Abstract: The present invention is a true digital output intraoral camera with a docking station.

Abstract: A ball lens includes a connector body that couples or attaches to a dental curing light so as to capture at least some of the light emitted by the light source, an elongate light guide extending from the connector body, and a light-emitting ball at an end of the light guide distal to the connector body. The ball can be used to hold a matrix band against an adjacent tooth prior to and/or while incrementally curing a light curable composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental head unit capable of measuring a root canal length of a patient. The head unit includes a head section having a sleeve rotatably supported therein for detachably holding a cutting tool therein, a neck section extending proximally from the head section and having a proximal end for connecting to a handpiece body, a contact capable of detachably contacting the cutting tool for providing electric connection to the cutting tool when in contact, and a contact holder fixed to a proximal end of the contact and axially slidable with respect to the neck section. The contact holder has a lead attachment to which a lead for electrically connecting the contact to a root canal length measuring device is detachably attached. The present invention also relates to a contact holder assembly including the contact and the contact holder.

Abstract: An orthodontic device allows direct attachment to orthodontic wires. A force module central portion is coupled to upper and lower end caps. The end caps have clip members that permit direct clipping onto the orthodontic wires to thereby retain the force module on the orthodontic wires. The clip members comprise first and second spaced apart curved members curving in a first direction and an intermediate curved member curving in the opposite direction. One or more of the curved members may flex to allow passage of the orthodontic wire. Alternatively the curved members have different radii of curvature to form a gap that is slightly smaller than the expected size of the orthodontic wire to permit the orthodontic wire to be forced between the gap and retained within a receiver portion formed by the curved members.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for regulating vacuum applied to surgical suction devices allowing the use of a single vacuum regulator and associated canister to provide vacuum to two suction devices, such as a suction stabilizer and a suction retractor. Vacuum controllers may be placed in the vacuum lines provided to each of two or more suction devices, or may be placed only in the vacuum line of the suction device believed most likely to detach during the procedure. Each vacuum controller is provided with a primary vacuum line, coupling its associated suction device to the output of the vacuum regulator and a pilot passage, also coupling the suction device to the vacuum regulator. The controller closes a valve in the main vacuum line in response to loss of vacuum attachment, which valve remains closed until attachment is reestablished. Closure of the valve results in substantial or complete blockage of the main vacuum line.

Abstract: A novel orthodontic bracket system comprised of orthodontic appliances, such as brackets or buccal tubes, with a vertical instead of conventional horizontal slot orientation. The occlusal-gingival slot orientation minimizes the risk of unintentional debonding of the bracket as a result of insertion and removal of the archwire. An archwire retention mechanism designed to guide, retain and/or seat the archwire. The archwire retention mechanism releases the archwire from the archwire slot whenever appropriate force is applied, or manipulation of physical properties of the material are altered by the operator.

Abstract: A dental curing light comprises an elongate hollow wand housing having a proximal first end, a distal second end, a light source disposed at the distal second end of the wand housing, and a heat sink disposed at least partially within the wand housing. The heat sink is in contact with the light source, and comprises a plurality of layers or regions comprising different materials. A first layer or region comprises a first material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of a second layer or region, while the second layer or region comprises a second material having a specific heat greater than that of the first layer or region.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket assembly has a bracket having base with a mounting portion for attachment to a patient's tooth, and a plurality of arms forming a bracket slot to receive a rectangular archwire. A clip can be removably inserted into the bracket slot along the axis of the bracket slot and archwire, and is retained by the bracket slot. The assembled bracket slot and clip form a rectangular channel to removably secure the archwire in the bracket slot. Two of the archwire surfaces are engaged by the clip and the remaining two archwire surfaces are engaged by walls of the bracket slot.

Abstract: A dental hygiene accessory for cleaning a dental scaler or similar dental instrument has a platform member with a multitude of bristles upstanding from a central area of the platform. An annular body of soft dental debris retaining material is carried by the platform and surrounds the bristles. The accessory also has a retainer extending downwardly from the platform and engageable with a hygienist's finger to retain the accessory thereon.