Abstract: An instrument including a first arm, a second arm, and a blade. The first arm includes a lumen in communication with a source of irrigation fluid and one or more outlets in communication with the lumen for delivering the irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The instrument is switchable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the instrument is configured to deliver a first therapy current through a distal end of the first arm, a distal end of the second arm, or both. In the second configuration, a distal end of the blade extends beyond the distal end of the first arm and beyond the distal end of the second arm.

Abstract: A multi-functional dental tool is provided to be used for the dental filling of teeth after the removal of damage in the teeth. The dental tool includes a forcep portion on one end and a burnisher tool on the other end. The burnisher tool portion includes a flat burnisher and a ball burnisher, and a joint which connects the forcep portion and the burnisher tool portion. The dental tool can also include a penlight holder which can receive and secure a penlight. The penlight, when secured in the penlight holder, provides illumination when performing the filling procedure, especially in situations in which an overhead light source is not readily available.

Abstract: A tool for use in fixing the position of an implanted item beneath skin, comprises: a main body, a channel in the main body, the channel defining at least two gripping interfaces for engagement with the skin and around the implanted item, wherein the interfaces are positioned such that, when engaged with the skin, the interfaces retain the implanted item in a known position relative to the engaged skin. Methods of using the tool are also described.

Abstract: A compressible dental instrument to non-impressively adapt restorative material through compression comprises a handle portion (2), having a docking aperture (4) to interface with a highly compressible foam insert (10) with a docking extrusion and a tip holder (14) having highly compressible tip (16). A user can dock both to compressively adapt composite resin to a tooth's surface by first applying a restorative to a tooth and second applying the compressible portion to the restorative. Applied pressure compresses the tip to non-impressively micro manipulate composite resin.

Abstract: In order to get good access for treatment at hidden parts of the oral cavity, double arched tweezers are disclosed, that can favorably be applied for operations at one or the other side of the mouth and by left- or right-handed dentists.

Abstract: A dental tweezers with plastic tweezers main body is disclosed. A weight cavity is disposed on both tweezers arms of the main body. Weight arms of a metal weight are inserted into the weight cavities. A weight seat holds the metal weight in place on the tweezers main body. The metal weight makes the dental tweezers feel heavier and more substantial. After the dental tweezers have been used the metal weight is removed from the main body. The plastic tweezers main body is disposed of and the metal weight is retained for future use in an new plastic tweezers main body. A use indicator of the tweezers main body indicates that the dental tweezers has been used. The use indicator provides easy determination of whether or not the dental tweezers has been previously used.

Abstract: In order to get good access for treatment at hidden parts of the oral cavity, double arched tweezers are disclosed, that can favorably be applied for operations at one or the other side of the mouth and by left- or right-handed dentists.

Abstract: Dental forceps for holding dental articulating paper has dual elongated spring arms, moveable toward and away from each other. The spring arms each have a lower handle section, an intermediate section extending from the lower handle section, and an upper section with a cantilevered member extending from the top end of the intermediate section. Clamping support arms extend outward from and perpendicular to the cantilevered member of each of the spring arms. The support arms have jagged surfaces which enhance the paper holding capability of the spring arms. When the spring arms are fully biased away from each other, the support arms are closed and articulating paper is held therebetween. When the lower handle sections of the spring arms are moved together, the support arms open to release the paper.

Abstract: ABSTRACT: A double sided dental articulating paper forceps that has two pairs of opposed jaws (12) which hold articulating paper or gauze, one on each end of the appliance, extending from interconnected arms (16) and intermediate arms (14), allowing the quick drying and marking of the dental occlusion with one instrument as well as allowing the marking of the dental occlusion with two separate articulating paper colors in one instrument.

Abstract: A dental dam clamp comprises first and second spaced, opposing jaws and respective first and second tooth engaging portions on the jaws. The first and second tooth engaging portions are positioned in confronting relation to one another and are biased toward one another by a resilient member when the jaws are moved outwardly from a free state defining a first position of the jaws. In one embodiment, first ends of the tooth engaging portions are spaced closer together than the second ends of the tooth engaging portions when the jaws are in the first position. The spacing between the first ends of the tooth engaging portions may be substantially the same as the spacing between the second ends of the tooth engaging portions when the jaws are moved outwardly to a second position. In another embodiment, the tooth engaging portions include friction-increasing surfaces to help secure the clamp to a tooth.

Abstract: The current invention provides a device for holding dental abutments such as healing caps, healing screws, contoured healing abutments, PME (precision margin esthetics) abutments, PME impression pins, hexed transfer assemblies, straight and angled fixed system components, hexed coping screws or any dental implant parts when the object is being inserted or otherwise located into a patient's mouth. The device is tweezer-like and is designed to hold a dental abutment having a central axis. The device includes a pair of substantially identical members that are joined together at one of the ends and each have a free end. The members are disposed in the V-like configuration with the joined ends interconnected and the free end spaced apart so that when the members are squeezed towards one another, the free ends are brought into contact. Each of the members has a handle portion including the joined end, and an offset gripping portion.

Abstract: The current invention provides a device for holding dental abutments such as healing caps, healing screws, contoured healing abutments, PME (precision margin esthetics) abutments, PME impression pins, hexed transfer assemblies, straight and angled fixed system components, hexed coping screws or any dental implant parts when the object is being inserted or otherwise located into a patient's mouth. The device is tweezer-like and is designed to hold a dental abutment having a central axis. The device includes a pair of substantially identical members that are joined together at one of the ends and each have a free end. The members are disposed in the V-like configuration with the joined ends interconnected and the free end spaced apart so that when the members are squeezed towards one another, the free ends are brought into contact. Each of the members has a handle portion including the joined end, and an offset gripping portion.

Abstract: A tweezer-like dental pliers having a pair of elongated, flat and generally parallel handles with connected first ends, spaced-apart central portions, and second ends with normally closed gripping tips. The second ends are bent at an acute angle, preferably about 70 degrees, with respect to the handles, and a projecting fulcrum contacts the handles adjacent the bend so the gripping tips can be separated by squeezing the handle central portions together. A screw engaged between the handle central portions adjustably limits separation of the central portions to control gripping pressure of the normally closed tips.

Abstract: An instrument for trimming intraoral tissue, such as periodontal flaps, having cutting edges that are contoured to excise tissue of a predetermined shape. The instrument has first and second trimming members that may be used to stabilize the intraoral tissue prior to trimming, and may be configured at an angle for easy positioning in the mouth. The instrument may optionally include one or more finger loops and/or thumb grips.

Abstract: A matrix retainer apparatus for dental restorations is formed from a resilient, substantially planar main body, a pair of fines extending from the ends of the main body and retention members provided on the tines. The retention members serve to increase the coefficient of friction between the matrix retainer and the tooth or tooth reconstruction element and avoid inadvertent removal of the retainer therefrom. The invention is also directed to a matrix retainer system composed of several matrix retainers adapted for a variety of complex applications.

Abstract: A dental instrument comprising a grasping device in the form of a tweezer member having a finger receiving ring detachably connected to one of the legs of the tweezer member is disclosed. The instrument is used for holding and inserting a Cerec inlay, manufactured by a dental Cerec machine, in a tooth undergoing a restorative procedure. The instrument may further include a threaded axle which coacts with each leg of the tweezers and protrudes from one of the legs. The instrument may also further include a plunger mechanism which facilitates the insertion of an inlay in a prepared tooth cavity.

Abstract: An orthodontic's hand instrument for installing a lingual bar on the lower arch of a patient's teeth. The hand instrument includes a handle having a first end and a second end with a clamp connected to the second end of the handle. A portion of the clamp extends a distance downwardly from the handle and another portion of the clamp extends a distance back toward the first end of the handle terminating with a clamp end. The clamp is movable to an opened position whereby a portion of the clamp near the clamp end is insertable over a portion of the lingual bar and the clamp is movable to a closed position whereby a portion of the clamp near the clamp end is clampingly closed over a portion of the lingual bar for clampingly holding the lingual bar. The clamp holding the lingual bar is movable into the patient's mouth and lowerable to position the lingual bar near the lingual side of the patient's lower teeth for connecting opposite ends of the lingual bar to the patient's lower teeth.

Abstract: A dental crown (cap) remover with unique crown separating and removing means is adaptable to a wide variety of crown sizes and configurations and does not place compressive or axial forces on the underlying tooth or its supporting processes (alvoelar bone and periodontal fibers). The crown remover has a grasping and tightening mechanism that allows the dentist operator to firmly seat the crown remover on the crown to be removed, and has an elliptical separating mechanism that inserts in a precut groove in the crown and forces separation of the halves of the crown, increasing the circumferential dimension breaking the cementing medium and loosening the crown from the underlying tooth, providing for ease of separation of the crown from the tooth.

Abstract: A dental articulating forceps has a pair of opposed long thin jaws extending from and offset from interconnected spring arms. The face of one jaw directed toward the other jaw has a central groove of determined shape extending therealong, and the other jaw has a matching elongated projection adapted to be received by the groove.

Abstract: A dental appliance for supporting marking paper within a patient's mouth and for directing a supply of air toward the marking paper, including first means for holding marking paper for insertion into a patient's mouth between opposing tooth surfaces, the first means including jaw members for holding the marking paper and additionally including means for opening the jaw members for releasing the marking paper, and second means operatively coupled to the jaw members for receiving and directing a supply of air toward the marking paper for maintaining the marking paper and the opposing tooth surfaces dry.

Abstract: A dental clamp for maintaining steady pressure on a matrix strip of non-corrosive, flexible metal used to insert a Class III and/or a Class IV restoration to a tooth.