Abstract: A medical or dental probe having a resistive, integrally heated tip including a superelastic material such as nickel-titanium alloy. The probe tip provides a nearly continuous, controllable heat, and it may have a narrow, pointed shape. The tip may be heated rapidly, and it provides rapid heating of the instrument, continuous supply of heat for the purpose desired, and concentration of maximum heat at the end of the tip. The added flexibility allows the tip to follow the curvature of a canal of a tooth without the need to pre-bend the tip which increases the working life of the tip and provides for improved packing of the material used to fill the root canal.

Abstract: A mixing arm assembly suitable for mixing the contents of a capsule which includes a support arm in the form of an elongated member having two ends with one end of the arm adapted for connection to an agitator suitable for mixing the contents of a dental capsule. The distal end of the arm containing a moveable jaw assembly adapted to receive and hold a dental capsule in a closed locked position during mixing.

Abstract: A dental syringe tip having positioned in a material-containing passage therein a plug with a stepped nose configuration to minimize the force required to dispense material from the syringe tip. The stepped nose configuration also increases the amount of material dispensed from the syringe thereby reducing waste. The plug includes a sealing member to provide improved sealing between the plug and the internal surfaces defining the passage within the syringe tip.

Abstract: A syringe for metering fluid in which a plunger contains a plurality of stop surfaces which contact a stop on a syringe tube. The stop surfaces are linearly displaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the plunger by distances corresponding to predetermined volumes of fluid to be metered. The stop surfaces are also angularly displaced about the longitudinal axis of the plunger so that incremental rotation of the plunger permits successive stop surfaces to limit plunger motion, thereby effecting a precise metering of the fluid.

Abstract: A capsule mixing device which comprises a motor suitable for powering a vibrating mixing arm with vibrating device connected to the motor having at one end thereof an arm for holding a capsule in place during mixing, and card actuator suitable for activating and controlling the motor at a predetermined speed for a predetermined length of time whereby materials contained within the capsule are mixed to a predetermined desired state by action of the vibrating device on the arm.

Abstract: A tool for shaping wax and wax-like substances has a handpiece containing an electrical connector for connection to a source of electrical power and an opening in which an electrically heated tool tip is removably mounted for the convenient interchange of tips. The tool tip is held in a fixed predetermined position in the opening by ridges in the opening interlocked with complementary notches on the tip and is removably mounted within the opening in electrical connection with the connector. A cooling air gap is formed between the outer surface of said tip and the inner surface of said opening by the interlocked ridges and notches to prevent overheating of the handpiece. The tip comprises two spaced apart electrically conductive parallel wires which are connected at one end to form a continuous tip which defines a confined air gap of a defined configuration which is suitable for holding and shaping wax.

Abstract: A polyvinylsiloxane catalyst paste which comprises up to 20,000 ppm of finely divided platinum black which functions to adsorb hydrogen gas generated in the reaction of said catalyst paste with a hydrofunctional polydimethylsiloxane.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fluorine-containing dental composition. The composition is particularly adapted for use in the field of dentistry as a composite filling material, cavity liner, adhesive, orthodontic resin, pit and fissure sealant, and denture base material wherein the fluoride is released to prevent secondary caries and reduce plaque formation.

Abstract: A dental impression material which comprises a pre-polymer formed by reacting a polyol or combination polyester polyol with a diisocyanate, and then with a hydroxyacrylate or hydroxymethacrylate; along with a metal catalyst, plasticizer, photosensitizer, reducing agent, filler and other additives. The essential characteristics of the polymer portion that makes the system work are that it is a long-chain aliphatic polyester-polyurethane molecule, which when endcapped with hydroxy arcylate moieties, is photo-polymerizable to yield a tear-resistant, highly flexible, medium-durometer elastomer, suitable for use as a dental impression material.

Abstract: A visible light activated cavity liner which provides an available source of leachable calcium and fluoride to the base of a tooth cavity, said composition comprising a photopolymerizable matrix material, a photo initiator, a reducing agent, a synthetic hydroxyapatite filler and a powdered glass ionomer filler.

Abstract: A method of forming a two step dental impression which comprises applying a light curable impression material to a portion of the oral cavity of interest to form an initial impression while exposing said impression material to a source of activating light to set said impression material followed by applying a chemically cured impression material over said light cured impression material and allowed said chemically cured impression material to set and bond with said light curable material and removing the resulting composite impression from said oral cavity.