Patents Examined by Mirayda Aponte
  • Patent number: 10299886
    Abstract: Various aspects are directed to dental extraction and dental extraction devices. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments herein, a dental extraction apparatus includes an engagement component that extracts teeth from patients' mouths by engaging with and applying a torque to a tooth. An input torque component translates received input torque to the engagement component. A torque controller operates with the input torque component and the engagement component to limit the applied torque, relative to input torque provided via the input torque component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Tallon Dental Products LLC
    Inventor: Richard Dale Tallon
  • Patent number: 10299895
    Abstract: A dental implant for supporting periodontal tissue and the supporting bone is provided. The dental implant includes an implant member for insertion into a periodontal bone socket, and an anchoring assembly. The anchoring assembly includes a fastening element and radially equidistant cylindrical members. The fastening element engages the implant member within the hollow axial cavity. The root section includes through-holes for radially and forcibly sliding the cylindrical members through them. When the fastening element apically advances within the hollow axial cavity, the cylindrical members generate an anchoring force to anchor the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hankookin, LLC
    Inventors: James Jiwen Chun, Angela Soyoung Chun, Andrew Youngho Chun, Jennifer Miseong Chun
  • Patent number: 10278789
    Abstract: A bone foundation guide system has a bone foundation guide including a body that is contoured to reversibly affix to a bone segment of a dental implant surgical site. The body is further contoured to guide the cutting of a portion of the bone segment from a dental implant surgical site and alternatively support a dental implant surgical guide. The body is further contoured to support a bone foundation guide prosthesis as an alternative to the dental implant surgical guide. The bone foundation guide prosthesis combines with the body to accommodate the bone segment portion as placed through the body prior to the bone segment portion being removed from the dental implant site through the use of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL DENTEX, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Llop, Armand C. Jusuf, Ryan A. Spanke
  • Patent number: 10278904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to calcium carbonate particles, a powder mixture including such particles and a tooth cleaning method wherein the particles or powder mixture are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Christopher Louis Tsu
  • Patent number: 10136977
    Abstract: A device for testing a heat sensitivity in teeth, a heated cushion for a dental device for testing a heat sensitivity, and a method for testing a tooth for a heat sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas L. Jones
  • Patent number: 10085820
    Abstract: A dental dam apparatus is provided for use with an associated dental molding system including an impression tray and a pour dam. The dental dam includes a substantially planar body member, and an attachment portion on the front edge of the body member. The body member defines a generally “U” shaped front edge and a generally straight rear edge extending between ends of the “U” shaped front edge. The attachment portion is configured to selectively engage a generally “U” shaped inner surface of the impression tray and to attach the body member with the tray. In that way, dental molding material poured into the dental molding system with the pour dam surrounding the impression tray and with the body member attached with the impression tray is blocked by the body member from entering into a portion of an area defined by the “U” shaped inner surface of the impression tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: Carl E Cook
  • Patent number: 10064700
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a dental surgical guide. The method includes the steps of producing a dental cast dental cast from an edentulous patient jaw; drilling the dental cast model for inserting a radiopaque rod therein; molding a base plate thereon to produce a radiopaque marker appliance; scanning the resulting appliance in a patient's mouth using computed tomography; calculating angles from the computed tomography for adjusting protractors of a dental model laser aligner; and molding a base-plate that incorporates a telescopic drilling tube that results into the dental surgical guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Zvi Fudim
  • Patent number: 10064706
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance has a post attached to a first upper tooth, and a button with a recess attached to a second upper tooth. An elongated arm has an eye at one end through which the post is inserted to allow the elongated arm to rotate about the post, and a tip at the other end for removable insertion into the recess of the button. The length of the elongated arm is selectable to maintain a desired spacing between the first and second upper teeth (e.g., by cutting the tip of the elongated arm). An elastic extends from either the post or button to an attachment point on the patient's lower dental arch to exert a force between the patient's maxilla and mandible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Todd Evan Dickerson
  • Patent number: 10058412
    Abstract: An implant includes first thermoplastic material portions, and second thermoplastic material portions liquefiable by mechanical vibrations and being in contact with the first thermoplastic material portions, wherein the second thermoplastic material portions preferably constitute at least a part of a surface of the implant, and wherein the first thermoplastic material portions have a glass transition temperature above an implantation temperature (about 20° C. to 40° C.), and wherein the second thermoplastic material portions either have a glass transition temperature below the implantation temperature or are able to transform non-mechanical energy into heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: WOODWELDING AG
    Inventors: Jörg Mayer, Andrea Muller, Peter Brunner
  • Patent number: 10039617
    Abstract: A low cost disposable peel-and-stick vibrating orthodontic strip can be attached to existing orthodontic devices such as aligners, thus speeding dental remodeling by as much as 50%. A low cost orthodontic appliance generally in the form of a peel-and-stick vibrating strip that can be advantageously applied to existing orthodontic devices, such as aligners, positioners, fixed appliances, or even applied directly to teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. Lowe, Lawrence W. Swol
  • Patent number: 10028805
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing an orthodontic retainer with which there are no aesthetic concerns and smooth pronunciation during conversation is possible, and which is able to secure favorable fitting and can be worn for long periods. The retainer is configured so that, by being fitted so as to surround the entire dental arch (T) of the maxilla (A) or the mandible and by the inner surface being fitted, on the front and back surfaces of the entire dental arch (T), with a specified vertical width (H) that encompasses the cervical sections (T1, T2) of said teeth, a retaining force is applied on a portion of the crown (T3) of each tooth from the front and back surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventor: Tadateru Tairaku
  • Patent number: 10028811
    Abstract: The system includes a reservoir for fluid; a droplet generator for creating a stream of fluid droplets from the fluid wherein the velocity of the stream of droplets is within a range of 20 meters per second to 200 meters per second and the size of the droplets is within a range of 5 microns to 200 microns. A nozzle or nozzles direct the stream of droplets to safely clean a selected tooth or teeth surface area. The specific momentum of effective fluid droplets within the stream of fluid droplets is important in safe and effective cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Gottenbos, Jozef Johannes Maria Janssen, Marinus Karel Johannes Jager, Adriaan Willem Cense, Paulus Corenlis Duineveld, Jon W. Hayenga, William E. Bryant, Martijn Jeroen Dekker
  • Patent number: 10016264
    Abstract: A teeth whitening device includes a generator configured to generate a teeth whitening fluid that whitens teeth and humidified gas, a mouthpiece configured to supply the teeth whitening fluid and the humidified gas, and a coupling part that couples the generator and the mouthpiece with each other. The mouthpiece includes a first supply port through which the teeth whitening fluid is supplied, and a second supply port through which the humidified gas is supplied, the second supply port being separated from the first supply port. The mouthpiece further includes a first supply passage configured to guide the teeth whitening fluid to the first supply port, and a second supply passage configured to guide the humidified gas to the second supply port, the second supply passage being separated from the first supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Risa Otsuka, Masayoshi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 10010351
    Abstract: An implant to be fastened to a tissue, a tool a kit and a method. The implant has a first end, a second end and an elongated shank made in part from a first polymer material. The implant includes a contact surface for receiving external mechanical energy for deforming the shape of the implant such that the shape of the implant can be deformed and locked in the tissue by the effect of the external mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Inion Oy
    Inventors: Pertti Helevirta, Harri Happonen, Timo Pohjonen, Arvi Kruusing
  • Patent number: 10004574
    Abstract: A method and apparatus with auto-inactivation for the lateral expansion or constriction of posterior teeth, anterior advancement or retraction of the anterior teeth, and distal expansion of the molars, bicuspids and canines is described. This system is for correction of the upper dental arch and jaw bone, nasal cavity constriction, or lower dental arch constriction, which helps to resolve the dental malposition, dental crowding, proper room for tongue position, and expansion of nasal cavity for improvement of airway. The appliance includes loaded springs around the wires connected to molar band with connector tubes and female attachments that are extended to the front tube. The spring creates a distalization force on the first and/or second molars, anterior extending force on front teeth including canines and incisors, and lateral expansion for the posterior teeth including, canines, bicuspids and molars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Yousefian
  • Patent number: 9993312
    Abstract: The present application relates to reference body for intraoral scan procedures adapted to be releasably mountable to a dental implant. The reference body comprises a cylindrical body portion extending along a longitudinal axis from an apical end to a coronal end, the apical end abutting the dental implant in a mounted state of the reference body, a coronal end surface defining the coronal end of the reference body, a first radial protrusion protruding from the body portion in a first radial direction, and a second radial protrusion protruding from the body portion in a second radial direction. The first radial protrusion and the second radial protrusion have different cross-sectional shapes in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the reference body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Zfx GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Geier
  • Patent number: 9968421
    Abstract: A tooth positioner is combined with a vibrational source, thus speeding orthodontic remodeling. In more detail, the device includes a tooth positioner shaped to closely fit a patient's dentition and apply a straightening force to at least one of said patient's teeth, the tooth positioner contacting labial, lingual and occlusal surfaces of said patient's dentition, the tooth positioner operably connected to a housing enclosing a power source operably connected to a vibratory source, the vibratory source being able to vibrate, thus vibrating the tooth positioner. Methods of using the positioner-vibrator combination are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Bowman, Michael K. Lowe
  • Patent number: 9962242
    Abstract: A dual arch anterior dental impression tray includes a generally opened C-shaped mouthpiece and an insert. The mouthpiece having a left end, a right end, and a back side having a concave surface extending from the left end to the right end, the concave surface including a generally longitudinally extending curved groove, the left end and right end each include a connector. The insert including a front portion having a curved frame, the curved frame includes a left end and a right end, the curved frame fits snugly into the curved groove, the insert includes a mesh material extending from and within an area defined by the curved frame, the curved frame left end and right end each include a connector to connect with a respective mouthpiece connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Simon P. McDonald, Alejandro Aubone
  • Patent number: 9962239
    Abstract: An elastic mounting ring installation tool for connecting braces to brackets attached to the teeth of a patient has a housing with a barrel section, at the front end of which a magazine holder with a magazine provided with elastic rings for placement onto brackets provided on the teeth is arranged for mounting the braces to the teeth by the elastic mounting rings and a rod with wire fingers is movably supported in the barrel section for scooping up the elastic rings and transferring them to tooth brackets of the patient. The magazine holder is supported so as to be movable away from the wire fingers in a direction normal to the axis of the rod for pulling an elastic ring engaged by the wire fingers in a sideward direction for disconnecting the elastic ring from the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Stieven
  • Patent number: 9962240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental implant fixture, and more particularly, to a dental implant fixture which rotates about a central axis thereof, and thus is inserted into a bone tissue constituted by a cortical bone and a spongy bone to form an artificial tooth root, wherein the dental implant fixture includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is inserted into the cortical bone and has an outer surface with a first screw thread whereon first vertices and first valleys are alternately arranged. The second portion is disposed beneath the first portion and inserted into the spongy bone, has an outer surface with a second screw thread whereon second vertices and second valleys are alternately arranged. The distance between the adjacent second vertices of the second screw thread is larger than the distance between the adjacent first vertices of the first screw thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OSSTEMIMPLANT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Oh Park, Byung Kook Kim, Mu Young Park, Tae Gwan Eom, Kyoo Ok Choi