Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dental or medical tool the method comprising the steps of positioning a pre-fluted blank 14 including a stem 24 and a shank 22 within a machine 30, using a probe to identify a position and/or an orientation of at least one flute 26 of the pre-fluted blank 14 and/or the position and/or orientation of an orientation indicator 28 of the pre-fluted blank 14, and using the machine 30 to form a cutting end region 36 at the end of the stem 24 of the pre-fluted blank 14 remote from the shank 22, the flute 26 extending into the cutting end region 36, the machine 30 being controlled to ensure that the cutting end region 36 is correctly orientated relative to the flutes 26 of the pre-fluted blank 14.

Abstract: A root canal sealing instrument includes an elongated member that includes a shaft and a spiraled member. The root canal sealing instrument further includes a housing that encompasses at least a portion of the elongated member, wherein the housing is configured to slidably move with respect to the elongated member. The housing includes a proximal opening and a distal opening at opposing ends of the housing, wherein the proximal opening is closer to a proximal end of the elongated member than a distal end of the elongated member, and the distal opening is closer to the distal end of the elongated member than the proximal end of the elongated member. The housing further includes an interior chamber with a diameter at least as large as a first diameter of the spiraled member and a second diameter of the shaft.

Abstract: A dental file includes a working portion having a spiral shape, wherein a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the working portion has a trapezoidal shape including an upper bottom, a lower bottom, and first and second oblique sides, vertexes at both ends of the lower bottom are located on an imaginary circle having a center at an axis in the longitudinal direction of the working portion, vertexes at both ends of the upper bottom are located inside the imaginary circle, and the imaginary circle has a diameter decreasing from a base end portion toward a leading end portion of the working portion.

Abstract: A modular workspace platform system for providing a mobile work surface for a user includes a workspace platform attachable to a location specified by the user. The workspace platform includes a compact work surface for use in performing at least one manual task including temporarily storing a material, mixing two or more materials, temporarily supporting a tool, and providing a tool cleaning surface. In an embodiment, the compact work surface includes at least one of a trough, a tapered channel, a tool insertion slot, a wipe holder, a textured surface configured as the tool cleaning surface, a mixing surface a ruler holder, and a matrix ring holder.

Abstract: Instruments and associated methods for performing endodontic treatment and that demand less time and fatigue onto the dentists and patients, while presenting the following accomplishments: debride the root canals in three dimensions and performing the optimal treatment; shape the root canals to facilitate the irrigation; these instruments are resistant to breakage and pressure while operating at high speed and torque; the instruments are capable of bypassing most obstacles, broken files, hypercalcification, curved roots canals, shoulders, and residual resistant pastes; and they present an alternative to arduous and expensive surgeries like endodontic or implant surgeries. As a result, they prevent fractures and procedural errors in making false canals or perforations of the root canals.

Abstract: A dental instrument for use with a dental handpiece cleans and disinfects tooth root canals. The instrument includes a shaft and connector for releasable attachment to the handpiece, the shaft including at least a tip end, a distal portion approximate to the connector, and at least two radial protrusions extending along length of the shaft with a longitudinal groove extending between the at least two radial protrusions.

Abstract: An endodontic file, for manual or motor driven use by an endodontist, includes a color-coded handle, a shank, and a serrated cutting edge. The cutting edge of the endodontic file is side-cutting with pyramidal teeth and ends in a pointed tip. The endodontic file is used manually inside the root canal in an “up and down” axially aligned motion and these pyramidal teeth will provide a ripping action. A second type of endodontic file has a curved cross section and a sharpened tip. with pyramidal teeth lining the edges of curved blade section. A third type of endodontic file has a flat debriding side which tapers to a point; with a series of adjacent 3-D pyramids emerging from this surface for removing loose material or in urging already loosened material from a root canal.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument of this disclosure has less torque strength but greater flexibility and enlarged chip space compared to the prior art. In embodiments. only two flutes are spiraled about the instrument's length L to form two non-landed cutting edges between D2 and D16, the cutting edges merging to form a land at about D1. The tip end is rounded. The helical angle ? increases from the handle end toward the tip end, a number of spirals per unit length being at least two times greater toward the tip end than toward the handle end, a cross-section of the length L consisting of two convex portions intersecting at each cutting edge or a wave-shape having one concave portion and one convex portion intersecting at each cutting edge, the cross-section occupying less total area than would a same size endodontic instrument having a triangular cross-section and providing greater chip space.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments are described which have at least a section with a center of mass offset from an axis of rotation so that when the instrument is rotated, the section bends away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A dental tool or instrument having a shank located adjacent a first end thereof and a working area located adjacent an opposite second end. At least one elongate cut is formed along the working area and a memorized shape, having at least one protrusion, is formed in the working area. The dental tool or instrument is manufactured from a nitinol wire which initially has a transition temperature that is below room temperature, while the dental tool or instrument, following manufacture, has a final transition temperature of about 90.5±4 degrees Fahrenheit (i.e., 32.5±3 degrees Celsius). When the dental tool or instrument is at a temperature below its final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument is moldable to facilitate insertion into a root canal, but as soon as the dental tool or instrument is at or above the final transition temperature, the dental tool instrument automatically adopts the memorized shape.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument that includes a tapered rod, the rod including an active portion and a distal end, the active portion defining an envelope having a longitudinal axis that coincides with an axis of rotation of the instrument.

Abstract: Provided is a dental file with excellent flexibility, cutting performance, and fracture resistance. The dental file (10) of the present invention has a spiral working portion (11) of which cross sections become smaller toward a tip end. At least one of shapes of the cross sections of the working portion (11) is a substantially rectangular shape formed of a single arc (40) and three lines (41, 42, 43), Two points of four points at four corners of the substantially rectangular shape are arranged on a virtual circle (50), which includes the arc (40) as part thereof. The other two points are arranged inside the virtual circle (50). The center position of the virtual circle (50) is inside the substantially rectangular shape. A shortest one of lengths of perpendicular lines each extending from the center position of the virtual circle (50) including the arc (40) as part thereof to the three lines (41, 42, 43) is equal to or greater than 45% and equal to or less than 65% of the radius of the virtual circle (50).

Abstract: An instrument (10) having a working section (11) that terminates in an end zone (12) having a pointed tip. The end zone (12) has, on the one hand, a conical guiding section (13) which ends in a tip. This guiding section (13) has a tip angle of between 10° and 60° and, on the other hand, an angular cutting section (14) adjacent to the conical guiding section (13) which has three cutting edges (15). The angular cutting section (14) extends over a certain length and is located intermediate between the conical guiding section (13) and the working section (11). The angular cutting section (14) has a cross-section that progressively increases from the base of the conical guiding section (13) over at least a portion of its length.

Abstract: A method comprising: comparing each value of measured signals with a plurality of model tooth position measurement data groups, and storing the measured signal values and an indication value at the time when a fluctuation of the indication value which indicates a distance from a root apex position to a distal end of an electrode for position detection shows an apex in a convex shape, the indication value being indicated by a model tooth position measurement data group in a predetermined relationship; and comparing second-time measured signal values and an indication value with the stored first-time measured signal values and the stored indication value, respectively, if at least two of them correspond or fall within a predetermined error range, stopping the electrode and measuring a position of the distal end of the electrode.

Abstract: A set of drill bits and/or burrs for attaching to a hand piece and fitting into an access guide during endodontic access cavity preparation is provided. The drill bits are optionally grouped into two types: a high speed, friction grip attachment type drill bit and a slow speed, latch attachment type drill bit. Each of the drill bits has a different longitudinal length for performing different functions during operation procedures. A method of performing an endodontic access cavity preparation with the set of drill bits is also provided.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth are disclosed. In one form, the instruments include an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank comprises a titanium alloy, and the shank is prepared by heat-treating the shank at a temperature above 25° C. in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the shank. In another form, the endodontic instruments have an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank consists essentially of a titanium alloy selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, and alpha-beta-titanium alloys. The instruments solve the problems encountered when cleaning and enlarging a curved root canal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blank for an endodontic instrument, obtainable by machining at least one rod by means of wire erosion, preferably selected from the group consisting of electrical discharge machining, wire electrical discharge machining, electrical discharge grinding and electro-chemical machining, wherein an erosion pattern is applied to the at least one rod, wherein the blank has a homogenous hardness.

Abstract: A ribbed tapered swage pin includes a head structure at a distal end which has a decreasing taper in the direction of the distal end and one or more ribs or lands positioned around the outer perimeter which, when helically driven, gradually plastically deform the swage boss of one part to form a swage joint with the hole of another part. A swaging tool with which such a swage pin may be used would, therefore, include a rotary actuator and a screw feed for driving the swage pin with a helical rotation and thrust to move through and thereby cold work the swage boss to form the swage joint.

Abstract: A rotatable endodontic file for cleaning/shaping a tooth root canal that includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end and a tapered working portion having a rotational axis, the working portion extending from the proximal portion to the distal end; the external surface of the shaft working portion having a plurality of parallelogram-shaped cross sections along the working portion.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument comprising a tapered rod, the rod comprising an active portion, the active portion terminating at a distal tip end of the rod and defining a conical envelope, the conical envelope having a longitudinal axis that coincides with an axis of rotation of the instrument.

Abstract: A medical tool and a method for using the medical tool removes tooth fragments, in particular tooth roots and/or remainders of tooth roots, from a tooth socket or an alveole in the region of the jaw. The medical tool includes a base and a needle disposed on the base. The needle has a retentive section and a drilling section.

Abstract: In a dental treatment apparatus, a control circuit controls a drive motor in accordance with a drive sequence. The drive sequence includes a plurality of drive patterns and at least one of the plurality of drive patterns is different from other drive pattern. The plurality of drive patterns include at least one drive pattern having such drive that a cutting tool is rotated in a cutting direction for cutting a treatment portion and drive for rotating the cutting tool in a non-cutting direction which is reverse to the cutting direction.

Abstract: A self-heating electric plugger/syringe needle (10/70) with the conductive element (50) on the external surface of the needle (10/70) is described. The needle (10/70), which can be divided into shank (30) and tip (20) portions, is hollow and is made of an electrically resistive material. A conductive element (50) located on the external surface of the needle runs along the length of its shank (30) and the length of its tip (20). An insulating material (60) located between the conductive element (50) and the external surface of the needle runs along the length of the shank (30). The conductive element (50) contacts the tip (20) of the needle, causing the needle to self-heat when electric current is supplied. A method for filling a root canal using the self-heating electric plugger/syringe needle (10/70) is also described.

Abstract: A device for measuring the length of a root canal of a subject is provided. The device includes a flexible sheath slidable over a dental handpiece head. The sheath includes electrically conducting wires for connecting to an apex locator. Also provided is a device for measuring root canal length that includes an endodontic file having a metallic element at the file end far from the end inserted into a root canal. The modified file provides a region in the metallic element for electronic attachment to an apex locator such that the rubber stopper may be moved along the entire file surface without interference.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments are used to clean and enlarge the endodontic cavity space (ECS), also known as the root canal system, of a human tooth. This document describes novel endodontic instruments that are radially compressible, and methods for their use. Some embodiments include a shank and a body with a working surface. At least a portion of the working surface may define a center of mass path that spirals. The center of mass of a transverse cross-section of the working surface at the shank end can be offset from the axis of rotation of the instrument.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments are described which have at least a section with a center of mass offset from an axis of rotation so that when the instrument is rotated, the section bends away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a fluted endodontic file are provided. The apparatus may include a fluted endodontic file defining a central longitudinal axis. The fluted endodontic file may include a working length extending along the central longitudinal axis. The working length may include a single flute. The working length may define an off-center cross-section having three vertices.

Abstract: A dental or dental surgical ultrasonic tool, comprising: a tool body, a connecting device for connection to an ultrasonic source, a working section extending along a longitudinal axis and designed to penetrate into bone to be treated, and a liquid line extending through the tool body in the direction of the working section and ending in at least one opening for the discharge of a liquid, wherein the working section has a distal end face with multiple cutting edges and a lateral surface connected thereto, wherein at least one channel for conveying a liquid is provided in the lateral surface, and wherein the at least one opening of the liquid line is disposed on the lateral surface in the at least one channel or directly adjacent to the at least one channel. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one channel extends helically around the longitudinal axis of the working section.

Abstract: An endo file for dental endodontic treatment includes: a head portion inserted into and detachably coupled to a hand piece; a tissue removing portion inserted, from the lower side of the head piece, into a patient's root canal for removing the nerve of a tooth; and a stress dispersion portion provided between the head portion and the tissue removing portion and having at least one horizontal penetration hole so as to buffer stress concentration generated during the rotation of the endo file, and to minimize endo file breakage.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonlinear superelastic file comprising the steps of: providing a superelastic file having a shaft and a file axis; providing a fixture including a file groove being defined by one or more displacement members, the file groove configured for receiving the shaft; inserting at least a portion of the shaft into the fixture along the file groove, the portion of the shaft including a first portion of the shaft; contacting the first portion of the shaft with a first displacement member of the one or more displacement members such that the first portion of the shaft is displaced from the file axis thereby forming a first offset portion of the shaft; heating the portion of the shaft while inserted in the fixture to a temperature of at least about 300° C. for a time period of at least about 1 minute to shape-set the portion of the shaft thereby forming a shape-set nonlinear file.

Abstract: A root canal treatment apparatus includes a root canal treatment hand piece having a visible light camera which captures a visible light image of a tooth as a target of interest, and circuitry which detects a position of the root canal treating hand piece, and instructs display of three images corresponding to at least a tip position of a cutting tool attached to the root canal treating hand piece, an X-ray cross-sectional image of the tooth captured by X-ray CT image capturing beforehand, and the visible light image captured by the visible light camera such that the three images are displayed on a display in an overlapping manner in positional correspondence with one another, based on information on the position of the root canal treating hand piece detected by the circuitry.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating an endodontic blank prior to forming a working portion of the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for cleaning/shaping a tooth root canal that includes an elongated shaft composed of a porous material, the shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end and a tapered working portion having an external surface and a rotational axis, the working portion extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end.

Abstract: A NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient, having a tip, middle portion and rear portion divided along the longitudinal direction. The internal microstructure of the tip is martensite, of the rear portion is austenite, and of the middle portion is a combination of martensite and austenite. The microstructure of martensite is continuously reduced and the microstructure of austenite is continuously increased as the distance from the tip increases. A manufacturing method for the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient. As the internal microstructure of the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient gradually changes along the axial direction and the strength also gradually changes, the flexibility and strength show a gradient change along the axial direction of the root canal file, providing excellent cutting property, high anti-fatigue life and significantly improving operation performance, safety, and life of the root canal files.

Abstract: An improved rotary endodontic file includes a multi-planar pre-curved apical portion having a first and a second curvature. The pre-curved apical portion begins at about one-third to one-quarter of the working length as measured from the tip end of the endodontic instrument. The first and second curvature permit the file to continually search and engage the walls of a tooth root canal in a forced inside-forced outside manner. As the file works its way down, it breaks free of any ledges encountered, probes lateral- and delta-type openings, and does not allow the file to stray from the curvature of the canal.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument includes a plurality of flutes and a plurality of lands extending helically around a working portion. Each flute includes a curved concave flute surface, a pair of flute shoulders at the peripheral edges of the flute surface, a flute width defined by a distance between the flute shoulders, and a flute depth defined by a point of maximum depth between the flute shoulders. Each land is positioned between a pair of axially adjacent flutes and includes a curved concave land surface, a pair of land shoulders at the peripheral edges of the land surface, a land width defined by a distance between the land shoulders, and a land depth defined by a point of maximum depth between the land shoulders. The land width is less than the flute width and the land depth is less than the flute depth in the upper region of the working portion.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument comprising a tapered rod, the rod comprising an active portion, the active portion terminating at a distal tip end of the rod and defining a conical envelope, the conical envelope having a longitudinal axis that coincides with an axis of rotation of the instrument.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments for use in performing root canal therapy on a tooth are disclosed. In one form, the instruments include an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank comprises a titanium alloy, and the shank is prepared by heat-treating the shank at a temperature above 25° C. in an atmosphere consisting essentially of a gas unreactive with the shank. In another form, the endodontic instruments have an elongate shank having a cutting edge extending from a distal end of the shank along an axial length of the shank. The shank consists essentially of a titanium alloy selected from alpha-titanium alloys, beta-titanium alloys, and alpha-beta-titanium alloys. The instruments solve the problems encountered when cleaning and enlarging a curved root canal.

Abstract: A method for removing a dental post from a tooth. The method includes (a) removing securing materials from around the dental post, (b) texturing the dental post to form a prepared dental post, (c) providing a dental post removal device with a hollow tubular structure and a fulcrum, (d) filling the hollow tubular structure with dental cement, (e) placing the dental cement-filled tubular structure over the prepared dental post, inserting a fluted file through the filled tubular structure and engaging file flutes between the prepared dental post and the wall of the tubular device and allowing the material to adhere together the tubular structure, the file, and dental post, and (f) applying a force on the fulcrum to remove the hollow tubular structure, the attached file and dental post from the tooth.

Abstract: A dental treating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a hand piece; a head unit; a driving unit; a control unit; a load specifying unit; and a load comparing unit. The hand piece drivably holds a cutting tool on the head unit. The driving unit drives the cutting tool in a normal rotation direction or in a reverse rotation direction. The load comparing unit compares a load detected and a reference load. During a normal rotation period until driving for rotating the cutting tool in the normal rotation direction by the driving unit satisfies a predetermined first condition, the control unit maintains a rotation direction of the cutting tool in the normal rotation direction, and when a result of comparison by the load comparing unit attains a predetermined result during the normal rotation period, the control unit controls the rotation direction to the reverse rotation direction.

Abstract: A fatigue-resistant Nitinol instrument has a working portion in the deformed monoclinic martensitic state and an austenite finish temperature in the range of 40° to 60° C. Because the operating environment of the instrument is about 37° C., the working portion remains in the monoclinic martensitic state during its use. The relatively high austenite finish temperature and fatigue resistance is achieved by subjecting the nickel-titanium alloy to a final thermal heat treat in a temperature range of about 410° to 440° C. while the nickel-titanium alloy is under constant strain of about 3 to 15 kg. Further, the high austenite finish temperature is achieved without subjecting the alloy to thermal cycling to produce shape memory. Additionally, there are no intermediate processing steps occurring between obtaining a finished diameter of the wire or blank through cold working and the final thermal heat treat under constant strain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for the endodontic treatment of a root canal that includes (i) an endodontic instrument; (ii) an endodontic handpiece having a drive motor for rotating the endodontic instrument releasably attached to the handpiece; (iii) a control unit for controlling the rotation of the endodontic instrument according to one or more predetermined rotational sequences.

Abstract: Provided is a system for endodontic treatment of a root canal. The system includes a handpiece containing a rotary motor adapted to rotate an endodontic file secured by the handpiece. A control unit executes a regime of motion of the motor to produce a regime of file motion in which episodes of oscillation of the file are separated by a rotation of the file. When the arc of a rotation is less than the arc of the oscillation that preceded the rotation, the arcs of the episodes of oscillation overlap and the formation of ridges in the root canal is avoided.

Abstract: A new ultrasonic tip is used to activate endodontic files and includes a tubular body; a ring disposed at one end of the tubular body, the ring having an external diameter and an internal diameter; and the ring having a cut to permit easy insertion of the endodontic file; and a threaded hole at the other end of the tubular body, the threaded hole being capable of screwing onto an ultrasonic hand piece.

Abstract: An instrument for drilling dental root canals includes a tapered rod having over at least a part of its length—the active part—a polygonal cross-section forming at least two cutting edges, the active part terminating by a point and being defined by an envelope of cylindrical or conical shape, whose longitudinal axis coincides with the instrument's axis of rotation. The active part has a first portion extending from the point and a second portion extending following the first portion towards the rear of the active part. At least one cross-section of the first portion has a center of mass located on the axis of rotation and the cutting edges are located on the envelope. Any cross-section of the second portion has a center of mass offset with respect to the axis of rotation and at least one cutting edge defined by the cross-section is located set back.

Abstract: Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.

Abstract: A guided drill for osteotomy for a dental implant is provided. The guided drill includes a guide body configured to fit within a guide sleeve attached to a surgical template. A surgical kit includes a series of guided drills with each guided drill having a different combination of a drilling diameter and a drilling length, a container containing the series of guided drills in a form of an array, and a chart comprising a map of the array and graphical indications. The graphical indications are configured to indicate to a user of the surgical kit a suggested order of sequentially using the series of guided drills from the array to perform a part of osteotomy procedure and obtain a hole, having a prescribed diameter and a prescribed length, for a dental implant.

Abstract: A set of at least three endodontic files, the first file of the set being entirely non-landed and tapered and having a diameter at its tip end which is smaller in diameter than that of a second and a third file of the set at their respective tip end, and the second and third files each having the following characteristics: a machined length, preferably 16 mm, having cutting surfaces thereon and starting at a tip end and extending less than the overall length of the file (preferably 25 mm); an active length starting at the tip end and extending to at least half of the machined length, the active length being tapered; a non-active length extending a remainder of the machined length, the non-active length being non-tapered; and the active length being landed in the first one-third and non-landed in the remaining two-thirds of its length.

Abstract: A dental treating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a hand piece; a head unit; a driving unit; a resistor for load detection; a load comparing unit; and a control unit. The hand piece drivably holds a cutting tool on the head unit. The driving unit drives the cutting tool in a normal rotation direction or in a reverse rotation direction. The resistor for load detection detects a load applied to the cutting tool. The load comparing unit compares the detected load and a reference load each time driving for rotating the cutting tool in the reverse rotation direction by a predetermined rotation angle is performed. The control unit controls the driving unit based on a result of comparison by the load comparing unit.

Abstract: Endodontic instruments are described which have at least a section with a center of mass offset from an axis of rotation so that when the instrument is rotated, the section bends away from the axis of rotation.