Abstract: A dental impression tray and method of using it to form in a light-polymerizable impression material an impression of a portion of dental anatomy in an oral cavity, the tray being formed of transparent substantially rigid material, preferably clear plastic, and molded into a channel-like shape defined by walls capable of having visible actinic light applied to the walls of the tray for transmission along and through the walls, and substantially all the exterior surfaces of the walls having light reflecting metal foil or the equivalent applied thereto for the dual purpose of preventing unintentional light exposure to material in the tray and subsequently providing a light reflecting surface operable to reflect light into the impression material.

Abstract: Visible light curable dental restorations are provided having improved color stability. According to a preferred embodiment, visible light hardenable restorative materials are formulated from a major proportion of inorganic filler and a minor proportion of a resin component comprising a binder resin selected from the group of acrylated polyesters, acrylated polyesters reacted with an isocyanate, and hydroxyalkyl acrylic esters reacted with an isocyanate, polymerizable acrylic diluent monomer in an amount sufficient to control the viscosity of the resin component, and a photosensitizing system comprising of from about 0.05% to about 0.50% by weight of the restorative material of an alpha diketone together with an amine reducing agent. American Dental Association color stability standards are met by these compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides hardenable compositions useful as construction media for a wide range of applications. Particular utility is found in the dental and medical arts where such compositions are highly suitable for the formation and construction of denture base, denture baseplates, denture liners, denture repair, custom trays, veneering for crowns and bridgework, artificial teeth, veneers and repair for natural teeth, and tooth restorative fillings.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus to fabricate economical dentures for edentulous dental patients comprising attaching full arch unitary upper and lower sets of artificial teeth to denture base material and fabricated by a process developed for the purpose of utilizing these sets of teeth and converting them into finished upper and lower dentures by the use of a specialized apparatus comprising part of the invention. The process eliminates the conventional procedure of mounting individual artificial teeth in the normal process of fabricating dentures.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing light curing of dentures and like materials, the denture being prefabricated of a material which is hardened, or polymerized when exposed to visible light. An array of light sources is provided relative to a rotatable platform on which the denture is placed, each light source providing a substantially collimated light beam and directed to optimally intercept the rotating denture. There are preferably four such light sources, each having a visible light bandpass characteristic and directed at an angle within 25.degree.-45.degree. of the platform surface, the light beams being directed at the platform surface in overlapping fashion so as to provide continuous incident light on the denture during each cycle of rotation.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus to fabricate economical full arch unitary upper and lower sets of artificial teeth for use in preparing dentures for edentulous dental patients and attaching said sets of teeth to denture base material by a process developed for the purpose of utilizing these sets of teeth and converting them into finished upper and lower dentures by the use of a specialized apparatus. The process and apparatus, per se, are the subject of another related application and eliminates the conventional procedure of mounting individual artificial teeth in the normal process of fabricating dentures.

Abstract: A dispenser for flowable material having a squeezable container formed with filling and discharge openings at opposite ends, a combination handle and closure member connectable to the filling opening, and a flexible discharge spout and second closure member being connectable selectively to the discharge opening of said container, the connections all having snap-acting co-engaging members and the discharge spout being elongated and flexible and of uniform very small diameter to control discharge of precise amounts of material directed to desired locations of use by an operator holding the dispenser pen-like in one hand.

Abstract: A syringe comprises a body member detachably secured onto one end of a syringe barrel provided at its other end with a delivery tube and containing a movable piston member; a piston actuating assembly movably mounted in the body member and comprising a tube generally coaxial with the barrel and a rod movably mounted within the tube; and a pawl for moving said piston actuating assembly whereby the tube is first displaced to move the piston to the distal end of the barrel and the rod is then moved to pierce the central region of the piston member and to pass through the piston into the delivery tube.

Abstract: A centrifugal ceramic casting furnace including a horizontal arm rotatably supported by the upper end of a vertical shaft driven by a motor and the arm having a casting ring cradle on one end, a muffle movable along said arm a limited distance toward and from the cradle and a counterweight device mounted upon the opposite end of the arm adjustably both longitudinally and upwardly in a manner to balance the opposite ends of the arm statically and also adjustably dispose the effective masses of the muffle and counterweight within a common horizontal plane to effect substantial freedom from vibration while the furnace is rotating at a centrifugal casting speed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endodontic file that is resistant to failure from fracturing and breaking during operation by having an ideal length, which if increased or decreased by more than 1 mm, will result in increased file breakage.

Abstract: A combination capsule adapted to both mix a plurality of ingredients to prepare them for use and then extrude the same through a nozzle attachable to one end of the capsule which comprises a pair of reciprocal sleeves respectively having compartments to contain different ingredients confined therein prior to the ingredients being brought into contact and the capusle being arranged to cause the ingredients to be brought together by pushing one sleeve into the other to rupture a membrane in the latter, whereby the ingredients may be agitated to mix them, followed by exchanging a cap on the outer end of the inner sleeve for an attachable nozzle and the outer end of the outer sleeve being closed by a closure having a flangible section adapted to be pushed into the sleeve and serve as a plunger to effect removal of the mixed ingredients through the nozzle.

Abstract: A multi-function dental operating light source comprises a series of optical filters and flat reflectors mounted upon a turntable at spaced locations around the periphery, the turntable being rotatable about a fixed axis relative to a stationary tungsten halogen lamp having a parabolic reflector and including stationary spherical mirrors mounted to reflect light forward.

Abstract: Novel processes for the restoration of teeth particularly posterior teeth, wherein the use of a matrix band is required, are provided employing one component, packable, actinic light curable, resin-based restorative compositions. Such methods are now capable, for the time, of employing resin-based restoratives in the posterior restoration of teeth wherein the packability of the restorative composition enable the deformation of a matrix to allow substantial restoration of the original conformation of the tooth. Packable one component actinic light curable resin-based restorative compositions are provided.

Abstract: An endodontic unit comprising an elongated ultrasonic oscillating body having a tubular conduit extending beyond one end and provided with a weighted head on the outer end and in which a socket is formed and disposed at an obtuse angle to the axis of the body by means of providing a bend in the conduit intermediately of the ends thereof subtending an obtuse angle of greater magnitude than the obtuse angle of the socket, the weight of the head being adequate to damp the vibrations imposed upon an endodontic file, when mounted in the socket, to a degree sufficient to minimize the breakage of files and also induce in the files desired vibratory and oscillating movement to effect efficient operation in endodontic performance.

Abstract: Process for filling dental cavities with radiation curable silaneous adhesives comprising a polymerizable resin comprising at least 20% by weight of a polymerizable silane and optionally up to about 80% by weight of a polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated material. According to a preferred embodiment, the polymerizable silane is either an acrylosilane or a vinyl silane.

Abstract: A periodontal probe (3) comprises an elongate shaft terminating in a measuring tine (4) having a plurality of spaced transverse grooves (5) formed therein, the probe being formed of a material translucent to light. In use, the probe is mounted in a handle provided with a source of light (6) to direct light along the length of the probe whereby the grooves formed in the tine appear as comparatively brightly illuminated marks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing dental prostheses of the dental porcelain fused to metal type, in particular, the temperatures employed to fire and cool the prostheses are disclosed with a new tempering temperature disclosed during cool down. The tempering temperature is preferably the temperature with approximately the maximum rate of crystallization out of the glass phase of the feldspathic dental porcelain.A furnace is also disclosed having a heatable firing chamber, a firing platform, a firing platform socket, and control means that include a means for positioning the platform and adjusting the temperature. The furnace control means is programmed by a keyboard feeding a microcomputer, which controls separate programmable elements to control the furnace.

Abstract: A sagger furnace especially adapted for the dental ceramic field. The furnace has a sagger platform and a top part that closes with the sagger platform to form a closed firing chamber. The upper part is powered by a positive drive but connected to the powering means by gravity force which allows the manual opening of the furnace at any time. Also provided is a method of firing dental ceramics.

Abstract: Process for restoring teeth with visible light curable compositions having improved color stability are provided. According to a preferred embodiment, visible light hardenable restorative materials are formulated from a major proportion of inorganic filler and a minor proportion of a resin component comprising a binder resin selected from the group of acrylated polyesters, acrylated polyesters reacted with an isocyanate, and hydroxyalkyl acrylic esters reacted with an isocyanate, polymerizable acrylic diluent monomer in an amount sufficient to control the viscosity of the resin component, and a photosensitizing system comprising of from about 0.05% to about 0.50% by weight of the restorative material of an alpha diketone together with an amine reducing agent. American Dental Association color stability standards are met by these compositions.