Abstract: A prosthetic tooth having an enamel layer which has a zone of substantially constant thickness. This tooth is molded using a dental tooth mold part prepared by imaging a dental pattern of a prosthetic tooth shade layer and/or shader mold part outer surface, and forming the dental pattern in a mold by program directed milling. A family of prosthetic teeth is provided including a first tooth in a first set of teeth having a first overall labial length, and a first back length, and a second tooth in a second set of teeth having a second overall labial length, and a second back length. The invention provides a prosthetic incisor tooth including a tooth body having two generally symmetrical curved grooves between three curved ridges on the labial face of the body at the incisal end of the body. The grooves are deepest at the incisal end and extend substantially from the incisal edge to at least about 15 percent of the overall tooth length.

Abstract: A denture includes a tooth and denture base. The tooth includes an interpenetrating polymer network polymeric matrix and at least 0.1 percent by weight of self-lubricating particles having a particle size less than 500 microns effectively bonded to and distributed in the polymeric matrix. The denture has a bond strength between the tooth and the denture base of at least 4,480 psi.

Abstract: A system for treating teeth and associated tooth structure using a pressurized air propellant mixed with abrasive material includes a manifold which defines air passages leading from the pressurized air source to dispensing chambers which hold the abrasive material. The manifold further provides a convenient structure for mounting a number of the system components. The manifold simplifies assembly of the system and improves the integrity of air passages within the system. The air abrasion system also has a mixing block and continuous purge feature which eliminate crosstalk and backflow problems when switching between abrasive materials. Evacuation apparatus incorporating a cyclone separator is integrally provided with the system which requires minimal regular maintenance and maximizes suction flow through the apparatus.

Abstract: An abrasive or polishing device for dispensing and applying primers, cavity liners, varnishes, therapeutic agents, and/or adhesives into or onto tooth structure or within a cavity in a patient's tooth. The primers, liners, varnishes, or adhesives may contain a therapeutic agent or a drug, such as fluoride-containing compound or a tooth desensitizing agent, such as a cationic salt of oxalic acid, potassium nitrate, or similar compounds. The adhesive or therapeutic may be applied directly to the tooth surfaces by the elastomeric abrasive or polishing impliments. Alternatively they may be impregnated within the devices and applied directly, optionally using water as a vehicle. The application devices may also, optionally, contain an abrasive so that the application device simmultaneously abrades the tooth structure while applying an adhesive or therapeutic agent.A dispensing and abrasive device for simultaneously dispensing primer and/or adhesive and abrading tooth material within a cavity in a patient's tooth.

Abstract: A stacking system includes a reservoir housing, a base housing and a handpiece. The reservoir housing supports a readily removable container. The reservoir housing has feet and a pivotable cover, which in closed position encloses two containers which are connected by conduits to a valve. Each container has a cap with a first and a second cap connector. Each cap connector is connected to a housing connector. The handpiece is connected by conduits through the base housing to the containers. The cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The cover, in closed position, prevents the cap from moving sufficiently for the cap connector to disengage from the housing connectors. The reservoir housing is supported by and positioned above the base housing. The base housing has an upper face. The upper face has grooves. The feet are positioned in the grooves.

Abstract: The invention provides polymerizable dental, compounds, compositions, including the compounds and products for mixing the compositions and methods of using the compositions. Aryl acid compounds are provided in accordance with the invention. The compositions include at least one polymerizable aryl acid compound, an effective amount of a polymerization initiator, and at least 10 percent by weight of ceramic, metal and/or metal oxide filler particles having a particle size less than 500 microns. The dental products of the invention include a polymerizable composition in an enclosure having at least two chambers separated by a wall adapted to be ruptured prior to or during mixing of the composition. Compositions of the invention are preferred for use in these enclosures. Core build up material including a polymerizable acid containing compound is used to support dental crowns and adhere them to teeth in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides dental composition system having curable liquid which is useful alone as a light curable composition and which is useful by mixing with a powder in preselected proportions to form dual cure compositions. The composition system is useful as bonding agent, cement, liner, base, restorative, pit and fissure sealants, and/or core build-up material, having improved adhesion to dentin. After storing the powder and the liquid in separate containers for at least two weeks and then mixing a portion of the powder and a portion of the liquid to form a mixture, the polymerizable compound polymerizes within 20 minutes of the mixing to form a first polymeric material having a flexural strength of at least 50 MPa, and an expansion in water at 37.degree. C. after 90 days of less than 1 percent by volume.

Abstract: An abrasion hand piece for use with an air abrasion system to perform dental procedures. The hand piece is adapted for connection to the air abrasion system by a hose and has a body member which allows tips to be releasably attached thereto. The releasable tip feature allows the body member to be used with a number of different tips, thereby reducing the number of tools that the dentist must have on hand and must sterilize between procedures. The tips have an outer coating which is softer and warmer to the patient when placed in the mouth. The outer coating is color coded so that the orifice size of the tips may be readily identified. An illumination device is attached to the hand piece to allow the dentist to better monitor the procedure and to provide for aiming the hand piece at the desired tooth area.

Abstract: Improved very high viscosity (putty) two component polymerizable polyorganosiloxane composition for use in making 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.degree.. 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 the impression making process.

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.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

Abstract: A prosthetic tooth having an enamel layer which has a zone of substantially constant thickness. This tooth is molded using a dental tooth mold part prepared by imaging a dental pattern of a prosthetic tooth shade layer and/or shader mold part outer surface, and forming the dental pattern in a mold by program directed milling. A family of prosthetic teeth is provided including a first tooth in a first set of teeth having a first overall labial length, and a first back length, and a second tooth in a second set of teeth having a second overall labial length, and a second back length. The invention provides a prosthetic incisor tooth including a tooth body having two generally symmetrical curved grooves between three curved ridges on the labial face of the body at the incisal end of the body. The grooves are deepest at the incisal end and extend substantially from the incisal edge to at least about 15 percent of the overall tooth length.

Abstract: A dental articulator structure for use in registration of a pair of casts of a dental model which are positioned in an opposing and spaced relationship. The articulator structure includes at least one axially rigid support member having opposing ends from which multi-piece cast attachment members may be orthogonally attached. The at least one axially rigid support member and the orthogonally attachable cast attachment members being an articulator structure that locates the axially rigid support member substantially close to the back molar face of the opposing pair of dental model casts such that confronting translational movement of the dental model casts is prevented in a plane parallel to the axially rigid support member, especially confronting translational movement in a region where back molars may be missing in a dental model.

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.degree.. 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.