Abstract: A method and system for providing information for correct placement of one or more brackets on one or more corresponding teeth according to a predetermined treatment scheme. A virtual representation of a three-dimensional teeth arrangement of one or both jaws of the individual with brackets placed on said teeth is obtained wherein the position and orientation of the brackets on said teeth being designed so as to achieve a desired treatment outcome. The virtual representation is processed to generate an output data, the output data driving a display, such as a computer monitor or a printed “hard-copy”, to display an image of at least one tooth with a bracket thereon, the displayed image having three-dimensional qualities indicative of said at least one tooth as viewed from a defined viewpoint. The invention can be applied to the placement of brackets onto the buccal side of the teeth as well as onto the lingual side of the teeth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental implant device. A fixture is provided with an abutment coupler at the upper portion of a commercialized fixture type. The abutment coupler has a female screw formed inside, and is formed at the lower portion with an implant screw. An abutment is formed at the lower portion with a first coupler and at the upper portion with a second coupler. The first coupler is coupled to the abutment coupler, and provided with a first sleeve resting groove on the outer circumferential surface of the second coupler. A solid screw is formed at the lower portion with a coupling screw and at the upper portion with a head. The head has a second sleeve resting groove formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof, in which sleeves formed inside an artificial tooth crown are press-fittingly coupled to the first and the second sleeve resting grooves.

Abstract: Dental devices in the form of a temporary implant for securing a rubber dam clamp, and a nerve locator for aiding a dental surgeon during oral surgery on a patient.

Abstract: The improved molar and/or pre-molar dental implant embedded in the bone of a person's (a dental patient's) jaw prevents a possibility of the implant's pivotability into the extracted tooth socket after insertion. An improved dental implant includes an upper portion, a basis and a lower portion of the implant's body. The upper portion comprises a main neck, a rim and a conic rhomboid form head, including an aperture comprising an inner thread. The lower portion includes a rod comprising the plurality of extensions, and a transverse space crossing the rod along its lateral axis.

Abstract: A suction nozzle holster whose upper rim is provided with a notch into which a suction hose can be forced in order to constrict the hose and, hence, curtail the vacuum conditions in a suction nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method define a fit a set of upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system of a patient by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system of the patient; and determining an occlusion from the computer representation of the masticatory system using one or more keys.

Abstract: A system for straightening teeth includes a casting of teeth that is made of a rigid material, and a gum casting made of a flexible material that is joined to the teeth casting. A respective articulating tool for each tooth is provided with a post that is embedded into the tooth. Tooth moving components, accessible through the gum casting, are mounted on each post to selectively provide for left-right, fore-aft, and rotational tooth movements. In its operation, the system involves selectively orienting individual teeth in the teeth casting, to prepare a series of sequentially useable appliances that will straighten teeth in accordance with a pre-planned procedure.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a dental restoration piece that has a frame with first and second portions and a blended synthetic material covering a first portion of the frame, the heat expansion coefficient of the blended synthetic material being different than the heat expansion coefficient of the frame material. Prior to a thermal treatment of the dental restoration piece, at least the second portion of the frame is covered with a heat protection paste, whereby the heat protection paste limits the increase in temperature of the frame resulting from thermal treatment of the dental restorative piece to effect curing of the blended synthetic material to a lesser temperature value than if the heat protection paste had not been applied onto the dental restorative piece. Also disclosed is a kit for practicing the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for precisely-positioned production of a cavity, especially a bone cavity, at a preparation point by means of a hand instrument, comprising the following steps: calculation of position-dependent surface characteristics from a three-dimensional data set of the surface of the preparation point at a desired position of an implant which is to be inserted in said cavity, wherein the area in which the cavity is to be created is represented in the form of a three-dimensional data set of volume data; detection of at least one partial cut-out of the preparation point comprising an actual visible surface feature by means of a camera which is arranged on the hand instrument at a pre-defined distance to a processing tool and display as a video image; insertion of a calculated surface characteristic for the desired position of the hand instrument, wherein the inserted surface characteristic can be altered, especially made congruent with respect to its position in relation to the actual vi

Abstract: An orthodontic workstation stores a library of virtual three-dimensional brackets in a memory. Each of the virtual brackets has a unique three-dimensional configuration and prescription. Typically, the library of bracket comprises a library of commercially available, off-the-shelf brackets. The workstation further includes an interactive treatment planning program that permits a user to move teeth from a virtual model of the dentition to a proposed set-up. In one possible embodiment, the treatment planning program provides the ability to display a virtual bracket placed on a virtual tooth and change the prescription or configuration of the virtual bracket. The treatment program automatically compares the modified prescription with the prescription information of the virtual brackets in the library and selects a bracket from the library that most closely matches the virtual bracket displayed on the tooth. Thus, the user does not have to use customized brackets.

Abstract: An instrument for determining the occlusal space between a person's upper and lower teeth thereby facilitating the formation of apparatus such as dentures and splints for removable positioning in the person's mouth.

Abstract: A dental splint includes upper and lower appliances having cavities shaped to receive teeth on a patient's maxillary and mandibular arches, respectively; and a connection member adapted to fixedly secure the upper and lower appliances together.

Abstract: A process for treating a surface (2) to clean or otherwise treat the surface (2) comprises a step of contacting the surface (2) with a particulate treating agent such that at least some of the particles (1) roll along at least a portion of the surface (2), wherein an angle of incidence of the particles (1) and the surface is between 0° and 60°. The particles (1) are dimensioned to effect a rolling movement along the surface (2). The treating agent is substantially non-aqueous. The particles (1) comprise a precipitate or agglomerate of an insoluble alkali metal carbonate. The process comprises a blasting operation or a manual application. The use of the process of the invention in dental applications such as teeth whitening and plaque removal, treating bone, and skin exfoliation, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The protective sleeve for a saliva ejector is formed of a soft, porous plastic material for installation upon the end of a conventional ejector tube to protect the soft tissues within the mouth of a dental patient during dental work. The device has a generally cylindrical external configuration with a frustoconical installation passage formed concentrically therein. The installation passage has a relatively wide mouth and narrower neck portion within the intermediate portion of the sleeve. The installation passage widens within the distal end portion of the device, to provide clearance for the larger diameter head of the ejector tube. This results in a necked-down portion in the intermediate portion of the device. The distal end of the device is closed, with a larger diameter bulbed external portion providing further cushioning.

Abstract: A dental bur structure including a rotatable shaft turned by a motor. The shaft possesses a proximal portion having a fluted surface. The bur also possesses a distal portion with a smooth surface tip which generates heat to melt a composite post matrix upon activation of the shaft. The fluted surface removes a composite material while the smooth tip serves as a guide for the bur.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of dental caries includes a source of oxidizing gas and a handpiece for delivering the gas to a tooth. A cup attached to the handpiece is provided for receiving the gas and exposing a selected area of the tooth to the gas. The cup includes a resilient edge for sealably the edge for engaging the tooth around the selected area to prevent escape of a gas therepast.

Abstract: An implant comprising two internal anti-rotational features. One anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage a driving tool, while the other anti-rotational feature is adapted to engage an abutment. An implant abutment system is provided with an angled abutment adapted to mate with one of the anti-rotational features. A second, straight abutment is adapted to engage with the other anti-rotational feature. An abutment is provided with resilient fingers to interface with the implant and provide tactile and audible feedback indicating when the abutment is properly seated. An abutment screw extends through the abutment and engages the implant bore distal of the stem of the abutment. The abutment screw limits axial movement of the abutment relative to the implant. A driving tool comprising one of at least retention structure and visual alignment indicia is provided to facilitate screwing the implant into a patient's bone.

Abstract: An endodontic file is provided for shaping and/or preparing a root canal. The file may include multiple cutting segments separated by non-cutting segments. The cutting segments are tapered and may have a cutting edge formed by plural helical flutes. Alternatively, the cutting segments may be formed of a substantially non-circular geometric shape with substantially straight cutting edges. The file is flexible and has increased resistance to cyclic fatigue breakage. The file further controls or limits which areas of the root canal are shaped and/or prepared during file use. The file may form part of a series of files to shape and/or prepare a root canal. Each file in the series may have cutting segments and non-cutting segments strategically placed in different regions along the working portion of the file to shape and/or prepare different portions of the root canal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus fit a set of upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system and computing an occlusion based on interactions in the computer representation of the masticatory system.

Abstract: An orthodontic expander with opposing bodies interconnected by a shaft threaded on opposing ends in opposing directions so that rotation of the shaft by engagement of a rotation body with a tool moves the bodies together or apart on guide pins extending between the bodies, and a jam nut threadably received on the shaft and selectively movable against one of the bodies to fix the bodies in a selected spaced-apart relation, with connectors extending between the bodies and the palate to apply lateral force to the palate. At least one of the guide pins includes demarcations for tracking expansion progress during treatment. A slot in a guide bore for the guide pin defines an interior stop wall that contacts a fin extending from the one guide pin to prevent separation. A method of locking expander bodies from slippage is disclosed.