Abstract: A dental instrument includes at least one removable or replaceable dental tip. The dental instrument includes a spring actuated collet and collar housed internally within a handle. The handle includes a handle center affixed to a center rod and a grip portion housing the collet and collar and a handle center affixed to a center rod. The center rod is affixed to the collet. The collet includes spring fingers that are biased radially inward by the collar to retain the dental tip. When the grip portion of the handle is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the handle relative to the handle center, camming surfaces associated with the grip portion and the handle center cause translational movement along the longitudinal axis to engage or disengage the collar from the collet.

Abstract: Provided is a denture fixing attachment including: a rod-shaped joint member, having an upper end for supporting a denture fixed thereto and a locking protruding portion protruding laterally from a lower portion of the joint member; and an abutment having a coupling portion formed in an outer surface of a lower portion thereof so as to be coupled to a fixture recess formed in the fixture, and a receiving portion formed in an upper portion thereof so as to receive the lower portion of the joint member therein, wherein the receiving portion of the abutment includes a receiving recess for receiving the lower portion of the joint member inserted thereinto, and a stop protruding portion provided in the receiving portion above the receiving recess and having a guide groove disposed adjacent to the stop protruding portion for guiding coupling movement of the locking protruding portion fitted thereinto.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body with a recess on a top surface of the bracket body and an archwire slot adapted to receive an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic bracket also includes a ligating member with a projection on its bottom surface. The ligating member is movably connected to the bracket body for retaining the orthodontic wire in the archwire slot when the ligating member is moved from an open position to a closed position. The orthodontic bracket also includes a discrete spring positioned in the recess on the bracket body such that a force is required to move the ligating member from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A tooth-whitening process includes providing an array of LEDs disposed in a first plane and forming an inner arc having an inner focal point and an outer arc having an outer focal different from the inner focal point; applying a whitening composition to at least the anterior surfaces of at least six mandibular or maxillary anterior teeth and maintaining the whitening composition on the at least six teeth for a first time period; after the first time period, directing a light radiation comprising blue visible light or near-visible UV light of at least a threshold intensity from the least a first array of LEDs for a second time period to the anterior surfaces of the at least six teeth, the first time period having a duration greater than 50% of a total duration of the first time period and the second time period; and removing the whitening composition from the at least six teeth.

Abstract: The elastically tensioned dental matrix wedge is a dental matrix wedge for use in dental restoration procedures. The elastically tensioned dental matrix wedge includes a hollow elongated body having first and second longitudinally opposed ends. The first end is at least partially open and the second end is closed. An elongated tube is mounted within the hollow elongated body and extends longitudinally therein. A spiral torsion spring is secured to, and wraps about, the elongated tube. A clip is provided for releasably holding the spiral torsion spring in a compressed state. Release of the clip allows the spiral torsion spring to expand and exert an elastic tension force on an inner surface of the hollow elongated body.

Abstract: A portable self-contained tooth-whitening device includes a compact housing structured and configured to be held in a fixed position adjacent to a human jaw during use; at least a first array of LEDs disposed in a first plane at a front side of the housing and arranged to deliver blue visible light or near-visible UV light of at least a threshold intensity to substantially all anterior surfaces of anterior maxillary teeth or anterior mandibular teeth of the human jaw, wherein the first array of LEDs forms at least two intersecting arcs, each of which is disposed in the first plane and has its own focal point located outside the device; and at least one battery cell powering the array of LEDs.

Abstract: A heat sterizable, independent dental water supply apparatus has a hand piece control head and a water supply container removably connected to the control head. The apparatus in connectible with a dental, hand piece, an air source and a controller such as a dental foot pedal. In use, the apparatus supplies sterile irrigation water at the hand piece under the control of a dental practitioner. The apparatus is particularly useful of oral surgeons, prosthodontists and other dental specialists. Methods of making and using the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mandibular repositioning device having a lower assembly having a buccal tube having a slot opening formed therein with the tube being connected to a molar bracket that fits over a molar, a lower wedge having a head portion having an inner contact surface, and an integral extension portion with the extension portion being adapted for insertion into the slot opening for adjustment purposes, and an upper assembly having a buccal tube having a slot opening formed therein with the tube being connected to a molar bracket that fits over a molar, an upper wedge having a head portion having an outer rounded contact surface, and an integral extension portion, the extension portion being adapted for insertion into the slot opening for adjustment purposes. Set screws are adapted for contacting the extension portions for holding the upper wedge and lower wedge in place with the outer rounded contact surface bearing against the inner contact flat surface for repositioning a mandibular jaw.

Abstract: A dental prosthetic arrangement and a dental prosthetic system include a combination of a lower part assigned to a jaw implant and an upper part assigned to a prosthesis body in a connection section, wherein in particular two bearing faces are produced in the connection section when in the connected state, the bearing faces being cylindrical, preferably circular-cylindrical in relation to a center axis and being spaced apart from each other in the axial direction. The axial extent of the cylindrical bearing faces is advantageously small compared to the axial extent of the connection section. The two cylindrical bearing faces are preferably situated in axially opposite end regions of the connection section and are connected to each other by approximately conical wall faces of a cut-out in the upper part and a projection of the lower part that projects into the latter.

Abstract: An improved vibrating orthodontic device is provided wherein motor speed is controlled by capacitive sensor, and thus lacks moving parts that are required by encoder use. The improved device also uses a tungsten offset weight, reducing size by more than 50%, yet still produces the needed force. The device is thus smaller, lighter and more robust.

Abstract: A dental membrane placement forceps which includes a thin spatula on the tip of one arm of the forceps. The spatula has a concave inward face juxtaposed the tip on the opposing forceps arm and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the opposing forceps tips move inward toward one another to grip the object (i.e., the gripping plane). The concave inward face of the spatula is concave in one direction. The forceps is useful for placing flat, flexible materials such as a membrane used for regenerative osseous surgery in dentistry.

Abstract: A method of smoothing teeth is disclosed that is based on surprising evidence achieved by practicing a method involving application of calcium powder or calcium containing composition to teeth, and maintaining it in contact with the teeth by application of an edible adherent wax containing material, that serves to maintain contact between the teeth and the calcium powder or calcium containing composition for at least one hour.

Abstract: A dental appliance for use in supporting a sensing device within an oral cavity is described herein. The dental appliance includes a sensor assembly and a tooth cap. The sensor assembly includes a support member and a sensor support assembly extending outwardly from the support member. The sensor support assembly includes a recessed portion that defines a sensor chamber that is configured to receive the sensing device therein. The tooth cap is coupled to the sensor assembly and adapted to be positioned within the oral cavity and orientated along a biting surface.

Abstract: An orthodontic structure includes a body where at least one connecting hole is formed, a fastening part disposed on the body and fastened to an implant, and at least one traction assembly connected to the body. The traction assembly includes an orthodontic table and an adjustment part extending outwards from the orthodontic table to engage the connecting hole. The orthodontic table has at least one locking recess capable of holding a metal wire in place. The orthodontic structure is connected to the implant which is embedded in an alveolar bone in advance to provide a requisite anchorage effect required by orthodontics. Thus, the implant treatment and the orthodontic treatment can be concurrently executed to shorten the treatment time for straightening teeth and attain good implanting and straightening effects.

Abstract: An endosseous dental implant assembly includes a dental implant including an abutment portion for connecting to a tooth crown and a hollow base portion defining a cavity therein, and a bio-supportive or biodegradable scaffold carried by the hollow base portion of the dental implant in the biomimetic approach. The abutment portion is formed integrally with the hollow base portion. The scaffold is impregnated with regenerative stem cells, growth factors, biomorphic proteins, or autogenous cells. In the osseointegrated approach, bone graft material can be carried to the extraction socket without a scaffold.