Abstract: A system for mitigating pain in a patient associated with needle penetration in the administration of medication, and in particular to a vibratory device configured to be utilized with a variety of existing hand-held intra-oral dental drills or like devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a disposable or non-disposable vibratory tip formed to engage an off-the-shelf intra-oral dental drill, the vibratory tip utilizing an off-axis weight associated with a shaft drive engaging the dental drill, to provide a vibratory sensation to an application tip, the application tip configured to engage an area of a patient's mouth targeted for the subsequent needled administration of local anesthetic, or other medication. In use, the application tip is applied to the patient, the dental drill is engaged to rotate the shaft drive of the vibratory tip, vibrating same for period of time, so as to decrease the sensation of pain associated with the subsequent needle penetration.

Abstract: The snore recording device includes a portable housing, a microphone carried by the housing for capturing an audio input signal including snoring, a memory, such as a removable memory, carried by the housing, and processing circuitry carried by the housing and coupled to the microphone and the memory. The processing circuitry is for low pass filtering the audio input signal from the microphone to generate a low pass filtered analog signal, performing analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on the low pass filtered analog signal to generate an intermediate digital signal, performing a moving average filtering of the intermediate digital signal to generate moving average intensity data, performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the intermediate digital signal to generate frequency component data, and storing at least the moving average intensity data and frequency component data in the memory.

Abstract: The method for making an intra-oral electronic therapy device includes thermoforming a first thermoplastic layer on a patient's dental cast, e.g. as received from a patient's dentist, positioning components on the first thermoplastic layer, and thermoforming a second thermoplastic layer on the first thermoplastic layer to define a substrate with the components therein. The components include a rechargeable battery, at least one tissue contact electrode extending outwardly from the substrate to contact at least one tissue area in the patient's mouth, and a controller to cooperate with the rechargeable battery and the at least one tissue contact electrode to provide an electrical stimulation to the at least one tissue area in the patient's mouth. The method includes separating the substrate with the components therein from the dental cast.

Abstract: The intra-oral electronic therapy device includes a substrate to be positioned in a patient's mouth, a rechargeable battery carried by the substrate, and at least one tissue contact electrode, e.g. a hamular notch contact electrode, extending outwardly from the substrate to contact at least one tissue area in the patient's mouth. A controller is carried by the substrate and cooperates with the rechargeable battery and the at least one tissue contact electrode to provide an electrical stimulation to the at least one tissue area in the patient's mouth. The substrate includes first and second thermoplastic layers sealing therebetween the rechargeable battery and controller.

Abstract: The intra-oral electronic therapy device includes a substrate to be positioned in a patient's mouth, a rechargeable battery carried by the substrate, and at least one hamular notch tissue contact electrode extending outwardly from the substrate to contact at least one hamular notch in the patient's mouth. A controller is carried by the substrate and cooperates with the rechargeable battery and the hamular notch tissue contact electrode to provide a predetermined electrical stimulation pattern to a hamular notch in the patient's mouth. A programming interface is carried by the substrate and coupled to the controller to permit programming of the predetermined stimulation pattern therein.

Abstract: A system for mitigating pain in a patient associated with needle penetration in the administration of medication, and in particular to a vibratory device configured to be utilized with a variety of existing hand-held intra-oral dental drills or like devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a disposable or non-disposable vibratory tip formed to engage an off-the-shelf intra-oral dental drill, the vibratory tip utilizing an off-axis weight associated with a shaft drive engaging the dental drill, to provide a vibratory sensation to an application tip, the application tip configured to engage an area of a patient's mouth targeted for the subsequent needled administration of local anesthetic, or other medication. In use, the application tip is applied to the patient, the dental drill is engaged to rotate the shaft drive of the vibratory tip, vibrating same for period of time, so as to decrease the sensation of pain associated with the subsequent needle penetration.

Abstract: A system for mitigating pain in a patient associated with needle penetration in the administration of medication, and in particular to a vibratory device configured to be utilized with a variety of existing hand-held intra-oral dental drills or like devices. The preferred embodiment of the present invention teaches a disposable or non-disposable vibratory tip formed to engage an off-the-shelf intra-oral dental drill, the vibratory tip utilizing an off-axis weight associated with a shaft drive engaging the dental drill, to provide a vibratory sensation to an application tip, the application tip configured to engage an area of a patient's mouth targeted for the subsequent needled administration of local anesthetic, or other medication. In use, the application tip is applied to the patient, the dental drill is engaged to rotate the shaft drive of the vibratory tip, vibrating same for period of time, so as to decrease the sensation of pain associated with the subsequent needle penetration.

Abstract: Devices and methods for preventing or mitigating the occurrence of sleep breathing disorders use an extra-oral unit for detecting sounds from a sleeping patient and for sending commands to an intra-oral device for applying an electrical stimulation to one or more locations in the oral cavity of the patient. Similarly, bruxing and temporomandibular disorder can be mitigated or prevented by applying electrical stimulation to the oral cavity of a patient in response to the detection of pressure caused by bruxing activity or oral para-functional activity. The intra-oral unit includes a controller for controlling the generation of the electrical stimulation to be applied to the oral cavity of the patient, and first and second protective layers sealing the controller therebetween.

Abstract: A dental office procedure for whitening patient teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) coating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression with a tooth whitening agent; (2) placing the coated patient dentition impression into the patient's mouth; (3) heating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression to a temperature in the range of approximately from 120° F. to 140° F. and (4) retaining the so-placed patient dentition impression in position at least for a total period of time in the range of approximately from 5 to 60 minutes. The procedure can be adapted to microwave heating, electrical resistance heating, or hot fluid heating of the patient dentition impression.

Abstract: A dental office procedure for whitening patient teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) heating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression to a temperature in the range of approximately from 110° F. to 130° F.; (2) coating the heated patient dentition impression at impression surfaces corresponding the surfaces of the patient teeth to be whitened with a tooth whitening agent; (3) properly placing the heated and coated patient dentition impression in the patient's mouth; and (4) retaining the so-placed patient dentition impression in position at least for a total period of time in the range of approximately from 5 to 20 minutes. The procedure can be adapted to microwave heating, electrical resistance heating, and hot fluid heating of the patient dentition impression.

Abstract: Apparatus, kits and methods for providing accelerated treatment of a patient's teeth. The apparatus, kits and methods involve the use of a dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes heating means for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105° F. The heated dental trays may be used to accelerate the activity of dental bleaching agents (e.g., peroxides), desensitizing agents (e.g., potassium nitrate), remineralizing agents (e.g., fluoride salts), and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus, kits and methods for providing accelerated treatment of a patient's teeth. The apparatus, kits and methods involve the use of a dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes a heating element for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105 degrees F. The heated dental trays may be used to accelerate the activity of dental bleaching agents (e.g., peroxides), desensitizing agents (e.g., potassium nitrate), remineralizing agents (e.g., fluoride salts), and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing accelerated desensitization of a person's teeth. The apparatus and methods involve the use of a heating apparatus, such as a dental curing lamp, laser, or dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes heating means for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105° F. A dental office procedure for treating teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) coating a specially-prepared dentition impression with a desensitizing dental composition; (2) placing the coated patient dentition impression into the person's mouth; (3) heating the dentition impression and dental composition to a temperature of at least about 105° F.; and (4) retaining the patient dentition impression in position for period of time in a range of about 1 minute to about 60 minutes so as to desensitize the person's teeth.

Abstract: Apparatus, kits and methods for providing accelerated treatment of a patient's teeth. The apparatus, kits and methods involve the use of a dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes heating means for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105° F. The heated dental trays may be used to accelerate the activity of dental bleaching agents (e.g., peroxides), desensitizing agents (e.g., potassium nitrate), remineralizing agents (e.g., fluoride salts), and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus, kits and methods for providing accelerated treatment of a patient's teeth. The apparatus, kits and methods involve the use of a dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes heating means for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105° F. The heated dental trays may be used to accelerate the activity of dental bleaching agents (e.g., peroxides), desensitizing agents (e.g., potassium nitrate), remineralizing agents (e.g., fluoride salts), and the like.

Abstract: A dental office procedure for whitening patient teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) coating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression with a tooth whitening agent; (2) placing the coated patient dentition impression into the patient's mouth; (3) heating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression to a temperature in the range of approximately from 120° F. to 140° F. and (4) retaining the so-placed patient dentition impression in position at least for a total period of time in the range of approximately from 5 to 60 minutes. The procedure can be adapted to microwave heating, electrical resistance heating, or hot fluid heating of the patient dentition impression.