Abstract: The present invention refers to a dental implant or abutment including a ceramic body having a surface, the ceramic body including zirconia as the main component. At least a first surface area of the ceramic body is covered with an at least essentially monomolecular phosphate layer having a thickness of less than 1.0 nm. The phosphate layer contains phosphates selected from the group consisting of ortho-phosphate, poly-phosphates, cyclo-phosphates, and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, a kit including a gas- and liquid-tight container, with the dental implant or abutment being stored inside the container, and a method for the preparation of the dental implant or abutment are disclosed.

Abstract: A tooth bleaching device provided with: a production device that produces an active component for bleaching a tooth; a mouthpiece in which a supply opening, through which the active component produced by the production device is supplied inside the oral cavity, is formed; and a connecting part that connects the production device and the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a dental magnetic attachment comprising a cup-shaped yoke of substantially Ni-free ferritic stainless steel, a permanent magnet received in a recess of the cup-shaped yoke, a seal member sealing an opening of the cup-shaped yoke, and an abutment-welded portion of the seal member and the cup-shaped yoke; the seal member comprising a center portion of substantially Ni-free ferritic stainless steel; an intermediate portion of substantially Ni-free austenitic stainless steel having a nitrogen content of 0.5-2.0% by mass, and a peripheral portion made of substantially Ni-free ferritic stainless steel having a nitrogen content of 1.3% or less by mass, smaller than in the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A heater assembly made of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material such as barium titanate ceramic that may be self-regulating. A dental compule that holds a dental (e.g. composite) material may be made from thermally conductive plastic and/or electrically conductive plastic that is self-heating when an electric current is passed through the compule. A compule may be generally cylindrical and include an electrically conductive polymer that may exhibit PTC characteristics while generating heat when electric current is applied to the polymer, two flat contact areas each disposed along one portion of the generally cylindrical compule, an orifice or opening positioned at one end of the compule, an inner chamber; and extrudable dental material held within the inner chamber.

Abstract: Rapid palatal expander provided with a first and a second main body actuatable to be moved along a longitudinal slide direction by an actuator element, and connected to at least one first and one second thread-like support arm intended to interact with opposite portions of a dental arch. The support arms comprise a transversely projecting portion, which is engaged in a shape relationship within an enlarged portion of a shaped seat obtained in the two main bodies. The shaped seat is extended on the external surface with an insertion opening of size at least equal to the transversely projecting portion.

Abstract: An orthodontic self-ligating bracket for orthodontic treatment of maloccluded teeth. The bracket includes a bracket body, a bracket door, and a spring mechanism retained by the bracket door. The bracket body has a base on the bottom side of the bracket body that is contoured to attach to a surface of a tooth, a bracket slot on the top side of the bracket body extending in a mesiodistal direction and configured to releasably retain an archwire, and a bracket groove on the top side of the bracket body extending in an occlusogingival direction towards the bracket slot. The spring mechanism includes one or more springs that are configured to contact the bracket door and the bracket body. The bracket door can thus be retained by and slidably engage the bracket body between an open position and a closed position. One or more additional active spring members may also be provided.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire having a ligature to a tooth includes a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, the bracket body including an archwire slot opened to one side of the bracket body and adapted to receive the archwire therein. At least two tie wings extend from the bracket body, the at least two tie wings each having a tip region and an under tie wing region, and the under tie wing region is configured to receive the ligature. The under tie wing regions each include a curvature in a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the archwire slot and extending in the same direction that the archwire slot opens at a location adjacent an outer end of the under tie wing region.

Abstract: Provided is an orthodontic self-ligating bracket in which the second wing formed on the bracket body is formed to be lower than the height of the first wing, and when pushing the wire to the slot to mount the wire to the slot by installing the wire coupling device on the top surface of the second wing, while the plate tip is pushed rearward by the force for pushing the wire, the slop inlet is open, and when the wire is mounted on the slot and the pushing force disappears, the plate tip closes the slot inlet, thereby remarkably shortening the wire mounting time and allowing very convenient wire mounting.

Abstract: An adapter for coupling a compule with a dental handpiece including a piston. The compule contains a dental material. The adapter includes a coupling portion that defines openings for attaching the adapter to the compule and for attaching the adapter to the dental handpiece. A plunger portion extends through one opening and engages the piston. A breakable tab connects the coupling portion and the plunger portion and breaks during dispensing of the material. The plunger portion is then movable relative to the coupling portion. A tip for use with the dental handpiece includes a housing that defines a chamber. A needle extends from the housing and defines a lumen having an opening from which the dental material is dispensed. A plunger slides within the chamber to push the dental material through the lumen and includes a rib that seals the plunger against the chamber during sliding movement of the plunger.

Abstract: Orthodontic force modules and assemblies for use in correcting class II and/or class III malocclusions include an elongate hollow outer body extending between proximal and distal ends, a plunger, spring, and push rod. The plunger and push rod are slidably received within different ends of the hollow outer body. The spring is positioned within the hollow outer body and provides an expansion force which provides a desired corrective force. The outer body, plunger, spring, and push rod can be configured in a telescoping relationship in order for the components to be telescopically compressed and expanded during use. The distal end can include a bendable pin or latch mechanism for attachment to a buccal tube. The push rod can include a hook, hole, or slot for attachment to an archwire. Various connectors for coupling an orthodontic force module to a buccal tube portion of a molar bracket are also disclosed.

Abstract: A teeth surface stain removing apparatus removes stains on a teeth surface, and includes a sheet member capable of being attached to the teeth surface via an adsorptive member for adsorbing the stains, a teeth surface electrode disposed at a part of the sheet member, the part being attached to the teeth surface, and a charge supplier supplying negative charges to the teeth surface electrode in a state where the sheet member is attached to the teeth surface.

Abstract: A tooth whitening apparatus is an apparatus that whitens a tooth surface with light. The tooth whitening apparatus includes a sheet member attachable to the tooth surface, a color tone sensor disposed on the sheet member and detecting a color tone of a portion of the tooth surface adjacent to the color tone sensor, and a light-emitting device disposed at a position on the sheet member corresponding to a position at which the color tone sensor is disposed, the light-emitting device irradiating the portion of the tooth surface adjacent to the color tone sensor with the light in accordance with a detection result of the color tone sensor.