Abstract: A handpiece (108) of an ultrasonic scaler equipped with a closed system water delivery and an integrated in-line divided electrolytic cell (106) for generating ozone, one or more gas separators (116a, 116b), in-line dissolved gas monitoring and closed loop control over ozone concentration using one or more ultraviolet sensors (110).

Abstract: Described herein is a dental material applicator system comprising a segmented capsule and handpiece. The capsule separately holds a powder and a liquid such that upon activation in the handpiece by an operator, the powder and liquid are mixed into a paste. The operator then triggers the handpiece so that the mixed paste is extruded.

Abstract: Described herein is a dental material applicator system comprising a segmented capsule and handpiece. The capsule separately holds a powder and a liquid such that upon activation in the handpiece by an operator, the powder and liquid are mixed into a paste. The operator then triggers the handpiece so that the mixed paste is extruded.

Abstract: A dynamic seal for use in a dental handpiece is disclosed. The dynamic seal includes a seal carrier including a first portion having a first feature for receiving a first compliant member and a second portion having a second feature for receiving a second compliant member, and a flange disposed between the first feature and the second feature.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dental handpiece system with rotary coupling comprising a dental handpiece and a dental handpiece tip wherein the system incorporates a swivel mechanism and dynamic fluid interface for the dental handpiece and dental handpiece tip to rotate freely relative to the dental handpiece cable thereby decoupling the handpiece from a torsion load applied to it by the handpiece cable and internal tubing and wires. The ultrasonic dental handpiece with rotary coupling generally includes a handpiece to which a piezo assembly and secondary coil are housed and a cable assembly including a primary coil and handpiece cable wherein the handpiece cable provides a supply of electrical energy and cooling lavage. The primary and secondary coils form a transformer wherein the secondary coil is inductively coupled to the primary coil with the secondary coil in electrical communication with the piezo assembly. A method of using a handpiece is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental insert (10) has a nozzle (30) supporting a grip sleeve (80). Nozzle 30 may include several components (31, 32, 33) that are assembled without the need for a weld. A grip retaining ring 60 is positioned at a nodal location.

Abstract: Described is a molded gauge used for both manual and automated inspection of the length of at least one ultrasonic scaler tip.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dental handpiece system with rotary coupling comprising a dental handpiece and a dental handpiece tip wherein the system incorporates a swivel mechanism and dynamic fluid interface for the dental handpiece and dental handpiece tip to rotate freely relative to the dental handpiece cable thereby decoupling the handpiece from a torsion load applied to it by the handpiece cable and internal tubing and wires. The ultrasonic dental handpiece with rotary coupling generally includes a handpiece to which a piezo assembly and secondary coil are housed and a cable assembly including a primary coil and handpiece cable wherein the handpiece cable provides a supply of electrical energy and cooling lavage. The primary and secondary coils form a transformer wherein the secondary coil is inductively coupled to the primary coil with the secondary coil in electrical communication with the piezo assembly. A method of using a handpiece is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental handpiece and a dental cleaning procedure are disclosed. The dental handpiece includes an inner barrel for rotatably retaining an ultrasonic insert, the inner barrel configured for contacting the ultrasonic insert with a cooling fluid in the inner barrel, a coil unit arranged and disposed to apply an alternating magnetic field to the ultrasonic insert when positioned in the inner barrel, at least one contact retention clip that contacts a drive coil of the contact unit, an outer sheath extending around at least a portion of the coil unit. The dental handpiece includes flow regions permitting steam, chemicals, and heat to flow into the inner barrel and out of the inner barrel during a sterilization technique. The dental cleaning procedure includes operating the dental handpiece and autoclaving the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A method in which a digital picture of the tip of a dental scaler tool and other uniquely identifying characteristics is used to measure the extent of wear on the tool. Unique characteristics of the dental scaler tool, such as color and shape of the grip, narrow a set of reference images to a subset of likely matching tip reference images. A digital contour of the worn tip is isolated. Characteristics of the physical shape of each available tips have been stored in a digital library of reference images. The same tip shape characteristics are developed for the tip contour that were stored for each reference image. The digital profile of the worn tip and a matching, selected reference image of the tip from a library of digitally overlaid. An accurate measurement of the extent of wear of the insert tip is made and displayed.

Abstract: A dynamic seal for use in a dental handpiece is disclosed. The dynamic seal includes a seal carrier including a first portion having a first feature for receiving a first compliant member and a second portion having a second feature for receiving a second compliant member, and a flange disposed between the first feature and the second feature.

Abstract: Described herein is a dental material applicator system comprising a segmented capsule and handpiece. The capsule separately holds a powder and a liquid such that upon activation in the handpiece by an operator, the powder and liquid are mixed into a paste. The operator then triggers the handpiece so that the mixed paste is extruded.

Abstract: A method for controlling a dental instrument includes a foot pedal responsive to commands from a user. An operating mode is selectable between normal and boost cycle. A conventional mode is selectable by pressing and holding the foot pedal to a first level to operate in normal mode. The foot pedal operates in a boost mode when the pedal advances to a second level. Maintained mode is selectable by tapping the foot pedal to change modes between idle, normal and boost mode. Each mode is switched by tapping the foot pedal. The pedal switches between the second process and the first process by pressing and holding the foot pedal at the desired level corresponding to normal or boost mode. The pedal switches from the first process to the second process by tapping the foot pedal at the level corresponding to normal or boost.

Abstract: A dental handpiece and a dental cleaning procedure are disclosed. The dental handpiece includes an inner barrel for rotatably retaining an ultrasonic insert, the inner barrel configured for contacting the ultrasonic insert with a cooling fluid in the inner barrel, a coil unit arranged and disposed to apply an alternating magnetic field to the ultrasonic insert when positioned in the inner barrel, an outer sheath extending around at least a portion of the coil unit, and the inner barrel is rotatable relative to at least one of the coil unit and the outer sheath. The dental cleaning procedure includes operating the dental handpiece and autoclaving the dental handpiece, allowing steam to flow through flow regions in the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A dental handpiece and a dental cleaning procedure are disclosed. The dental handpiece includes an inner barrel for rotatably retaining an ultrasonic insert, the inner barrel configured for contacting the ultrasonic insert with a cooling fluid in the inner barrel, a coil unit arranged and disposed to apply an alternating magnetic field to the ultrasonic insert when positioned in the inner barrel, an outer sheath extending around at least a portion of the coil unit, and the inner barrel is rotatable relative to at least one of the coil unit and the outer sheath. The dental cleaning procedure includes operating the dental handpiece and autoclaving the dental handpiece, allowing steam to flow through flow regions in the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A dental handpiece and a dental cleaning procedure are disclosed. The dental handpiece includes an inner barrel for rotatably retaining an ultrasonic insert, the inner barrel configured for contacting the ultrasonic insert with a cooling fluid in the inner barrel, a coil unit arranged and disposed to apply an alternating magnetic field to the ultrasonic insert when positioned in the inner barrel, an outer sheath extending around at least a portion of the coil unit. The dental handpiece includes flow regions permitting steam, chemicals, and heat to flow into the inner barrel and out of the inner barrel during a sterilization technique. The dental cleaning procedure includes operating the dental handpiece and autoclaving the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A method for controlling a magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer of the type used in a magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental scaler includes generating a drive signal for a resonant circuit using a full bridge synchronous class D amplifier. The electrical signal output by the resonant circuit drives an excitation coil that generates an electromagnetic field that causes the magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer to vibrate. A feedback wire is rendered unnecessary by measuring current and voltage outputs of the resonant circuit and quadrature sampling the measured current and voltage outputs at the same sampling rate as used for the generation of the electrical signal by the resonant circuit. A pulse width modulated signal is generated from the quadrature sampled sensed current and voltage that represents a pulse train approximation of a sine wave of the drive signal for, in turn, being applied to the full bridge synchronous class D amplifier to generate the drive signal for the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A dental handpiece and a dental cleaning procedure are disclosed. The dental handpiece includes an inner barrel for rotatably retaining an ultrasonic insert, the inner barrel configured for contacting the ultrasonic insert with a cooling fluid in the inner barrel, a coil unit arranged and disposed to apply an alternating magnetic field to the ultrasonic insert when positioned in the inner barrel, at least one contact retention clip that contacts a drive coil of the contact unit, an outer sheath extending around at least a portion of the coil unit. The dental handpiece includes flow regions permitting steam, chemicals, and heat to flow into the inner barrel and out of the inner barrel during a sterilization technique. The dental cleaning procedure includes operating the dental handpiece and autoclaving the dental handpiece.

Abstract: A method in which a digital picture of the tip of a dental scaler tool and other uniquely identifying characteristics is used to measure the extent of wear on the tool. Unique characteristics of the dental scaler tool, such as color and shape of the grip, narrow a set of reference images to a subset of likely matching tip reference images. A digital contour of the worn tip is isolated. Characteristics of the physical shape of each available tips have been stored in a digital library of reference images. The same tip shape characteristics are developed for the tip contour that were stored for each reference image. The digital profile of the worn tip and a matching, selected reference image of the tip from a library of digitally overlaid. An accurate measurement of the extent of wear of the insert tip is made and displayed.