Abstract: An anchorage unit fits to a dental implant. A dental attachment for mounting to the anchorage unit has a first attachment part and a second attachment part. The attachment parts define an aperture for accommodating a portion of the anchorage unit with a boundary wall of the aperture on each of the attachment parts serving, in use, as a jaw for clamping against the portion of the anchorage unit. The aperture is of greater size than the portion of the anchorage unit to allow adjustment of the position of the attachment with respect to the anchorage unit. In another embodiment, a two-part anchoring assembly defines a pair of jaws for, in use, receiving and clamping against a portion of a dental attachment. The apparatus is particularly relevant when an attachment must be placed on more than one implant simultaneously.

Abstract: A device (10) is provided for positioning at least one orthodontic element (300) on a dentition (100) by means of an orthodontic element holder (500) for holding at least one orthodontic element (300). The device (10) comprises a positioning template (101) for fitting on at least a part of the dentition (100). The positioning template (101) has at least one open area (200) for allowing an orthodontic element (300) to contact the dentition (100). The positioning template (101) has an inner surface (102) for contacting the at least a part of the dentition (100). The positioning template (101) is further provided with at least one guide (400) coupled to and extending from the positioning template (101) in a direction away from the dentition (100) when the inner surface (102) is in contact with the dentition (100).

Abstract: An anchorage unit (41, 44) fits to a dental implant (5). A dental attachment (31, 32) for mounting to the anchorage unit comprises a first attachment part (31) and a second attachment part (32). The attachment parts (31, 32) define an aperture (24) for accommodating a portion (44) of the anchorage unit with a boundary wall of the aperture (24) on each of the attachment parts serving, in use, as a jaw for clamping against the portion of the anchorage unit. The aperture is of greater size than the portion of the anchorage unit to allow adjustment of the position of the attachment with respect to the anchorage unit. In another embodiment, a two-part anchoring assembly defines a pair of jaws for, in use, receiving and clamping against a portion of a dental attachment. The apparatus is particularly relevant when an attachment must be placed on more than one implant simultaneously.

Abstract: A dental handpiece comprises a housing (27) and a tool retaining mechanism (60) for retaining a rotary dental tool (28). The rotary dental tool rotates about a first axis (42) and the mechanism retaining the tool such that the tool extends from the housing along the first axis. A tubular guide member (35) is mounted coaxially with the first axis and has a tubular part for locating in a bore hole of a template. This serves to guide the working path of the handpiece during use. A flange (37) on the guide member extends perpendicularly with respect to the first axis and limits the depth of the rotary dental tool within the bore hole. The dental handpiece may also comprise an adjustment mechanism which adjusts the position of the tool retaining mechanism within the housing, in the direction of the first axis, to vary the length of tool which projects from the housing.

Abstract: A dental drilling assembly comprises a drill (30) and a bushing (40) which is mounted, or mountable, coaxially with the drill (30). The bushing (40) can be inserted with the drill (30) into a bore hole of a surgical template and can similarly be removed from the bore hole when a hole has been drilled. The bushing has a serrated leading edge (51) for cutting soft gingival tissue. A pathway (54, 55) is defined between the drill (30) and the bushing (40). The pathway (54, 55) cooperates with a fluted channel on the drill and serves, in use, to evacuate soft tissue from the cutting surface (51). A surgical template has at least one bore hole representing a position where the drill is required to be used. The bore hole, or a bore tube lining the bore hole, has a diameter which is only slightly larger than the bushing.