Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

Abstract: A method (300) for detecting one or more caries using an imaging device (10), the method including the steps of: (i) directing (320) light from a first light source (12) toward a tooth (40); (ii) measuring (340), with an optical sensor (16), transmission of light from the first light source through the tooth; (iii) directing (330) light from a second light source (14) toward the tooth, wherein the second light source directs light at the tooth at a different angle relative to the first light source; (iv) measuring (350), with the optical sensor, reflectance from the tooth of light from the second light source; (v) comparing (360) the measured transmission to the measured reflectance; and (vi) determining (370), based at least in part on said comparison, whether a caries is present in the tooth.

Abstract: A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such a mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

Abstract: A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

Abstract: An automated, hands-free dental floss dispenser is provided herein. Particularly, the dispenser includes a housing and an activation sensor, such as an infrared, motion, or other sensor for detecting the presence of a hand or other object within a dental floss dispensing region and for activating the dispenser. The dispenser further includes a feeding assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, and a dispensing assembly for receiving an amount of dental floss from the feeding assembly. Specifically, the feeding assembly includes a removable and/or replaceable cartridge which at least temporarily retains the dental floss. The dispensing assembly includes a spindle and a spindle activation assembly, wherein the dental floss is fed from the feed assembly to the spindle for dispensing.

Abstract: A hair styling tool having a comb component and sectioning component is provided. The hair styling tool also may also have a glove component. The glove component may protect a stylist's skin from heat and burns during the styling process, the comb component may allow a stylist smooth and detangle hair, and the sectioning component may allow a stylist easily and precisely section hair to be styled. This hair styling tool can be used for flat ironing, wand curling, blow-drying and hot combing hair to protect the user's hand and allow for more time efficient hair styling.

Abstract: A dental implement is disclosed that includes a proximal end portion; a distal end portion that includes a cutting head defining at least one cutting surface; and a guide body that is positioned proximally of the cutting head. The guide body defines at least one flute that extends in generally parallel relation to a longitudinal axis of the dental implement and is configured to direct irrigation fluid to a surgical site within a patient.

Abstract: A pontic device for preserving soft tissue in a tooth-extraction site includes a generally curved apical end. The apical end has a first perimeter and is configured to rest in a tooth extraction socket and substantially conform to soft tissue of a tooth-extraction site immediately after a tooth has been extracted. The pontic device further includes an opposing, generally concave coronal end. The coronal end has a second perimeter that is configured to substantially correspond to and form a seal with gingival tissue surrounding the tooth-extraction site. The coronal end is configured to receive a tooth-shaped coronal pontic portion to form a final restoration.

Abstract: A dental tool or instrument having a shank located adjacent a first end thereof and a working area located adjacent an opposite second end. At least one elongate cut is formed along the working area and a memorized shape, having at least one protrusion, is formed in the working area. The dental tool or instrument is manufactured from a nitinol wire which initially has a transition temperature that is below room temperature, while the dental tool or instrument, following manufacture, has a final transition temperature of about 90.5±4 degrees Fahrenheit (i.e., 32.5±3 degrees Celsius). When the dental tool or instrument is at a temperature below its final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument is moldable to facilitate insertion into a root canal, but as soon as the dental tool or instrument is at or above the final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument automatically adopts the memorized shape.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods including a base pan, the base pan comprising one or more male indentations; and a cosmetic container, the cosmetic container including a female indentation, where the female indentation of the cosmetic container may be configured to receive a male indentation of the one or more male indentations such that the cosmetic container is detachably attached to the base pan.

Abstract: Applicator for applying a cosmetic product to the skin, in particular the eyelids, comprising an applicator member (10), the latter having on its external surface a recess (12) and an applicator tip (15) having a substantially flat main facet (20) extending from the recess (12) towards the distal end of the applicator member (10).

Abstract: A device for the drying of tooth or bone surfaces includes a radiation source for irradiating the tooth or bone surface to be dried, a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of a floss strip and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. The floss strip can include a flossing filament. The flossing filament can have a first end and a second end. The flossing strip can include a first anchor coupled to the flossing filament at the first end of the flossing filament. The flossing strip can include a second anchor coupled to the flossing filament at the second end of the flossing filament. The flossing filament can couple the first and second anchors. The flossing strip can include a tensioning member attached to the flossing filament at an intermediate location between the first anchor and the second anchor.

Abstract: A dental prosthesis is provided, manufactured from a monobloc or multibloc prosthesis blank (10), which is composed of a gum-colored material (14) and a tooth-colored material (12), which materials (12, 14) are bonded to each other by bonding, polymerization and/or one-piece manufacture. The boundary surface (16) between the materials is wave-shaped comprising alternating grooves (22) and ribs (24) in the course of the dental arch, and radial in an oral-vestibular direction in the region of the anterior teeth (33) to be created. The boundary surface (16), at least in the region of the molars (26)—again as viewed in the oral vestibular direction—has parallel grooves (22) and ribs (24) forming troughs and crests of the waveform, or grooves (22) and ribs (24) such that they extend in deviation from parallel by at most 10 degrees, in particular at most 5 degrees, at least in the region of the molars (26).

Abstract: An abutment is provided with a screw access hole and a slot in its sidewall adapted to allow a driver to access a screw in the screw access hole at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the screw. The abutment may include a screw seat and may be connected to an implant via a screw in the screw seat. A prosthesis, which may include a driver access channel that has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the drive portion of the screw, may be placed over the abutment. Methods of making a dental prosthesis and methods of attaching and removing the dental prosthesis from the implant are also disclosed.

Abstract: A drill guide assembly used to guide a drill into the jawbone of a patient during dental surgery includes at least one through going guide bore for guiding the drill, at least one attachment for securing a part of the drill guide assembly to the jaw of the patient during surgery, wherein the drill guide assembly includes a first part including the at least one first through going guide bore, the at least one first attachment and at least a first reference area for referring the first part to a first anatomical feature of the patient, a second part including a second reference area for referring the second part to a second anatomical feature of the patient, and a guiding structure for guiding the first part and the second into a desired configuration.

Abstract: A flossing device is provided comprising a body extending from a first end to a second end and defining a handle and a head. The head includes a first leg and a second leg spaced apart and extending parallel to each other at the second end. Each of the first leg and the second leg have a tip portion and a groove, the groove extending from a top end surface of the tip portion and into each leg. The groove is operable to receive a portion of floss. The device further comprises an upper protuberance and a lower protuberance disposed on each side of the body and near the head. Each of the upper protuberances and the lower protuberances have a retainer portion for receiving a portion of the floss and have a stop portion for holding the floss on the retainer portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental attachment formation structure. One dental attachment formation apparatus includes a body having a first surface shaped to conform to the contours of an exterior surface of a tooth and including a portion of the first surface shaped to accommodate an attachment that is to be attached to the exterior surface of the tooth and a light source attachment structure for attachment of a light source to the body.

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.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a subperiosteal dental implant for receiving at least one replacement tooth of a patient, the subperiosteal dental implant comprising an implant frame superposable to at least a section of a jaw hone of the patient, the implant frame having a bone-facing surface at least partially contacting the jaw hone of the patient when the implant frame is superposed thereto, and an opposed gum-facing surface, the implant frame having at least a section along which a cross-section profile includes a base defining at least partially the bone-facing surface and at least partially the gum-facing surface, a ridge protruding from the base and defining at least partially the gum-facing surface, and a first shoulder and a second shoulder that are both defined on the gum-facing surface of the base, each one being located on a respective side of the ridge.