Abstract: This invention relates to a negative pressure irrigation system including one or more negative pressure irrigation needles sized for insertion into a canal of a tooth, each needle having a closed distal end and two suction inlet ports located opposite one another immediately proximal to the closed distal end. The needles are placed in communication with a dental vacuum system by way of a suction manifold. An irrigant inlet tube supplies irrigant from a irrigant container into a pulp chamber or a tooth. The irrigant inlet tube may include a tapered end designed to tightly fit into a lateral irrigant supply port previously drilled into the pulp chamber. A light-cure polymer seals the inlet tube and needles when in use.

Abstract: A hair styling device is described, for waving hair by forming a length of hair into a wave form. A first forming member, a second forming member and a third forming member are located within a chamber of the device. There is a first hair-receiving region between the first and second forming members and a second hair-receiving region between the second and third forming members. A first driving member drives a portion of the length of hair into the first hair-receiving region and a second driving member drives another portion of the length of hair into the second hair-receiving region. The first and second driving members move independently and sequentially so as to reduce the tension applied to the length of hair.

Abstract: A reinforcement bar combination for a direct dental bridge, the reinforcement bar combination including: first and second elongate bars, each of the first and second elongate bars contacting a single occlusal preparation formed in a single abutment tooth and each of the first and second elongate bars having an end positioned on a central pad of a third elongate bar to form a reinforcement scaffold. The first elongate bar is a first elongate torque bar that is optionally bent. The second elongate bar is a second elongate torque bar that is optionally bent.

Abstract: A combination includes a dental handpiece and a prophy angle. The dental handpiece includes a nosecone threadably connected to the dental handpiece. The prophy angle includes a proximal body that matingly attaches to the nosecone. A plurality of elongated torque members are formed on each of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone. Each of the torque members is a male torque member or a female torque member and each male torque member formed on one of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone matingly couples with a female torque member formed on the other of the nosecone and the prophy angle proximal body. The prophy angle, including the plurality of elongated torque members formed on the prophy angle, is formed to also be attachable to a known standard doriot-style nosecone. Other specific features of the handpiece and prophy angle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of using hardenable dental articles. The method can include placing a film (30) onto a dental structure (40) to cover at least a portion of the dental structure (40); providing a hardenable dental article (10); and applying the hardenable dental article (10) to the dental structure (40) covered by the film (30).

Abstract: A dual aligner assembly including a plurality of aligners, including a first aligner and a second aligner. The first aligner has a first shape corresponding to a set of target tooth positions and applies an orthodontic force against a set of target teeth. The first orthodontic force generates movement of the set of target teeth to the set of target tooth positions. The second aligner has a second shape corresponding to a combination of current tooth positions of the set of target teeth, the set of target tooth positions, and a thickness of the first aligner. The second aligner partially encloses the first aligner and provides an anchor for at least a portion of the first aligner. Via the anchor, a combination of the first aligner and the second aligner provides an orthodontic force that prevents the set of target teeth from moving to unwanted tooth positions during orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: A dental implant with a post element is inserted into a jawbone with a mounting element attached to the post element, with the post element designed as a ceramic body of yttrium- and/or aluminum oxide stabilized zirconium oxide. The dental implant has improved ingrowth during osseous implant healing. The surface of the dental implant is provided with at least one partial area that has nanoscopic pores or an otherwise executed nanoscopic structure that has a depletion zone with a reduced yttrium- and/or aluminum oxide element.

Abstract: Methods for accelerating orthodontic movement that include administering, within first and second consecutive time periods, light via an intraoral light therapy apparatus having a mouthpiece, are provided herein. During administering, the mouthpiece is disposed within a mouth of a patient, with a light emitter embedded in a flange of the mouthpiece being disposed between alveolar mucosa and buccal mucosa of the patient. A first removable aligner is disposed on a first set of teeth of the patient prior to, during, or subsequent to a first administering. A second removable aligner, different from the first removable aligner, is disposed on a second set of teeth of the patient prior to, during, or subsequent to a second administering. The light directly illuminates a first portion of the alveolar mucosa during the administering.

Abstract: A self-heating electric plugger/syringe needle (10/70) with the conductive element (50) on the external surface of the needle (10/70) is described. The needle (10/70), which can be divided into shank (30) and tip (20) portions, is hollow and is made of an electrically resistive material. A conductive element (50) located on the external surface of the needle runs along the length of its shank (30) and the length of its tip (20). An insulating material (60) located between the conductive element (50) and the external surface of the needle runs along the length of the shank (30). The conductive element (50) contacts the tip (20) of the needle, causing the needle to self-heat when electric current is supplied. A method for filling a root canal using the self-heating electric plugger/syringe needle (10/70) is also described.

Abstract: An adapter for a tailpiece for a dental valve is disclosed which has a body having an exterior surface, a valve receiving end, a tailpiece receiving end, a lumen formed between the valve receiving end and the tailpiece receiving end, the lumen having an interior surface, an interior annular groove formed in the interior surface, and an exterior annular rib formed in the exterior surface, with the exterior annular rib being positioned near the tailpiece receiving end and the interior annular channel being positioned near the valve receiving end.

Abstract: A dental instrument comprising a shaft and a working part adjoined thereto, with the working part having a coating in which abrasive bodies are embedded, is proposed, Firstly, the average proportion of the surface of the abrasive bodies which is covered by the coating can be at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, most preferably at least 70%. Secondly, the coating can, moreover, also consist of a nickel ahoy which additionally contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron and cobalt. In addition, a process for coating a working part, in particular for producing a dental instrument of this type, and also the use of such a dental instrument for cutting machining of solid bodies are proposed.

Abstract: A set is disclosed that includes a connection device for connecting a prosthesis structure with an implant structure or a capped tooth, the connection device having a retention insert and a holding shell. The set also including a mounting tool for mounting and demounting the retention insert of the connection device to and from the holding shell of the connection device such that a retention rim of the retention insert is moved in towards its central axis when a demounting head of the mounting tool is arranged within a space between an outer surface of the retention rim of the retention insert and an inner surface of a holding rim of the holding shell allowing the retention insert to be released from the holding shell.

Abstract: Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages are disclosed herein. The methods include operatively engaging an orthodontic bracket with an engagement structure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, electronically determining a present orientation of an archwire slot of the orthodontic bracket, displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot, and adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot based on the displayed orientation. The orthodontic brackets include a base, a body, a retention structure, an orientation-determining structure, and a transmitter. The tools include an engagement structure, an orientation-determining structure, and an orientation indicator.

Abstract: A dental article includes a shell defining a volume, the shell including a circumferential base and an incisal/occlusal region distal from the circumferential base. A hardenable dental composition is located within the volume of the shell, and an isolation film is located at the circumferential base of the shell.

Abstract: A dental curing light includes a device body that efficiently conducts heat away from the light emitting diode portion of the curing light. The device body includes a proximal gripping end and a distal head end. The device body is formed from a thermally conductive body material. Excellent heat conduction away from the LED dies is achieved using a thermally conductive layer disposed over the device body. The thermally conductive layer serves as a conduit to quickly conduct heat away from the LED dies for dissipation within the material of the device body In this manner, the material of the device body serves as a highly efficient heat dissipater. The surface area coupling the thermally conductive layer to the device body is sufficiently large that a majority (e g, substantially all) of heat being conducted by the thermally conductive layer is transferred to the device body during operation of the device.

Abstract: A capsule for mixing and dispensing a dental material which has a capsule body and a cavity extending into the capsule body. The cavity is closed by a liquid container. The liquid container has a cartridge forming a channel that extends between a front opening and a rear opening of the cartridge. Further the cartridge has a front foil closing the front opening and a rear foil closing the rear opening. The front foil is attached at the cartridge along a closed path circumferentially around the front opening. The front foil and the cartridge in at least a partial area of the circumferential path are separably sealed with each other, thus defining an openable valve through that path. The capsule has further a piston received in the channel of the cartridge and arranged such that the liquid is enclosed in the cartridge between the front foil and the piston. The capsule facilitates the preparation of a two-component dental material.

Abstract: Wax-based compositions for making barrier layers used in oral treatment devices are thermally stable when formed into a flat sheet or three-dimensional article to a temperature of at least 45° C. and are plastically deformable at room temperature (25° C.). The wax-based compositions include a wax fraction homogeneously blended with a polymer fraction. The wax fraction includes at least one wax and the polymer fraction includes at least one polymer selected such that, when the at least one wax and at least one polymer are homogeneously blended together, they yield a wax-based composition having the desired properties of thermal stability and plastic deformability. Barrier layers in oral treatment devices made from such wax-based compositions are dimensionally stable to a temperature of at least 40° C. without external support and can be plastically deformed in a user's mouth to become at least partially customized to the size and shape of user's unique dentition.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for cleaning teeth and gingival pockets are disclosed herein. A fluid platform can include a pressure wave generator configured to propagate pressure waves through a treatment fluid. The pressure waves may be sufficient to remove undesirable dental deposits from a treatment tooth, neighboring gums, and/or spaces between the tooth and gums.

Abstract: A dental tray appliance system including a maxillary tray appliance and optionally a mandibular tray appliance. The maxillary tray appliance includes a first base portion, a first premolar tooth form, optionally a first contacting portion, optionally a contralateral first premolar tooth form, and optionally a central incisor tooth form. Each premolar tooth form has no lingual cusp as part of improvements in occlusal registration components. The mandibular tray appliance includes a second base portion, optionally a second contacting portion; and optionally a second bite material accepting portion.

Abstract: An implant fixture is disclosed. The implant fixture contains an elongated shaft section, and a head section comprising a concavity along the head section's perimeter, wherein the concavity provides an area for bone growth therein to compensate for jawbone deterioration adjacent to the implant fixture due to craniofacial growth.