Abstract: A one-piece dental implant characterized by a threaded shaft having self-tapping cutting threads of variable thread pitch and optionally one or more flutes running longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the dental implant and across a plurality of turns of the self-tapping cutting threads. The dental implant is useful to support both temporary and permanent prostheses as well as orthodontic appliances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-piece dental implant having a threaded shaft which is tapered on one end and has a non-circular abutment on the other end, and a ball-shaped head mounted on said non-circular abutment. The inventive dental implants are advantageous in that they are of one-piece design, and, therefore, do not have multiple parts which can loosen over time. The present invention further relates to a keeper cap for use with the inventive dental implants, which is adapted to retain either O-ring-shaped inserts or plastic inserts. The inserts can be switched easily at any time without the need to remove the keeper cap from the denture or to form a new denture around new caps. The inventive dental implant and keeper cap make up a kit along with the O-ring-shaped inserts and the plastic inserts, which kit is useful in connection with the formation of fixed or removable prostheses.

Abstract: A filter assembly for elective use in conjunction with a surgical evacuation system is provided which includes a filter housing having a head portion and a body portion with a through passageway extending therebetween defining a filter receiving chamber. The head portion is connectable to an aspirator tip and the body portion is connectable to a flexible suction conduit. A filter element is disposed within the filter receiving chamber of the filter housing. The filter element includes a head member having a fluid flow passageway extending therethrough, a fluid impermeable base member spatially disposed from the head member and a fluid permeable body member disposed between the head member and the base member.

Abstract: An improved cylindrical dental implant for anchoring a dental prosthesis in a hole formed in a jawbone comprising an elongated cylindrical member having a first end adapted to be inserted into the hole and a second end adapted to receive the dental prosthesis. At least one wedge member radially extends from the cylindrical member to effect immediate fixation of the cylindrical member in the hole. The wedge member has a base portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and a tapered portion having a first planar face and a second planar face. The first planar face and the second planar face intersect to form a thin longitudinally extending edge.