Abstract: A computer program and computer-based system for remotely assessing oral health of a person by obtaining at least one digital image (1) of the person's oral cavity and additional non-image data (2) comprising anamnestic information about the person (30). The digital images (1) are segmented using statistical image segmentation algorithms (101,102) to extract visible segments (3), which are further processed to predict any invisible segments (6). The resulting segments are processed by a statistical object detection algorithm (104) using the non-image data (2) as further input to identify dental features (7), which are filtered to select only risk-related dental features (8) using a risk database (9) and mapped to respective tooth regions (11) or oral cavity regions (12) in an Oral Risk Atlas (10).

Abstract: A brace cap is disclosed, and a method for using such. The brace cap has an annular design with an asymmetric c-shape rotated around a central axis, configured to surround a brace bracket to prevent the brace bracket from irritating adjacent surfaces within a mouth of a user. The asymmetric c-shape has a first arm and a second arm, where the first arm is longer than the second arm.

Abstract: A holder for a dental crown. The dental crown holder may comprise a handle and a working end, where the working end has at least one extension arm extending therefrom. The dental crown holder may be used by covering the working end of the dental crown holder, including the extension arms, in a curable material; placing the dental crown into the curable material such that at least a portion of the extension arms and at least a portion of the curable material are located inside an interior surface of the dental crown; and curing the curable material. The dental crown holder with cured curable material may thus securely hold the dental crown without any slipping, rotating, or wobbling, allowing the user to make adjustments to the dental crown while holding the handle of the dental crown holder rather than the dental crown itself.

Abstract: A flosser is described that has only moving four parts, floss, a single piece body, a piece source spool and a single piece take-up spool. The source spool and take-up spool may snap into a source cavity and a take-up cavity, respectively. The source and take-up spools may be rotatably secured in the respective cavities using detent rings and snap rings. A cantilever flexure assembly is integrated into the single piece body and includes a push button assembly and a ratchet flexure. The push button assembly controls rotation of the source spool for dispensing and tensioning floss. The ratchet flexure controls rotation of the take-up spool for collecting and tensioning floss.

Abstract: An aligner assembly for facilitating an alignment of one or more teeth is disclosed. The aligner assembly includes a shell adapted to receive the one or more teeth. The aligner assembly further includes one or more engagement structures configured to be coupled to one of the one or more teeth or the shell. Each engagement structure includes a slot and adapted to engage with the shell for facilitating a reposition of the one or more teeth.

Abstract: A tool for measuring the inclination of maxillary incisors can accurately quantify the clinical inclination of the maxillary incisors relative to a true horizontal reference plane before and during dental treatment. The tool includes a stationary base and a measuring arm pivotably connected to the base. The base includes a main window defined therethrough and a spirit level. The movable arm includes a protractor, a sleeve connected to the protractor, and a sliding sheet slidably received within the sleeve. An adjustable incisor guide at a measuring end of the sliding sheet includes an incisor ledge for receiving an incisor edge during measurement. The spirit level can be used to align the base with the true horizontal plane and the movable arm can be raised until the incisor ledge contacts the incisor edge and the sliding sheet contacts the facial surface of the maxillary incisor.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating orthodontic appliances are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes fabricating a shell including a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth, fabricating a discontinuity in the shell, and fabricating an elastic member positioned to interact with the discontinuity. At least one of the shell, the discontinuity, or the elastic member can be fabricated using a direct fabrication technique.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a disposable protective assembly apparatus for a dental syringe body of a dental syringe. The apparatus is a combination of a disposable syringe tip and a disposable protective sleeve, the sleeve being pre-attached to the syringe tip, and the sleeve being in a pre-folded position to be quickly and easily slid over the dental syringe prior to a dental operation.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliances and associated methods are provided. In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance includes an appliance shell configured to reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. The appliance shell can include a plurality of shell segments, each shell segment including a first material having a first elastic modulus. The appliance shell can also include a plurality of elastic segments, each elastic segment including a second material having a second elastic modulus less than the first elastic modulus. Each elastic segment can be coupled to a respective adjacent pair of shell segments.

Abstract: A dental file includes a working portion having a spiral shape, wherein a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the working portion has a trapezoidal shape including an upper bottom, a lower bottom, and first and second oblique sides, vertexes at both ends of the lower bottom are located on an imaginary circle having a center at an axis in the longitudinal direction of the working portion, vertexes at both ends of the upper bottom are located inside the imaginary circle, and the imaginary circle has a diameter decreasing from a base end portion toward a leading end portion of the working portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a dental restoration, comprising the steps of rendering (S101) a first digital tooth model with a first material combination for generating a first actual data set representing the optical properties of the first digital tooth model; determining (S102) a first deviation between a target data set and the first actual data set; rendering (S103) a second digital tooth model based on a second combination of materials to generate a second actual data set representing the optical properties of the second digital tooth model; determining (S104) a second deviation between the target data set and the second actual data set; and fabricating (S105) the dental restoration based on the first digital tooth model when the first deviation is less than the second deviation and fabricating the dental restoration based on the second digital tooth model when the second deviation is less than the first deviation.

Abstract: A device for treating at least one lock of hair, comprising: —at least one device (20) for applying mechanical stress to the hair, having a reception surface intended to receive the lock of hair, this surface being greater in width L in a direction perpendicular to said lock, —a microwave-proof chamber which is configured so as to receive the mechanical-stress-application device (20) and at least one part of the hair to be treated, —a microwave emission antenna (30) placed inside the chamber, this antenna extending axially over a distance D at least equal to L/2.

Abstract: To reliably follow a tip end portion of a root canal and prevent biting into a root canal wall. A dental root canal treatment tool includes a shaft portion (A), a transition portion (D) formed continuously to the shaft portion, and a working portion (B) formed continuously to the transition portion. The working portion is formed in such a tapered shape that the working portion is narrowed from the transition portion to a tip end. A cross section (IIa) of the working portion closest to a shaft portion side is in a parallelogram shape having a pair of opposing long sides (1a), a pair of opposing short sides (2a), sharp edges (5a) formed on a long diagonal line (3a), and obtuse edge (6a) formed on a short diagonal line (4a).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to scan gauges, a kit of scan gauges, and methods for facilitating the acquisition of a scan during an intraoral scanning procedure using an intraoral scanner, including: an elongate body having an attachment portion configured to attach the elongate body with an implant in a patient's mouth, the implant having a longitudinal axis, whereby the elongate body is adapted to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the implant when mounted to the implant; the elongate body having a substantially planar upper surface and one or more side walls extending downwardly away from the upper surface; wherein the upper surface and the one or more side walls are observable in a resulting scan when the intraoral scanner scans the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface.

Abstract: A cap to be placed on a head of a device for treating the skin of a user includes an inner part to be removably attached to the head of the device, an outer part to be placed against the skin of the user and an interior disposed between the inner and outer parts. A product is disposed in the interior for application to the skin of the user and a covering, such as a membrane which is disposed on the outer part or a sterilized pack, is removable before use. An assembly having the device and the cap is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for crocheting hair that can be used to efficiently and safely crochet hair extensions into cornrow braids. The apparatus can include a handle comprising a first end, a second end, and a connection receptacle located proximate to an attachment receptacle. The handle can further comprise the attachment receptacle located at the first end of the handle and configured to receive an attachment feature of the detachable member, as well as a cavity located within the handle comprising an opening located at the second end of the handle. The attachment feature located at the first end of the detachable member.

Abstract: Aligners and orthodontic systems are provided. In some embodiments, an aligner includes a polymeric shell including a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities, an interior layer, and an exterior layer. The exterior layer can comprise a discontinuity formed therein. When the aligner is worn on a patient's teeth, the interior layer can interact with the discontinuity to impart one or more forces to facilitate repositioning of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: An oral care implement herein may be embodied as an oral device for placement in the oral cavity. The device may include an insert configured for placement in the oral cavity in contact with a wearer's teeth and an activating member configured for placement in the oral cavity and selectively attachable to the insert.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, systems, and devices for adjusting an arch of teeth. An appliance includes a removable shell formed of a first material having a number of cavities formed therein, wherein the number of cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and an arch element extending from the removable shell in a lingual direction and across at least a portion of the arch width of the removable shell, wherein the arch element is designed to expand an arch of the teeth of the patient, wherein the arch element has a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to various systems and methods related to preventative laser-based treatment of a dental tissue; for example, to prevent a patient from forming cavities. In some instances, a laser-based treatment system can generate a laser beam pulse with a fluence profile at a treatment site that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. In some instances, the laser-based treatment system can direct the laser beam to various locations within a treatment site according to a temporal and/or spatial pattern, that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. Many other systems and techniques for preventative and other laser-based treatment are also described.