Abstract: Dental crowns and methods of making the same. The dental crown may include a metal shell shaped to cover a portion of a tooth of a patient; a coating retention metal layer diffusion bonded to the metal shell, wherein an interface between the coating retention layer and the metal shell comprises a plurality of interstitial regions; and a composition on the coating retention layer and within the plurality of the interstitial regions to bond the coating composition to the metal shell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microstructured article (830, 930) including a thermoplastic polymer shaped to have a curve. At least a portion of the curve includes a microstructured surface (1010B, 10, 1110A, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 810, 840, 910, 940) of utilitarian discontinuities and the microstructured surface (101B, 10, 1110A, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 810, 840, 910, 940) includes peak structures and adjacent valleys (810, 910). The peak structures and the curve are formed of a single piece of the thermoplastic polymer. A method of making the microstructured articles is also provided including a) obtaining a tool (820, 920) shaped to include at least one of a protrusion or a concavity; b) disposing a microstructured film (800A, 800C, 900) on at least a portion of the tool (820, 920) including the protrusion and/or the concavity; and c) thermoforming a single piece of thermoplastic polymer onto the tool (820, 920) to form a microstructured article (830, 930) shaped to include a curve.

Abstract: A syringe assembly being assembled from a syringe for dispensing a dental or medical substance, and a protective cover. The protective cover has a geometrically determined, non-foldable tubular protective shaft. The syringe has a cartridge having an outlet for the substance. Further, the cartridge and the protective cover are assembled with the cartridge being received within the protective shaft. The syringe further comprises a dispensing tip that is connected to the outlet for dispensing the substance from the dispensing tip. A first seal is provided between the dispensing tip and the outlet, and a second seal is provided between the dispensing tip and the protective shaft.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth a patient from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement includes a plurality of incremental position adjustment appliances, each having an arrangement of cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth of the patient. The cavities in at least one appliance in the system have a different geometry than that of at least one other appliance in the system. At least some of the appliances in the system are successively worn by the patient to exert force on at least one tooth and move the teeth of the patient from a first arrangement to a successive arrangement different from the first arrangement. The system includes a first multilayer shell with a bending stiffness factor less than about 0.1 GPa*mm3 and an elastic modulus no greater than about 1.5 GPa; and a second shell with a bending stiffness factor greater than 0.1 GPa*mm3.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

Abstract: Dental crowns and methods of making the same. The dental crown may include a metal shell shaped to cover a portion of a tooth of a patient; a coating retention metal layer diffusion bonded to the metal shell, wherein an interface between the coating retention layer and the metal shell comprises a plurality of interstitial regions; and a composition on the coating retention layer and within the plurality of the interstitial regions to bond the coating composition to the metal shell.

Abstract: A method of thermoforming is described. The method comprises providing a multilayer polymer film comprising at least one first thermoplastic polymer layer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than 60° C. and at least one second polymer layer; and thermoforming the multilayer polymer film into a three-dimensional shape. The second polymer layer can be characterized by one or more properties selected from i) a Tg ranging from 20 to 70° C.; ii) a molecular weight between crosslinks of no greater than 20,000 g/mole; and iii) sufficient crosslinking such that the second polymer layer lacks a thermal melt or softening transition at a temperature up to the decomposition temperature of the second polymer layer. Also described are multilayer films and articles, such as orthodontic aligner and retainer trays.

Abstract: A dental appliance includes a polymeric shell with a plurality of cavities for receiving one or more teeth, including an interior region with a core layer of a first thermoplastic polymer A with a thermal transition temperature of about 70° C. to about 140° C. and a flexural modulus greater than about 1.3 GPa, and first and second interior layers of a second thermoplastic polymer B with a glass transition temperature of less than about 0° C., a flexural modulus less than about 1 GPa, and an elongation a break of greater than 150%; and first and second exterior layers of a third thermoplastic polymer C with a thermal transition temperature of about 70° C. to about 140° C. and a flexural modulus greater than about 1.3 GPa. The dental appliance demonstrates enhanced optical properties, with enhanced light transmission and low haze.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a packaged orthodontic appliance comprising an orthodontic appliance and a packaging base including first and second tie-wing support arms, wherein a first tie-wing support arm supports the first tie-wing of the orthodontic appliance, and the second tie-wing support arm supports the second tie-wing of the orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth a patient from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement includes a plurality of incremental position adjustment appliances, each having an arrangement of cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth of the patient. The cavities in at least one appliance in the system have a different geometry than that of at least one other appliance in the system. At least some of the appliances in the system are successively worn by the patient to exert force on at least one tooth and move the teeth of the patient from a first arrangement to a successive arrangement different from the first arrangement. The system includes a first multilayer shell with a bending stiffness factor less than about 0.1 GPa*mm3 and an elastic modulus no greater than about 1.5 GPa; and a second shell with a bending stiffness factor greater than 0.1 GPa*mm3.

Abstract: A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a mold body providing for a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient. The mold body includes a facial portion forming a facial surface corresponding with a facial surface of the tooth, and a separate lingual portion forming a lingual surface corresponding with a lingual surface of the tooth. The mold body is configured to combine with the tooth of the patient to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of the tooth.

Abstract: A syringe assembly being assembled from a syringe for dispensing a dental or medical substance, and a protective cover. The protective cover has a geometrically determined, non-foldable tubular protective shaft. The syringe has a cartridge having an outlet for the substance. Further, the cartridge and the protective cover are assembled with the cartridge being received within the protective shaft. The syringe further comprises a dispensing tip that is connected to the outlet for dispensing the substance from the dispensing tip. A first seal is provided between the dispensing tip and the outlet, and a second seal is provided between the dispensing tip and the protective shaft.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) for liquids includes a reservoir (100) defining a volume (V100) for housing a liquid (150); a delivery tube (200) with a first end (201) attached to the reservoir, and a second end (202) distal from the reservoir, the delivery tube including a passage (203) in fluid communication with the volume of the reservoir and extending away from the reservoir; an applicator element (300) including an applicator tip (320) and a base (310) attached to the second end of the delivery tube, the applicator tip having a plurality of fingers (322) extending away from the base to a distal end of the applicator element distal from the delivery tube; and a removable seal (340), wherein removal of the removable seal creates an opening in the passage at a location upstream of the applicator tip and a fluid distribution channel between the fingers.

Abstract: Dental crowns and methods of making the same. The dental crown may include a metal shell shaped to cover a portion of a tooth of a patient; a coating retention metal layer diffusion bonded to the metal shell, wherein an interface between the coating retention layer and the metal shell comprises a plurality of interstitial regions; and a composition on the coating retention layer and within the plurality of the interstitial regions to bond the coating composition to the metal shell.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a packaged orthodontic appliance comprising an orthodontic appliance and a packaging base including first and second tie-wing support arms, wherein a first tie-wing support arm supports the first tie-wing of the orthodontic appliance, and the second tie-wing support arm supports the second tie-wing of the orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) for liquids includes a reservoir (100) defining a volume (V100) for housing a liquid (150); a delivery tube (200) with a first end (201) attached to the reservoir, and a second end (202) distal from the reservoir, the delivery tube including a passage (203) in fluid communication with the volume of the reservoir and extending away from the reservoir; an applicator element (300) including an applicator tip (320) and a base (310) attached to the second end of the delivery tube, the applicator tip having a plurality of fingers (322) extending away from the base to a distal end of the applicator element distal from the delivery tube; and a removable seal (340), wherein removal of the removable seal creates an opening in the passage at a location upstream of the applicator tip and a fluid distribution channel between the fingers.

Abstract: A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a mold body providing for a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient. The mold body includes a facial portion forming a facial surface corresponding with a facial surface of the tooth, and a separate lingual portion forming a lingual surface corresponding with a lingual surface of the tooth. The mold body is configured to combine with the tooth of the patient to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of the tooth.