Abstract: A dental impression tray and method of using it to form in a light-polymerizable impression material an impression of a portion of dental anatomy in an oral cavity, the tray being formed of transparent material, preferably clear plastic, and molded into a channel-like shape defined by walls capable of having visible actinic light applied to the walls transmitted both through and within the walls. At least some of the outer edge portions of the tray are beveled, guiding light that has entered the walls of the tray against exiting loss that would not be effective in initiating polymerization of the impression material.

Abstract: A dental impression package pre-loaded with dental impression material adapted for taking accurate impressions of a patient's teeth and/or gums by professional personnel is provided. The impression material used is flowable to a desired degree and has a viscosity of substantially one million centipoises. Packaging a pre-loaded dental impression tray is accomplished by first quickly immersing the loaded tray in a solution of natural latex for a few seconds and then quickly removing the coated product followed by quickly immersing it in a coagulating solution of acetic acid for a few seconds to stabilize the latex coating; withdrawing the stabilized coated product; drying it; and suitably packaging the product for storage and sale. If the impression material is of a light-curable nature, the packaging is of light-opaque nature.

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 process for producing a radiopaque cement comprises reacting a polymer containing free carboxyl groups (generally a homo or copolymer of acrylic acid) with a particulate acid-leachable source of polyvalent metal ions (such as an acid-leachable glass) in the presence of water and strontium fluoride.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a tubular member that is adapted to be attached to the working end of a dental handpiece and is used to contain and direct material dispensed from the handpiece in order to reduce the amount of airborne particles emitted into the atmosphere by the handpiece and to accurately direct the dispensed material to the desired area. The apparatus is adapted to provide a reference point for the practitioner in establishing the optimum working distance of the handpiece from a particular working area in the mouth when the handpiece is used. An improved dental handpiece using the apparatus of the invention and a method of using the apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an intra-oral dental bandage membrane and/or therapeutic membrane containing therapeutic agent. Actinic light is used to polymerize the membrane composition material to fix the composition in position locked with rigid dental structure such as teeth. The polymerizable substance is manipulated and shaped in a fluid state and then set, as shaped very rapidly in situ. Also disclosed is a new treatment membrane that in a preferred form is a non-symetrical oligomer that is a urethane polyacrylate.

Abstract: A dental impression composition comprising alginate material and biocidal component.A method for reducing microorganism contamination in alginate dental impressions comprising preparing a mixture comprising alginate, water and biocide.

Abstract: A porcelain dental restoration having a plurality of layers including a translucent porcelain layer overlying a more opaque ceramic layer, wherein the color of each of the said two layers is uniform and wherein the colors of the said two layers match.

Abstract: A single handpiece that can be used in multiple dental treatments is provided. The handpiece comprises a housing having a coil for producing an electromagnetic or electrostrictive field in the housing, and a number of inserts that react with the electromagnetic or electrostrictive field and can be used with the housing to complete the handpiece. A switching system used with the handpiece, which electrically recognizes the particular insert used with the housing provide for automatically controlling circuitry that determines which of a number of materials and medicaments are to be delivered to the handpiece for use with a particular insert. Circuitry which provides better control of the ultrasonic insert in the handpiece is also provided.

Abstract: A biologically compatible adhesive 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, a free radical polymerization catalyst, and an accelerator for the catalyst, the accelerator selected from the group consisting of sulfinic acid or salt thereof, amine or amine salt and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Alkaline earth metal aluminofluorosilicate glasses suitable for use as ion-sources in the poly(carboxylic acid) cement compositions contain strontium in order to provide radiopacity. The invention also provides methods for making poly(carboxylate) cement using the glasses of the invention as ion-sources.

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: An adhesive for bonding polymeric material to both collagen and calcium is provided. The adhesive contains a glutaraldehyde component for bonding to collagen and a monophosphate component for bonding to calcium. It has been found that in bonding polymeric filling materials to teeth that the adhesive substantially reduces microleakage around the filling.

Abstract: Biocompatible, shelf-stable, polymerizable compositions which are especially useful for applications requiring direct contact with living pulpal tissue, bone or dentin, and methods for using the compositions are disclosed. The compositions are non-toxic, both before and after in situ polymerization, and include at least one polymerizable monomer or prepolymer which polymerized by a mechanism other than chelation or saponification. In one aspect, the compositions comprise at least one non-toxic polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer or prepolymer and a catalytically effective amount of a free radical initiator system, and preferably, from about 5 to about 70% by weight of calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide.

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 opague 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 process for producing a radiopaque cement comprises reacting a polymer containing free carboxyl groups (generally a homo or copolymer of acrylic acid) with a particulate acid-leachable source of polyvalent metal ions (such as an acid-leachable glass) in the presence of water and strontium fluoride.

Abstract: A mixing and dispensing syringe having a single mixing cylinder loadable at one end with a plurality of different materials to be blended and mixed by static devices, a dispensing nozzel on the opposite end of said cylinder, a piston-like unit axially movable in the cylinder between opposite ends thereof by means of a manually-operable member connected to one end of the unit, whereby, when the unit is positioned nearest the nozzle in the cylinder and the cylinder is loaded with the materials to be mixed, movement of the unit toward the loadable end of the cylinder causes the materials to pass through a mixing device in the unit and into a common chamber or barrel of the syringe to effect partial mixing and when the unit next is moved toward the nozzle by the manual member, the partially mixed materials then pass through the static mixing device in the nozzle and are further mixed incident to being discharged from the syringe.

Abstract: A miniature capsule-like cartridge adapted to be operated by being mounted in an ejector holder and including a tubular body of uniform inner diameter open at one end and the other end being closed but having a discharge opening therein, the body containing a complementary piston having an innermost pressure end complementary to the interior of the closed end of the body end and provided with an integral thin cylindrical wall at least precisely complementary in outer diameter to the inner diameter of the tubular body and extending axially away from the pressure end of the piston, the piston being operable by a piston post integral at one end with and extending axially away from the pressure end of the piston and connected to the thin cylindrical sleeve by a reinforcing rib extending integrally therebetween.

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 technique by which a denture formed from light-curable plastic material, and including individually positioned artificial teeth, is produced by the use of a custom, substantially U-shaped, matrix formed from an elongated shape of light-curable plastic material which is impressed into and is releasably affixed to the incisal and occlusal surfaces of the teeth when mounted in set-up wax on a model of a patient's gum.