Abstract: A self-tapping implant for use in a jawbone includes a body with plural thread spirals arranged thereon; a conically tapering portion arranged at a front end of the body and having one or more bone-chip recesses therein which accommodate bone material cut off during a tapping operation. The bone-chip recesses are formed by removal of material from the plural thread spirals and body. At least in the conically tapering portion, the plural thread spirals are materially reduced, and each of the materially reduced threads have a cutting edge which extends inward from an outer edge of a respective remaining thread part. Each cutting edge of a number of associated cutting edges of the materially reduced threads have a pointed shape which, in a cross section thereof, essentially follows a line which deviates from a first radius through a point of the pointed shape of the respective remaining thread part.

Abstract: Am implant (1), in particular a dental implant, comprises surface regions (4) of a first type which have osseo-integrative, inflammation-inhibiting, infection-combating and/or growth-promoting properties, and surface regions (8) of a second type which consist of a material which is liquefiable by mechanical oscillations. The implant is positioned in an opening of e.g. a jawbone and then mechanical oscillations, e.g. ultrasound is applied to it while it is pressed against the jawbone. The liquefiable material is such liquefied at least partly and is pressed into unevennesses and pores of the surrounding bone tissue where after resolidification it forms a positive-fit connection between the implant and the bone tissue.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliance for limiting relative longitudinal movement between the upper and lower jaws to correct malocclusions and/or to prevent snoring. The appliance includes a first component for engaging the upper jaw, and a second component for engaging the lower jaw. A projection is provided on one of the first and second components to abut the other of the first and second components, laterally offset from the jaws.

Abstract: After the working of a root canal by instruments to remove material and shape the walls of the canal, a microaspirator is inserted into the canal extending to about 5 mm from the apex and a vacuum is applied which sucks up some of the debris in the canal. Then a tube is inserted in the exposed opening of the canal with the vacuum still applied. Irrigant is supplied by the needle by an opening in the needle, but not under pressure. As the irrigant is supplied, it is drawn down to end of the aspirator by the vacuum which exists in the canal and up into the aspirator. The aspirator is removed and a second, smaller aspirator with a hole in its wall near its sealed end is inserted into the canal until it almost reaches the apex.

Abstract: The dental implant includes a body with a coronal end and an apical end. The implant intraosseous region includes a tapered thread which has a constant depth on an apical edge. A coronal edge to the thread varies in profile. There is equal spacing between the apical end and the coronal end of the implant. The coronal edge varies in profile, and can have a profile formed of two or three components. There is at least two cutting actions of the thread to permit for effective implantation in the bone without leading to microfracture.

Abstract: A vertebral replacement device for supporting adjacent vertebrae includes a vertebral body member having at least one of an upper or lower disc replacement member engaged thereto at one end thereof. The disc replacement device can be positioned in a spinal disc space when disengaged from the vertebral body member.

Abstract: A rongeur has a detachable crossbar to enhance cleaning and sterilization. A pin in a slot on one of the rongeur's handles is moveable out of the slot to permit extended retraction of the crossbar to a position in which it may disengage from the shank of the rongeur.

Abstract: The above-discussed and other problems and deficiencies of the prior art are overcome or alleviated by the improved bone connective prosthesis and method of forming the same of the present invention, comprising the addition of at least one biocompatible metal coupling agent to a prosthetic element, and then adding the biocompatible copolymerizer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”) to the PMMA film and/or cement in an amount effective to enhance the cohesion between the prosthetic and the bone cement. In general, a PMMA/HEMA film is applied to the prosthetic element in the presence of a silane coupling agent by dipping, painting, spraying, etc.

Abstract: An orthodontic brace includes a set of appliances that are connected to respective teeth of the patient. At least some of the appliances include a latch that is operable to release an archwire from the appliance whenever the force exerted by the archwire exceeds a certain value. This value is higher for appliances connected to certain teeth than the value associated with appliances connected to other teeth, in accordance with the particular malocclusion encountered. The brace is constructed to ensure that the goals of the treatment program are carried out in an efficient manner while reducing the likelihood of inadvertent release of the archwire during the course of treatment.

Abstract: A clamp designed for use in the heart-surgery field for osteosynthesis following on sternotomy has a roughly C-shaped configuration with a core (11) terminating at opposite ends with hooks (12) set opposite to one another. In the centre, the said core (11) extends vertically according to a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the one on which the end hooks (12) lie, with a loop (13) which is elastically compliant. The said clamp is made of a so-called “shape-memory” metallic alloy, i.e., an alloy which is malleable at a low temperature and which re-acquires its original form at body temperature, exerting a semi-rigid compression on the ends or edges of the bones requiring synthesis.

Abstract: A specialized dental bur designed to easily enter the periodontal pocket to perform root planing and curettage without the need for incisions has a cutting head attached to a shank. The cutting head has a combined structure of a narrow, hemispherical tip, cylindrical portion of larger diameter and a transition portion having a curved surface between them. Color coding or marking enables bur segregation and enables depth determination. The bur can be used for abrading tooth root, gingiva, and bone structures without gingival incisions.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for a molar tooth has a latch that is movable between an open position to admit or release an archwire into an archwire slot and a closed position to retain the archwire in the archwire slot. In one aspect of the invention, the appliance lacks tiewings and has a mesial archwire guide that is spaced from a distal archwire guide by a channel that extends in a generally occlusal-gingival direction across the appliance. In another aspect of the invention, the appliance includes a flange with at least one groove for retaining a wire segment or other item in place.

Abstract: A preparation (10, 11,12,13) to be fixed to a natural tooth part or tooth, in particular for the replacement of a load-bearing tooth part, is for example a filling for a drilled-out tooth (1), a crown, bridge or prosthesis to be placed on a tooth stub, or a tooth pin to be fixed in a tooth root for fastening an artificial tooth, a bridge or a prosthesis. The preparation has surface regions which consist of a material with thermoplastic properties. The preparation (10, 11, 12,13) is designed in a manner such that it has oscillation properties with such low damping losses that for a liquefaction of the material with thermoplastic properties by way of oscillations there are local stress concentrations required, and in a manner such that such stress concentrations only occur in the region of the preparation surface.

Abstract: A complex root canal plugging apparatus for dental work, with a gun-type injection device and a pen-type vertical spreader connected to a single controller, is disclosed. The spreader consists of a body part, a power transmission part, a chucking part, and a plugger tip. The power transmission part consists of a first contact ring connected to the first electric wire, an insulating ring, a second contact ring. The plugger tip consists of a hollow mounting part inserted into the chuck, a hollow heating part extending from the mounting part while being tapered, with a heating member installed in the end of the heating part. A second electric wire is connected to the second contact ring, and axially extends through the heating part after passing through the mounting part while coming into contact with the upper portion of the heating member.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint prosthesis for use in arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis includes a body for implantation at least partially within the medullary canal of a long bone. The long bone defines trabeculae in the proximal cancellous bone and lamellae in the cortical bone. The body includes a proximal portion thereof and a distal portion. The proximal portion has a medial periphery and includes surface features on a substantial portion of its proximal portion. The surface features are positioned to optimally transfer load from the prosthesis to the long bone.

Abstract: A device for performing endodontic procedures such as root canals by utilizing ultrasonic energy to debride the root canal space. The device includes a modified shaft assembly and a stainless steel hypodermic needle which concentrates the ultrasonic energy at the tip of the needle. The shaft assembly further includes a threaded housing for attaching the shaft assembly to an ultrasonic generator, an angled shaft attached to the threaded housing, and a hub attached to the end of the angled shaft opposite the threaded housing for reducing the diameter of the bore when the hub is tightened. The angled shaft further includes a bore passing through its length and an aperture passing through the outer wall of the shaft. The aperture is positioned near the larger of the two angles formed by the angled shaft and is oriented in the direction of the hub. The needle is inserted into the aperture and passes through the bore in the angled shaft until it exits the shaft through the hub.

Abstract: A tooth inclination apparatus for allowing assessment of the angle of inclination of an incisor tooth or cast thereof includes a plane element providing a flat datum surface for resting against e.g. the upper molars in the maxillary plane. From the underside of the plane element projects a protractor portion with a graduated angular scale which measures the angular deviation of an indicator pin pivoted to the plane member and moved to contact the tooth whose inclination is being measured. Other mechanical or electro-optic devices may be used to determine the inclination of the incisor relative to the datum surface.

Abstract: A customized dental tray comprising ULDPE is formed using a person's own teeth as a template, or using a stone model of the person's teeth. A preformed dental tray or sheet comprising ULDPE is heated to become plastically deformable and placed over at least a portion of the person's teeth in order to form an impression of the person's teeth and yield an intermediate customized dental tray. Upon cooling sufficiently, the intermediate tray is removed from the persons' mouth and trimmed as needed to yield a finished customized tray corresponding to the person's teeth. The performed tray or sheet preferably comprises ULDPE, which yields a highly flexible and resilient final tray, although they may also contain other polymers or blends. The customized dental tray is useful for teeth bleaching and other dental treatments known in the art.

Abstract: In the formation of dental bridges, the preferred material is a tightly-sintered aluminium oxide, and it is normal practice that the necessary bridge parts, namely two bridge anchors and a connecting intermediate link (pontic), are formed by a specialist and thereafter joined together in a dental laboratory where use is made of a melted glass as binding agent, after which the assembled bridge item is fired with porcelain. With the invention it has been found that considerable advantages can be achieved when a dispersion of said aluminium oxide or a material related herewith is used as binding agent, which after application between the assembly surfaces is heated until loose sintering is achieved, after which an infiltration of the sintered material by the glass is brought about by renewed or additional heating. There is hereby achieved a more simple working process as well as a stronger binding both between the assembly surfaces as well as between the bridge item and the porcelain with which it is fired.

Abstract: The present invention provides biocompatible intervertebral disc prostheses that are resilient to compressive forces, that may be adapted to an intervertebral space. When implanted in the spinal column of a patient, the intervertebral disc prostheses according to the present invention is intended to maintain the separation between adjacent vertebrae and provide shock absorbent protection. Flexibility of the spinal column may also be maintained. The present invention further provides methods for the implantation of the intervertebral disc prosthesis of the present invention and an optional intervertebral spacer into the spinal column of a human or animal patient.