Abstract: A method for providing a dental composition comprising providing a paste/paste two-part self-adhering dental composition comprising (a) at least one acidic compound containing at least one acidic moiety selected from the group consisting of where R is an alkyl or aryl group; (b) at least one polymerizable monomer without any acidic group where the polymerizable group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a methacrylate and a vinyl group; (c) at least one finely divided filler; (d) a reducing agent; and (e) an oxidizing agent; and providing instructions for mixing the two pastes immediately prior to application where the ratio of a first paste containing (a) or a higher concentration of (a) to a second paste not containing (a) or containing a lower concentration of (a) is greater than 1:1 (by volume). The method also includes mixing the two pastes and applying the mixed composition to a dental substrate.

Abstract: A resin that may be used, for example, in dental impression materials, and a method of making the resin. The resin comprises an alkoxy-siloxane polyester or polyether carboxylate backbone functionalized with at least two cycloolefin groups capable of undergoing a metathesis reaction. The method of making the resin comprises reacting a hydride terminated siloxane with a polyether or polyester diol containing propylene oxide and ethylene oxide fragments, and a cycloolefinic group functionalized hydroxyalkyl carboxylic acid ester, in the presence of a Group 3 or 13 catalyst.

Abstract: A method for providing a dental composition comprising providing a paste/paste two-part self-adhering dental composition comprising (a) at least one acidic compound containing at least one acidic moiety selected from the group consisting of where R is an alkyl or aryl group; (b) at least one polymerizable monomer without any acidic group where the polymerizable group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a methacrylate and a vinyl group; (c) at least one finely divided filler; (d) a reducing agent; and (e) an oxidizing agent; and providing instructions for mixing the two pastes immediately prior to application where the ratio of a first paste containing (a) or a higher concentration of (a) to a second paste not containing (a) or containing a lower concentration of (a) is greater than 1:1 (by volume). The method also includes mixing the two pastes and applying the mixed composition to a dental substrate.

Abstract: A hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprises a housing and an array of solid state, light emitting junctions or dies for generating light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths (e.g. 400–500 nm). Preferably, a peak wavelength of 470 nm is generated. The device further comprises an optical fiber light pipe for capturing the light and transmitting a beam of the light to a work surface containing a light-curable compound. An optical lens or lenses may be used for focusing the light into the light pipe.

Abstract: A method of using a shelf-stable two-part self-adhering dental composition that comprises (a) at least one acidic compound containing at least one acidic moiety selected from the group consisting of where R is an alkyl or aryl group; (b) at least one polymerizable monomer without any acidic group where the polymerizable group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a methacrylate and a vinyl group; (c) a substituted thiourea selected from the group consisting of 1-(2-pyridyl)-2-thiourea and 1-(2-tetrahydrofurfuryl)-2-thiourea; and (d) a hydroperoxide compound with at least one hydroperoxide group attached to a tertiary carbon. The first and second parts are then mixed immediately prior to application, applied to a dental substrate, and hardened. The bond strength of the mixed composition to dentine substrate is at least 3 MPa. The composition has excellent shelf-life and is self-adhering to various dental substrates such as a tooth, metal alloy and porcelain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a handheld portable, efficient instrument for curing light-curable compounds. The instrument comprises a housing, a light emitted structure supported in the housing, and a reflector configured to interface with the light emitting structure such that light emitted is captured and directed by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. The reflector maximizes the amount of light transferred and contacting the light-curable compound thereby reducing the instrument's power requirements and improving efficiency. The light emitting structure comprises state of the art, energy efficient, light generating dies. The curing light instrument may also have a self-contained power supply lending portability and convenient of use.

Abstract: A composition curable by a metathesis reaction upon mixing its components and comprising an olefin-containing substrate, a metathesis catalyst, and a reaction control agent for slowing the progress of the metathesis reaction. The metathesis catalyst is a ruthenium or osmium carbene complex catalyst having high activity and good air stability. In one embodiment, the catalyst is free of phosphine ligands. The reaction control agent is an organic compound that contains carbon-carbon double and/or triple bonds and one or more Group 14 atoms and is present in an amount effective to slow the progress of the metathesis reaction. In one embodiment, the olefin-containing substrate may comprise one or more oligomers or polymers having a >20 wt. % linear siloxane (Si—O—Si) backbone tethered and/or end-capped with functional olefin groups, such as cycloalkenyl groups.

Abstract: A shelf-stable two-part self-adhering dental composition and method. The composition comprises (a) at least one acidic compound containing at least one acidic moiety selected from the group consisting of where R is an alkyl or aryl group; (b) at least one polymerizable monomer without any acidic group where the polymerizable group is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a methacrylate and a vinyl group; (c) a substituted thiourea selected from the group consisting of 1-(2-pyridyl)-2-thiourea and 1-(2-tetrahydrofurfuryl)-2-thiourea; and (d) a hydroperoxide compound with at least one hydroperoxide group attached to a tertiary carbon. The first and second parts are then mixed immediately prior to application, applied to a dental substrate, and hardened. The bond strength of the mixed composition to dentine substrate is at least 3 MPa. The composition has excellent shelf-life and is self-adhering to various dental substrates such as a tooth, metal alloy and porcelain.

Abstract: A magnification loupe carried by spectacles has a Galilean lens system comprising a single-element eyepiece lens and a two-element objective lens. The loupes may be mounted to eyeglass frames by a flip-up mounting member, or they may be mounted through the eyeglass lenses of the spectacles. The loupes provide high magnification while minimizing weight to thereby reduce strain and discomfort to users. In an exemplary embodiment, the objective lens has a non-circular shape that provides a wide field of view while further minimizing the weight of the loupe. A correction lens may be interchangeably coupled to the loupe housing to permit selective replacement with another correction lens to vary the working distance of the loupe.

Abstract: A composition curable by a metathesis reaction upon mixing its components and comprising an olefin-containing substrate, a metathesis catalyst, and a reaction control agent for slowing the progress of the metathesis reaction. The metathesis catalyst is a ruthenium or osmium carbene complex catalyst having high activity and good air stability. In one embodiment, the catalyst is free of phosphine ligands. The reaction control agent is an organic compound that contains carbon-carbon double and/or triple bonds and one or more Group 14 atoms and is present in an amount effective to slow the progress of the metathesis reaction. In one embodiment, the olefin-containing substrate may comprise one or more oligomers or polymers having a >20 wt.% linear siloxane (Si—O—Si) backbone tethered and/or end-capped with functional olefin groups, such as cycloalkenyl group.

Abstract: An instrument and method for curing light-curable compounds in the mouth of a patient, the instrument comprising a housing and a plurality of solid state, light-emitting elements on a substrate supported by the housing. The elements form a collective array on the substrate operable for collectively emitting light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths. An optical focusing device is positioned to intercept the light emitted by the array of elements and includes a non-imaging optical device which is operable for collimating the light from the array into a beam to be directed onto a compound for curing the compound. A disposable sleeve covers the housing and array and may incorporate the optical focusing device. The sleeve is removed and discarded after use to eliminate the need to autoclave the instrument.

Abstract: A dental composition compatible with acidic dental primers/adhesives, the dental composition comprising (A) 5% (w/w) to 90% (w/w) of at least one polymerizable monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated vinyl, acrylate, or methacrylate group; (B) 0.01% (w/w) to 10% (w/w) of at least one compound of structure where each of R1, R2, and R3 may be the same or different and is independently selected from H, alkyl, alkoxyl, aryl, acyl, allyl, pyridyl, —OH, alkenyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, and heterocyclic structure containing O, S, or N; (C) 0.01% (w/w) to 10% (w/w) of at least one hydroperoxide compound with at least one hydroperoxide groups attached to a tertiary carbon; (D) 5% (w/w) to 95% (w/w) of at least one finely divided filler; (E) 0% (w/w) to 25% (w/w) of one or more components selected from a solvent, a photoinitiator, a stabilizer, and/or an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A dispenser has first and second reservoirs configured to contain first and second components of a single dose of a multi-component dental adhesive. The reservoirs are sealed by closures which are slidably received in the reservoirs. When the closures are moved from first positions to second positions, the contents of the reservoirs may be accessed with an adhesive applicator. An applicator configured to be used with the dispenser has a collar spaced from a tip of the applicator, whereby the applicator may be used to move the closures while ensuring that the tip does not contact the closures.

Abstract: One-part and two-part compositions curable by a metathesis reaction comprising a resin containing a polyether-based substrate with at least two cycloolefin groups per molecule curable by a metathesis reaction with a metathesis catalyst. These compositions may optionally contain a reaction control agent for slowing the progress of the metathesis reaction. The metathesis catalyst can be a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst. The substrate may be, for example, a difunctional urethane polyester or polyether carboxylate containing norbornenyl end groups.

Abstract: Two-part dental impression material curable by a metathesis reaction comprising a base paste with first and second resin components each containing at least two cycloolefin groups per molecule curable by a metathesis reaction with a metathesis catalyst. The first resin includes a urethane polyether or polyester carboxylate backbone terminated with the cycloolefin groups and the second resin includes an alkoxy-siloxane polyether or polyester carboxylate backbone terminated with the cycloolefin groups. The metathesis catalyst can be a ruthenium carbene complex catalyst.

Abstract: A task chair equipped with a mechanism for independently adjusting the height and width of support arms by the manual operation of a single adjustment knob. Each of the support arms includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion that are pivotally coupled by corresponding pivot joints. Each second arm portion carries one of a pair of arm pads. Each second arm portion may be inclined relative to the corresponding first arm portion for inclining the corresponding arm pad relative to a seat plate of the task chair. Each arm pad is joined with the corresponding second arm portion by a coupling mechanism that permits movement of each arm pad with two degrees of translational freedom and one degree of rotational freedom.

Abstract: A magnification loupe carried by spectacles has a Galilean lens system comprising a single-element eyepiece lens and a two-element objective lens. The loupes may be mounted to eyeglass frames by a flip-up mounting member, or they may be mounted through the eyeglass lenses of the spectacles. The loupes provide high magnification while minimizing weight to thereby reduce strain and discomfort to users. In an exemplary embodiment, the objective lens has a non-circular shape that provides a wide field of view while further minimizing the weight of the loupe. A correction lens may be interchangeably coupled to the loupe housing to permit selective replacement with another correction lens to vary the working distance of the loupe.

Abstract: An instrument and method for curing light-curable compounds in the mouth of a patient, the instrument comprising a housing and a plurality of solid state, light-emitting elements on a substrate supported by the housing. The elements form a collective array on the substrate operable for collectively emitting light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths. An optical focusing device is positioned to intercept the light emitted by the array of elements and includes a non-imaging optical device which is operable for collimating the light from the array into a beam to be directed onto a compound for curing the compound. A disposable sleeve covers the housing and array and may incorporate the optical focusing device. The sleeve is removed and discarded after use to eliminate the need to autoclave the instrument.

Abstract: A composition curable by a metathesis reaction upon mixing its components and comprising an olefin-containing substrate, a metathesis catalyst, and a reaction control agent for slowing the progress of the metathesis reaction. The metathesis catalyst is a ruthenium or osmium curbene complex catalyst, such as one containing an alkylidene ligand with basicity higher than that of tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy3) and a neutral electron donor ligand with a basicity lower than that of PCy3, whereby the catalyst initiates the metathesis reaction of the composition upon mixing with the substrate. The reaction control agent is an organic compound that contains carbon-carbon double and/or triple bonds and one or more Group 14 atoms and is present in an amount effective to slow the progress of the metathesis reaction.

Abstract: A small, lightweight, high intensity illumination assembly for use in dental and medical applications. The illumination assembly includes attachment means for removable attachment to headgear such as eyeglasses, face shields, or headbands, and lenses, loupes, and binoculars associated with such headgear. The illumination assembly is able to achieve extremely light weight by using only a single optical element therein, e.g., an aspheric condensing lens, binary optical element, or holographic optical means, and by piping illumination to the optical element from a remote light source by use of a flexible light guide, e.g., a fiberoptic bundle.