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 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: The invention provides a method of operating a dental scalar system having a vibrating scaling tip by continuously monitoring the amplitude and frequency of vibration of the tip which provides scaling power to a tooth in a patient's mouth. The amplitude and frequency of vibration of the tip is continuously adjusted to maintain a substantially constant scaling power. Preferably, the insert is vibrated at its resonant frequency and the system provides a substantially constant tip motion while the user varies the applied pressure between the tip and the tooth.

Abstract: A transducer activated subgingival tool for contacting subgingival tooth surfaces and directing a fluid adjacent to said surfaces, wherein the tool has an activated tip having a fluid inlet end, a subgingival outlet end, a step in the surface of the outer wall of said tip between said inlet end and said subgingival outlet end, and a fluid passageway wall internal to the tip. The passageway wall is formed in the inlet end generally along the longitudinal center axis of the inlet end of the tip. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step intersects the passageway wall at the orifice edge.

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 filter is provided for a dental device of the type including a hand-held working portion which utilizes air and water and a utility supply portion which supplies air and water to the hand-held working portion through respective air and water conduits therein. The filter comprises a filter body defining an air opening therethrough and a water opening therethrough. The air and water openings are respectively positioned for alignment with corresponding air and water openings of at least one of a hand-held working portion and a utility supply portion. The filter body has a filter medium for filtering air and water passing through the respective air and water openings thereof.

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: A device (10) for positioning the location of an emitted x-ray (1 2a) has an optical mirror (20) having at least two leg portions (31, 32) separated by stepped portion (30) formed therewith. Leg portions (31, 32) and stepped portion (30) have substantially uniform x-ray transmisivity. A light emitting assembly (21) for transmitting a locating beam of light (14) onto the stepped portion (30). The device also includes mounting means (13, 22) for mounting the optical mirror (20) proximate to the x-ray emitting device (11) and completely encompassing the emitted x-ray (12a). The locating beam of light (14) is caused to be directed toward the target (15) by the angle of the mirror (20).

Abstract: A method of milling and polishing a set of tooth mold parts by milling a first and second tooth mold parts of a set of mold parts using a first and second tool path program, then polishing the mold parts using the first and second tool path program, to form polished mold parts adapted to form an enamel layer of a prosthetic tooth. A method is provided of molding artificial teeth each having a molded enamel layer and high definition labial striations, by milling and then polishing a set of at least three tooth mold parts in mold making material. The milling and polishing is directed by three milling programs which use data, representative of the surface of one of the tooth mold parts. The data is adapted by the milling program to direct the milling and polishing. The milling of each of the parts includes executing a first pass with a first mill and executing a second pass with a second mill. The first mill has a first mill end.

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 the impression making process.

Abstract: A prophy angle having a single improved snap-in mounting shaft having an enlarged snap-through outer boss portion that is discontinuous in circumference for retaining the prophy cup rotor in permanent position and isolating the rotor from frictionally engaging other parts other than through the gearing except under stress, a press fit drive shaft retention locking sleeve that frictionally engages the housing when pressed into locking position, a reduction of the surface contact of the drive shaft with the inside of the housing by introducing vanes in contact with the housing wall rather than a continuous cylinder contact, and a closed vent hole with a hub on the drive shaft.

Abstract: A method is provided for clinical retention of restorative material by a natural tooth. A first portion of photopolymerizable liquid primer/adhesive dental composition is applied to a tooth surface. After leaving the first portion of the liquid composition on the tooth surface undisturbed for at least 15 seconds on the tooth surface air is conveyed against the first portion of the liquid. The light is impinged on the first portion of the liquid composition whereby at least a portion of the first portion of the liquid composition polymerizes to form a first coating on the tooth. A second portion of the liquid composition is applied to the first coating, and air is substantially immediately conveyed to the second portion of the liquid composition.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes a head, a tubular chuck having an open-end axial bore for receiving the shank of a dental bur and a tubular bur tube having an outer surface and an axial bore therethrough for receiving the chuck therein. The bur tube has at least one inner raceway formed integrally along its outer surface. An outer race having an outer raceway is associated with the inner raceway. A plurality of ball bearings are mounted between the raceways. A rotor may be formed integrally with the outer surface of the bur tube.

Abstract: A tri-spade dental drill with an enhanced cutting tip for preparing surgical sites for endosseous implants is described. The cutting tip incorporates a split point cutting surface for each of the three blades wherein the split point includes a positive rake angle. All three split points converge at the center of the drill, eliminating any chisel edges. The positive rake angle split point and its offset secondary cutting flutes breaks the removed bone into smaller chips, decreasing the principle cutting force necessary for drilling and facilitating material ejection.

Abstract: A transducer activated tool for contacting workpiece surfaces and directing fluid adjacent to the surfaces is disclosed. The tool may be ultrasonically activated by attachment to an insert that includes a magnetostrictive element. The tip includes distal surfaces shaped to contact the workpiece and additionally includes a fluid passageway internal to the tip that is bored generally along the centerline of the tip but is offset from the tip axis such that a discharge orifice is formed in the tip displaced from the distal tip end. The passageway is preferably angularly offset so that the discharge orifice is formed in the distal end of the tip about 2-8 mm from the distal end of the tip. The tip when shaped to conform to dental or tooth surfaces is particularly useful as a dental tool. In another embodiment the fluid passageway is eccentrically offset from the tip axis wherein the passageway is substantially parallel to the center axis but displaced therefrom preferably by about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A method of preparing an impression of dentition in the oral cavity is provided that overcomes a problem of transfer of inhibitors left by latex gloves that interfere with platinum catalyzed hydrosilation reactions. The method involves applying a surfactant, preferably with peroxide, to the area that is to have its impression taken substantially immediately before applying the impression taking material, rinsing the composition from the area and proceeding with the taking of the dental impression. Preferably the decontaminating composition consists essentially of surfactant, especially polyoxyethylene surfactants, hydrogen peroxide and water.

Abstract: A method of forming dental products, such as dentures, denture relines, dental crowns, dental bridges and dental restorative materials, temporary crown, temporary bridge, provisional crown or provisional bridge, from two polymerizable paste compositions each having a complimentary component of a free radical catalyst system and a polymerizable acrylic compound. One of these paste compositions includes an oxidizing agent and a stabilizer and the other includes a reducing agent as components of a redox catalyst system for free radical polymerization. These paste compositions are mixed in a static mixer to form a polymerizing paste composition, which is then shaped into a dental prosthesis. A handheld mixing dispenser useful in carrying out this method, includes a static mixing conduit, and two containers enclosing the polymerizable paste compositions. The static mixing conduit encloses a static mixing member. The containers are adapted to be connected in fluid flow communication with the static mixing conduit.

Abstract: A transducer activated tool for contacting workpiece surfaces and directing fluid adjacent to said surfaces is disclosed. The tool may be ultrasonically activated by attachment to an insert that includes a magnetostrictive element. The tip includes distal surfaces shaped to contact the workpiece and additionally includes a fluid passageway internal to the tip that is bored generally along the centerline of the tip but is offset from the tip axis such that a discharge orifice is formed in the tip displaced from the distal tip end. The passageway is preferably angularly offset so that the discharge orifice is formed in the distal end of the tip about 2-8 mm from the distal end of the tip. The tip when shaped to conform to dental or tooth surfaces is particularly useful as a dental tool. In another embodiment the fluid passageway is eccentrically offset from the tip axis wherein the passageway is substantially parallel to the center axis but displaced therefrom preferably by about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

Abstract: Dental cements and abrasives are provided which are polymerizable with visible light. Such adhesives. may be applied in thinner films than heretofore possible and demonstrate superior physical properties. Processes employing such materials are disclosed wherein the polymerizatioa of the adhesive is accomplished by transmmitting visible light through tooth or other structures to effect the sdhesion.