Patents Examined by Matthew Saunders
  • Patent number: 8382476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a hardenable powder to be used in a process for retraction of dental tissue. The invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising the dental composition comprising a hardenable powder, a hardening agent, optionally a handpiece of a powder jet device, optionally a powder jet device, and optionally retraction caps. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for retracting dental tissue comprising the steps of applying a dental composition comprising a hardenable powder with a powder jet device into the sulcus between soft and hard dental tissue, applying a composition comprising a hardening agent either before or after the previous step, leaving the dental composition in the sulcus for a time sufficient to effect retraction of the soft dental tissue and removing the dental composition from the sulcus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Christoph Schulte, Andreas R. Maurer, Thomas Klettke, Ruediger Hampe, Ingo R. Haeberlein
  • Patent number: 8366444
    Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial tooth with multiple internal crowns, which includes a plurality of the internal crown members, a plurality of the connection bars, and at least one external crown member. The internal crown members are respectively fit to a plurality of the abutments. Each of the connection bars connects to at least two of the internal crown members. The external crown member forms therein a plurality of recesses. The recesses are formed to correspond to the internal crown members. The external crown member, when fit to the internal crown members, forms a tight engagement with the internal crown members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Tai-Wu Lin
  • Patent number: 8366443
    Abstract: A dental implant installation procedure is provided in which a distal end of a dental implant is projected into a paranasal sinus cavity or a nasal cavity to thereby displace the respective sinus membrane or nasal cavity membrane from the respective cavity floor, while minimizing risk of damaging the respective membrane. Bone graft material is introduced into the space thereby created between the respective membrane and the respective cavity floor via a distal portion of the dental implant to thereby form a desired sinus augmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sialo-Lite Ltd.
    Inventors: Oded Nahlieli, Itzhak Henig
  • Patent number: 8342841
    Abstract: A storage device is provided for holding bone implant surgery articles. The storage device includes a body defining a plurality of openings capable of holding at least one rotatable drill bit that may be mounted on a drill and used to form a bore in bone and at least one implant container that holds an implant capable of being placed in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer Dental, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson Vogel, Charles Howlett, Mojtaba Esfahni
  • Patent number: 8333591
    Abstract: A bionic dental implant includes a main root (1), a basal platform (2) and a platform bolt (3). The main root (1) includes a fixing root part (11), a neck part (12) located on the upper end of the fixing root part (11), and a mounting channel (13) located inside the main root (1). An aperture (21) is provided inside the basal platform (2). The platform bolt (3) communicates with the aperture (21) to make the basal platform (2) to be fixed on the main root (1). The main root (1) also includes at least one subsidiary root (4). The main root (1) has the same number of inclined holes (14) as the subsidiary root. The inclined holes (14) form a sharp angle with respect to the mounting channel (13) and communicates with it. The upper ends of the subsidiary roots (4) are fixed inside the inclined holes (14) of the main root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Daguo Zhao
  • Patent number: 8292621
    Abstract: A dental healing abutment assembly having a tubular holder and a plurality of removable nestable shells. Each nestable shell has a proximal end and a distal end open to permit the nesting of the shell with the holder or other nestable shells. The proximal end of each nestable shell is defined by a base plate. The tubular holder and the nestable shells each have a pass through hole for accommodating a mounting member. The healing abutment assembly is attached to a dental implant impacted in a patient's jawbone by way of the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: ProCerex Dental Lab LLC
    Inventor: Robert S. Laizure, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8277217
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dental instrument for cutting soft tissue. The dental instrument for cutting soft tissue according to the present invention includes: a main body having an inlet portion for inserting soft tissue to be cut into the main body; a cutter blade arranged in the main body such that at least a part of the cutter blade is exposed outwardly through the inlet portion; and a lid for covering the upper portion of the main body. The cutter blade includes a first cutter blade having a first cut depth, and a second cutter blade arranged in the vicinity of the first cutter blade, and which has a second cut depth shallower than the first cut depth. The dental instrument of the present invention makes it possible to cut the soft tissue in the deep part of a mouth in an easy and simple process, thereby improving the convenience of soft tissue implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Megagen Implant Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Bum Park, Kyoung Ho Ryoo
  • Patent number: 8272870
    Abstract: An anchorage unit fits to a dental implant. A dental attachment for mounting to the anchorage unit has a first attachment part and a second attachment part. The attachment parts define an aperture for accommodating a portion of the anchorage unit with a boundary wall of the aperture on each of the attachment parts serving, in use, as a jaw for clamping against the portion of the anchorage unit. The aperture is of greater size than the portion of the anchorage unit to allow adjustment of the position of the attachment with respect to the anchorage unit. In another embodiment, a two-part anchoring assembly defines a pair of jaws for, in use, receiving and clamping against a portion of a dental attachment. The apparatus is particularly relevant when an attachment must be placed on more than one implant simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Materialise Dental N.V.
    Inventors: Carl Van Lierde, Alessio Esposti
  • Patent number: 8272869
    Abstract: A dental matrix includes a band with an edge for placement toward the gingival margin of a tooth to be restored, and a strip of material such as dental floss, attached to and extending along an edge of the band. In the preferred embodiment, buccal and lingual extensions are located beyond a central portion of the band along the edge. The extensions are folded over the strip of material so as to secure the strip of dental floss to the edge. The strip of material facilitates the insertion of the band in the interproximal space between two teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Jeffrey Galler
  • Patent number: 8246350
    Abstract: A safety attachment for application to orthodontic wire in the mouth of a patient comprises a safe-end portion to be crimped onto the orthodontic wire, which once in place on the wire has no sharp edges. The safety attachment comprises upper and lower portions secured to each other by a hinge. One or both of the inner surfaces of the attachment may be textured to improve grip on the wire. The safety attachment may include means for retention by application pliers. Pliers designed for application of a safety attachment have upper and lower beaks, wherein the upper beak includes means to crimp the safe-end portion onto an orthodontic wire and the lower beak includes means to retain the safety attachment prior to applying the safe-end portion to the wire and after application release the safe-end portion leaving it in place on the wire in the patient's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Helen Taylor
  • Patent number: 8226407
    Abstract: A mandibular manipulator instrument used as a standalone tool or with associated mouthpiece that includes two interlocking laterally sliding frames which interlock to create a movable upper and a lower incisor pull driven by a pair of pinion shafts and shaped for receiving a patient's central incisor teeth. A screw thread is used to provide a precise lateral motion for the sagittal measurement. The mouthpiece is constructed of resilient rubber. The mandibular manipulator may be positioned and held in a resilient flexible mouthpiece by the two pinions protruding through acoustically tight apertures respective to each pinion's position. The manipulator can be used for other application in an embodiment without the mouthpiece and/or in combination with a bite registration shape that is part of the manipulator frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kosmo Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William H. Hanewinkel, Michael B. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 8210845
    Abstract: A two piece orthodontic pliers having a pair of arms separably hinged together, in which a first hinge portion on a first arm includes a shaft having a central, axially projecting protrusion, and a second hinge portion on a second arm includes a bore having a central recess for receiving the shaft and the central protrusion of the first hinge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Luis Ingels
  • Patent number: 8167599
    Abstract: A polyhedral tool for producing an orthodontic appliance has a main body with one upper and one lower surface that are parallel to each other and at least one other pair of nonparallel, opposite lateral surfaces. One of the two nonparallel surfaces of the body extends at an angle of 5°-45° and the other at angle of 45°-85° to the upper and lower surfaces of the body. Each of the nonparallel lateral surfaces is formed with a dovetail groove. Respective thin plates each have a dovetail tongue fittable into a respective one of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Real KFO Fachlaboratorium Fuer Kieferorthopaedie GmbH
    Inventor: Roger Harman
  • Patent number: 8105086
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a dental and medical biomaterial and its use for sealing and/or filling the tooth and bone cavities. In the embodiments herein, the calcium salt, calcium oxide, calcium silicate, and calcium phosphate compounds are mixed with a water-base solution, and a bioactive phosphate and calcium enriched mixture is prepared. The mixture comprises high concentration of water-soluble calcium and phosphate, and consequently forms hydroxyapatite during and after setting. The dental/medical biomaterial is biocompatible, antibacterial and capable of forming an effective seal against reentrance of microorganisms into the filled cavity. The biomaterial is compatible to handle and set in an aqueous environment and to stimulate soft/hard tissue healing/generation/regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Saeed Asgary
  • Patent number: 8062035
    Abstract: A canal anchoring post formed by a single composite material comprising at least an organic matrix, particles and fibers. The particles and fibers are distributed in the organic matrix with respective volume proportions varying progressively and radially from the central longitudinal axis to the periphery of said post. In addition, the respective variations of the volume proportions of particles and fibers are opposite and the sum of the volume proportions of particles and fibers is radially constant from the central longitudinal axis to the periphery of said post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: Yannick Le Guay, Bruno Clunet-Coste