Abstract: Method and apparatus for fabricating an oral appliance are described for correcting malocclusions on a dentition of a subject. A three-dimensional representation of the dentition may be captured and a free-form structure having a lattice structure which matches at least part of a surface of the dentition is generated. The lattice structure defines a plurality of open spaces such that the free-form structure is at least partially transparent. The lattice structure may then be manufactured by impregnating or covering a coating into or upon the lattice structure such that the oral appliance is formed.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, tooth attachment placement (TAP) device or for assisting a user in placing one or more appliances or attachments on one or more teeth is disclosed. The TAP device comprises single tooth jigs connected through splines. The geometry of the device is automatically designed in the treatment planning unified workstation, thereby generating a digital STL file. Then the device is created from a non-flexible biocompatible material by a 3D printer in accordance with the digital STL file. Appliance, for example, may be a bracket or a bracket shim; and the attachment may be an aligner attachment or a pad. Different embodiments of the TAP device are disclosed. Methods for verifying the accuracy of the placements of the brackets on the teeth using the TAP device are disclosed.

Abstract: A stable dental mirror assembly that is used by dentists during the treatment of patients is described. The mirror is fixed on a rubber dam frame that is placed in the patient's mouth during treatment. The dental mirror includes a handle on which the mirror slides. The handle includes an elbow curve. In further aspects, a method for using a dental mirror assembly and a dental mirror assembly kit are described. The dental mirror may be moved through 360 degrees and does not need to be held, thus freeing the dentist's hands. Additionally, the dental mirror assembly provides a stable visual field and allows easy movement and adjustment of the mirror.

Abstract: A stable dental mirror assembly that is used by dentists during the treatment of patients is described. The mirror is fixed on a rubber dam frame that is placed in the patient's mouth during treatment. The dental mirror includes a handle on which the mirror slides. The handle includes an elbow curve. In further aspects, a method for using a dental mirror assembly and a dental mirror assembly kit are described. The dental mirror may be moved through 360 degrees and does not need to be held, thus freeing the dentist's hands. Additionally, the dental mirror assembly provides a stable visual field and allows easy movement and adjustment of the mirror.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.

Abstract: The present invention is a dental implant tool comprising of a handle and a head portion connected to each other via a hinge facilitating the head to pivot relative to the handle to enable the dentist to reach various positions within a patient's mouth. The head portion configured to retain an abutment, an impression coping or healing abutment during a dental procedure and can be moved to the left and the right up to 90 degrees. The head comprises a rotatable ratchet with a key-shape center hole to hold an abutment in place while affixing the abutment to an implant and provides a complete access to implant-driver tip to the screw head, regarding to any abutment-body angulation, position and screw access hole. The inner wall of the center hole has 3°-degree convergences at any plan of the walls in order to grasp, lock and hold implant abutments.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an orthodontic digital bracket using a digital library, including: loading an oral scan image and extracting one virtual orthodontic template corresponding to each of tooth images that are virtually adjusted according to a preset consecutive tooth arrangement structure from a digital library; aligning and disposing each of virtual brackets and a virtual wire of the extracted virtual orthodontic template corresponding to the consecutive tooth arrangement structure of each of the tooth images that are virtually adjusted; and designing each of digital brackets configured to include a jig portion assembled with a top of each of the virtual brackets to surround a top of each of the tooth images, and a grip protrusion portion configured to protrude from a top end of the jig portion while being integrated therewith, and three-dimensionally printing each of the digital brackets based on design data.

Abstract: A dental device is described that comprises a monolithic support structure for use in implant-supported dental restoration applications for partially or fully edentulous patients. The monolithic support structure comprises a unitary support body with one or more teeth projections projecting from the support body, and at least one support region providing a framework for integrating discrete artificial teeth adjacent the teeth projections. An implant-supported dental device is also provided that comprises the monolithic support structure, one or more artificial teeth, and a gingival region comprised of a formable material that secures artificial teeth within the framework of the monolithic support structure.

Abstract: An improved denture system is disclosed. An improved denture system has a support bar and an artificial denture base. The denture base has an oversize cutout and a corresponding cavity and the support bar has a plurality of reference posts which mechanically interface with the corresponding cavity so that the support bar is connected to the artificial denture base and provides reinforcement and stability to the denture system. The shape and position of the reference posts fully constrains the support bar in a fixed position with reference to the denture base. In one embodiment, the denture base snap-fits onto the support bar.

Abstract: A system which has a static mixer and which contains a dental material. The static mixer has a mixing barrel that extends along a longitudinal axis and, accommodated therein, a cascade of mixing elements. Mixing elements have an outer diameter D of between 1.5 mm and 1.6 mm. The barrel has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the mixing elements. The system helps minimizing any residual dental material in the mixer and minimizing forces for extruding the dental material through the mixer.

Abstract: An element intended for an orthodontic system comprises: a fixing surface to be attached to the wall of a tooth; a body, having sides counterposed with respect to the fixing surface and defining a groove passing through sides, for housing an arch wire that can be removed and protrudes while being kept in the groove through at least one of sides with respect of the element; a slit passing through the sides toward the groove in order to assemble the archwire in the groove. In this way the play between the arch wire and the hole is lower than the space between the archwire and the groove, in order to keep the archwire in the body.

Abstract: A bendable impression tray includes a base portion and a handle portion. In one embodiment, the bendable impression tray includes a U-shaped portion and at least three projections extending outwardly from the U-shaped portion by at least 5 millimeters in bottom view. In one embodiment, the bendable impression tray includes a base portion that is substantially U-shaped in bottom view, and defines at least two peripheral notches, each extending inwardly from an outer periphery of the base portion by at least 5 millimeters in bottom view.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand operated dental instrument that allows a user to manually operate tool bits that are ordinarily operated by a power operated tool. Then invention includes a handle that carries a shaft; a bore-hole extending through at least a portion of the shaft for receiving a tool bit; an elevated stop disposed in the bore-hole for engaging at least a portion of a tool bit that is inserted into the bore-hole; a securing ring receiving slot disposed in the shaft and is in fluid communication with the bore-hole; and a securing ring that when placed in the securing ring receiving slot presses at least a portion of the tool bit towards the elevated stop so that when the shaft is rotated, the tool bit rotates.

Abstract: A dental device comprises: a dental implant comprising a core enveloped by an expandable anchor comprising a plurality of joined segments. Prior to insertion of the core into the expandable anchor a carrier apically displaces within the expandable anchor, generating an expansion force causing the plurality of joined segments to be displaced linearly away from the central axis of the implant where the coronal and apical ends of each joined segment are displaced in parallel paths normal to the central axis of the implant. The core inserts into the expandable anchor to lock the plurality of joined segments in their expanded configuration. At least a first rail on the core is received by a corresponding expandable anchor slot to align the core and expandable anchor and at least a first core and expandable locking lodge engage to lock the core into the expandable anchor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mouthpiece (100) for illumination of teeth, e.g. for teeth whitening. The mouthpiece comprises a slab shaped light guide (203), at least one light source arranged for injecting light into the light guide and an optically transparent element (101) arranged to contact the light guide. The optically transparent element has a lower refractive index than the light guide to enable total internal refection of the injected light. Light is coupled out of the light guide by an out-coupling structure (210) and through a part of the optically transparent part located between the light guide and the buccal side of the teeth to illuminated the teeth with uniform light.

Abstract: An orthodontic self-ligating bracket for orthodontic treatment of maloccluded teeth. The bracket includes a bracket body, a bracket door, and a spring mechanism retained by the bracket door. The bracket body has a base on the bottom side of the bracket body that is contoured to attach to a surface of a tooth, a bracket slot on the top side of the bracket body extending in a mesiodistal direction and configured to releasably retain an archwire, and a bracket groove on the top side of the bracket body extending in an occlusogingival direction towards the bracket slot. The spring mechanism includes one or more springs that are configured to contact the bracket door and the bracket body. The bracket door can thus be retained by and slidably engage the bracket body between an open position and a closed position. One or more additional active spring members may also be provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mouthpiece (100) for illumination of teeth, e.g. for teeth whitening. The mouthpiece is configured with at least two lenses (102a, 102b) shaped to cast asymmetrical light onto the teeth (110). The lenses are arranged one-to-one with associated light sources (101a, 101b). The first and second lenses are arranged to project the received light onto a buccal side (111) of the teeth (110), and each of the first and second lenses has an asymmetrically shaped refraction surface (301) shaped to change an intensity distribution of the received light asymmetrically on opposite sides of an optical axis (121) of the respective light source along the dental arch (201) of the teeth.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a curable composition and a method for isolating a working area in a patient's mouth. The curable composition can include a borate-crosslinked polysiloxane, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least two polymerizable groups, and an initiator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental coupling unit (1), which can be detachably coupled to an instrument attachment (2) for dental treatment and/or examination at the front end (11) of the coupling unit and also can be connected to a supply unit (3) for providing supply media for the instrument attachment (2), wherein a media supply line (4) extends through the coupling unit (1) toward the instrument attachment (2) and wherein additionally a media return line (5) extends through the coupling unit (1), which media return line is connected to an end region of the media supply line (4) extending through the coupling unit (1), which end region faces the instrument attachment (2).

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.