Abstract: A material is proposed as an essential abrasive component for cleaning agents in cleaning products for delicate surfaces which is essentially composed of platelets. These platelets are preferably shaped without sharp points, i.e. their circumference is similar to a polygon whose corners do not show angles that are in the majority smaller than 30° and greater than 330°. Glass flakes are for example such a material. The abrasive component of the invention may for example be used for the manufacture of toothpastes and prophylaxis pastes that are efficient but nevertheless not harmful to teeth.

Abstract: The interdental wedge is particularly intended for use in the insertion of approximal fillings of light-curing synthetic materials and consists of a combination of a wedge body and an underlying compressible sole comprising a rim which projects on both sides of the wedge body. The sole portion is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer and the wedge body of a translucent synthetic material. A wedge of this kind provides a strong spreading force, and the two rims are deformed when inserted, thereby ensuring a firm retention and a tight application of the matrix to the dental anatomy, and they form sealing lips in order to keep away the saliva from the treated area and to gently displace the papilla.

Abstract: A material is proposed as an essential abrasive component for cleaning agents in cleaning products for delicate surfaces which is essentially composed of platelets. These platelets are preferably shaped without sharp points, i.e. their circumference is similar to a polygon whose corners do not show angles that are in the majority smaller than 30° and greater than 330°. Glass flakes are for example such a material. The abrasive component of the invention may for example be used for the manufacture of toothpastes and prophylaxis pastes that are efficient but nevertheless not harmful to teeth.

Abstract: The interdental wedge is particularly intended for use in the insertion of approximal fillings of light-curing synthetic materials and consists of a combination of a wedge body and an underlying compressible sole comprising a rim which projects on both sides of the wedge body. The sole portion is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer and the wedge body of a translucent synthetic material. A wedge of this kind provides a strong spreading force, and the two rims are deformed when inserted, thereby ensuring a firm retention and a tight application of the matrix to the dental anatomy, and they form sealing lips in order to keep away the saliva from the treated area and to gently displace the papilla.

Abstract: A dental care composition for the prophylactic dental hygiene (prophylactic paste) comprises as principal components the following: from 10 to 80% by weight, preferably from 35 to 55% by weight, of a polishing body containing plate shaped rock particles, preferably perlite particles; from 20 to 80% by weight, preferably from 40 to 50% by weight, of a nonionic, preferably polymeric surface active agent; and from 0 to 20% by weight, preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, of an emulsifier or emulsifier blend. Polyethylene glycols (Macrogol) having molecular weights of from 200 to 1,000, preferably of from 200 to 600, are particularly suited as pure compounds or as a blend of different variants having different molecular weights. The dental care composition shows a smooth and soft consistency and has only a weak tendency of being splashed during its application in the mouth.

Abstract: Instead of a bunch of bristles coated with abrasive particles, the brush for surface treatments in restorative dentistry comprises one or several lamellar abrasive elements. In the manner of a lametta strip, the abrasive elements are divided by at least one incision, such that a plurality of bristle portions is obtained. Due to the planar configuration of the bristle portions themselves, the latter are easily bendable in at least one direction. If the arrangement of the abrasive elements is such that this direction of easy bending ability is approximately tangential to the intended rotational direction of the brush, the overall flexibility of the brush is substantially increased, thus allowing a substantially improved compliance with application-specific requirements.

Abstract: In the method for the manufacture of dental tools for the treatment of surfaces, a rubber core serving as a carrier layer is first applied by injection molding onto the spindle of the tool, and the abrasive layer comprising the abrasive grains is subsequently applied to the carrier layer. In another method for the manufacture of dental tools for different treatments of surfaces, more particularly for coarse grinding, finishing, and polishing, rubber-elastic masses of different degrees of hardness are used for the abrasive parts of the tools according to the intended treatment, and abrasive grains of the same size are embedded in the rubber-elastic mass of these parts.

Abstract: The adhesion of dental restorative materials, more particularly of composite materials containing an organic binder, to dental instruments can be reduced, essentially independently of the material of which the dental instrument is made, by providing the working surfaces with impressions. These impressions result in a reduction of the contact surface of the composite material on the working surface and thus in a reduction of the component of the adhesion which is due to physical attraction, e.g. to the van der Waals force. If the impressions are sufficiently small, a penetration of the composite material into the impressions is prevented by the high viscosity of the latter alone. If additionally the impressions are capable of being sealed by the tooth replacement material in contact therewith, an air cushion forms in the impressions which additionally counteracts a penetration of the tooth replacement material.

Abstract: The dental device comprises an abrasive disk having a hub made of synthetic material and a spindle with a collet, the opening of the hub having an inner bead and the collet a rotation lock and an axial lock for receiving said bead in the hub opening, the greatest diameter of the spindle with its rotation lock being greater than the diameter of the hub opening with its bead. This construction allows, on one hand, an easier mounting of the abrasive disk on the spindle, and, on the other hand, a high torque transmission.

Abstract: The interdental wedge for the use during the insertion of approximal fillings of light curing synthetic material comprises the combination of a sole portion having disposed thereon an insert of a light conducting synthetic material and a light conducting element, such as a light reflector, to conduct the light necessary for curing and coming from the front surface of the wedge on the filling. The sole portion consists of a material which is compressible and requires strongly increasing forces for further compression; thus, the wedge can snugly fit to the approximal contour of the tooth to be treated and exert sufficiently high separation forces. Preferably, the material of the sole portion is wood whose fibers are preferably aligned in lengthwise direction of the wedge, and/or a synthetic material having included therein compressible filler particles. Thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers are preferred synthetic materials.

Abstract: A dental matrix tensioner has a casing containing a pin rotatable relative to the casing, the pin having a slot therein for releasably receiving a dental matrix and for tightening the matrix about a tooth upon rotation of the pin relative to the casing. A device to rotate the pin relative to the casing comprises an elongated assembly, and a member slidable lengthwise of the assembly in one direction to grip external portions of the casing and in an opposite direction to release those external portions of casing thereby selectively releasably to retain the rotating device in assembled relation with the casing. The lengthwise slidable member is also rotatable and is selectively engageable with the pin to rotate the pin upon rotation of the slidable member. The slidable and rotatable member has a noncircular end which fits removably in a noncircular recess in the pin whereupon when that end is inserted in the noncircular recess and sliding member is rotated, the pin is turned relative to the casing.

Abstract: The toothpaste proposed contains as an abrasive, preferably as the sold abrasive, expanded perlite, generally with a particle size in the range of 1 to 150 .mu.m, in particular with a main fraction in the region of 20 .mu.m. This gives enhanced cleaning power, and improved protection of the tooth enamel against wear and scratching.

Abstract: A device for obtaining the fitting of a matrix to a tooth to be filled comprises matrix (5) and wedge (4) or its attachment part (7) made of resin "with memory that is deformable by illumination". The device is made such that when it is illuminated it deforms and pushes matrix (5) to precisely occupy the radicular recess of the tooth to be filled, while when it is not illuminated it again assumes its normal shape. Thus, one obtains a perfect filling that perfectly fits the shape of the tooth.

Abstract: The dental care and cleaning composition is a water-free paste containing at least 40% by weight of perlite as a sole and combined cleaning and polishing body, a stabilizer for the perlite in the sense of a controlled particle disintegration during use, a wettening agent for the perlite and at least 40% by weight of propylene glycolThe use for the cleaning of teeth yields successively a cleaning and a polishing effect.

Abstract: A dental device includes an angular matrix (1), with a shape reproducing the shape of the zone of a tooth (3) on which an operation is performed. The matrix (1) is made of synthetic material transparent to light radiations used for photopolymerization of composite resins. Forceps (2), also similarly transparent, have ends (2',2") which, with the forceps (2) locked, form with their inside surfaces (2"',2.sup.IV) a shape also substantially equal to that of the tooth (3). The matrices can be right or left and modeled for large incisors, small incisors or canine teeth. During the operation, the matrix (1) is kept in position simply by the lateral thrust exerted by the forceps (2) on a flap (1") extended along the contour of the matrix (1) and located substantially perpendicular to the matrix (1) itself.

Abstract: A combination of a rotatable spindle and grinding disk, and a method of assembly thereof. The spindle has an end with radial slits. The grinding disk has a hub which rests on the end face of the spindle. A portion protruding from the end face of the spindle has a barrel shape or a double frustoconical shape periphery. The hub of the grinding disk has an opening through it of complementary shape to the periphery of the protruding of the spindle. The slit protruding portion is deformable for fitting into the hub opening, whereby the spindle and disk are fixed for rotation. Additional protrusions from the hub extending into the slits assure that the grinding disk does not rotate with respect to the spindle. The method includes disposing compressible material at both sides of the grinding disk or extending compressible material through the hole in the grinding disk, and then compressing the compressible material over the grinding disk the defining the hub for the grinding disk.

Abstract: The equipment makes it possible to cause the polymerization of resin by light, starting from the approximal-apical zone (8') of the tooth, i.e., at the base of the filling. It comprises a wedge (1) transparent to the rays used for polymerization of the resin inserted in the approximal zone (i.e., between teeth), a wedge shaped to refract or reflect the concentrated light provided it by a lighting device equipped with a cap with a converging lens, in the axial direction, deflecting it and emitting it in the lateral direction (9'), so as to illuminate the filling resin with greater intensity at its base (8'), avoiding fissures (15) between the filling and base of the tooth, which would occur if the illumination were performed, as is now done (at 14) starting from the occlusal (masticatory) part of the tooth.

Abstract: The cervical matrix in question is universal as each exemplar is suitable to be applied to a considerable number of teeth of different shape, therefore few ranges of matrices of different curvature (for incisor, canine and molar teeth of adults and children) suffice to cope with all the requirements. The matrix has a lamina (1) transparent to ultraviolet and luminous rays curved with a radius of curvature (r) less than that of the teeth to which it is applied. To the lamina is fixed a stem (2) which permits of grasping it with the forceps and pressing it against the tooth subjecting for a few seconds the whole to ultraviolet or visible irradiations to effect the beginning of the process of polymerization of the filling material after which the matrix is detached and the polymerization continued.