Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a hinged locking retainer on the end of an elongated handle. The locking retainer has a hole which is positioned relative to a groove in the handle so that a twisted wire brush may be locked into place simply by inserting it and closing the retainer. A latch on the locking retainer has a top end with a double cam surface thereon. One of the cam surfaces guides the latch into a locking position as the retainer is closed. The other of the cam surfaces releases the locking retainer when pushed.

Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a hinged locking retainer on the end of an elongated handle. The locking retainer has a hole which is positioned relative to a groove in the handle so that a twisted wire brush may be locked into place simply by inserting it and closing the retainer. A latch on the locking retainer has a top end with a double cam surface thereon. One of the cam surfaces guides the latch into a locking position as the retainer is closed. The other of the cam surfaces releases the locking retainer when pushed.

Abstract: A composition for the rapid desensitization of dentin and a system for its application, comprising a subsaturated aqueous solution of monopotassium monohydrogen oxalate and a disposable single-use applicator/dispenser apparatus. The apparatus includes a crushable ampule containing the desensitizing solution housed in a flexible body, with a filter which retains ample fragments but allow the solution to flow to and saturate an applicator tip or swab. The applicator may be used to treat the teeth directly, or the swab may be removed from the applicator after saturation and placed on hard-to-reach dentinal surfaces. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a dispensing package containing a plurality of the single-use applicators and provided with a magnetic means affixed thereto for securing the package to convenient metallic surfaces. Another embodiment includes a blister dispensing package comprising a plurality of detachable sheets which stores the applictors.

Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a hinged cap on the end of an elongated handle. The cap has a hole which is positioned relative to a groove so that a twisted wire brush may be locked into place simply by inserting it and closing the cap.

Abstract: A dental flossing cord is made from only a single kind of material. The inventive cord has a leader portion which is created by causing the multi-strands of the cord to cling together in a unified mass, preferably by an ultrasonic heat treatment which welds the strands together. The invention is especially useful on osseointegrated implant pillars.

Abstract: A dental floss holder is in the form of a box with a drawer in it. The bottom of the drawer includes a hub which is spring biased to push a bobbin mounted thereon toward an opposite side of the box. The bias is such that the bobbin drags with a predetermined force on an opposite side of the box to maintain tension in the floss. A result is that the bobbin does not unwind while in the holder, thereby precluding a snarled floss line. Also, the tension gives a smooth "pull" which adds a "feel" of quality to the floss. The "feel" does not change as the diameter of the bobbin changes with either an exhaustion of floss or changes in the diameter of a full bobbin. The hub is mounted on a dome having sides with a shape which guides and directs any floss falling off the bobbin back onto it.

Abstract: A pen light has a removable dental mirror positioned to be in the beam of the light. The flashlight has a barrel which is constricted on one end to capture and hold a pen light bulb dropped in the other end. The electrical circuit within the flashlight includes a strip spring with a bow or arched section which make contact with the base of a flashlight bulb of almost any type and with many different sizes, on a bulb drop-in basis. The electrical contacts are such that the batteries may be dropped either end first into the barrel of the flashlight. The off-on switch has a threaded screw so that the light is switched off and on by turning a screw.

Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a refill with a twisted wire stem which has a molded plastic encasement over the end thereof. A toothbrush handle has a hole with internal contours which complement the external contours of the plastic encasement. A sleeve slides over the hole to capture and entrap the brush.

Abstract: An elongated, preferably plastic handle has a sleeve lock on each of its opposite tip ends. When a twisted wire brush is placed in the handle and the sleeve is slipped over it, there is a guy wire effect from the sleeve which holds the brush firmly in place, as the sleeve stretches slightly over a bent end of the twisted wire of the brush. Each end of the inventive handle also has a tapered bore that may optionally hold the end of a wooden toothpick, which may be broken. The same sleeve which slips over the twisted wire stem of the brush, to anchor it in place, has a longitudinal cutout. The cutout is in the form of a cove opening into a funnel-shaped opening, with a nip between the cove and the funnel. The nip snaps over the toothpick to capture and hold it. The unbroken side of the sleeve which is opposite the cutout slips over the broken end of the toothbrush to help capture and cover it without leaving any exposed jagged fibers which could form splinters to damage mouth tissues.

Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a handle made from a mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer and a general purpose polypropylene. A twisted wire brush projects from the handle in axial alignment therewith. The toothbrush can be held within a loosely clasped fist, with one end of the brush held between a thumb and an index finger. By manipulating the thumb and index finger, the angle at which the brush projects may be changed at will. In this way, the insertion of the brush in more difficult to reach spaces in or around teeth is more easily performed.

Abstract: An interproximal toothbrush comprises an elongated metal handle terminating at one end in a threaded section. The stem of a twisted wire brush passes through a hole in said threaded section, humps up above the threads, and then passes down into a groove in the handle. A nut travels on the threads until it encounters and seizes upon the hump in the twisted wire. This way, the brush is securely locked into position, but the nut never touches the stem in the area of the brush. Thus, the brush is not damaged by the locking nut. A second hole in the handle receives a toothpick.