Abstract: A convertible buccal tube is disclosed which includes an arch wire slot covered by a separable cover. The cover includes a mesial or front flared portion to facilitate placing the end of an arch wire therein without undesirably stressing the cover. The cover is further secured to the buccal tube body by integral seams, brazing or other adhesive means that are varied in strength mesially-distally, with about 50% greater force being required to separate the cover at the mesial end thereof. The cover and increased strength seams provide that the cover is not prematurely separated from the buccal tube, particularly during installation of an arch wire.

Abstract: The specification describes an applicator for the treatment of teeth with small amounts of dental materials, such as polymerizable sealants and adhesives, prophylactic treatment materials and the like. The applicator is in the form of a disposable tube having an applicator brush at one end. The tube is fitted to an applicator head that facilitates drawing an amount of the material into the tube and the selected filling of the brush. The applicator may include an elongated member having an applicator head that contains a chamber enclosing a similarly-shaped resilient member. A closure fits over the end of the applicator head and serves to close off the base of the chamber and seal the peripheral edge of the resilient member to prevent leakage. The closure is provided with a smaller chamber which communicates with a channel extending out through the closure and adapted to receive the disposable tube. The channel is positioned at an angle to the main body of the applicator.

Abstract: A dental composite material includes a hardenable resin matrix and a filler component. The filler component includes (a) a first plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers; (b) a second plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers; and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers. A method according to the invention includes compacting a dental composite material into a prepared tooth cavity, wherein the material has a packability index above about 300 g/mm2.

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: A dental tooth whitening material sets to a rubber-like or elastomeric consistency. The material includes hydrogen peroxide. A method of whitening teeth employs such a material by placing it into a dental tray, a backing sheet or by placing the material directly onto a tooth. Once the material has set to its solid or semi-solid consistency, the dental tray, if employed, can be left in place or removed.

Abstract: A dental syringe (10) has a needle (11) affixed to a carpule holder (12), which carpule holder (12) is affixed to a power drive unit (13). A harpoon (20) is provided to affix the drive unit to the carpule plunger (32). The harpoon (20) is made of stainless steel or other hard, corrosion resistant, sterilizable, material. Harpoon 20 has a unique barb geometry and hardened, knife-like, edges (21). The syringe (10) may operate to divide the delivery of anesthesia into two phases. According to the method, during the first about 10 seconds of the injection, anesthetic is delivered at an extremely slow rate to maximize patient comfort. The injection rate then automatically increases to the preprogrammed rate associated with the injection type selected.

Abstract: A low shrinking polymerizable dental material, includes a mixture of a polymerizable di- or poly(meth)acrylate, an alkoxylated bisphenol dimethacrylate, a polymerizable monomer, a polymerization initiator and/or sensitizer, a stabilizer and a filler in a content of 70 to 85 per cent. The volumetric shrinkage during polymerization is less than 2.0 Vol.-%.

Abstract: The invention provides high strength dental polymeric dental products made from wax-like polymerizable dental material. These dental products have superior strength compared to products formed from prior wax-like polymerizable materials. Prior wax-like polymerizable materials do not form strong enough polymeric material for making dentures. High strength dentures are made by positioning artificial teeth in wax-like polymerizable dental material of the invention. This material is then shaped and polymerized to the form a denture base of high strength dental polymeric material. These dentures are completed without forming wax and without applying inorganic plaster to the artificial teeth.

Abstract: A dental handpiece (10) has a rotor (15) and a ball bearing assembly (14) supporting the rotor (15). The ball bearing assembly (14) has at least one ball (22).

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic scaler, comprising: a scaler tip, actuator material, a coil, a hand-piece housing, and an air driven electrical current generator. The actuator material, the coil and the air driven electrical current generator are enclosed by the hand-piece housing. The scaler tip is connected to the actuator material. Preferably the actuator material is [Tb0.30Dy0.70Fe1.92]. The invention provides an ultrasonic scaler including a scaler tip, actuator material, a coil, a hand-piece housing, and a frequency control circuit. The actuator material, the coil and the frequency control circuit are enclosed by the hand-piece housing. The scaler tip is connected to the actuator material.

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: The invention provides high strength dental polymeric dental products made from wax-like polymerizable dental material. These dental products have superior strength compared to products formed from prior wax-like polymerizable materials. Prior wax-like polymerizable materials do not form strong enough polymeric material for making dentures. High strength dentures are made by positioning artificial teeth in wax-like polymerizable dental material of the invention. This material is then shaped and polymerized to the form a denture base of high strength dental polymeric material. These dentures are completed without forming wax and without applying inorganic plaster to the artificial teeth.

Abstract: There are several techniques that are recommended for removal of cement after cementation of castings, veneers, and all ceramic units. With the introduction of resin and resin ionomer cements and their inherent hardness after setting, removal of excess cement has become more difficult. To determine by means of an in vitro study whether the marginal integrity and seal of indirectly fabricated restorations cemented with a resin-based cement are affected by the technique of cement removal. Materials & Methods. Chamfer preparations were made on extracted human teeth. Impressions of the preparations were pour in die stone and wax patterns were fabricated and cast in gold using conventional laboratory techniques. A resin cement was used for cementation and 5 techniques (three castings per technique) were employed for removal of excess cement. After cementation the samples were immersed in methylene blue dye solution for 24 hours and sectioned.

Abstract: A dispensing syringe (10) has a barrel (20) keyed (31, 32) to a gripping assembly (40) having complementary keyed surfaces (42). A nut having dual threads (61, 62) of differing diameters is threaded to one end of the barrel (20) and receives a matingly threaded (71) plunger (70). Turning the plunger (70) causes it to advance within the barrel (20) due to the interaction of the mating threads (61, 71). The gripping assembly (40) is provided with winged projections (50) that facilitate handling and manipulation of the syringe (10). The complementary keyed surfaces (31, 32 and 42) physically interact so as to prevent the gripping assembly (40) from turning or twisting about the barrel (20) during use.

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: 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.

Abstract: Improved very high viscosity (putty) two component polymerizable polyorganosiloxane composition for use in making non-sweating, low liquid mass loss dental impressions, having improved tear strength, handling 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. Handling is improved by the addition of a very high viscosity linear vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane which reduces tackiness and improves the shelf stability. Wettability is improved by including a surfactant resulting in a surface contact angle with water at three minutes of less than 50°.

Abstract: A method of restoring a tooth using a dental construct of the type wherein the construct is placed onto the tooth using a dental cement to bond the construct to the tooth. After placement of the construct onto the tooth, excess cement is removed with a soft, pointed brush. The dental margins are then brushed with a photocurable dental resin cement which is the same as or different from the dental cement used to bond the construct to the tooth. The resin cement is then light cured.

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 the 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 stepped rachet members (50, 51) for affixing the position of the second block section (12) relative to the first block section (11) when received therein.

Abstract: A dental composite material includes a hardenable resin matrix and a filler component. The filler component includes (a) a first plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 10 micrometers; (b) a second plurality of preferably glass particles having an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 1 micrometers; and, (c) a plurality of filler particles having an average particle size of from about 0.01 to about 0.04 micrometers. A method according to the invention includes compacting a dental composite material into a prepared tooth cavity, wherein the material has a packability index above about 300 g/mm2.