Abstract: A toothpick holder for holding toothpicks in different positions to facilitate access to different portions of the dental arches. The holder includes a handle with an arm thereon having a toothpick receiving opening through which a toothpick can be positioned to point first in one direction and also in a direction 180 degrees opposite the first position for gaining access to the fronts and backs of all the interdental, or proximal spaces.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the card holder includes a U-shaped keeper bar movably attached to one end of a chain. At the other end of the chain is a rectangular, stopper plate. The chain runs through holes in each of the credit cards. The holes are located in like corner regions in each credit card. The cross-sectional area of the chain plus the keeper bar is less than the diameter of the holes.

Abstract: A water trough for emergent chicks and maturing chickens includes a float operated actuator for a drinking nozzle which can be manually activated to provide water in a drinking trough for emergent chicks, and which can be manually disabled on maturing of the chickens to force the maturing chickens to drink from the drinking nozzle.

Abstract: The device wherein the second, minute or hour stem of the conventional quartz clock movement is used to provide a motive force for continuous rotation, for use in ornamental or advertising displays and the like. The quartz movement mechanism is housed in a base structure or frame. A system of counterpart magnets, one counterpart being attached to the stem of the clock movement within the base structure or frame, the other counterpart magnet attached to the rotatable display structure which is caused to pivot such that the magnets are situated sufficiently close to one another so that rotation of the stem is communicated to the display structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an animal shelter suitably adapted for the sheltering of animals under adverse temperatures. The shelter includes an external enclosure, an internal structure within which the animal is housed, an air passageway circumscribing the internal structure which is disposed between the internal structure and the external structure, and a thermal source for heating or cooling the air within the passageway. The thermal source may be thermostatically regulated to provide a controlled habitat environment.

Abstract: A unitary preassembled disposable intra-oral rubber dam device comprises an annular resilient frame member such as a resilient plastic cord frame, and an elastic latex membrane, the perimeter of the membrane being secured to the frame member such that the membrane is maintained in substantially the same plane as the frame member. The annular frame member, having a predetermined configuration, has a memory characteristic such that when pressure applied to distort the frame member is relaxed the frame member returns to substantially its predetermined configuration.

Abstract: A tambour-type sign has carrier bars hinged together to form a closed loop. The bars provide for inserting strips which display information. Pin and socket elements are formed on opposite edges of each carrier bar for the pin of one to engage in the socket of the next one to form a hinge. The loop is translated on a ring gear having internal teeth and a periphery in which there are equiangularly spaced apart grooves into which the sockets on the hinges register as a chain would on a sprocket. The ring gear is journaled for rotation on a bearing member exemplified by a square having four walls, the corners of which are segments of a circle whose diameter is equal to the diameter between the tips of the ring gear teeth. This drive structure is mounted on the laterally spaced apart support members so as to support the loop at both ends of the carrier bars. There are spaced apart pinions fixed on the cross shaft which engage with the respective ring gears. The shaft is motor driven.

Abstract: Endodontic core and post are disclosed, forming an integral unit of which the post, adapted to be anchored in the respective root canal, is provided with, preferably, four wings perforated to allow passage of cement or the like through same in order to enhance the strength of embedding of the post in the root canal. The radial wings of the post are disposed each in a recess which is reamed by utilizing a special guiding post which is also a part of the present invention. In order to further enhance the strength of the bond between the core and the post in the respective root canal, an extension beam, preferably of a cross-shaped cross-sectional configuration, is adhesively secured to the free end of the post to form a "winged" extension of the post itself. The wings of the beam extension are also perforated for the same reason.

Abstract: Photographs are inserted within separate mounting frames which are, in turn, secured by their edges in corresponding channel-shaped grooves formed in a support which permits the frames to be displayed in a standing position. The grooves are provided with rubber blocks for engaging edge portions of the frames to prevent their inadvertent removal from the grooves.

Abstract: The present dental implant comprises a hollow perforate trans-mandibular or -maxillary bolt, adapted for receiving a trephined core of bone, for transverse implantation in the maxilla or mandible in conjunction with contiguous straps. These contiguous straps tighten against the periosteum, encase the alveolar ridge and thread through an adjustable implant receptor having a receptor site for abutment thereon. As a result of the combined hollow bolt/strap structure, the dental implant achieves stability by means of (1) medullary bony union with the perforate bolt; (2) subperiosteal bony union with the perforate contiguous straps; and (3) mechanical union afforded by the alveolar-ridge-encasing structure defined by the bolt and contiguous straps. The dental implant thus positioned can be used to support teeth, partial dentures or an entire dental arch. Implant materials may be those known in the art but are preferably biologically inert stainless steel and/or titanium alloys.

Abstract: A desirable dental implant can be constructed out of titanium so as to have a first end for insertion into a jawbone, an externally threaded shank extending from said first end, a tapered head on said shank adjacent to the second end of the implant and an internally threaded bore shaped so as to include a non-round socket in the threads of said bore. The exterior of the implant is preferably etched so as to increase its area.

Abstract: The dental prosthesis of the present invention includes a plurality of flexible metal arm connectors which extend from a common member in forming a bridge or from a common joint in forming a splint. The arm connectors are adapted to be affixed to adjacent retaining members on the abutment teeth to be restored. The arm connectors must be sufficient in length to make reasonable contact with the buccal and lingual surfaces and preferably should contact the occlusal surface as well. The arm connectors may be ring-like in geometry and/or be corrugated for expansion.

Abstract: A manually operated endodontic instrument composed of: an endodontic file; and a handle to which the file is immovably secured, the handle being formed to be gripped between the thumb and the index finger, having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and including a central, longitudinally extending portion and first and second bulbous portions each joined to a respective longitudinal end of the central portion and each projecting laterally beyond the central portion, the handle being provided, at its outer surface, with at least two circumferentially spaced recesses extending longitudinally along at least part of the central portion.

Abstract: The matrix consisting of a thin flexible strip of plastic comprises a loop 1 to be placed around the tooth to give the desired shape to the filling material. It is permanently connected to an annular tightener (2) made of material permanently deformable by pressure with the fingers and dentist's forceps, for example, of annealed aluminum sheet. It exhibits, in the front, a slit (3) through which pass the two terminal extensions (1',1") of flexible strip (1) and, in the back, tabs (2',2") between which are permanently fastened the ends of said terminal extensions (1, 1") of said strip, so that by compressing said annular tightener (arrows 4, 5) it determines the slipping of slit (3) like a slider on the extensions (1', 11") of the strip, the narrowing of loop (1) and the perfect adherence of the loop of the strip to the tooth.

Abstract: In dental surgery when a tooth is to be crowned, the tooth has to be prepared by cutting a taper. It has been found that for the successful mounting of a crown the taper must be much more exactly prepared than is possible using currently available equipment. The present invention allows the initial position of the axis of a cutter to be related by means of electronic "spirit levels" to a selected axis. Deviation from this axis by more than a predetermined amount is indicated by light sources which can be seen regardless of the position of a handpiece holding the cutter. By means of a code these light sources indicate how the dentist must move the cutter to return to the correct axis.

Abstract: A dental drill having an elongate drill body tapered to a conical tip. The drill body has a plurality of substantially identical barbs projecting outwardly from the drill body and arranged helically about the drill body. Each barb has an outer peripheral profile resembling a parabola in shape extending generally toward the tip of the drill body. Each barb has a flat surface contiguous with the flat surface of an adjacent barb at a point of juncture with the drill body. The barb flat surfaces are disposed in a common helical path about the drill body and each has a shape resembling a parabola. The barbs have a peripheral profile also resembling a parabola. Each resembles a paraboloid in which intersections by planes parallel to the corresponding flat surface thereof and spaced axially on the drill body resemble parabolas with the axes thereof decreasing in length as the intersections are made in a direction toward the tip of the drill body.

Abstract: An animal food dispensing machine capable of being operated by a domesticated animal or pet includes a housing provided with a discharge chute, a food storage compartment, a free-wheeling external actuator, and a measuring dispenser mechanism complete the device. In one embodiment of the dispenser, a lower plate is rotatable about a boss and aligns an opening with the discharge chute to discharge a quantity of food therethrough to an outlet. An upper plate mounted in a fixed position guides the food to the lower plate. In another embodiment of the dispenser, a metering plate is included to control a measured quantity of the food to be dispensed. The free-wheeling external actuator assembly coupled to the internal dispenser mechanism is activated by the animal to effect discharge of the metered quantity of food through the discharge chute in the housing in relation to the angular distance through which the actuator assembly is moved by the animal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for the fixation of a single-tooth restoration to an implant in the form of an anchorage element (fixture) permanently anchored in the maxillary, comprising a substantially tubular spacer (4) which is anchored to the anchorage element by means of a spacer screw (5) provided with an externally threaded portion (23) which engages in an internally threaded recess (7) in the upper region of the fixture. The spacer screw (5) is provided with an unthreaded waist (25) whose length exceeds the thread diameter of the spacer screw, and has a screw head (20) of comparatively slight diameter and with a planar or gently conical shoulder which cooperates with a corresponding annular shoulder (19) in the tubular spacer (4). The apparatus is mounted in place by means of a double screwdriver whose one part fits the internal counter-abutment in the spacer sleeve (4) and whose other part is caused to engage with the driver slot (24) of the screw head.

Abstract: A method and article for the cosmetic restoration of anterior teeth is provided whereby a glazed porcelain labial veneer is custom-made for a patient's tooth and thereafter chemically and mechanically bonded to such tooth, so as to provide a healthful and long-lasting cosmetic restoration of desired color, shape and esthetic appearance.

Abstract: An orthodontic apparatus is disclosed comprising a divider like device with three arms. The outer arms operate in normal fashion while the central arm is coupled to the adjusting wheel so that its relative position with respect to the outer arm is constant. The central arm has a bracket retaining reverse tweezer arrangement for holding and positioning orthodontic brackets on teeth. In use the outer arms are located on either side of the tooth and the central arm locates the bracket in the correct position for fixing to the tooth.