Abstract: A dental hygiene kit is disclosed which is particularly useful for small children and traveling adults, and which includes a package having one large initially-sealed compartment for storing a handle and a plurality of smaller, initially-sealed compartments for storing disposable pre-pasted brush heads. The compartments are sterile in the initially seated condition. The handle comprises a fork and with two spaced-apart shaped prongs. Each brush head comprises a plurality of bristles connected to a body. The bristles are coated with toothpaste thereby avoiding wasted toothpaste and mess. Each brush head body comprises a shaped hole with sidewalls for frictionally and releasably receiving the prongs of the handle. After each use, the brush heads are discarded. The disclosed kit helps children learn good brushing habits while avoiding wasted and swallowed toothpaste.

Abstract: A truncated conical dental drill bit is disclosed to facilitate the preparation of a tooth prior to installation of a dental crown. The drill bit includes a stem connected to an upper disc which, in turn, is connected to a downwardly extending sidewall having a conical configuration. The sidewall terminates at a lower edge and undersurfaces of the sidewall and upper disc are coated with abrasive material, such as diamond particles. The size of the drill bit is chosen for the particular tooth in need of repair and a single downward drilling operation is required to form a truncated conical configuration or crown receiving surface on the tooth. A measurement gauge is disclosed for measuring the tooth in need of repair and selecting the appropriate size truncated conical dental drill bit.

Abstract: A dental device for retaining composite material within a cavity is described. The device provides accurate placement of a retaining matrix band which holds dental composite material in place within the cavity under repair and precludes or prevents migration of the dental composite material out of the cavity and down towards the gum line. The disclosed device and methods help to restore the contact area between the two teeth (i.e., the one worked on and the one adjacent to it). An improved mechanical polishing device is also shown and described. Improved methods of repairing cavities with dental composite material using the disclosed devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental tool for installation of orthodontic brackets is provided which has an adjustable gripping mechanism for gripping the orthodontic bracket and a centering mechanism for centering the bracket on the tooth. The tool is adjustable to fit a wide variety of orthodontic brackets and the tool is further adjustable to enable the bracket to be installed at the proper mesial-distal, occlusal/incisal-gingival position on teeth of a wide variety of sizes and lengths, posterior and anterior teeth.

Abstract: A dental tool for installation of brackets for orthodontic braces is provided which has an adjustable gripping mechanism for gripping the orthodontic bracket and a centering mechanism for centering the bracket on the tooth. The tool is adjustable to fit a wide variety of orthodontic brackets and the tool is further adjustable to enable the bracket to be installed at the proper vertical location on teeth of a wide variety of sizes and lengths.