Abstract: A dental system includes a light source, a power supply that adjusts a quantity of light produced by the light source, a measuring device that measures a quantity of light received from the light source, an input, through which user data, including a desired quantity of light, can be entered, and a controller which, together with the measuring device, forms at least part of a feedback loop. The controller receives the user data and communicates with the measuring device and the power supply so that the power supply adjusts a quantity of light emitted by the light source. As a result, the quantity of light received from the light source becomes substantially equal to the desired quantity of light.

Abstract: A device adapted to facilitate retention and release of a dental laminate includes an elongated main body having a channel extending through it, a resilient element connected to a first end of the main body for contact with the dental laminate, a connector disposed at a second end of the main body adapted to communicate the channel with vacuum suction, and a particularly configured valve body. The valve body includes a passage defined therein that is selectively rotatable between increased and decreased alignments with the main body channel to permit variable fluid flow through the channel as well as to essentially cut off fluid flow through the channel when desired. A bearing assembly is also disposed between an extension of the connector and a proximal portion of the elongated main body, thereby permitting essentially stress-free rotational movement between the connector and the main body.

Abstract: A method for forming a polychromatic pressable porcelain dental restoration. A wax model of the dental restoration is prepared as is commonly used in the lost wax technique. Chards or pieces of porcelain are embedded into the wax model. The porcelain embedded wax model is then used in the common pressable porcelain technique to form a polychromatic porcelain dental restoration with natural tooth shading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of wound healing. More particularly, the present invention is directed to of treating wounds using ionomer resins. The invention involves treating the injured tissue with biocompatible crosslinked resins that optionally contain leachable healing and anti-biotic agents.

Abstract: A user-fabricated mouth guard wherein the user's teeth and gums are not directly exposed to the uncured mouth guard material. The uncured mouth guard material is pliant at room temperature and does not have to be heated to form and shape the mouth guard. The cured mouth guard can be pliant or rigid at room temperature. A kit and a method of forming the mouth guard are also disclosed.

Abstract: Stable tooth bleaching gels with a high concentration of peroxide are disclosed. The present invention also provides a method for treating one or more teeth. The method includes steps of applying a therapeutically effective amount of a tooth bleaching gel with a high concentration of peroxide to one or more teeth, leaving the gel in contact with the one or more teeth such that the gel may whiten the tooth or teeth.

Abstract: Methods of using tooth bleaching gels with a high concentration of peroxide are disclosed. The present invention also provides a method for treating one or more teeth. The method includes steps of applying a desensitizing gel to one or more teeth, applying therapeutically effective amount of a tooth bleaching gel with a high concentration of peroxide to one or more teeth, and leaving the gel in contact with the one or more teeth such that the gel may whiten the tooth or teeth.

Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic ingot. A mold is filled with ceramic powder. The mold is subjected to a heating process to fuse together grains of the ceramic powder. The fused ceramic is then removed from the mold to form a ceramic ingot.

Abstract: A method for isolating stone cells and stone cell clusters from fruit. A puree of a stone cell-containing fruit is treated to provide a chemically induced separation of fibrous fruit pulp from stone cells and stone cell clusters. The method provides free-flowing stone cell powder for use as a mild abrasive.

Abstract: A family of radiopaque glasses comprising silicon dioxide (15–30%), ytterbium oxide (5–35%), barium oxide (30–50%) and fluoride (5–20%), all by weight. The family of glasses all exhibit high radiopacity with refractive indices varying from 1.508–1.592 and translucency ranging from clear to moderately opaque. These glasses can be incorporated into dental composites to provide radiopaque dental restoratives with a desired translucence and appearance.

Abstract: An exfoliating cream and method of forming. The cream includes particles of a stone. The stone may be a precious or semi-precious stone of a characteristic color. The cream appears to be the color of the characteristic color. The cream may also include coloring agents to impart the characteristic color. The cream may also include particles of barium glass as another exfoliant. The cream may also include whole stone cells as another exfoliant.

Abstract: Methods for making molding casts by a process typically referred to as “investment casting” using a novel composition is described. The composition is a phosphate bonded material that contains mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), magnesium oxide and silica filler (quartz, cristobalite, or a mixture thereof). It has been discovered that controlling the amount and ratio of these components has a significant impact on gas permeability (porosity), set time, cast smoothness and cast softness. The most outstanding feature of the new investments is the short mold fabrication and processing time that they allow due to their high gas permeability. The investments can be placed in a burn out furnace while still wet and can be heated rapidly to the firing temperature. The casts can be broken by sandblasting the casts with glass beads. Molds made from the casts have smooth surfaces indicating that the casts are free of visible inclusions and other defects.

Abstract: An aqueous gel useful for bleaching teeth comprising: (i) water; (ii) polyacrylic acid thickening agent; (iii) hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent; and (iv) aminocarboxylic acid/salt stabilizing agent. Preferably the polyacrylic acid is an easy to disperse carbomer and the gels contain high concentrations (20 to 40% by weight) of hydrogen peroxide. The gels exhibit room temperature stability, both with respect to gel stability and hydrogen peroxide decomposition, sufficient to eliminate the need for constant refrigeration. A method for using the gels to bleach teeth is also disclosed.

Abstract: An investment composition is described for use in investment casting (also called lost wax casting). The composition is a phosphate bonded material that contains mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), magnesium oxide and silica filler (quartz, cristobalite, or a mixture thereof). It has been discovered that controlling the amount and ratio of these components has a significant impact on gas permeability (porosity), set time, cast smoothness and cast softness. The most outstanding feature of the new investments is the short mold fabrication and processing time that they allow due to their high gas permeability. The investments can be placed in a bum out furnace while still wet and can be heated rapidly to the firing temperature. The casts can be broken by sandblasting the casts with glass beads. Molds made from the casts have smooth surfaces indicating that the casts are free of visible inclusions and other defects.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an anhydrous dentifrice (toothpaste, brushing gel, etc . . . ) The dentifrice is a homogeneous mixture of the following compounds: (1) organic polyols, such as glycerin; (2) cooked starch gelling agents; (3) mildly abrasive fillers such as silica, alumina and dicalcium phosphate; and, optionally, (4) compounds selected from the group consisting of anti-caries agents, anti-plaque agents, anti-calculus agents, bleaching agents, peroxide stabilizers, desensitizing agents, whiteners, anti-stain agents, breath fresheners, flavorants, sweeteners, colorants, buffers, surfactants, and anti-bacterial agents, with the proviso that if bleaching agents are employed then peroxide stabilizers must also be employed. Preferably, the dentifrice does not contain any gelling agent other than the cooked starch particles.

Abstract: A substantially anhydrous gel useful for bleaching teeth comprising: (i) at least 25% by weight of organic polyol; (ii) less than 3% by weight polyacrylic acid thickening agent; (iii) at least 10% by weight carbamide peroxide (or a chemically equivalent amount of another bleaching agent, such as 3% by weight hydrogen peroxide); (iv) neutralizing agent; (v) chelating agents; (vi) desensitizing agent; and (vii) miscellaneous ingredients such as Cirtoxain® and flavorants. The organic polyol is preferably glycerin. The polyacrylic acid thickening agent is preferably a carbomer. The desensitizing agent is preferably potassium nitrate, strontium chloride, potassium citrate, strontium nitrate, or a similarly effective alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of an organic or inorganic acid.

Abstract: A process for bonding a denture to the tissue surfaces of the jaw over which the denture is superimposed during use which comprises the steps of providing at the interface of the denture and the jaw's tissues, a liquid irreversible hydrocolloid of an alginate dental impression formulation, applying pressure to the denture so that it presses into the tissue surfaces and causes the liquid hydrocolloid to flow within such interface, and then allowing the hydrocolloid to solidify within the interface. Also described is a novel relatively-thin film, settable hydrocolloid denture aid and the set, cushiony, relatively-thin film denture aid obtained from it.

Abstract: Shaped article replicas which are proportionately accurate replicas of a shaped article and which are equal, greater or smaller in size than said shaped article are made by preparing a swellable polymer replica of said shaped article; immersing said swellable polymer replica in a swelling agent system under conditions which will enlarge said polymer replica to a predetermined extent; forming a casting mold of such enlarged polymer replica; making a powder compact in said casting mold and heating said powder compact to produced a proportionately accurate solid replica of a predetermined size.

Abstract: A single package adhesive for tooth bonding application comprising a solvent-based homogeneous mixture ofa) an ethylenically unsaturated functional and hygroscopically functional monomer;b) an ethylenically unsaturated functional and hygroscopically functional coupling agent that is capable of (a) chemically reacting with and through the ethylenic bond of the ethylenically unsaturated functional monomer of 1) above and (b) chemically bonding to the surface to which the adhesive is applied;c) a poly-ethylenically unsaturated functional crosslinking agent that is capable of reacting with the monomer of 1) above and the coupling agent of 2) above; andd) a photoinitiator that induces addition polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated compound.A method for forming a composite and composite structure are included that emply the single package adhesive.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the(a) normal healing processes involving a live mammalian body of(i) injured non-dental-related soft tissue, and(ii) non-dental-related osseous material, and(b) for enhancing the biocompatibility and adhesion of bone and/or prosthetic device involved in a non-dental surgical or nonsurgical repair procedure, to ossified and non-ossified tissue components with which they are in contact, where there is an injury to either soft or hard tissue or a non-biocompatible prosthesis is placed in the body, that involves placing at the injury or on the prosthesisa) a primary coating that is a tenaciously-bonded hydrophilic water insoluble crosslinked resin coating,b) that optionally contains a measurable amount of a water/fluid leachable fluoride capable of (a) being leached from the coating in a metered amount, and (b) transporting a small amount of leached fluoride from the coating into the afflicted area ("the primary coating with fluoride").