Abstract: A dental instrument for the extraction of an object from a root canal, comprising a shaft (1) having an open-end part (3) designed to receive at least a part of object (9), this open-end part (3) able to be deformed to permit seizing object (9) by clamping and then extracting it from the root canal, is characterized in that open-end part (3) is tubular and is able to plastically deform, in a manner that involves a reduction of its inner section, under the effect of a given stress.

Abstract: A dental adhesive composition for bonding dental restoratives to dentin and enamel provides a one-part self-etching, self-priming dental adhesive composition having hydrolysis stable polymerizable acidic adhesive monomers.

Abstract: The invention provides a high strength dental polymeric material formed from wax-like polymerizable dental material. A wax-like polymerizable dental material formed by a process comprising blending polymerizable compounds which polymerize to form high strength dental polymeric material. The invention provides a process for making a denture including: positioning artificial teeth in wax-like polymerizable dental material, and shaping the polyermizable material into the form of a denture base. The process is completed without forming wax and without applying inorganic plaster to the artificial teeth.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable material is exposed to light to effect curing. A portion of the material is exposed to light in a conventional manner, while at least one other portion of the material is masked from direct exposure to the light by use of a mask (10) having at least one mask segment (11) which either completely or at least partially blocks the light. In this manner, the polymerization stress associated with the cured materials is limited or minimized due to extended molecular relaxation promoted by this controlled or hybrid curing technique. Also according to the invention, different segments (30, 31) of a material to be cured (22) are exposed to different wavelengths of light energy (21) or one such segment (30, 31) is exposed to light energy while another such segment is not.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dental composition comprising bisacrylamides that are polymerizable by free-radical polymerization and by Michael-addition polymerization with amines. The application of polymerization and addition polymerization with amines opens the possibility to completely reacted materials that have no oxygen inhibited layers. The claimed bisacrylamides have an improved hydrolytic stability.

Abstract: Dental compositions comprising at least a polymerizable monomer and/or at least a polyaminoester that are prepared by reaction of bis- or polyacrylic esters and amines, pigments, organic and/or inorganic fillers, initiators and stabilizers.

Abstract: A convertible buccal tube is disclosed which includes an arch wire slot covered by a separable cover. The cover includes a mesial or front flared portion to facilitate placing the end of an arch wire therein without undesirably stressing the cover. The cover is further secured to the buccal tube body by integral seams, brazing or other adhesive means that are varied in strength mesially-distally, with about 50% greater force being required to separate the cover at the mesial end thereof. The cover and increased strength seams provide that the cover is not prematurely separated from the buccal tube, particularly during installation of an arch wire.

Abstract: A dental composite material includes a hardenable resin matrix and a filler component. The filler component includes (a) a first plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers; (b) a second plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers; and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers. A method according to the invention includes compacting a dental composite material into a prepared tooth cavity, wherein the material has a packability index above about 300 g/mm2.

Abstract: A low-viscosity dental material contains a non-settling nanoscale filler. Improvements of the mechanical properties of the dental materials, including the abrasive resistance and the compressive strength are provided. Furthermore, the dental materials have increased resistance to microleakage and have increased bond strengths. The filler forms a stable sol with low-viscosity dental materials and the filler may be prepared by surface treatment of fillers having a primary particle size of from about 1 to about 100 nanometers.

Abstract: A dental tooth whitening material sets to a rubber-like or elastomeric consistency. The material includes hydrogen peroxide. A method of whitening teeth employs such a material by placing it into a dental tray, a backing sheet or by placing the material directly onto a tooth. Once the material has set to its solid or semi-solid consistency, the dental tray, if employed, can be left in place or removed.

Abstract: A dental tooth whitening material sets to a rubber-like or elastomeric yet fluid consistency. The material includes hydrogen peroxide. A method of whitening teeth employs such a material by placing it into a dental tray or by placing the material directly onto a tooth. Once the material has set to its solid or semi-solid yet fluid consistency, the dental tray, if employed, can be left in place or removed.

Abstract: The synthesis of self-adhesive polymerizabe monomers and their application as a water containing and a water free self-adhesive dental/medical composite is described. The dental/medical composite comprises a self-adhesive polymerizabe monomer, a polymerizable monomer, an acid-reactive and/or reactive and/or non-reactive filler, a diluent, a polymerization initiator and a stabilizer. As polymerization initiators are used the commonly known thermal initiators, redox initiators and/or photo initiators. The new adhesive dental composite develops adhesion to dentine of about 4 MPa. Fillers of high X-ray absorbance provide radio-opacity values grater than that of the same thickness of aluminium.

Abstract: A multi-component, mixing, storage and dispensing package (10) has a housing 11, a displaceable cavity block (20) having at least one cavity (21) therein. A vent spike block (40) having at least one spike (42) held in an opposing relation to at least one cavity (21) is provided within the housing (11). When cavity block (21) is caused to move toward the vent spike block (40) spike (42) is caused to enter a cavity (21). A vent (43) is in fluid communication through the spike (42) with a mix channel (51) and a mixing and dispensing tip (50).

Abstract: The invention provides high strength dental polymeric dental products made from wax-like polymerizable dental material. These dental products have superior strength compared to products formed from prior wax-like polymerizable materials. Prior wax-like polymerizable materials do not form strong enough polymeric material for making dentures. High strength dentures are made by positioning artificial teeth in wax-like polymerizable dental material of the invention. This material is then shaped and polymerized to the form a denture base of high strength dental polymeric material. These dentures are completed without forming wax and without applying inorganic plaster to the artificial teeth.

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 dispensing syringe (10) has a barrel (20) keyed (31, 32) to a gripping assembly (40) having complementary keyed surfaces (42). A nut having dual threads (61, 62) of differing diameters is threaded to one end of the barrel (20) and receives a matingly threaded (71) plunger (70). Turning the plunger (70) causes it to advance within the barrel (20) due to the interaction of the mating threads (61, 71). The gripping assembly (40) is provided with winged projections (50) that facilitate handling and manipulation of the syringe (10). The complementary keyed surfaces (31, 32 and 42) physically interact so as to prevent the gripping assembly (40) from turning or twisting about the barrel (20) during use.

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°. 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: Improved very high viscosity (putty) two component polymerizable polyorganosiloxane composition for use in making non-sweating, low liquid mass loss 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°.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used in dental panoramic and cephalographic x-ray equipment provides automatic adjustment of the pre-programmed exposure factors in order to obtain optimisation of the grey scale of the latent image on various kinds of x-ray detectors, such as the radiographic film or x-ray image detector plates. A sensor, such as photo diodes, detects the intensity of the radiation passed through the patient and incident on the x-ray detector and feeds it to a control unit. The control unit provides a computed simulation of the latent image grey level and adjusts the programmed exposure factors in order to establish the grey level of the latent image at the required reference value.

Abstract: A method of restoring a tooth using a dental construct of the type wherein the construct is placed onto the tooth using a dental cement to bond the construct to the tooth. After placement of the construct onto the tooth, excess cement is removed with a soft, pointed brush. The dental margins are then brushed with a photocurable dental resin cement which is the same as or different from the dental cement used to bond the construct to the tooth. The resin cement is then light cured.