Abstract: A handpiece and a method for driving the handpiece are provided in which a sucking-back problem can be prevented with a simple structure. The handpiece 10 has a gripping portion 11 to be gripped by an operator, a head 15 mounted at a distal end of the gripping portion; and a wheel 55 rotatably mounted in an interior of the head. The head has an inlet 25 from which air is supplied to the wheel and an outlet 28 from which the air is discharged, the inlet and outlet being defined in the head, at least one buffer chamber 47 defined in the head, where the air is forced in due to a centrifugal force applied thereto by rotations thereof with the wheel and then accumulated under positive pressure, passages 66, 67, 68, and 34 for guiding the accumulated air from a neighborhood of the rotating wheel to an atmosphere, and a circumferential wall 44 mounted between the outlet and the wheel for providing a resistance to the air moving from the wheel toward the outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective device for dental equipment of the type including a straight handpiece or a contra-angle. The dental equipment is formed by a body enclosing a motor unit and/or members for transmitting movement and a tool-holder head bearing a tool. The protective device is a sleeve that has the general form of a glove finger, with an opening at one end and a closed base at the other end. The invention also relates to a sealed packaging for an insert formed by a tool-holder head bearing the tool and equipped with the protective device.

Abstract: A degradation resistant gingival retraction cord including silk is formed from two or more strands that are braided, twisted or woven. The degradation resistant retraction cord comprises at least about 50% silk, 80% silk, 90% silk, 95% silk, or essentially all silk. They are able to maintain at least about 70%, 80% or 90% of this tensile strength for a time period of at least about 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days. The silk retraction cords have the look, feel and desirable utility of a thin, flexible, and resilient natural fiber cord, while also resisting degradation when pre-impregnated with a corrosive agent. Such cords combine the degradation resistance of a man-made fiber, while also having greater liquid absorbance, lightness, flexibility and resilience like a natural fiber cord.

Abstract: An activatable dental appliance. A concave trough conforms to a plurality of teeth when placed over the plurality of teeth. A first force applying region is configured to apply a first force to at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth for repositioning the tooth. A second force applying region is configured to be selectively activated, wherein when selectively activated the second force applying region applies a force to at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic chain elastic is disclosed. The orthodontic chain elastic includes end portions, two intermediate portions disposed between the end portions and a middle portion disposed between the two intermediate portions. Pluralities of apertures are formed in each of the end portions, the intermediate portions, and the middle portion. The end portions have a greater cross section than that of the intermediate portions that in turn have a greater cross section than that of the middle portion.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth includes an archwire slot having a base surface defining a base plane and a slide engagement track defining a translation plane. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane. A ligating slide is engaged with the slide engagement track of the bracket body and movable along the slide engagement track and parallel to the translation plae between an opened position, in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the archwire is retained within the archwire slot. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane so as to prevent the ligating slide from contacting the gingiva surrounding the tooth when the ligating slide is moved to the opened position.

Abstract: Method for planning and performing dental treatments including an acquisition phase of a set of data relating to the position, to the conformation and to the dimension of at least one site inside the oral cavity of a patient who has to undergo a dental treatment and relating to the conformation of at least one portion of the patient's face; a design phase of a virtual prototype of at least one dental prosthesis that can be fitted at the site during the treatment, starting from the set of data and by means of a software program implemented on a computer; a determination phase, by means of the software program and starting from the set of data and from the virtual prototype of the dental prosthesis, of at least one virtual model suitable for visually reproducing the portion of the face following the fitting of the dental prosthesis; a preparation phase of the site by means of a dental instrument, with the assistance of the software and starting from the virtual prototype of the dental prosthesis and from the vi

Abstract: A rotatable file dental treating device (1) driven by a motor (2) includes elements (3, 18) for determining a root-canal position instruction related to a tooth apex, elements (4) for stopping the motor according the file (1) position with respect to the position instruction and first members (5, 6) for measuring and calculating the canal length (L) remaining between the file and the position instruction. The device includes second members (7, 7a, 7b) for calculating a value (D) derived from the remaining canal length and third members (8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) for combining the derived value and the remaining canal length and the combination of the derived value. The canal length produced by the calculating elements (6, 7, 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) controls the motor turn-off in such a way that the rotation of the file is stopped in anticipation of the position instruction.

Abstract: A dental instrument shaft for a rotating instrument made of a ceramic material includes a cylindrical shaft end having a center axis and a flat driving area arranged in parallel to the center axis, wherein a groove having a cross-section shaped as a pitch circle is formed at a transition region of the driving area to the cylindrical shaft end.

Abstract: Method and system for providing a first appliance configured for positioning substantially around one or more teeth during a first portion of a recurring time period to apply one of a first predetermined force or a predetermined tooth movement on the one or more teeth, the first appliance formed of a first material, a second appliance configured for positioning substantially around the one or more teeth during a second portion of the recurring time period to apply one of a second predetermined force or a predetermined tooth movement on the one or more teeth, the second appliance formed of a second material, where at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the recurring time period is repeated at least once such that at least one of the first appliance or the second appliance is positioned again substantially around the one or more teeth during the respective first or second portion of the recurring time period are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments include dental appliances, dental appliance systems, and methods of making and using such appliances. In one embodiment, a dental appliance includes a number of tooth apertures for the placement of teeth therein and a tab representing a position of a tooth that has not fully erupted and oriented to be received over the position of the tooth that has not fully erupted.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for removing enamel from a person's tooth includes a blade portion and a handle portion. The blade portion includes an abrasive surface adapted to remove enamel from the tooth in response to reciprocating movement of the abrasive surface against the enamel of the tooth. The handle portion is coupled to the blade portion, has a substantially solid cross-section, and is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding opening in a driver mechanism that is adapted to drive reciprocating movement of the blade portion to provide the reciprocating movement of the abrasive surface.

Abstract: A flexible dental dam for application in a variety of dental procedures, the flexible dental dam including a flexible dome having at least two apertures for inserting dental tools, and a flexible sheet bound between two rigid rings, wherein the flexible dome is attached to the flexible sheet at one of the two rigid rings. The flexible sheet can include an aperture for positioning around a tooth. Methods for use of the flexible dental dam are describe.

Abstract: A digital data set representing a pre-scanned tooth geometry, including generic crown data, is merged with data representing a scanned patient tooth crown image, which lacks sufficient data to completely represent a complete tooth crown.

Abstract: A dental handgrip for delivering filling compound into a tooth cavity is described, the handgrip being provided with a connection device to which a container for the filling compound can be connected. In some embodiments, the handgrip includes a light emission device via which radiation having a wavelength and radiant power for hardening of filling material can be provided. The dental handgrip can include a safety device to prevent a premature or inadvertent light emission onto the filling compound. In some embodiments, the handgrip includes a fluid-operated feeding device for feeding the filling compound from the filling compound container. A vibration generator operable to cause vibrations in the filling compound and to assist in feeding of the compound can also be provided.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a circuit for improving oral cavity health, displaying innovative light performance, allowing easy operation and reduced production cost. The toothbrush includes an electronic circuit disposed within a handle of the toothbrush, a power source, a light source, and a device to release ions. Ions are automatically generated within an oral cavity when a user holds the handle and wets the toothbrush with water, thus helping to maintain oral hygiene and providing a dazzling light performance emitted from the handle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering an orthodontic retainer system wherein pairs of magnets are applied to adjacent teeth in a patient's mouth. The retainer system may include a pair of dental modules, in the form of mutually attracted members, that are temporary retained on a delivery member and positioned on a patient's teeth. In one exemplary embodiment, the dental modules have rounded and/or chamfered edges and a sloped lingual surface. In one exemplary embodiment, the delivery member is substantially L-shaped. Advantageously, the substantially L-shape of the delivery member allows an orthodontist to enter only a small portion of the patient's oral cavity to position the dental modules on a patient's teeth. Further, the substantially L-shape of the delivery member eases the orthodontist's delivery of the dental modules into a patient's mouth by substantially eliminating the need for the orthodontist to manipulate or otherwise move the patient's lips, tongue, and/or cheeks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reshapable retention device for insertion at a dental site and contact with adjacent dental surfaces, for the controlled delivery to the dental site of at least one material having a predetermined intraoral activity, with at least one matrix containing the material. The device is adapted for physically affixing at the dental site. The device has a first configuration in which the overall dimensions of the retention device are larger than at least one dimension of the dental site, which is reshapable to a second in which at least one dimension of the retention device is reduced. In the second configuration the retention device has a predetermined shape having contours for affixing at the dental surfaces. The device is affixed to the dental site in its second configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus used in forming a template for locating a dental implant osteotomy in a patient's mandible or maxilla. The apparatus includes a guide post and a sleeve having a longitudinal gap. A dental cast of a patient's mandible or maxilla is formed and a hole is drilled in the dental cast wherein the location and orientation of the hole corresponds to a desired location and orientation of the dental implant osteotomy. The guide post is inserted into the hole and the sleeve is magnetically attached. A molding material is applied to a portion of the dental cast and to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve to form the template. The template, including the sleeve embedded therein, is removed from the dental cast and is used in the patient's mouth to provide a guide means for drilling the osteotomy.

Abstract: A measured object mounting tool for producing three-dimensional shape data includes a placing part at a lower face of a cylindrical part, an inclined part at a boundary between a side face and an upper face of the cylindrical part, and a pillar part at the upper face of the cylindrical part. The pillar part has a mounting part at the upper face thereof. A three-dimensional coordinate other than the engaging portion of a model is produced by engaging the model of the dental prosthesis with the mounting part of the tool on a placing table, detecting a position where a received light amount is remarkably decreased with a laser sensor to detect a lower end of the inclined part, and thereby calculating an upper end of the engaging portion.