Abstract: A bone implant and in particular a dental implant having an apical end configured to facilitate placement and stabilization within an implantation site, wherein the distal end of said apical end has a contoured surface, and the apical surface of said apical end has at least one apical surface recess extending toward the coronal part of the implant.

Abstract: A dental impression tray device for taking a dental impression is provided. The dental impression tray device includes a dental impression tray main body and a handle bar connected to the dental impression tray main body. The dental impression tray main body includes a cavity which is formed by an outer curvature wall surface and a base surface. The outer curvature wall surface includes a first finger rest and a second finger rest positioned in a first symmetrical half and a second symmetrical half, respectively, of the dental impression tray device. Each of the first finger rest and the second finger rest has a flat surface shaped as a semi ellipse which has a height less than half of a diameter thereof. Further, the semi ellipse is positioned at a first angle with respect to a line of symmetry.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an orthodontic system and treatment method, including an arrangement of orthodontic brackets against the patient's teeth such that the depth of the respective archwire slots of the brackets generally increases from the anterior teeth moving toward the posterior teeth. The gradual increase of the archwire slot in the bracket arrangement provides for finer control over the movement of the anterior teeth, while providing sufficient control and freedom of movement for the posterior teeth.

Abstract: A tip for an intraoral scanner, the tip having a housing body, including an imaging unit through which images are transferred to an imaging module of the intraoral scanner, one or more apertures adapted to provide gas streams therethrough and configured such that the oral region is cleansed from blood or oral particles by the gas streams prior to scanning the oral region by the imaging unit, while during the scanning the gas streams diffuse around the periphery of the oral region.

Abstract: A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. A first number of bite adjustment structures can be formed of a same material as the first shell, extending therefrom and designed to interface with teeth of a second jaw. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. A second number of bite adjustment structures can be formed of a same material as the second shell, extending therefrom and designed to interface with teeth of the second jaw. The second number of bite adjustment structures can have a second shape and location, different than the first shape and location, specific to a second stage of the treatment plan.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an orthodontic appliance for securing to a user's teeth in order to carry out an orthodontic treatment, the appliance having an element. The method includes a) gathering information relating to the user's set of teeth; b) using the information to determine at least first and second stable shapes of the element towards which the element should tend to deform during the first and second periods of treatment, respectively; and c) producing and programming the element in such a way that the application of a stimulus during the first period of the treatment renders the second stable shape operational. In certain aspects in step c), a retractable or expansible material is incorporated into the element.

Abstract: A directed jet mouthpiece (10) comprises at least one mouthpiece trough (12,14) configured to fit over a front portion of a dental arch of a user's teeth. The at least one mouthpiece trough includes a buccal-side vertical member (16), a lingual-side vertical member (18) and an occlusal-side horizontal member (20) extending in between. The at least one mouthpiece trough further includes at least one fluidics inlet (22), a plurality of jet orifices (24) on both buccal- and lingual-side vertical members, and at least one fluidics path (26) disposed between the fluidics inlet and jet orifices. A plurality of directed jet orifices (28) is disposed in end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough. The at least one fluidics path (26) is further disposed between the fluidics inlet and plurality of directed jet orifices. The plurality of directed jet orifices (28) direct fluid jets rearward towards a remainder of teeth in a user's mouth beyond the end regions (30) of the at least one mouthpiece trough.

Abstract: A dental device and a method of use for associating with an implanted dental implant anchor immediately following implantation. The device provides for projecting the implant's location, orientation and axis such that the device is readily visible to the naked eye by way of visual inspection so as to reveal the location of the implanted dental implant anchor following a healing period. The device having a distal portion, for coupling to the dental implant, a medial portion, for covering the proximal end of the dental implant, and a proximal portion, defining a vertically adjustable shaft provided for projecting the location, orientation and axis of implant anchor.

Abstract: Provided is a non-incisional dental implant surgical method, and more particularly, a non-incisional dental implant surgical method using a guide pin, whereby a dental implant surgery may be conducted accurately by easily determining an outer shape of an alveolar bone of a patient, into which an implant fixture is to be placed, when forming an implant hole in the alveolar bone and placing the implant fixture in the implant hole to place an implant in the alveolar bone of the patient.

Abstract: A low-profile retentive abutment is used for securing dentures to a user's jaw. The low-profile abutment has an abutment fastener is used to mount an overdenture onto the user's jaw and has a body, a dimpled recession, and a retentive clasp. The dimple recession traverses into the body and forms a mounting point to attach the clasp to the body. The clasp is a connector that enables the overdenture to be detachably mounted onto the body. The clasp has a stop plate, a C-shaped frame, and a dimple protrusion. The stop plate ensures that the clasp is maintained in a desired orientation while attached to the body. The frame is connected in between the stop plate and the dimple protrusion so that the dimple protrusion engages into the dimple recession. Accordingly, the frame facilitates maintaining the clasp in an orientation that facilitates securely attaching the overdenture to the user's jaw.

Abstract: Various systems, method, and compositions for treating a tooth are disclosed herein. For example, an apparatus for treating a tooth is disclosed. The apparatus can include a chamber having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with a treatment region of the tooth when the chamber is coupled to tooth. A fluid motion generator can be coupled to the chamber. The fluid motion generator can be configured to direct fluid across the access port to generate fluid motion in the chamber. In various embodiments, fluid motion (e.g., vortices, swirl, etc.) can be induced at or near treatment regions of the tooth, such as a root canal or carious region.

Abstract: A device for removing material from the oral cavity of a patient during a procedure while propping the patient's jaws includes a bite block shaped to be held between upper and lower jaws of the patient at one side of the oral activity in a manner that provides access to teeth and/or gums at the opposite side of the oral cavity, without being substantially impeded by the device. An oral evacuation tube, through which material passes when it is sucked out of the oral cavity, is sufficiently elongate so that a part thereof may be located outside the oral cavity so that it can be operably connected to a suction device when the bite block is in use. A cheek protector is shaped to protect an inner cheek area at the same side of the oral cavity as the bite block. The bite block, evacuation tube and cheek protector are integral, non-releasable parts of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for purging a dental air/water syringe comprises at least one of a button hold-down device for holding down at least one button of the syringe for discharging fluid therefrom and a collection container for collecting the discharged fluid. The button hold-down device includes axially spaced contact surfaces for contacting a syringe body and the button so that the device is supported mounted on the syringe body in a working position. The collection container features an interior perforated false bottom wall under which is formed a collection space where the discharged fluid collects, and a drain is communicated with the collection space for removing the collected fluid therefrom. The drain can be connected to a saliva ejector for removal of the fluid by suction.

Abstract: Methods and devices utilizing a dental appliance for dental retainer wire attachment are disclosed. One such wire attachment appliance includes a shell having one or more cavities formed therein and shaped to receive one or more teeth, at least two wire attachment members provided on the shell, and at least one attachment material reservoir provided on the shell, wherein the attachment material is provided to attach a wire to a tooth adjacent to a particular reservoir of the at least one attachment material reservoir.

Abstract: A damping dental post key configured to implant a dental root post for restoration of a tooth is described. The dental post key includes a body for handling and a post carrier having a key shape with respect to a head portion of the dental root post. During implantation of the dental post, rotation of the body compresses a set of springs in contact with the post carrier reducing a reaction force to a tooth root. In this way a limited force will be applied and a root fracture can be prevented. Further, the dental post key can be configured to have a fixed movement in a counterclockwise direction to remove the dental post and a free quarter-cycle movement with effort in a clockwise direction.

Abstract: A method and device for selectively entraining hair strands from the scalp having at least one hooking applicator, the at least one hooking applicator employing a hook that rotates to entrain the hair strands, a hair color container having hair color therein and a way to apply the hair color to the entrained hair stands includes a hooking applicator, hair color container, and trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism operates to entrain hair using the hooking application and apply hair color to the hair from the hair color container.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket apparatus and method for treating a malocclusion includes a bracket base having an angulated posterior facing surface and which is matingly and releasably positioned adjacent to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth; a multiplicity of bracket bodies releasably and adjustably engageable with the bracket base; and an arch wire simultaneously engageable within an arch wire slot defined in each of the bracket bodies to exert first, second and third order movements to the maloccluded tooth; and wherein the bracket base remains affixed to the patient's tooth throughout the multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the treating clinician.

Abstract: Tooth-positioning appliances and apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for producing and using tooth-positioning appliances are provided. An example tooth-positioning appliance for adjusting the position of teeth of a patient includes a tooth-clasping arrangement shaped to secure the orthodontic appliance to at least one tooth and a flexible arrangement connected to the tooth-clasping arrangement. The flexible arrangement is less rigid than the tooth-clasping arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention enables modification of an intraosseous implant device that is not only biologically non-inert, but can stimulate bone and vascular growth; decrease localized inflammation; and fight local infections. The method of the present invention provides a fiber with any of the following modifications: (1) Nanofiber with PDGF, (2) Nanofiber with PDGF+BMP2, and (3) Nanofiber with BMP2 and Ag. Nanofiber can be modified with other growth factors that have been shown to improve bone growth and maturation—BMP and PDGF being the most common. Nanofiber can be applied on the surface of the implant in several ways. First, a spiral micro-notching can be applied on the implant in the same direction as the threads with the nanofibers embedded into the notches. Second, the entire surface of the implant may be coated with a mesh of nanofibers. Third, it can be a combination of both embedding and notching.