Abstract: The present invention provides an interdental cleaning tool with a plastic handle and a soft pick. The handle is molded from a thermoplastic material and includes a grip portion and an extension portion. The pick is molded from a thermoset material over the extension portion of the handle. The pick tapers to a distal tip for insertion between a user's teeth and has a sidewall including a plurality of nubs extending from the sidewall. A method for manufacturing the tool includes: (a) injection molding a plastic handle from a thermoplastic material, the handle including a grip portion and an extension portion extending from the grip portion; and (b) injection molding a pick from a thermoset material over the extension portion of the plastic handle such that the grip portion of the handle remains exposed. The handle and the pick are molded in the same mold cavity.

Abstract: A replacement head for an electric toothbrush has a simplified drive construction and desired bristle carrier retention. The replacement head includes a tubular neck with a head at one end and a brush shaft disposed within the neck. An eccentric extension extends from the brush shaft parallel with the longitudinal axis and an axial extension extends parallel to the eccentric extension. The eccentric extension engages the bristle carrier to drive the bristle carrier. The brush shaft, including the eccentric extension and the axial extension, may be formed together as a single unitary piece. A pin may extend through pin retention openings in the head and a pin slot in the bristle carrier in a direction transverse to both the longitudinal axis and the carrier rotation axis to retain the bristle carrier on the head.

Abstract: A handle for removably attaching to a moldable orthosis positions the orthosis in boiling water. The handle includes an arm with an oral orthosis engaging member at one end. The engaging member includes one of a tab or slot which removably engages the oral orthosis. In a preferred embodiment, the arm further includes a hook-like member for supporting the oral orthosis on the rim of a container of boiling water during the molding process. In one embodiment, the handle forms the cover of a storage case for the orthosis.

Abstract: An oral care agent delivery device is provided which comprises a permanently deformable backing layer, an anchor layer overtop the backing layer, and an oral care layer overtop the anchor layer. The device is sized to fit over a plurality of teeth in an upper or lower dental arch of a subject. The oral care layer comprises at least one oral care agent and at least one hydrophilic polymer. The oral care layer is in contact with the anchor layer and forms an adhesive bond with the anchor layer; however, the oral care layer is minimally invested in the anchoring layer. When hydrated, the oral care layer has an adhesiveness relative to the surface of a user's teeth that is sufficient to retain the device on the user's teeth when placed thereon. The device can also have an oral care agent which is activated on hydration of the oral care layer, or an oral care layer which releases the oral care agent over time.

Abstract: An oral care agent delivery device is provided which comprises a permanently deformable backing layer, an oral care layer, and a non-woven binding material with a first part that is substantially invested in the oral care layer and a second part that is substantially invested in the backing layer. The device is sized to fit over a plurality of teeth in an upper or lower dental arch of a subject. The oral care layer comprises at least one oral care agent and at least one hydrophilic polymer. When hydrated, the oral care layer has an adhesiveness relative to the surface of a user's teeth that is sufficient to retain the device on the user's teeth when placed thereon. The device can also have an oral care agent which is activated on hydration of the oral care layer, or an oral care layer which releases the oral care agent over time.

Abstract: A dental flosser design utilizes the shape of the handle, the positioning of one or more floss strands and the shape and materials of the floss strands to increase the ease of use for the consumer. In one embodiment, the flosser combines the advantages of an F-shaped flosser for flossing the front teeth with the advantages of a Y-shaped flosser for flossing the rear teeth by providing a flosser with a handle having first and second longitudinal ends, with a first flosser head extending from the first longitudinal end and the second flosser head extending from the second longitudinal end. The first flosser head may form an F-shaped flosser at the first end of the handle, wherein the flosser head is generally aligned in the same plane as the gripping surfaces of the handle, the with the flosser arms extending at an angle to the longitudinal length of the handle.

Abstract: An oral treatment composition that includes a carrier, an active agent and a silicon dioxide compound. The active agent can be a variety of compositions, such as dental whitening or bleaching agents, desensitizing agents, antimicrobials, anti-plaque agents, remineralizing agents, anti-tartar agents, mouth fresheners, and anesthetics. Optionally, a processing aid can be added to the composition to streamline manufacture of the gel. The composition can be formed as a bead in a dental tray so that when a user applies the dental tray to their dental arch, the bead readily spreads over the surfaces of the teeth without the user having to supply significant force to achieve such spreading.

Abstract: A one-piece molded bruxism treatment device which in upright orientation has top and bottom parts, including: an elongated band having a generally U-shape defining a closed front end part and legs extending rearward and adapted to be positioned around the outer surfaces of a person's upper gums and teeth, and two generally planar resiliently deformable bite pads oriented generally horizontally, each extending from one of the feet of the band medially toward the other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interproximal cleaning tool including a handle that is cut from a first plastic material, and a pick molded over a portion of the handle. The pick may be precision injection molded over an extension portion of the handle from a plastic material different from the first plastic material. A method for manufacturing an interproximal cleaning tool includes the steps of: (a) providing a sheet of plastic material; (b) cutting a handle for the interproximal cleaning tool from the sheet, the handle being cut such that the handle includes a grip portion and an extension portion extending from the grip portion, the handle defining a width, wherein the width of the extension portion is narrower than the width of the grip portion; and (c) molding a plastic pick over the extension portion to form the interproximal cleaning tool.

Abstract: A one-piece molded bruxism treatment device which in upright orientation has top and bottom parts, including: an elongated band having a generally U-shape defining a closed front end part and legs extending rearward and adapted to be positioned around the outer surfaces of a person's upper gums and teeth, and two generally planar resiliently deformable bite pads oriented generally horizontally, each extending from one of the feet of the band medially toward the other.

Abstract: A dental flosser including a plastic handle having proximal and distal ends, a flosser head at the distal end of the handle, and two spaced apart arms extending from the flosser head. First and second strands of dental floss extend transversely between the spaced apart arms. The first and second strands may different material characteristics from each other, such as different coefficients of friction. The first and second strands may be arranged on the arms to provide enhanced cleaning. For instance, a portion of one of the strands may be offset from the other strand along the width of the flosser arms.

Abstract: A one-piece molded bruxism treatment device which in upright orientation has top and bottom parts, including: an elongated band having a generally U-shape defining a closed front end part and legs extending rearward and adapted to be positioned around the outer surfaces of a person's upper gums and teeth, and two generally planar resiliently deformable bite pads oriented generally horizontally, each extending from one of the feet of the band medially toward the other.

Abstract: An oral orthosis includes a holder in the shape of a mouthpiece, including a curved arcuate trough-like upper section which receives a formable material. The formable material does not occupy the entire trough but rather includes voids between the formable material and the inner surfaces of trough of the holder to allow expansion of the formable material into the voids during the molding process when tooth pressure is placed on the formable material. This design results in elimination of the excess formable material which otherwise would require removal by trimming. Additionally, the formable material is placed in the trough in a configuration which includes indexing indentations along the centerline of the material, such that, during the molding process, the mouthpiece containing the formable material is easily centered along the edges of the user's teeth to provide a precise fitting.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a handle, a head and a movable portion affixed to the head. In one embodiment, the head includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface. A recess extends into the upper surface and includes a floor, and a pair of walls extending upwardly from the floor to the upper surface. A central support may be suspended above the floor by a pair of arms that extend from opposite ends of the central support and into notches in the opposing sidewalls of the recess. A portion of the arms may be affixed in the respective notches, and a portion of the arms may be spaced from the walls of the notches to enable the arms to twist within the notches, and this enable movement of the central support.

Abstract: A dental flosser including a plastic handle having proximal and distal ends, a flosser head at the distal end of the handle, and two spaced apart arms extending from the flosser head. Two distal end portions extend from the arms and secure a strand of floss. The distal end portions may be wider than the respective arms to increase the force required to pull the floss through the distal end portions. The distal end portions may intersect and extend through an interior and exterior plane defined by the interior and exterior surfaces of the arms.