Abstract: This invention provides a handle for a tooth cleaning member convenient for use in which the angle of the tooth cleaning member can be easily adjusted for cleaning teeth only by controlling the force for grasping the grip part. The handle comprises a support portion made of an elastic material, and a pressed portion shorter than the support portion. When the pressed portion is pressed against the support portion, the support portion is transformed to increase its curvature.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket assembly for bonding to the surface of a tooth is disclosed. The assembly includes a pad and an archwire bracket. A plurality of cavities are provided in the tooth abutting surface of the pad. The walls of the cavities are provided with an irregular surface texture to enhance the bonding between the tooth and the orthodontic bracket. In the preferred embodiment the bracket is cast. The external surface of the bracket is smoothed in a tumbling operation in which the particle size of the abrasive is chosen so that the cavity walls are not subjected to treatment but are left in their irregular, as-cast state. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the mold to produce the cavities in the tooth-abutting surface of the pad.

Abstract: A facebow swivel is mounted to the bent distal end of an inner bow of a facebow. The swivel includes a pivot mount and an L-shaped pivot member. The pivot mount includes a pair of short parallel tube segments attached along their outer surfaces. One leg of the L-shaped swivel member is pivotally mounted within one of the tubes. The swivel is mounted to the bent distal end of the inner bow by inserting the distal end into the other tube. The swivel is then secured to the distal end, such as by crimping the tube onto the distal end.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a highly reactive, ion-leachable glass for cement compositions. The method contemplates blending together a mixture of ion-leachable, inorganic compositions, forming the blended mixtures into shaped charges, heating the shaped charges to form a homogeneous melt, and finally blowing, in a gaseous mixture, to form partially solidified thin glass fibers. The method uniquely produces glass having a degree of crystallinity of less than 1 percent by weight in crystalline form.