Abstract: A non-circular endodontic instrument is provided for reduced stress to the tooth and to the cutting instrument during the removal of dentin from a root canal. The non-circular endodontic instrument includes at least one area of non-contact, i.e. one portion of the instrument does not contact and does not cut the dentin material. The non-contact area extends the length of the endodontic instrument, about a portion of the circumference of the instrument, and interrupts a generally circular cutting face of the instrument. This non-contact area reduces stress and provides a place for debris to gather during cutting so as to not interfere with the cutting face, and serves to direct the debris out of the root canal. The endodontic instrument can be D-shaped in cross-section, it could have circumferentially opposing non-contact areas and/or can be elliptical in cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for removing hard and soft tissue from a narrow channel has at its cutting end a configuration that causes the laser light to emerge in an annular region and not apically.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal is provided. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

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 system for preparing a cast post and core in a dental root canal procedure is provided. The method comprises the steps of removing the root canal material from the tooth; cutting out a post-hole in the tooth having a substantially uniform width; cutting out at least one annular tier along the hole; placing a burn-out post having at least one flange into the post-hole so that the flange is seated on the annular tier; applying an acrylic resin onto the tooth and over the burn-out post in order to form a core, and finally removing the core with the burn-out post from the tooth in order to form a casting.

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 composite dental cement composition that is suitable for application with dental posts for either post insertion in a tooth or during core formation is provided. The cement composition includes a polymer matrix in an amount between about 15 and 50 weight percent, a filler in an amount between about 35 and 80 weight percent, and a lanthanide series compound in an amount between about 1 and 20 weight percent. The lanthanide series compound chemically interacts or pushes the air voids out between with the polymer matrix in order to increase compressive strength of the cement composition. Titanium powder may be added in order to increase compressive strength. A fluoride compound may further be added in order to substantially eliminate caries and further tooth decay.

Abstract: A composition for preventing the build-up of plaque and other debris along the surface of dentures and dental implants is provided. The composition includes a solvent in an amount between about 46 and 98 weight percent, an evaporation promoting compound such as N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount between about 0.5 and 25 weight percent, a polyurethane resin in an amount between about 1 and 35 weight percent and a poly(fluoro) compound such as polytetra-flluoroethylene in an amount between about 0.5 and 20 weight percent.

Abstract: A dental cement for providing a fixing for a temporary dental prosthesis or appliance is provided. The dental cement includes a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide and an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylic acid. The cement may also include a fatty acid, a polyvinylacetate emulsion and a dimer fatty acid. One or more plasticizers may also be included. Residual dental cement may be removed from the temporary dental prosthesis or appliance when desired by using a dissolving bath containing a metal hydroxide and a chelating agent.

Abstract: A composite dental cement composition that is suitable for application with dental posts for either post insertion in a tooth or during core formation is provided. The cement composition includes a polymer matrix in an amount between about 15 and 50 weight percent, a filler in an amount between about 35 and 80 weight percent, and titanium in an amount between about 1 and 15 weight percent. The titanium ingredient chemically interacts with the polymer matrix in order to increase compressive strength of the cement composition. A fluoride compound may be added in order to substantially eliminate caries and further tooth decay.