A tooth-positioning appliance for closing spaces has at least two appliance segments, each segment having a thin elastomeric shell with recesses for removably engaging a set of teeth, and tooth-clasping elements for removably engaging bonded attachments protruding from the teeth. One of the appliance segments includes a flat receptacle extending horizontally on the thin shell of the appliance segment, and the other appliance segment has a thin elongated tab extending laterally from the second appliance segment spanning the space to be closed, and in sliding engagement with the flat receptacle of the other appliance segment. An activating element is connected between the appliance segments to exert a force to change the size of the space between the sets of teeth as the tab slides with respect to the flat receptacle.

A method of smoothing teeth by, for instance, filling in cracks, chips and eroded areas by applying calcium and/or casein and/or phosphate and a source of OH.sup.− ions thereto. The method optionally provides that very thin layer(s) of dental cement be interlaced with other applied materials, and that the results be maintained in contact with the teeth involved by application of a composition of matter that adheres to said teeth and holds the results in place, while allowing at least some permeation of saliva therethrough. The method can optionally involve application of a backing strip or tray or the like to secure the other materials in place, but this is not a requirement where the composition of matter is sufficiently securing.

The invention relates to the production of a dental correction splint (1) and to the resulting splint, in which a patient record is made by taking an impression of his/her teeth (2) and said impression is processed by processing the image of the impression. The method comprises the production of an orthodontic splint (1) which is based on the processed impression and provided externally with the desired result of the correction. The method is characterized in that it includes a step of calculating the internal modifications to the splint (1) by removing and/or replacing the material of the splint (1) which is adapted for each orthodontic movement specific to each stage of the correction.

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.

Ablation probe tips (108, 148, 320, 360) and physical and virtual stents (110) for use in tooth bud ablation procedures that result in tooth agenesis as well as tooth bud ablation methods are described herein.

A teeth surface stain removing apparatus removes stains on a teeth surface, and includes a sheet member capable of being attached to the teeth surface via an adsorptive member for adsorbing the stains, a teeth surface electrode disposed at a part of the sheet member, the part being attached to the teeth surface, and a charge supplier supplying negative charges to the teeth surface electrode in a state where the sheet member is attached to the teeth surface.

A graft collector designed to facilitate and offer greater precision in performing the cutting and “dissection” of an area of the donor tissue in grafting operations. The graft collector is set as an anatomical grip handle based on a support head and fixation of a removable curved or angled blade. The cutting blade is provided with a cutting edge on two opposite sides, being folded in two points at 90°. The constructive arrangement of the graft collector allows the fixation of the cutting blade and its loosening and release for replacement. The said graft collector is a precise and anatomical grip instrument, designed for the good manual performance of the professional when cutting and removing the tissue to be used as a graft.

Disclosed is a dental treatment instrument including a bridge unit configured to be gripped by a user; a plurality of tip units configured to be replaceable with respect to the bridge unit; and a coupling unit configured to selectively couple the tip unit with the bridge unit. The coupling unit is configured to couple the tip unit with the bridge unit by inserting and thereby rotating a portion of the tip unit relative to the bridge unit. Through this configuration, various types of dental tips may be easily replaced based on a selection of a user.

Disclosed is a dental treatment instrument including a bridge unit configured to be gripped by a user; a plurality of tip units configured to be replaceable with respect to the bridge unit; and a coupling unit configured to selectively couple the tip unit with the bridge unit. The coupling unit is configured to couple the tip unit with the bridge unit by inserting and thereby rotating a portion of the tip unit relative to the bridge unit. Through this configuration, various types of dental tips may be easily replaced based on a selection of a user.

An orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a base member defining an archwire slot having an opening, and at least one projection extending outwardly from the base member; a ligating slide moveable between a first position which is clear of the archwire slot, and second position where the ligating slide projects over the opening of the archwire slot; and a biasing member borne by the ligating slide, and resiliently cooperating with the projection, and wherein the biasing member has a first portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the first position, and a second portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the second position.