Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: An article. The article includes a substrate, wherein the substrate having two opposing major surfaces; and particles coated with a metal oxide on the substrate: particles coated with a metal on the substrate; wherein the coated particles are randomly distributed on or in the substrate; and wherein at least some of coated particles are discrete particles.

Abstract: A method of applying a two-part dental sealant is described comprising providing a syringe device (1) comprising a cartridge (10) including first and second chamber. The first chamber contains a first part of a dental sealant comprising a (meth)acrylate resin and an oxidizing curing agent. The second chamber contains a second part of a dental sealant comprising a (meth)acrylate resin and a reducing curing agent that reacts with the oxidizing curing agent of the first chamber. The first and/or second part of the dental sealant further comprise a single component or multiple components that neutralize acid and promote remineralization. The syringe device comprises a dispensing nozzle (17) comprising a static mixer and an outlet at one end of the cartridge and a plunger (20) at the opposing end of the cartridge. Also described is a kit for storing and applying the dental sealant is described.

Abstract: A dental composition including a silver-fluoride composition and a curable resin composition is described. Also described are methods for repairing a tooth surface employing the dental composition, and kits re same.

Abstract: An aqueous oral care solution, a kit that includes such solution, a method of making such solution, a method of using such solution (e.g., a method of providing fluoride to a patient's tooth surface), and a tooth surface having a coating derived from the aqueous oral care solution, wherein the oral care solution includes: silver cations; thiocyanatc anions provided by a thiocyanatc source comprising Ca(SCN)2; fluoride anions; and water; wherein the molar ratio of silver to thiocyanatc ions is up to 0.40:1, and water is up to 57 wt-%, based on the total weight of the solution.

Abstract: A hardenable (e.g. dental) compositions is described comprising an encapsulated material. The encapsulated material comprises a basic core material and an inorganic shell material having certain viscosity criteria. Also described are dispensing devices and kits are described comprising a hardenable (e.g. dental) composition comprising a liquid material and an encapsulated material wherein the encapsulated material comprises a basic core material and an inorganic shell material comprising a metal oxide surrounding the core. The dispensing devices and kits can facilitate the methods of applying the hardenable composition. The hardenable or hardened (e.g. cured) composition can provide various technical effects such as a delayed release of a basic core material, a delayed increase in basicity, promoting remineralization of a tooth or bone structure, and increasing the average alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of pulp cells. In some embodiments, the composition is a dental (e.g.

Abstract: An aqueous oral care solution, a kit that includes such solution, a method of making such solution, a method of using such solution (e.g., a method of providing fluoride to a patient's tooth surface), and a tooth surface having a coating derived from the aqueous oral care solution, wherein the oral care solution includes: silver cations; thiocyanatc anions provided by a thiocyanatc source comprising Ca(SCN)2; fluoride anions; and water; wherein the molar ratio of silver to thiocyanatc ions is up to 0.40:1, and water is up to 57 wt-%, based on the total weight of the solution.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.

Abstract: An oral composition and a method of delivering an oral composition to a dental structure are described. The oral composition can include a solvent; an acidic copolymer having acidic acrylate monomeric units, acidic methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; a neutral copolymer having neutral acrylate monomeric units, neutral methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; and optionally an active agent. The acidic and neutral copolymers can be dissolved in the oral composition and the oral composition can form a film on a surface when contacted with an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: An oral composition and a method of delivering an oral composition to a dental structure are described. The oral composition can include a solvent; an acidic copolymer having acidic acrylate monomeric units, acidic methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; a neutral copolymer having neutral acrylate monomeric units, neutral methacrylate monomeric units, or a combination thereof; and optionally an active agent. The acidic and neutral copolymers can be dissolved in the oral composition and the oral composition can form a film on a surface when contacted with an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.

Abstract: A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises forming a nutrient medium composition by placing a powdered nutrient into a fluidized bed-type agglomeration chamber, flowing a fluidizing gas through the chamber, and contacting in the agglomeration chamber the powdered nutrient with an aerosol spray of an agglomeration liquid; and collecting the composition from the chamber. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. The composition formed by the method comprises a population of agglomerated nutrient medium particles and, optionally, nonagglomerated powdered nutrient. The population comprises at least about 30 weight percent agglomerated nutrient particles having an effective particle diameter of about 250-400 microns. Compositions, thin film culture devices, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is provided. The method comprises introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber, wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles, and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium. The nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism. Compositions, articles, and kits comprising the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium are also provided.

Abstract: Thermally responsive compositions that include a thermally responsive viscosity modifier, a polymerizable component, and water are provided. The compositions, which optionally may be hardened, are useful for application to a surface of a body.

Abstract: A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.