Abstract: A release substrate is releasably placed across a layer of adhesive that has been coated onto the base of an orthodontic appliance such as an orthodontic bracket. The release substrate enhances separation from the adhesive coated on the appliance such that the shape of the adhesive is essentially undisturbed and preferably substantially all of the adhesive remains on the base of the appliance when the substrate is detached from the adhesive. The release substrate is particularly suitable for use with adhesives that have a relatively low viscosity, adhesives that are more tacky and/or adhesives that have less cohesive strength than adhesives conventionally used with precoated orthodontic appliances.

Abstract: A photocurable composition is provided which includes al having bottom and side walls which define a chamber a photocurable material disposed in-the chamber. The wall circulmacribe the bottom wall and includes a rant so that the side wall will substantially attenuate nic radiation while minimally attenuating visible light ng an approximating spectral wavelength greater than nanometers. By that arrangement, the level of the ocurable material may be visualized through the side while still providing sufficient attenuation of nic radiation to provide for long term storage of the ocurable material without substantial curing thereof.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of creating a dental model for use in dental articulation includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, and providing hinge axis data representative of the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower dental arches relative to a condylar axis of the patient. A reference hinge axis is created relative to the upper and lower arch images based on the hinge axis data. Further, the method may include bite alignment data for use in aligning the lower and upper arch images. Yet further, the method may include providing data associated with condyle geometry of the patient, so as to provide limitations on the movement of at least the lower arch image when the arch images are displayed.

Abstract: A cap is releasably connected to an orthodontic bracket and covers tips of occlusal bracket tiewings in order to prevent contact of the bracket with the enamel of opposing dentition. The cap includes a section that extends at least partially along a channel of the bracket extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction in order to help retain the cap in its intended position and prevent the cap from rotating relative to the bracket. In preferred embodiments, the cap is made of a stain-resistant aesthetically pleasing material. Optionally, the cap serves as a ligature in order to retain an archwire in an archwire slot of the bracket.

Abstract: A dental tray for delivery medication to oral structure is custom-made to closely match the configuration of the oral structure. A lingual wall of the tray includes a lingual edge section having an outer edge that is spaced in a gingival direction from the patient's gingival margin a certain distance in order to reduce the possibility of adverse effects as might be caused by movement of the patient's tongue. A buccolabial wall of the tray has an outer edge that is closely adjacent the patient's gingival margin in order to increase patient comfort, reduce gingival irritation and improve patient compliance during the course of treatment.

Abstract: A medication delivery tray provides a controlled release of medication to target dental structures in the mouth, such as the teeth and/or gingiva, while maintaining a high concentration of the active chemical over an extended period of time. The medication delivery tray includes a dental tray having a base, a buccal wall and a lingual wall defining an inner surface. At least one medication reservoir is located on the dental tray. Each medication reservoir includes a plurality of discrete support members projecting away from the medication reservoir to engage the dental structure of the patient. The support members are arranged to resist the flow of medication from the medication reservoir in a gingival direction. Each medication reservoir extends over the teeth and/or gum tissue of the patient when the medication delivery tray is placed over the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for precisely positioning and bonding orthodontic appliances such as brackets and buccal tubes to a patient's teeth. The method and apparatus includes the use of a transfer tray and arms that are connected to the transfer tray. Orthodontic appliances are releasably connected to the arms and detached from the arms once the adhesive used for bonding the appliances to the tooth surfaces has sufficiently hardened. In certain embodiments, the transfer tray has a shape that helps hold the tray immobile relative to the patient's teeth also facilitates clean-up of any adhesive extruded from the base of the appliances during bonding. In other embodiments, fixture components are connected to the tray and include analogs for each orthodontic appliance. In certain embodiments, the tray is made by placing matrix material over arms for supporting orthodontic appliances or appliance analogs.

Abstract: An attachment device useful during the course of orthodontic treatment couples an interarch appliance to brackets and/or to archwires placed in the oral cavity. The attachment device includes a wire segment that crosses over a labial side of an archwire in order to enable a coupler of the interarch appliance to slide past the archwire as the patient's jaws are opened. The attachment device increases the range of free sliding motion of the interarch appliance and reduces the amount of stress that might be otherwise imposed on the appliance, on the brackets and/or the archwires as the patient's jaws are opened. The attachment device is particularly suitable for use with Class II correction appliances including elongated, resilient force modules that have an inherent bias toward a normally straight orientation.

Abstract: An orthodontic archwire with a certain cross-sectional construction has a stiffness that is less than conventional archwires having identical overall dimensions. The archwire has four corner edge portions that provide control over torquing movements and uprighting movements of the associated teeth as may be needed during the course of orthodontic treatment. The archwire is particularly useful during the early stages of orthodontic treatment when an archwire of reduced stiffness is desired and yet control over torquing and uprighting movements of the associated teeth is sought. Optionally, the archwire includes an aesthetic coating with certain characteristics that enable the majority of the coating to remain intact and provide an improved overall appearance even if certain regions of the coating are damaged and removed.

Abstract: A dispensing cartridge for use with a hand-held applicator has a chamber with a first section and a second section. The second section has a smaller cross-sectional area than the first section such that the chamber has a stepped configuration. A piston is slidably received in the chamber and has a head portion that is received in the second section and a tail portion that is received in the first section. As a force is applied to the tail portion, the head portion advances to expel material through an outlet opening. The cartridge is especially useful for dispensing compositions having a relatively high viscosity such as dental pastes and the like.

Abstract: A method of applying a dental composition to tooth structure of a dental patient includes the act of providing an applicator having an empty chamber at least partially surrounded by flexible wall portions. A tip portion of the applicator is placed into a bulk container having a quantity of dental composition, and the wall portions are squeezed together. When the wall portions are released, a portion of the dental composition is drawn into the chamber by suction. The wall portions are then squeezed together once the tip portion of the applicator has been placed next to tooth structure of a dental patient in order to dispense at least a portion of the dental composition directly onto the tooth structure. Since a sufficient amount of composition is drawn from the bulk container before the applicator is placed in the patient's oral cavity, the likelihood of cross-contamination between dental patients is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of orthodontic appliance selection includes providing data representative of one or more teeth of a patient and providing data representative of a set of orthodontic appliances. Each orthodontic appliance of the set of orthodontic appliances has an appliance parameter that varies from the other orthodontic appliances of the set. At least one geometrical parameter of the one or more teeth of the patient is determined using the data representative thereof. The geometrical parameter is compared to the data representative of the set of orthodontic appliances and one orthodontic appliance of the set is selected based on the comparison. The set of orthodontic appliances may be a set of orthodontic bands with each band of the set having a different size. Further, such bands may be precoated with an adhesive material.

Abstract: An orthodontic assembly includes one or more orthodontic appliances that are releasably received in a carrier. The carrier has arms with outer end sections that are spaced apart from each other to present a channel therebetween. The outer end sections of the arms are received in recesses of each appliance in order to support the appliance in suspended relation. The carrier is particularly useful for holding appliances during a manufacturing operation or during transport of the appliances from manufacturing operation to another. The carrier is also useful for supporting appliances in a package for shipment to the end user, especially when the appliances are precoated with a layer of adhesive.

Abstract: A dispensing cartridge especially suitable for use with a hand-held applicator for dispensing liquids having a relatively low viscosity has a chamber and at least one compressible, porous material received in the chamber. Each of the porous materials receives a quantity of a liquid composition. As a piston is advanced in the chamber, each porous material is compressed to cause the composition or compositions to be discharged through an outlet opening.

Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a latch that is movable from a slot-open position to a first closed position or a second closed position. In the first closed position of the latch, the latch engages an archwire with sufficient force to provide active orthodontic therapy. In the second closed position, the effective labial-lingual dimension of the archwire slot is somewhat greater than the overall labial-lingual dimension of the archwire such that the bracket provides passive orthodontic therapy.

Abstract: An orthodontic force module for correcting Class II malocclusions includes a resilient body and a coupling connected to the body for connecting the body to a selected orthodontic appliance located on the patient's upper jaw. The coupling includes an opening that extends in a reference plane substantially parallel to and preferably containing the longitudinal axis of the body. The orientation of the opening provides enhanced freedom of movement of the force module when the patient's jaws are opened or closed and significantly reduces the likelihood of fracture of the coupling.

Abstract: A socket wrench has a body with a handle, and a head with a hollow cavity. A ratchet mechanism is received in the cavity and has a drive shank for connection with a socket. The ratchet mechanism is pivotally connected to the head in order to allow the head to pivot relative to the ratchet mechanism in an arc along a limited path of travel. The pivotal connection between the head and the ratchet mechanism enables an impact force to be presented to the socket when desired. Optionally, a releasable lock member is provided to prevent relative movement of the head and the ratchet mechanism so that the socket wrench can be used in a manner similar to a conventional ratchet wrench.

Abstract: A photocurable composition is provided which includes a vial having bottom and side walls which define a chamber and a photocurable material disposed in the chamber. The side wall circumscribes the bottom wall and includes a colorant so that the side wall will substantially attenuate actinic radiation while minimally attenuating visible light having an approximating spectral wavelength greater than 500 nanometers. By that arrangement, the level of the photocurable material may be visualized through the side wall, while still providing sufficient attenuation of actinic radiation to provide for long term storage of the photocurable material without substantial curing thereof.

Abstract: A cassette for tonometric calibration especially useful for systems that measure one or more blood parameters includes a cassette having an elongated fluid chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid chamber includes an expansion region that reduces the likelihood of bubble coalescence of the calibration gas. In another embodiment, inner wall sections of the chamber are provided with a hydrophilic surface. Optionally, a fitting is non-releasably coupled to a casing of the cassette and is movable between a first position for closing a calibration gas outlet port and a second position for venting the calibration gas outlet port. In another embodiment, the cassette includes an elongated sparging tube that extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.