Abstract: Condensing instruments are used for packing and condensing in connection with placement of dental composite resin restorative materials. These instruments are manufactured in metal or plastic material. Some composite resins however, contain hard particles and require a relatively large condensing pressure which causes abrasion of superficial fragments of prior art metal instruments. These fragments are confined in the restorative material and causes discoloration, often after oxidation. Plastic instruments quickly loose their surface finish, which may render it impossible to perform an adequate condensation. In order to provide an instrument which does not cause discoloration and which guarantees a durable function, at least one functional member (4 and/or 5) of the instrument consists of a metal alloy having a coating (6 and/or 7) of ceramic material which provides the working surface (8 and/or 9) of the functional member.

Abstract: The specification discloses an amalgam carrier for pushing amalgams into previously difficultly accessed tooth cavities such as in distal and lingual surfaces. The carrier includes an elongated handle, a support arm extending laterally of the handle, and a release mechanism mounted on the support arm and defining an amalgam bore opening away from the support arm in a direction generally common with the handle. The release mechanism is actuable in the vicinity of the support arm whereby the carrier can be firmly grasped about said handle and the release mechanism actuated by the user's thumb. Also disclosed is a method of pushing an amalgam utilizing the amalgam carrier of the present invention.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for emplacing, heating and condensing a sealing plug in a dental root canal comprises an elongated shank having a heat softenable and deformable root canal sealing plug, desirably formed substantially of gutta percha, detachably affixed to one end of the shank. Elongated retractable conductive means, such as a heat conducting wire, extends longitudinally in the shank and has one end terminating in the plug for detachable affixing the plug to the shank and for causing heating and softening of the plug, the conductive means being slidable in the shank for withdrawing the one end from the plug to enable the shank to be used in condensing the heat softened plug within the dental root canal.

Abstract: An instrument particularly adapted for thermomechanically condensing a thermoplastic material such as gutta percha in the root canal of a tooth through the rotative action of the instrument is disclosed. The instrument comprises an elongated member including a shank at one end and a working portion at its other end. The working portion is tapered along at least part of its length. The working portion includes at least two oppositely disposed, continuous helical flutes formed in at least a portion of the tapered length of the shank defining at least two oppositely disposed helical shoulders. The shoulders face away from the shank and make an angle with the longitudinal axis of the working portion of from about 90.degree. to 80.degree. and each of the continuous spiraled flutes make from about 1.0 to 3.5 spirals per millimeter along the longitudinal axis of the working portion of the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dental tool for obturating stripped root canals, comprising an elongated rod-like body having a shank or handle and a working portion with radially outwardly extending shoulders or flutes facing away from the shank and making an angle with the longitudinal axis of the body of about 90.degree. or less. The diameter of the shoulders or flutes may be progressively diminished from adjacent the shank toward the end of the working portion to provide a taper, and in another embodiment the shoulders are continuous and spiraled. In use, the tool may be linearly and angularly reciprocally mounted in a power operator, and may be heated for softening the obturating materials, such a gutta-percha. The reciprocation of the tool, particularly the linear reciprocation, forces the shoulders into compressive contact with the softened material and, when adequate density is attained, backs out of the root canal naturally through reverse action without specific operator effort.

Abstract: A dental implement for dispensing amalgam includes a handle on which are mounted at least one amalgam dispenser and a plugger corresponding to each amalgam dispenser for condensing the amalgam dispensed by the dispenser.

Abstract: An amalgam carrier and dispenser constructed in a manner such that its effective life is at least about five times greater than that of conventional instruments. The amalgam carrier and dispenser includes a handle, a plunger element affixed to the handle having a plunger portion, and an open ended sleeve element having an internal bore formed therein in which the plunger portion is slideably located. According to the invention, the plunger portion has a terminal end region, preferably in the form of a tip portion, which is formed of a hard metallic material while the clearance between the plunger portion and the internal sleeve element bore is smaller relative to clearances provided in conventional instruments. By these provisions, the effects of abrasion of the surfaces of the plunger and associated components which would otherwise be caused by the action of the amalgam on these components is significantly reduced relative to conventional instruments.