Abstract: In one aspect, an orthodontic appliance can include a shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a patient's teeth. The shell can include an exterior layer and an interior layer having a stiffness less than a stiffness of the exterior layer. A discontinuity can be formed in the exterior layer.

Abstract: A dental implant that facilitates insertion includes a body having a coronal end and an apical end opposite the coronal end. An implant-prosthetic interface region is provided adjacent the coronal end. A tapered region is adjacent the apical end. A variable profile helical thread extends along the tapered region. The thread becomes broader in the apical-coronal direction and higher in the coronal-apical direction. The threads include an apical side, a coronal side and a lateral edge connecting them. The variable profile thread includes an expanding length of the lateral edge while the distance of the lateral edge from the base is reduced in the direction of the coronal end. The implant also has a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end with a spiral tap, and a coronal end with and inverse tapering.

Abstract: An electrical discharge irrigation device and method is described. An electrical discharge irrigation device includes a power source, a circuit coupled to the power source, and an output tip coupled to the circuit. The output tip includes a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between them, an electrode located in an interior space of the output tip configured to receive an electrical charge from the circuit and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return including an inner surface of the output tip, wherein a space between the electrode and the ground return comprises a conductive medium, the conductive medium being in contact with the electrode and the ground return to produce the electric discharge.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a chamber structure configured to contain endodontic material. An electrically conductive heating layer is provided adjacent to the chamber structure. A first electrode is positioned at one side of the cartridge, with the first electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer, and a second electrode is positioned at a second side of the cartridge, with the second electrode being in electrical contact with the heating layer. An outer sleeve encases the chamber structure, the heating layer, and the electrodes, with an air gap being formed between the outer sleeve and the heating layer.

Abstract: An endodontic file, for manual or motor driven use by an endodontist, includes a color-coded handle, a shank, and a serrated cutting edge. The cutting edge of the endodontic file is side-cutting with pyramidal teeth and ends in a pointed tip. The endodontic file is used manually inside the root canal in an “up and down” axially aligned motion and these pyramidal teeth will provide a ripping action. A second type of endodontic file has a curved cross section and a sharpened tip. with pyramidal teeth lining the edges of curved blade section. A third type of endodontic file has a flat debriding side which tapers to a point; with a series of adjacent 3-D pyramids emerging from this surface for removing loose material or in urging already loosened material from a root canal.

Abstract: A dental operation-guiding structure includes a bite plate, a marking plate, and at least one connection frame connecting the bite plate and the marking plate. The bite plate is occluded by lower and upper teeth of a human body. The marking plate includes a plate body and at least one window penetrating the plate body. The plate body is adjacent to a tissue surface, and the windows defines a position to be operated. By occluding the dental operation-guiding structure, practical positions, patterns and ranges for the operation can be easily defined. The method for producing the dental operation-guiding structure overlaps a 3D bone image of a target object onto a 3D teeth-mold image thereof to obtain a reconstructed 3D image including clear contours of bones and soft tissues, bases on the reconstructed 3D image to design the dental operation-guiding structure, and finally produces the dental operation-guiding structure by 3D printing.

Abstract: A method for treating malocclusions of a patient's teeth includes receiving an initial position of a patient's teeth and a target position of the patient's teeth. The method also includes determining a treatment plan to reposition the patient's teeth towards the target position. The method also includes receiving treatment strategies for the patient's teeth based at least in part of the treatment plan and matching the initial position of the patient's teeth, the target position of a patient's teeth, and the treatment strategies for the patient's teeth with initial positions, target positions, and treatment strategies of a plurality of existing cases. The method also includes sending the matched cases to a dental practitioner including matched educational assets.

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 plane 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: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket having no movable or flexible parts includes a base having front and rear surfaces. The rear surface is adapted for attachment to the crown of a tooth. A body member is attached to the base and includes an upper half and a lower half, with facing archwire slot surfaces formed on the lower and upper sides thereof, respectively. One or more slot separating tabs are formed on the body member halves and extend vertically toward the other body member half at least partially beyond the archwire slot surface of the body member half to which the slot separating tab is attached. One or more ligating tabs are formed on the body member halves. The body member halves, slot separating tabs and ligating tabs are arranged such that they define an entry opening to a pair of archwire slots, the openings being non-linear in a mesial-distal direction.

Abstract: A surgical guide system for dental implantology has a plate (10) provided with a guide sleeve (2) delimiting a through hole with an axis oriented to a predetermined direction. A drill (4) for osteotomy has a spindle connected to a handpiece with drilling portion (41), the drill (4) being for association with the guide sleeve (2) during osteotomy. The diameter (d41) of the drilling head portion (41) is larger than the inner diameter (d2) of the guide sleeve (2) and the spindle is of smaller diameter, such that the association of the drill (4) to any of the guide sleeves (2) can be performed only by inserting the spindle through a gingival side of the sleeves. Upon association of the drill with the sleeve, the drilling head (41) protrudes from the gingival side (2G) thereof. The surgical guide has a void (100) accommodating the drilling head (41) of the drill.

Abstract: A dental implantation system is provided, comprising an implantation device adapted to prepare a site within a mouth of a patient for receiving a dental implant. A guidance device is operably engaged with the implantation device and is adapted to operably engage the mouth of the patient. The engagement between the guidance device and the mouth of the patient provides a fiducial marker for guiding the implantation device to prepare the site for receiving the dental implant. An associated method of implanting a dental implant, and associated devices, are also provided.

Abstract: A tooth whitening method uses an application device having a reservoir containing an oxidizing composition comprising a fluid carrier and an oxidizing agent, an applicator member in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a dispensing mechanism for moving contents of the reservoir into the applicator member. The oxidizing composition is dispensed into the applicator member by actuating the dispensing mechanism and is applied to one or more teeth in an oral cavity. Then, a sealant composition is applied to the teeth having the oxidizing agent thereon to form a coating that resists moisture contamination of the previously applied oxidizing agent. One embodiment uses an oxidizing composition with a viscosity less than 150 cps that is absorbed in a porous material in the device reservoir, from which it is introduced by capillary action into a porous applicator member.

Abstract: A system for providing endodontic material includes an application device and a docking station for the application device. The application device includes a cartridge having a chamber structure containing endodontic material, with the chamber structure capable of being heated by magnetic induction. The application device also includes a handle assembly configured to hold the cartridge. The docking station includes a slot configured to contain the application device with a part of the application device positioned in the slot. The docking station is provided with an induction heating coil positioned adjacent to the slot, with the induction heating slot being configured to heat the cartridge of the application device.

Abstract: A method of taking a dental impression of dentition including conditioning a surface comprising one or more of dentition and a dental appliance by the application thereto of a wetting agent to form a controlled hydrophilic wet film. The wetting agent includes water, a surfactant, and an additive. The controlled hydrophilic wet film is hydrophilic and is formed by brushing the wetting agent onto the dentition. The brushing controls the thickness and hydrophilicity of the controlled hydrophilic film to a thickness and hydrophilicity that is capable of inducing flow of an impression material that comes into contact with the controlled hydrophilic film. The flow is sufficient to flow into sub-gingival places. The film is contacted with a dental impression material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic dental impression materials.

Abstract: In a dental treatment apparatus, a control circuit controls a drive motor in accordance with a drive sequence. The drive sequence includes a plurality of drive patterns and at least one of the plurality of drive patterns is different from other drive pattern. The plurality of drive patterns include at least one drive pattern having such drive that a cutting tool is rotated in a cutting direction for cutting a treatment portion and drive for rotating the cutting tool in a non-cutting direction which is reverse to the cutting direction.

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 plane 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: The present invention relates to orthodontic positioning appliances and related methods. An appliance in accordance with the present invention has teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. At least one of the cavities of the appliance includes a portion shaped to compensate for non-elastic deformation due to use of the appliance.

Abstract: A process for taking a dental impression and/or conducting a dental retraction. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a composition (A) having the consistency (a1), composition (A) including curable components, and a catalyst suitable to initiate or catalyze the curing of the curable components, composition (A) being contained in a device, (b) applying a portion (I) of composition (A) with a consistency (a2) into the sulcus of a tooth, (c) applying a portion (II) of composition (A) with a consistency (a1) in contact with composition (A) applied in step (b), (d) removing portion (I) together with portion (II) of composition (A) from the surface of the tooth, consistency (a2) being higher than consistency (a1).

Abstract: A dental protocol for creating an osteotomy for an implant is disclosed. A first drill is selected having a tip to create a pilot hole in the bone surface of a patient. The first drill includes a first boring section to create a bore hole for a second drill and a second boring section to create a coronal area on the hole near the bone surface. A first drill hole is created on the bone surface having a depth compatible with the length of the implant with the first drill and a coronal area. A second drill for creating a second hole having a width compatible with the body of the implant is selected. A second drill hole is created on the bone surface with the second drill.

Abstract: A set of three-dimensional markers enables accurate transfer of scanned dental information from an intra-oral scanner to a virtual articulator, for axis transposition in axiography and for accurate determination of individual values, such as Bennett and condylar guidance angles. The set of three-dimensional markers includes a first marker, which is aligned with a buccal face of an upper incisor, and a second marker, which is positioned outside buccal surfaces of the teeth. The first marker consists of three elements which fit together in a number of different combinations to form a single piece. For edentulous patients, a third marker and a spacer element are provided.