Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition and method of making a polymerizable antibacterial/antimicrobial resin and using such a bioactive resin in formulated dental compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides a light-curable dental material comprising a polymerizable compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond and a hexaaryl bisimidazole as a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: This invention relates to printable polymerizable material systems for making dental products such as artificial teeth, dentures, splints, veneers, inlays, onlays, copings, frame patterns, crowns and bridges and the like. A DLP or stereolithography printer is used to cure polymerizable material in a layer-by-layer manner to build-up the object. The resulting three-dimensional object has good dimensional stability.

Abstract: A package (10) for storing and dispensing a flowable material includes a container body (11) having an inlet end (20) and an outlet end (21). The container body (11) is configured to hold a quantity of the material and has a piston (30) receivable within the inlet end (20) and movable within the container body (11, 12). At least a portion of the piston (30) is selectively permeable to a selected medium.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus including a printed circuit board for wireless communication between the various components and devices used in a wireless dental device. The printed circuit board includes a substrate for mounting of a plurality of electronic components. The electronic components include a programmable controller; a radio frequency transceiver; an accelerometer; a wake-up device for generating a wake-up signal to the controller; and a 2.45 GHz antenna communicatively coupled with the RF transceiver. The electronic components are in electronic communication through printed circuit traces on the substrate and configured to communicate with at least one remote wireless controller. The PCB is configured to be mounted within a housing module of the hand-held dental hand piece.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for the endodontic treatment of a root canal. The system includes an endodontic instrument; an endodontic handpiece having a drive motor for rotating the endodontic instrument releasably attached to the handpiece; and a control unit for controlling the rotation of the endodontic instrument according to one or more predetermined rotational sequences. The rotational sequences include reciprocating the endodontic instrument by continuously sequentially rotating the endodontic instrument in a first direction followed by reversing the direction of rotation so that 0.5×???<? and 3??/??20, where ? represents a rotational angle in a direction in which the rotating endodontic instrument removes debris from the root canal, ? represents a rotational angle in the opposite direction, and ? represents the elastic angle of the endodontic instrument at which plastic deformation occurs in the direction of ?.

Abstract: A dental composition comprising: a) about 1 to about 80% by weight of particulate material including: (i) calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, silica, alumina, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof; and b) about 1 to about 50% by weight liquid carrier including: (i) water-soluble polymer, (ii) surfactant, the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, and sarcosinates, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) water; wherein the particulate and liquid carrier being mixed together to form a hydrate gel material that can harden.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of making provisional and long-term dental restorations, particularly dental veneers, implants, crowns and bridges. A shell or restoration form made of polymerizable material having good dimensional shape-stability in its uncured condition is used to make the dental restoration. A polymerizable material is introduced into the cavity of the shell form. The outer shell and injected polymerizable material are polymerized and bond together to form a hardened crown structure. In one embodiment, the restoration can be fabricated indirectly by a dental laboratory. In another version, a dental practitioner can make the restoration chairside for a patient in a dental office.

Abstract: In a dental operatory system a master device coordinates the activity levels of multiple slave devices. The master device coordinates activity via a communication link with all slave devices. A communication protocol incorporates a closed system addresses scheme in which the master device learns all associated addresses of slave devices, and all slave devices learn all associated addresses of the master device. Each communication between master device and any slave device includes both the master device address and the slave device address. The master device scans all slave devices for an activity status and determines which slave device exhibits a threshold level of activity, and whether activity is increasing or decreasing. The master device passes a communication control token to the slave device to be controlled by operation of the master device.

Abstract: One-component heat-curable sealant composition for the protection of exposed dental surfaces, comprising (a) a polymerisable monomer and/or oligomer which has at least two polymerizable double bonds per molecule, and (b) an initiator system comprising benzoylperoxide in an amount of at least 2 wt.-% based on the total composition.

Abstract: Improved compositions comprising a mixture of particulate materials with water-based liquids containing water-soluble polymers and surfactants are provided. Examples of particulate powders include mixtures of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, calcium sulfate, and hydroxyapatite. Examples of water-soluble polymers include polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates, polyacrylic acid, and polymethacrylic acid. Surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate are added to the composition to interact with the polymeric materials. The compositions are particularly suitable for sealing and obturating dental root canals and root apices. The composition provides a stable barrier to bacterial and fluid leakage in the root canal system of a tooth. In addition, the compositions help promote the growth of new bone and tissue surrounding the root-tip area or dentin tissue that covers an injured or amputated pulp.

Abstract: A sulcus impression tip for injecting dental impression material for making dental impressions. The tip includes a body having a gripping portion and a discharge tip having a bore there through which permits a friction fit with the outside diameter of needle cannula. The needle cannula extends approximately 2 millimeters past a distal end of the discharge tip. The body further defines an angle for holding the gripping portion to permit the discharge tip and needle cannula to be positioned for easy access in the oral cavity by the dentist. The discharge tip is sized and shaped to separate the gum from the tooth in the selected region so that the needle cannula is positioned to permit exact positioning for placement of the dental impression material along the sulcus.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus including a printed circuit board with electronic circuit components mounted thereon and configured for wireless communication between the various components and devices used in a wireless dental device.

Abstract: A dental x-ray sensor holder includes at least two clamping faces wherein at least one of the faces includes at least one and preferably a plurality of resiliently deformable gripping protrusions. The clamping faces are positioned in a moveable, spaced opposing relation, such that the faces may be physically moved together to physically impinge the x-ray sensor therebetween.

Abstract: Polymerizable dental composite comprising a solid filler and an organic polymerizable matrix, said polymerizable matrix comprising: (i) a polymerizable (meth)acrylic monomer having at least two polymerizable groups and (ii) from 1.0 to 15 weight-% of a polymerizable monomer having a carboxylic acid group based on the total weight of said polymerizable matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of making provisional and long-term dental restorations, particularly dental veneers, implants, crowns and bridges. A shell or restoration form made of polymerizable material having good dimensional shape-stability in its uncured condition is used to make the dental restoration. A polymerizable material is introduced into the cavity of the shell form. The outer shell and injected polymerizable material are polymerized and bond together to form a hardened crown structure. In one embodiment, the restoration can be fabricated indirectly by a dental laboratory. In another version, a dental practitioner can make the restoration chairside for a patient in a dental office.

Abstract: A hard-wired and wireless system for operating a dental or medical treatment apparatus is provided. The system includes a footswitch device and a dental/medical base unit, each having a communication element for transmitting and receiving signals. The footswitch and base unit are each programmed to have an initial identification address Then, the footswitch and base unit are reprogrammed to know the identification address of the other. The footswitch and base unit can be reprogrammed in the field by the end user. Subsequent communications between the footswitch and base unit include both identification addresses. The footswitch includes two switches that are activated by depressing the upper cover of the footswitch to a first position and second position respectively. The footswitch is particularly suitable for operating an ultrasonic dental scaler.