Abstract: An endodontic instrument includes a cutting portion having upper and lower ends spaced apart along an axis, a cutting surface extending helically along the axis, and a non-contact surface extending helically along the axis. A cross section of the cutting portion in a plane perpendicular to the axis has a non-circular circumference. The cutting surface extends about a first portion of the non-circular circumference, and the non-contact surface forms a linear segment that extends about a second portion of the non-circular circumference. The cutting portion can further include a second cutting surface extending helically along the axis, and a second non-contact surface extending helically along the axis.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument includes a cutting portion having upper and lower ends spaced apart along an axis, a cutting surface extending helically along the axis, and a non-contact surface extending helically along the axis. A cross section of the cutting portion in a plane perpendicular to the axis has a non-circular circumference. The cutting surface extends about a first portion of the non-circular circumference, and the non-contact surface forms a linear segment that extends about a second portion of the non-circular circumference. The cutting portion can further include a second cutting surface extending helically along the axis, and a second non-contact surface extending helically along the axis.

Abstract: Epoxy polymers for dental use including the reaction product of a diepoxide oligomer and a bridged dipolyamine are described. The epoxy polymers include the reaction product of diepoxide oligomers comprised of bisphenol A diepoxide oligomers and/or bisphenol F diepoxide oligomers and bridged dipolyamine monomers having two polyamine regions and a hydrocarbon region of at least 28 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A dental or medical alginate impression composition is provided. The composition includes an alginate material comprising an alginate in an amount between about 10 and 50 weight percent, a filler material in an amount between about 10 and 90 weight percent, and a binder material in an amount between about 1 and 80 weight percent. The composition also includes a silane coating that is added to either the filler or to the alginate material as a whole.

Abstract: An overdenture attachment system for selectively attaching a denture element to a post in a tooth or a root canal is provided. The system includes a keeper element which is designed to be permanently affixed to the denture element and a cap element that is designed for attachment to the post of the tooth or root canal and which is coupled to or received by the keeper element. In the preferred embodiment, the keeper element is formed with a flange portion in which the insert element is selectively received. The interior of the flange portion of the keeper element is threaded and the exterior of the cap element is correspondingly threaded in order to enable threaded engagement of the cap element inside the keeper element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dental posts by inserting and rotating an extraction drill. It is particularly useful for hollow dental posts having left-handed helical grooves on the post's external surface.

Abstract: A composition for endodontically treating a root canal is provided. The composition uses a thermoset resin based material adapted for insertion into the root canal of a dental patient and an adhesive material suitable for maintaining the polymer based material in the root canal. Either one or both of the thermoset resin based material and the adhesive material is conductive. As a result, the dental practitioner is able to determine where the apex of the root canal is located by means of measuring the conductance between the thermoset resin based material and the oral mucosa and periodontal ligament. This facilitates the filling of the root canal with the polymer based material.

Abstract: A composition for endodontically treating a root canal is provided. The composition uses a thermoset resin based material adapted for insertion into the root canal of a dental patient and an adhesive material suitable for maintaining the polymer based material in the root canal. Either one or both of the thermoset resin based material and the adhesive material is conductive. As a result, the dental practitioner is able to determine where the apex of the root canal is located by means of measuring the conductance between the thermoset resin based material and the oral mucosa and periodontal ligament. This facilitates the filling of the root canal with the polymer based material.

Abstract: A dental support structure for crown restoration which may be screwed into a hollow dental implant. The support structure has a stem which is adapted to receive a crown and which is moveable along the axis of the support structure in resistance to spring pressure and whose axis may tilt without substantial resistance from said spring pressure.

Abstract: A releasable magnetic retention device having two opposed substantially like units each of which has a relatively small permanent magnet of opposed poles, one pole of which is utilized with a conductor of low coercivity material to form a larger magnetic flux field in the conductor so that when the two like units are placed in magnetic attracting relation the two conductors complete a strong enlarged magnetic flux path between them to releasably retain the units together.

Abstract: An improved unitary bulk restoring dental post having a stem of substantially parallel threaded sides divided along its length into separate legs for threaded insertion into a tooth root canal by a wrench that applies a predetermined torque to the dental post to thread it into the tooth root for crown restoration.

Abstract: An improved unitary bulk restoring dental post having a stem of substantially parallel threaded sides divided along its length into separate legs for threaded insertion into a tooth root canal by a wrench that applies a predetermined torque to the dental post to thread it into the tooth root for crown restoration.

Abstract: An improved unitary bulk restoring dental post having a stem of substantially parallel threaded sides divided along its length into separate legs for threaded insertion into a tooth root canal by a wrench that applies a predetermined torque to the dental post to thread it into the tooth root for crown restoration.