Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual orthodontic treatment method, comprising, providing a virtual diagnostic setup model of teeth of at least one jaw of an individual, associating virtual orthodontic appliances with all teeth in the model to obtain a first composite model and repositioning teeth into an initial treatment state according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules; in the initial treatment state, detaching one or more teeth from their corresponding one or more orthodontic appliances, repositioning one or more appliances, reassociating one or more appliances with the teeth, permitting the teeth to reposition according to the appliances-dependent rules to obtain an altered treatment state, yielding a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading an orthodontic model, as compared to the grade of initial treatment state.

Abstract: A force adjusting mechanism for an orthodontic appliance wherein the appliance functions to move teeth and/or to expand the dental arch. The mechanism includes a shaft operatively coupled at opposite ends between a first portion of the appliance which is anchored in the patient's dental arch and a second portion of the appliance which applies force to one or more of the patient's teeth. A lock is slidable along the shaft to compress a spring between the lock and the second portion of the appliance. Co-operating structures on the shaft and on the lock provide a unidirectional ratchet movement of the lock along the shaft. Thus, the lock may be advanced one step at a time in one direction only, preferably manually using an implement for engaging the lock, to compress the spring to apply force to one or more of the patient's teeth. Advantageously, this may be done by the patient or a parent or guardian without the need for an office visit to a clinician.

Abstract: Check reins in the form of elongated members are used to limit the extreme range of motion which would otherwise be permitted by some ADR designs. The check reins serve two main purposes. First, they retain disc spacers, if present. Additionally, the wedge shape of ADRs and the removal of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL) and a portion of the Annulus Fibrosus (AF) to insert the ADR from an anterior approach, favor anterior extrusion of disc spacers. In preferred embodiments the check reins are therefore limited to the anterior portion of the periphery of the ADR. Second, check reins serve to prevent excessive spinal motion. Again, although they may be helpful in other locations, anterior check reins help restore the motion limiting functions of the ALL and AF that were removed in anterior approaches to the spine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental scaling translucent insert which provides a coaxially aligned light adjacent the distal end of such insert for illuminating the tip of the dental scaler which light may be provided by light emitting from a fiber optic light guide from a light source located remotely from the tip. The light provided can also be used to view through a camera lens system located in translucent insert to provide a clear unobstructed view of the work at the tip of the scaler on a remote screen or for recording.

Abstract: A method for treating hard tissue infection in a site-specific manner, comprising preparing a negative mold of the hard tissue using an impression material which contains a diagnostic additive which generates an identifiable signal on contact with infected tissue; applying a treatment agent to the negative mold at one or more of infected sites; and re-applying the negative mold on the originally molded hard tissue for a suitable period of time. Also disclosed are methods for making the negative mold, a mouthpiece corresponding to the negative mold, and a treatment device, as well as the treatment device and mouse piece so produced.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a latch that comprises at least one clip with a region for receiving an archwire. The clip also includes a recess for receiving a post of the appliance, and the recess is not in communication with the archwire-receiving region. The post functions to secure the clip to remaining components of the appliance, such as a body or base of the appliance. Optionally, the clip may include a second recess for receiving a second post of the appliance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dental apparatus including a fluid reservoir having a connection part, and a fluid reservoir receptor section having a reception part. The connection part includes a cylindrical member, a shaft member slidably arranged through the cylindrical member, and having a channel, a fluid passage defined between the channel and the cylindrical member, and an air passage formed in the cylindrical member for taking external air in. The openings of the fluid and air passages are openable by sliding the shaft member. The reception part includes a passage, a valve in the opening of the passage for taking external air in, and a releaser member for sliding the shaft member to open the openings of the fluid and air passages when the fluid reservoir is installed on the fluid reservoir receptor section.

Abstract: Device for pushing away an enclosure arranged around a dental element. When filling dental elements, it is important that adjacent dental elements should come into contact with one another at a defined location. To this end, the invention proposes a tool for pushing the enclosure arranged around the dental element onto the adjacent dental element during the filling operation. In the vicinity of the free end, this tool is provided with a thickened section which has to push away an enclosure of this type. This thickened section is provided with a recess in the vicinity of the free end, approximately in the center. This recess forms an elevation in the filling material, and in this way shrinkage stresses can be guided out of the center of the filling material towards the outside, resulting in a shrinkage-free filling.

Abstract: An endosseous dental implant system employs an implant member designed to be embedded into the jawbone of a patient at a location vacated by a missing tooth, and a mating abutment member. Both the abutment member and the implant member have mutually facing gingival ends. A socket of uniform, noncircular cross section throughout is defined into the gingival end of either the implant member or the abutment member while a post of corresponding cross-sectional configuration extends from the gingival end of the other member. At least one, and possibly a plurality, of transversely directed projections are formed on the post. These projections are small enough to allow the post to enter the socket in close fitting, seated engagement therewith, but large enough to create an interference fit between the post and the socket to obstruct twisting of the post within the socket. Apart from the transversely extending projections, the post has a uniform cross sectional shape and dimensions throughout its length.

Abstract: A prophy angle comprising a body, a drive system, and a paste feed assembly. The body includes a cylinder and a head portion associated with the cylinder. The drive system extends through the body and includes a drive shaft assembly and a cup shaft assembly. The drive shaft assembly extends through the cylinder. The cup shaft assembly extends through the head portion. The cup shaft assembly is coupled to the drive shaft assembly and further includes a prophy cup disposed at one end thereof. The prophy cup is in fluid communication with the body. The paste feed assembly includes a piston assembly and a piston movement assembly. The piston movement assembly includes a handle member. The handle member includes a second end associated with the piston assembly, a first end distally spaced therefrom and a pivot point positioned therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dental bracket and associated kit used to attach a medicament-releasing pellet on a tooth. The kit is designed to provide slow release of fluoride or other medicament over a desired period of time. The medicament release kit includes a medicament-releasing pellet and a dental bracket. The bracket comprises a base and a socket configured to receive and retain the pellet at least partially therein. The device may be installed by a dental practitioner and remain attached to a patient's tooth for a few months or up to 20 years. The medicament-releasing pellet, designed to slowly release small quantities of fluoride or another medicament, may be replaced, for example, every 6 months to 2 years. Replacement of the medicament-releasing pellet may be performed at home or at a dentist's office.

Abstract: An implant includes an implantable body portion adapted to be at least partially recessed within a patient's alveolar bone, and which has a peripheral surface portion, which is configured to stimulate and/or facilitate the engagement of osteoblasts and other bone tissues with the implant. The implant body provides bone engaging regions along one or more of the distal and/or mesial implant surfaces, which are elongated relative to bone engaging regions on the lingual and/or buccal surfaces of the implant body. In particular, the implantable portion of the implant body includes a bone engaging surface which, when the implant body is fully seated within the patient's jaw bone, extends from a distal portion of the implant body to a remote proximal-most edge. The proximal-most edge has a contour selected to generally follow a predetermined crestal outline of the supporting bone tissue.

Abstract: Endosseous implant to be applied to human or animal bone, said implant having a surface made from a selected metal or a selected metal alloy or a ceramic, whereby said metal resp. metal alloy is selected from chromium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, zirconium, aluminium, cobalt, nickel, stainless steels or an alloy thereof, said surface having a smooth or rough texture, characterized in that said surface has been treated with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable organic compound carrying at least one phosphonic acid group or a derivative thereof preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester or amid thereof and method for producing said implant.

Abstract: A virtual orthodontic treatment method and a system thereof, the method comprising the following: providing a virtual diagnostic setup model of teeth of at least one jaw of an individual, associating each teeth in said model with its corresponding virtual orthodontic appliance to obtain a first composite model and repositioning teeth into an initial treatment state according to pre-defined appliances-dependent rules. In the initial treatment state, selecting one or more teeth and reassociating the teeth with their corresponding virtual orthodontic appliance by changing the position of the appliance corresponding to the selected tooth thereby causing repositioning of the teeth according to the appliance-dependence rules. An altered treatment state is obtained, yielding a better grade, according to one or more systems for grading an orthodontic model, as compared to the grade of the initial treatment state.

Abstract: A pliable band or hoop that is flexible to normal handling, but cannot stretch circumferentially once it has reached the limits of its circumferential length. The band may have a structural portal to be used for filling, or it may simply be constructed of a fabric-like material that allows a fill tube to perforate its walls to allow for filling. In the latter case, the perforated wall tends to self-seal once the fill tube is withdrawn. The band may be flat or tubular in cross-section. However, unlike a balloon, the band does not require either a bottom or a top, as we found that a top and bottom are unnecessary when using a band or hoop to enclose material injected into a reamed out intervertebral space.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for performing less-invasive surgical procedures within a body cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a system and method for isolating a surgical site such as an anastomosis between an internal mammary artery and a coronary artery in a thoracoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting procedure. The system comprises a foot (11) pivotally coupled to the distal end of a shaft (3) by a linkage (13). The foot has first and second engaging portions (15, 17) with contact surfaces for engaging a tissue surface. The engaging portions are movable between an open position, where the contact surfaces are separated by a gap, and a collapsed position, where the foot is configured for delivery through the percutaneous penetration.

Abstract: A tooth moving method and appliance for securing a space for an incoming permanent tooth to arrive includes two lingual buttons to be fixed to two teeth, respectively, to spread out a space therebetween or correct a dentition therebetween. An inner wire is pivotally connected to a first lingual button at an end thereof, and a tube is loosely fitted onto the inner wire and pivotally connected to the other lingual button at an end thereof. An open coil is loosely fitted onto the tube, and a split stop is provided for adjusting the tensile force of the open coil. Thus the tensile force of the open coil is adjusted by the split stop to move at least either of the two teeth, so as to spread out the space therebetween to a desired extent.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket or buccal tube has a latch for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot. The latch releases the archwire from the archwire slot whenever the archwire exerts a force on the appliance that exceeds a certain minimum value. The latch comprises at least one clip having certain features that significantly reduce strain during opening movements of the clip, so that the likelihood of fracture of the clip during use is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A dental unit comprises at least one chair, a base, positioned next to the chair and mounting a handpiece tray. The tray is equipped with a plurality of operative or auxiliary handpieces for dental operations of traditional conservative type and/or for implants. At least one of the handpieces is fitted with a drive unit consisting of a brushless micromotor presenting a unit for continuously controlling the speed of the brushless micromotor according to parameters that depend on the type of application, that is, traditional, conservative type operations or implants.

Abstract: A root canal plugging apparatus for dental work is provided. The apparatus includes a pen tip for compacting a filler material in a root canal, a pen for holding the pen tip, a tapered needle for injecting the filler material into the root canal, and a gun for holding the needle. The pen tip is electrically connected to the pen. The pen tip has a hollow body, a heating element, and a temperature sensor. The body has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the pen, and the second end is inserted into the root canal. The heating element is positioned inside the body at a predetermined distance from the second end, and the temperature sensor is positioned inside the body. The temperature sensor measures the temperature at the second end.