Abstract: An apparatus and method used in dental transversal x-ray tomography provides off-line alignment of the patient denture impression with the bite block of a panoramic x-ray equipment, and allows accurate and reproducible patient positioning during the imaging process. An impression of the patient denture is taken on a special tray. The tray is mounted on the alignment apparatus and is aligned by using optical marking in correspondence with the target zone. The alignment apparatus is then mounted on a panoramic x-ray equipment, and the patient is invited to bite on the tray during the imaging process.

Abstract: A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10) has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.

Abstract: The invention provides dental cement compositions and methods of using them for binding hard tooth material, metal and ceramic. The cement compositions include shelf stable complexes of ethylenically unsaturated monomers reacted with cations. The cements have superior adhesion to tooth without separately acid etching dentin or enamel. Compositions of are useful as dental luting cements, liners, pit and fissure seal bases and restoratives.

Abstract: A dental adhesive composition has an adhesive component and an activator component. The adhesive composition has a volatile organic solvent component, one or more polymerizable (meth)acrylate compounds optionally containing fillers, and a polymerization photoinitiator. The adhesive component may also be a substantially homogeneous mixture of one or more polymerizable (meth)acrylate compounds and an effective amount of a photoinitiator, without a solvent. The activator component includes an aromatic sulfinate salt and an activator component solvent. A method for adhering a restorative to a dental surface includes preparing the surface for restoration; applying a mixture of an adhesive component and an activator component to the prepared cavity, thereby forming a coated cavity surface; and, applying a direct or indirect dental restorative to the coated cavity surface.

Abstract: A dental x-ray bite block (10) for securing an x-ray sensor (40) has a first block section (11) having a primary clamp face (17) and a second block section (12) having a secondary clamp face (23). The first block section (11) is configured with receiving means (41) to receive the second block section (12), such that the primary and said secondary clamp faces (17, 23) are positioned in a spaced, opposing relation when the second block section (12) is received within the first block section (11). There is also an adjustable securing means (50, 51) for affixing the position of the second block section (12) relative to said first block section (11) when received therein.

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: The invention provides a method of making a transducer activated tool tip, comprising, providing a substantially linear tip body having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end. The tip body has an inlet end and a subgingival outlet end. The tip body is bent in a first direction. In the tip body is formed a fluid passageway internal to the tip. The tip body is bent in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A process for producing an artificial tooth comprising: injection molding polymerizable material into a mold to form an outer external polymeric layer. Then injection molding polymerizable material into the mold to form an inner polymeric layer applied on the first external layer. Then injection molding polymerizable material into the mold to form a solid core applied on the inner external layer.

Abstract: A package (10) for the storage and dispensing of a plurality of materials includes a first and a second longitudinally juxtaposed barrels (11, 12). Each barrel (11,12) having a first and a second end (20, 21). Each first and second barrels (11, 12) having a quantity of at least one of the materials initially contained therein, and each barrel having an open end (20) and a dispensing end (21). A sealing plunger (40) disposed in each barrel (11, 12) such that the material in each barrel (11, 12) is initially positioned between the dispensing end (21) of the barrels (11, 12) and the respective ones of the sealing plungers (40). A snap cap (23) is contiguously formed to initially close each of the dispensing ends (21) of the barrels (11, 12), such that the snap cap (23) may be broken from the barrels (11, 12) to thereby forming a secondary open end (22) at the dispensing end (21) of the barrels (11, 12), thereby facilitating the material contained in each barrel (11, 12) to flow through and be dispensed.

Abstract: A dental handpiece (10) of the type having a body (11), a head (13) and a neck (12), is improved by having at least one portion of the handpiece (10) formed by metal injection molding or MIM. The use of MIM allows for improved fabrication and function. According to one aspect of the invention, the head (13) and neck (12) of the handpiece (10) are MIM-formed as a single or unitary piece.

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: A dental composition including a mono- and/or a poly-cyanoacrylate, a polymerizable monomer, a stabilizer, an initiator, and optionally, pigments and a filling material.

Abstract: The method of dental scaling of the invention uses a scaler and reservoir system, comprising: a scaler handpiece having a scaling tip, a scaler housing enclosing a scaler valve, a compressor housing enclosing a reservoir valve and a compressor, a reservoir housing having an inner chamber, the scaler housing is supported by the reservoir housing, and the compressor housing is supported by and connected to the scaler housing and the reservoir housing, the scaler handpiece is connected to the scaler housing, vibrates the tip, and scales a tooth in a patient'smooth by positioning the scaling tip adjacent to the tooth. Preferably the dental scaler and reservoir system, comprising: a scaler housing, a scaler valve, a compressor housing, a reservoir valve, a compressor, a reservoir housing having an inner chamber, a handpiece housing having a handpiece valve and a vibrational member. The scaler housing is supported by the reservoir housing. The compressor is connected to compressor conduit.

Abstract: The invention provides a dental porcelain product, comprising a core layer of core material and a repair layer of repair material. The core layer has a higher melting temperature than the repair layer. The core material comprising a portion of crystalline core material and a portion of glass core material. The repair material comprises a portion of crystalline repair material and a portion of glass repair material. The portion of crystalline core material is greater than the portion of the crystalline repair material. The core material and the repair material each are formed from powder materials and each comprising silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide and boron trioxide. Preferably, the core material comprises a component selected from the group consisting of barium oxide and titanium oxide. Preferably, the repair material comprises a component selected from a group consisting of lithium oxide, magnesium oxide and terbium oxide.

Abstract: Improvements in material-to-material connections are provided. For example, metal-to-metal connections are improved, such as the interface connection between a dental handpiece bur tube (10) and a component such as a bearing (12). At least one marking, such as a laser marking (20) is provided such that an amount of excavate material (21) is excavated from the marking (20). When a component such as a bearing (12) is positioned upon the bur tube (10), a portion of the excavate material (21) is physically impinged between the two components (10, 12) filling any spaces or gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A dental handpiece (10) of the type having at least one component (11) fabricated from an elastomeric material, is improved by fabricating the component (11) from a perfluoroelastomer.

Abstract: The invention provides a storage stable dental composition having a volatile organic solvent and a polymerizable material enclosed by a package, which includes a cover and a container made of a polymer such as a copolymer of a cycloolefin and an open chain olefin. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention is provided a stored packaged dental product by the process including: enclosing a dental composition in a package with at least a substantial portion of an injection molded polymer such as a thermoplastic copolymer of a cycloolefin and an open chain olefin, and storing the dental composition in the package for a least 1 week.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used in dental transversal x-ray tomography provides off-line alignment of the patient denture impression with the bite block of a panoramic x-ray equipment, and allows accurate and reproducible patient positioning during the imaging process. An impression of the patient denture is taken on a special tray. The tray is mounted on the alignment apparatus and is aligned by using optical marking in correspondence with the target zone. The alignment apparatus is then mounted on a panoramic x-ray equipment, and the patient is invited to bite on the tray during the imaging process.

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.