Abstract: An endodontic file (10) has a handle (11) and a spiral cord (15) of helically wound metallic wire wound in a predetermined direction around a central metallic cord (13) formed between opposite ends of the central cord so as to form an integrated structure (18) of generally conical cross-section including a narrow tip end (17) and an opposite wider upper end (16) supported at the upper end by the handle. A flexible conical reinforcement (26, 31) supported by the handle covers an outermost layer of an upper portion of the spiral cord remote from the tip end, its lower end being of sufficiently low diameter to enter the root canal and dimensioned at its upper end to limit bending of the upper portion. An outer surface (20) of the spiral cord is configured for removing material from inside the root canal when the endodontic file is rotated in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dental treating apparatus including: a hand piece; a power source (micro motor); a driving unit (motor driver); a driving state detecting unit (resistor for load detection, root canal length measuring circuit); and a controller. The hand piece drivably holds a cutting tool on a head unit. The power source drives the cutting tool. The driving unit drives the cutting tool with twist driving in which the normal rotation and the reverse rotation are repeated. The driving state detecting unit detects a driving state of the cutting tool. The controller changes at least one parameter of a rotation angle in the normal rotation, a rotation angle speed in the normal rotation, a rotation angle in the reverse rotation, and a rotation angle speed in the reverse rotation in accordance with the driving state of the cutting tool detected by the driving state detecting unit.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling root canals, in particular a flexible drilling instrument which includes a working part and a securing end fitting intended for mounting the instrument in a mandrel of a contra-angle-type support provided with an electric motor used to drive an instrument clockwise. The casing of the working part is conical along its length and ends in a tip. The working part is provided with a spiral flute forming a ridge having a cutting edge. The drill bit, relief and cutting angles defined by the cutting edge can be varied along the length of the working part so that the instrument is particularly sharp in the area near the tip and so that the profile of the cutting ridge becomes progressively more blunt along the length of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.

Abstract: A reamer for use in root canal preparation includes a blade that is spiral-shaped with a pitch increasing towards the tip, and with a cutting or non-cutting tip. At given points along the length of the spiral of the blade, there is a plurality of gaps, the spiral starting again beyond the gaps, wherein the portion where the spiral is interrupted has either a constant or decreasing cross section linking the two diameters before and after the gap.

Abstract: A gutta-percha remover suitable for removing a gutta-percha and having flexibility with good compliancy to curvature of a root canal and a superior removing capability for forming a sufficient gap bet the gutta-percha and the root canal wall is provided. The gutta-percha remover includes a shaft, a tapered working portion connected to the shaft, and one, two, or more screw-shaped grooves formed in the working portion. The cross-sections of a base end and a tip of the working portion are such that the tip of the working portion is greater in rate of the area of each cross-section to a corresponding circle circumscribing the cross-section.

Abstract: An instrument for cleaning canals during endodontic procedures is presented. The instrument is formed in one piece from a stiff polymeric material. The instrument features a handle, a measuring shaft, and a tapering shank with raised polymeric projections along its length. The present invention is designed without the use of bristles that conventional brushes contain. The raised polymeric projections include fins that may be oriented parallel to or transverse to the axis of the instrument to provide multidirectional cleaning capability. The instrument is stiff enough to penetrate a canal and mechanically scrub and scrape canal surfaces, but flexible enough to negotiate the curves of the canal.

Abstract: An instrument for drilling dental root canals, includes a tapered rod having on at least an active part of its length, at least one helical flute defining at least one helical cutting edge. The instrument also has a helical hollow on a portion of the active part extending as far as the point of the rod. At least one of the edges defined by the helical hollow is coincident with the cutting edge, the hollow reducing the cutting angle of the cutting edge. Any cross-section of the active part has at least one convex side belonging to the helical flute. The closer the cross-section in question is to the point of the rod, the more the curvature at any point of the convex side increases and tends to approximate the curvature of the circumscribed circle of the cross-section and passing via the cutting edge defined by the helical flute.

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.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument adapted to be axially reciprocated within a root canal to remove material from walls of the root canal. The endodontic instrument includes an elongate shaft and a working portion. The elongate shaft includes a proximal end adjacent a handle and a distal end terminating at a tip spaced from the proximal end by the length of the instrument. The working portion includes a first helical fluted cutting surface for removing material from the walls of a root canal and a second helical fluted cutting surface for removing material from the walls of a root canal. The first helical fluted cutting surface and second helical fluted cutting surfaces are formed in opposing left-hand and right-hand directions such that material is removed form the walls of a root canal when the instrument is rotated in either a first or a second direction.

Abstract: An improved endodontic instrument has a uniform tapered working length with at least two helical shaped flutes and spiraled lands having a land width no greater than 0.101 mm as measured in a plane perpendicular the central axis of rotation of instrument. The land width is preferably constant along the working length but may vary provided it does not exceed 0.101 mm. The instrument resists mid-root transportation and exhibits superior fatigue performance and cutting efficiency compared to prior art instruments.

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: The invention relates to a reamer with an improved blade for use in root canal preparation, the blade being spiral-shaped with a pitch increasing towards the tip, and with a cutting or non-cutting tip. At given points along the length of the spiral of the blade, there is a plurality of gaps, the spiral starting again beyond the gaps, wherein the portion where the spiral is interrupted has either a constant or decreasing cross section linking the two diameters before and after the gap.

Abstract: According to a dental image display device, a dental surgical operation device, and a dental image display method, a 2D captured image of a tooth as a surgical operation target that is captured with visible light in an articulation face direction, and an articulation face direction converted 2D image obtained as a result of displaying 3D information, which is acquired on the tooth and includes information on a root canal inside the tooth, two-dimensionally on a predetermined plane in the articulation face direction, are displayed in correspondence with each other on a monitor.

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: An endodontic file (10) has a handle (11) and a spiral cord (15) of helically wound metallic wire wound in a predetermined direction around a central metallic cord (13) formed between opposite ends of the central cord so as to form an integrated structure (18) of generally conical cross-section including a narrow tip end (17) and an opposite wider upper end (16) supported at the upper end by the handle. A flexible conical reinforcement (26, 31) supported by the handle covers an outermost layer of an upper portion of the spiral cord remote from the tip end, its lower end being of sufficiently low diameter to enter the root canal and dimensioned at its upper end to limit bending of the upper portion. An outer surface (20) of the spiral cord is configured for removing material from inside the root canal when the endodontic file is rotated in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A dental handpiece control apparatus including: a relay 17 that switches a polarity of a voltage applied to a motor 20, and thereby switches a rotation direction of the motor 20 to forward rotation and backward rotation, the motor 20 being incorporated in the dental handpiece to rotate a cutting tool (a file) mounted to the dental handpiece; and a control section 11 that controls the switching of the voltage polarity by the relay 17 based on a rotation angle ?F for forward rotation and a rotation angle ?R for backward rotation of the motor 20, the rotation angle ?F and the rotation angle ?R being associated with state information of the file.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for the endodontic treatment of a root canal, comprising (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; the rotational sequences comprising reciprocating the endodontic instrument by continuously sequentially rotating the endodontic instrument in a first direction followed by reversing the direction of rotation so that 0.5×???<? and 3??/??20, wherein ? represents a rotational angle in a direction in which the rotating endodontic instrument removes debris from the root canal, ? represents a rotational angle in the opposite direction, and ? represents the elastic angle of the endodontic instrument at which plastic deformation occurs in the direction of ?.

Abstract: A tip assembly for use with a dental tool, the tip assembly comprising a housing for attaching to the dental tool, at least one aspiration needle having a passageway extending at least partially through the aspiration needle, a substantial length of the aspiration needle, or at least from one end to the other end of the aspiration needle, the passageway providing a single continuous path to aspirate the irrigant and/or debris from the root canal cavity of the tooth, and at least one irrigation needle having a passageway extending at least partially through the irrigation needle, a substantial length of the irrigation needle, or at least from one end to the other end of the irrigation needle, the passageway provides a continuous flow path for delivering fluid/irrigant from a reservoir in communication with a proximal end of the irrigation needle to the distal end of the irrigation needle and into a root canal/coronal opening of a tooth.

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: A cleaning instrument for an endodontic procedure such as a root canal provides a distal portion for agitating an irrigant, comprising in some embodiments agitating structures that stir the irrigant to assist in removing the smear layer and dislodging loosely adhered organic debris. The structures may also be designed to assist in evacuating irrigant from the canal. Some embodiments provide orifices through which an irrigating fluid can traverse the distal portion of the instrument and enter the canal to wash away loosened debris and sterilize the canal.

Abstract: An endodontic file for a motorized rotary handpiece includes a coupler element for coupling to the handpiece, a central longitudinal flexible core including a central flexible cable supported by the coupler element, and a helical wire surrounding the core and extending toward a tip of the core opposite the handle end. The flexible core includes a first plurality of inner strands twisted together in a first direction and surrounded by a second plurality of outer strands twisted in an opposite direction. The tip of the core is chamfered and unbonded and protrudes beyond the helical wire at the tip whereby in use reversing a direction of rotation of the endodontic file after the tip of the core reaches the apex of the root canal, unwinds the outer strands, which operate as a brush during removal of the endodontic file from the root canal.

Abstract: A method of producing an endodontic file that involves grinding in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a rotating dental instrument blank. By grinding the dental instrument blank in this manner, the torsional strength of the resulting endodontic file is not eroded during its production, thereby providing a file that is less susceptible to breakage during its use.

Abstract: An endodontic reamer/file for cleaning/shaping a tooth root canal having an elongated shank with a proximal end portion, a distal end and a tapered working portion having a longitudinal axis, the external surface of the shank working portion being defined by a plurality of at least two equally spaced apart continuous concaved helical flutes providing concave flute surfaces, the flute surfaces having therebetween an equal number of spiraled, spaced apart flanges, each flange having in a plane perpendicular the longitudinal axis a single outer end surface having opposed first and second ends, each first end forming an active spiraled leading scraping/cutting edge and each second end forming a passive spiraled edge.

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 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: A device for placing, compacting or burnishing root repair materials for root-end surgery to fill root-end cavities during root-end surgery, and specifically for placing and compacting newer root repair materials to fill root-end cavities. A system for placing, compacting or burnishing root repair materials for root-end surgery to fill root-end cavities during root-end surgery, and specifically for placing, compacting or burnishing newer root repair materials. A method for placing, compacting or burnishing root repair materials for root-end surgery to fill root-end cavities during root-end surgery, and specifically for placing, compacting or burnishing root repair newer root repair materials to fill root-end cavities.

Abstract: A series of multi-tapered parabolic implements is disclosed for endodontic use. The instruments comprise different sections: a pilot tip, a first portion adjacent the pilot tip and a second portion adjacent the shank. The two portions have different tapers. The tapers of the two different portions blend into each other along a parabola-shaped surface. The pilot tip is radiussed for ease of entry into a root canal with increased safety.

Abstract: An endodontic file for a motorized rotary handpiece includes a coupler element for coupling to the handpiece, a central longitudinal flexible core including a central flexible cable supported by the coupler element, and a helical wire surrounding the core and extending toward a tip of the core opposite the handle end. The flexible core includes a first plurality of inner strands twisted together in a first direction and surrounded by a second plurality of outer strands twisted in an opposite direction. The tip of the core is chamfered and unbonded and protrudes beyond the helical wire at the tip whereby in use reversing a direction of rotation of the endodontic file after the tip of the core reaches the apex of the root canal, unwinds the outer strands, which operate as a brush during removal of the endodontic file from the root canal.

Abstract: An endodontic file (10) has at least a central longitudinal cord (12), a helically wound wire (14) at least partially surrounding the cord and an elastomeric grip (16) partially covering the helically wound wire near a first end thereof and having an outer diameter that is slightly wider than an internal diameter of a barrel of a dental instrument whereby on insertion into the barrel it is supported therein only by friction.

Abstract: A machining apparatus and method for fabricating endodontic instruments adapted for use in performing root canal procedures is disclosed. The machining apparatus includes computer numerical control (CNC) machining that automates much of the fabrication process. The disclosed machining apparatus and method is programmable to efficiently produce varying configurations of endodontic instruments on the same machining apparatus.

Abstract: A porous material for insertion cleaning of instruments is provided, such porous material including an at least partially open-cell foam body and a surface configured to enable an instrument having contaminants to be inserted into the body. The body may be configured to substantially grip the instrument to remove a substantial portion of the contaminants from the instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling the root canals of a tooth. The instrument comprises a working area for forming and/or shaping and/or cutting the wall of the root canal of the tooth. The working area is provided with a supporting endpiece that can be attached to a manual or mechanically driven mounting. The working area is arranged so as to assume a stowed configuration when the instrument is in an inoperative position to the working position, and vice versa, being cause by a predetermined variation in the temperature of the instrument. To this end, the working area is made from a wire of a metal alloy having shape-memory properties or particular elasticity properties.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for drilling root canals, in particular a flexible drilling instrument which comprises a working part and a securing end fitting intended for mounting the instrument in a mandrel of a contra-angle-type support provided with an electric motor used to drive an instrument clockwise. The casing of the working part is conical along its length and ends in a tip. The working part is provided with a spiral flute forming a ridge having a cutting edge. The drill bit, relief and cutting angles defined by the cutting edge can be varied along the length of the working part so that the instrument is particularly sharp in the area near the tip and so that the profile of the cutting ridge becomes progressively more blunt along the length of the instrument.

Abstract: A dental reamer root canal instrument has a working area that is substantially cylindrical or conical along a longitudinal axis, the instrument including X helical flutes forming X lips of helical cuts, a cut lip being formed by the intersection of two consecutive flutes, wherein X is equal to or greater than three. Over a cross-section of the instrument, the angles (?I, ?I, ?I) between two consecutive cut lips, measured relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument, are all different. A method for producing the root canal instrument in a cylindrical or conical rod is also disclosed. The rod is made of a metal or metal alloy material selected for the mechanical bending strength and shape memory properties thereof. The method includes steps for using a grinding wheel to machine a flute to a predefined depth and steps for rotating the rod in front of the machining wheel.

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 quasi-hyperbolic endodontic instrument having a cylindrical, elongated shaft with a radius that varies as a smooth, continuous curve along the length of the shaft and is larger near the distal portion of the file than near the proximal end of the file. The distal radius may be 10% or more larger than the proximal radius. This design provides a flexible file that minimizes the possibility of breaking, and ensures that if breakage does occur, it will occur near the handle, allowing the broken bit to be easily removed from the tooth canal. The instrument may further, or instead, have a metal cable connecting the cutting head to the handle to help reduce metal fatigue.

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: 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 medical instrument comprising a mono-crystalline shape memory alloy and a method for forming thereof.

Abstract: An instrument for drilling dental root canals, includes a tapered rod having on at least an active part of its length, at least one helical flute defining at least one helical cutting edge. The instrument also has a helical hollow on a portion of the active part extending as far as the point of the rod. At least one of the edges defined by the helical hollow is coincident with the cutting edge, the hollow reducing the cutting angle of the cutting edge. Any cross-section of the active part has at least one convex side belonging to the helical flute. The closer the cross-section in question is to the point of the rod, the more the curvature at any point of the convex side increases and tends to approximate the curvature of the circumscribed circle of the cross-section and passing via the cutting edge defined by the helical flute.

Abstract: A fluoride treated medical implant, such as a dental component, is provided, the medical implant comprising fluorinated metal oxide on the substrate surface. A method for the preparation of such treated implants is also provided, the method involving exposure of the medical implant to a fluorine-containing reagent. A dental structure is also provided, which includes a first dental component comprising a fluorinated metal oxide layer on its surface, a silane coupling agent, a dental cement, and a second dental component having a surface bonded to the dental cement. An additional dental structure, which includes a first dental component comprising a fluorinated metal oxide layer on its surface, a dental cement, and a second dental component having a surface bonded to the dental cement is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing a critical set of endodontic instruments. The set includes a first endodontic instrument, a second endodontic instrument, and a third endodontic instrument. Each endodontic instrument includes a working portion that has a cone-like shape. Each working portion having an effective contact area defined by the exposed surface area of the working portion's respective cone-like shape. The difference between the effective contact areas of the first endodontic instrument and second endodontic instrument being substantially the same as the difference between the effective contact areas of the second endodontic instrument and third endodontic instrument.

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: The present invention provides a selective coating of an endodontic file, in which the distal end of the file is uncoated or alternatively leaving the outermost part of the blades of the distal end portion uncoated. The distribution of the nanoparticles is thus non uniform along the surface of the file leaving only a part of the file coated. In the present invention, the distal end of the device being subjected to the highest torque is either uncoated at all, or has a coated core and uncoated blades.

Abstract: An instrument for cleaning canals during endodontic procedures is presented. The instrument is formed in one piece from a stiff polymeric material. The instrument features a handle, a measuring shaft, and a tapering shank with raised polymeric projections along its length. The present invention is designed without the use of bristles that conventional brushes contain. The raised polymeric projections include fins that may be oriented parallel to or transverse to the axis of the instrument to provide multidirectional cleaning capability. The instrument is stiff enough to penetrate a canal and mechanically scrub and scrape canal surfaces, but flexible enough to negotiate the curves of the canal.

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 set of endodontic instrument adapted to remove material from walls of a root canal having a working portion with a relatively short working length. A substantially untapered nonworking portion of the instrument shaft with substantially parallel sidewalls and a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the proximal end of the working portion extends from adjacent a proximal end of the working portion to the proximal end of the shaft. The working portions of the set of instruments have relatively small, slowly progressing taper rates.

Abstract: The invention is an endodontic instrument which comprises, among other features: a handle having an elongated base with a threaded projection having a recessed distal surface capable of cupping a first terminus portion of an elongated plastic grip attached to an endodontic file; and a cap containing a channel extending through the cap with the channel being threaded for mating with the projection of the elongated base of said endodontic instrument handle, said cap possessing a side and containing an aperture through which an endodontic file can project, the diameter of the aperture being selected to be larger than the diameter of the endodontic file but smaller than the diameter of a plastic grip attached to the endodontic file, said cap further having a recessed interior surface capable of cupping a second terminus portion of an elongated plastic grip attached to an endodontic file.