing the formed dental appliance. The dental gel is a colloidal system including a hardenable dispersing medium, a colloid and a catalyst, preferably a photoinitiator.

Abstract: A method of building a dental appliance and a kit for use in the method are provided. In the method, metal copings are coated with an opaque ceramic paste, and a coarse ceramic powder, having structural stability under the conditions needed to fire the ceramic paste, is dusted on the coating of ceramic paste, and the coping is fired. A coated metal coping with a rough, sandpaper like surface is produced, and subsequent layers of ceramic paste are applied to the rough surface to build up the dental appliance. The kit of the invention provides at least one preformed opaque ceramic paste, dusting powders, and other ingredients needed to build a dental appliance.

Abstract: A method of detecting dentin is provided. Also provided is a method of repairing a tooth in which dentin is detected using a substance that stains protein, and is thereby clearly delineated from enamel, the enamel is then selectively acid etched, taking care that none of the acid from the etching procedure contacts dentin, and composite filling material is applied to the tooth. The use of a composition for staining dentin is also provided.