Abstract: A child-resistant adult-friendly prescription storage vial is presented with an over-cap which can only be removed from the vial by first orienting the cap at a particular point on the vial and then depressing a pair of push-tabs on the cap. When the cap is properly oriented the push-tabs mechanically operate a pair of locking tabs on the vial which hold the cap in place. The locking tabs are designed so that an extended lip on the tab interlocks with a slit on the cap and can only be removed from the slit when the push-tabs on the cap are manually operated.

Abstract: The invention describes a dental composition, delivery system and method for making temporary crowns and bridges in which the composition comprises two free-radical polymerizable pastes, one a catalyst paste and the other a base paste, wherein the catalyst paste comprises at least one polymerizable monomer, at least one polymerization initiator which is a peroxide oxidizing agent, at least one first polymerization inhibitor and a filler, and wherein the base paste comprises at least one polymerizable monomer, at least one polymerization accelerator, at least one second polymerization inhibitor, at least one non-polymerizable plasticizer and a filler. These catalyst and base pastes are stored in a dual cartridge from which they can be dispensed with a dispenser, preferably in a 1:1 volume ratio, and can be mixed in a static mixer to form a moldable polymerizing material, which is then applied to a prepared area of one or more teeth in a patient's mouth to form a crown or a bridge.

Abstract: Improved coated inorganic pigments having a first coating of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, or optionally other oxide such as a source of P.sub.2 O.sub.5, or mixtures thereof, an optional coating of ZrO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2 or mixtures thereof, and a final coating of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 which exhibit good durability, dispersibility, and optical properties in plastic or paint compositions are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process whereby an aqueous slurry of an inorganic pigment is milled to achieve a particular particle size distribution, a first coating of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, or optionally other oxide such as a source of P.sub.2 O.sub.5, or mixtures thereof is precipitated onto the pigment material within a first pH range, an optional amount of ZrO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2 or mixtures thereof is added to the aqueous slurry within a second pH range to obtain an optional coating over the first coating, and a final coating of Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: A child resistant closure apparatus is provided that is easily opened by the aged and infirm. The child resistant closure apparatus has a container having a push-tab locking device that locks into place in a series of sawtooth projections on an inner surface of a closure. The closure is rotatably screwed onto the container whereby the push-tab locking device locks into one sawtooth projection. Screwing torque in the direction which would disengage the closure from the container is not possible unless the push-tab locking device is manipulated so that an end of a flexible arm is removed from the sawtooth projection.

Abstract: A child-resistant closure container system allowing easy opening by debilitated adults. The closure has moveable panels on the side wall which, when depressed, allow the unscrewing of the closure from the neck of the jar or vial. The moveable panels include tabs engaging stationary locking lugs on the neck finish annulus, which prevent removal of the closure without depressing the tabs. The annulus and stationary locking lugs can be an integral part of the jar or vial.

Abstract: Dental resins and dental compositions utilizing such resins are described. The dental compositions are particularly useful as cavity liners and root canal sealants which contain calcium hydroxide (or calcium oxide) and which are utilized to deliver calcium to exposed dental pulp. The resins, and resin-containing compounds, include eutectic mixtures of polyfunctional salicylates. In particular, the transesterification of a blend of trimethylolpropane and neopentylglycol with methyl salicylate yields a blend of trimethylolpropanetrisalicylate and neopentylglycoldisalicylate, which is contemplated by the present invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing a low-dusting, free-flowing pigment which has not been subjected to any micronizing treatment comprising the steps of providing an inorganic pigment material; providing a source of water; forming a fine, well dispersed slurry of the pigment and water; milling the slurry; depositing a treating agent having the formula ROOCCHSO.sub.3 MCH.sub.2 COOR' wherein R and R' are monovalent alkyl radicals having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, and M is a metallic monovalent cation on the slurried milled pigment; and drying the pigment material having a treating agent deposited thereon. The invention also provides the free-flowing pigments produced by this process.

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 continuous method of preparing a single phase lithiated manganese oxide intercalation compound of the formula Li.sub.1+x Mn.sub.2-x O.sub.4 comprising the steps of: mixing intimately a lithium hydroxide or a lithium salt and a manganese oxide or a manganese salt; feeding the intimately mixed salts to a reactor; continuously agitating the mixed salts in the reactor; heating the agitated mixed salts in the reactor at a temperature of from about 650 .degree. C. to about 800.degree. C. for a time not in excess of about 4 hours in an oxygen-containing atmosphere; and cooling the reacted product to less than about 200.degree. C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere for a time not in excess of about 2 hours.

Abstract: A dental adhesive delivery system provides a single usage amount of dental adhesive in a non-resealable container for use in treating a single patient. The packaged amount of adhesive may include up to the amount required to treat all of the teeth needing treatment of not more than a single patient, for example in the range of approximately 0.05 to 1.0 ml. The packaged amount may include a dose only large enough for the treatment of a single tooth or for the application of a single restoration, for example, in an amount of about 0.1 ml. The adhesive is one that includes a volatile solvent or other liquid carrier, such as, for example, water or an organic liquid such as acetone or alcohol. In the preferred embodiment, an alcohol based adhesive is provided having a filler of approximately 25% by weight.

Abstract: An endodontic root canal file having an inner tapered core and a plurality of cutting sections lying between the core and an outer tapered envelope, each progressively decreasing in size from the proximate end to the distal end of the file. Each cutting section of the file having an intermediate cylindrical section extending radially outwardly from the core, a frusto-conical distal section tapering inwardly from the cylindrical section to the core and a planar annular proximate end surface section extending radially inwardly from the proximate end of the intermediate cylindrical section portion to the distal end of the next proximally adjacent cutting section. A plurality of grooves extend longitudinally and radially inwardly through the distal, intermediate and proximal sections of each cutting section and define non-helical flutes which provide distally and radially inwardly inclined cutting edges that lie in planes through the axis of the file and perpendicular to the circular circumference of the file.

Abstract: Dental restorative compositions of the composite resin/glass ionomer hybrid type and resins used in the compositions. The compositions contain an aromatic-moiety-containing polymerizable resin, a finely divided ion-leachable fluoroaluminosilicate glass filler, a polymerization initiator system, and may contain other components. The aromatic-moiety-containing polymerizable resin has at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group such as a (meth)acrylate group. The compositions have improved mechanical strength, improved wear resistance, and sustained long-term fluoride release.

Abstract: A method for molding a tamper-evident closure with tabs that extend radially inward and upward. In order to produce tabs with such a configuration, the present invention employs a tab forming element having a mold surface with an inclination corresponding to the degree to which the tabs are desired to extend radially inward and upward. After the tabs have been molded in their inclined position, they are withdrawn from the mold, temporarily altering their angle of inclination. After removal of the closure from the a first portion of the mold, the tabs are returned to the original angle of inclination through contact with a second portion of the mold.

Abstract: A process for reacting titanium tetrachloride vapors with oxygen including a first oxygen preheat assembly for preheating oxygen to a first predetermined temperature and a titanium tetrachloride preheat assembly for preheating titanium tetrachloride to a relatively low, temperature. The process includes adding a second oxygen preheat assembly for preheating oxygen to a second temperature substantially below the first temperature, and includes a second reaction zone adapted for receiving the mixture from the first reaction zone, the oxygen at the second temperature being reacted with the titanium tetrachloride in the mixture from the first reaction zone to produce titanium dioxide. Also provided is a process for the preparation of titanium dioxide comprising reacting titanium tetrachloride with oxygen at an elevated pressure and at a temperature above about 1750.degree. F.

Abstract: Thermoplastic concentrates comprising inorganic pigments, such as titanium dioxide, treated with a dialkyl sulfosuccinate treating agent, of the formula ROOCCHSO.sub.3 MCH.sub.2 COOR', where R and R' are monovalent alkyl radicals containing from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms and M is a metallic monovalent cation, are disclosed. Such treatment improves the dispersibility of the pigments in thermoplastic resins. The treatment also enables the production of thermoplastic concentrates comprising a high percentage of treated inorganic pigment dispersed in a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An ultra high strength plastic mesh reinforcing material for forming a dental appliance or prosthesis, a method of fabricating a prosthesis therewith and a dental prosthesis made thereby are provided. The material is in the shape of a ribbon and formed of fibers, preferably of ultra high strength polyethylene, that are woven into a matrix in which yarns of the fibers preferably extend at angles to the transverse extent of the ribbon to permit the ribbon to be shaped through the adjusting of its width by a practitioner. Such yarns are preferably braided, so that diagonally angled fibers will result and no fibers are cut along the edges of the ribbon. The braid is preferably a two-over/two-under pattern that utilizes an odd number of carriers. The fibers are preferably surface activated, such as by a cold plasma treatment to enhance adherence of resin of which the appliance or prosthesis is formed.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing tablets one at a time which includes a feature which prevents children from dispensing tablets. The dispenser has a reservoir, a chamber below the reservoir in which the tablets are arranged in a single layer and a dispensing passageway which leads to a dispensing orifice. The passageway is of such a width that a single column of tablets can be accommodated. The passageway is defined by portions of a moving slider member and can be moved from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position, after an unlocking plunger is depressed. The plunger presses down a biased locking plate to disengage a locking projection on the slider from a locking face in the container. In the dispensing position, the lowermost tablet is dispensed whereas the remaining tablets in the column are retained in the passageway by a fixed protuberance. One side of the passageway is resilient to minimize tablet damage.

Abstract: A threaded closure is provided with a snap-fit ring. A snap-fit tamper-evident band with three concentric portions is provided such that the first portion engages the closure's snap-fit ring and is removed from the rest of the band when the closure is rotated off of the container neck. A second portion includes tabs for engaging, e.g., an annular ring on a container neck. A third portion remains on the container neck when the first portion and the cap are rotated off. A number of frangible posts are also provided for connecting the first portion to the second and third portions.