A borate bioactive glass is described, and may be used in the form of particles in an acidic mixture to form a borate bioactive glass paste. The borate bioactive glass paste may be used for the restoration of dentin and enamel on a tooth surface by the precipitation of calcium phosphate. The borate bioactive glass may also be used as a bone grafting material.

An apparatus for illuminating an area is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame and a spectrally-tunable lighting module comprising one or more light-emitting diodes. The apparatus further includes a control module with a hands-free interface that controls a light output of the spectrally-tunable lighting module in response to one or more lighting commands and a power module within the frame that powers the control module and the spectrally-tunable lighting module. A system and a method for using the apparatus are also disclosed.

An apparatus for illuminating an area is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame and a spectrally-tunable lighting module comprising one or more light-emitting diodes. The apparatus further includes a control module with a hands-free interface that controls a light output of the spectrally-tunable lighting module in response to one or more lighting commands and a power module within the frame that powers the control module and the spectrally-tunable lighting module. A system and a method for using the apparatus are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a dental milling block (1) comprising a dental article (2) having an outer surface, the dental article having been produced based on personalized data, wherein the outer surface of the dental article is at least partially covered with a surrounding material. The invention further relates to a process of producing a dental milling block, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a personalized Data Set C containing geometry data of the dental article and colour data related to said geometry data, b) generating a layer of hardenable material on a surface, c) applying a colour agent to the layer of hardenable material of step b), wherein the colour agent is applied to at least some regions of those areas of the layer of hardenable material which are related to the geometry data of the dental article, d) consolidating the result obtained in step c) thereby obtaining an at least partially hardened layer of material.

A method of automatically producing or reproducing a customized AGP (Anterior Guidance Package) equipped splint for a patient with or without a severe malocclusion is provided. The method of automatically producing or reproducing an AGP equipped splint according to current invention comprises of combining Virtual Articulation, CAD (Computer Aided Design)-CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) method with AGP and special retentive piece technology. The method of the current invention enables a patient with or without a severe malocclusion to receive his/her customized AGP equipped splint or a replacement thereof automatically without visiting the dentist again and again.

A compact, portable, self-contained dental trauma kit for on-site treatment and repair of dental avulsion, luxation and, subluxation in remote, non-dental and other emergent settings consists of a dental splinting material (the band-aid), dental resins (the glue), and a dental curing light (the glue hardener). This is everything necessary for the user to stabilize the traumatically involved teeth according to proper dental protocol in remote locations, without the need for any additional materials or other accessories. The use of the kit allows the patient to be treated rapidly, in less than thirty minutes, which drastically increases the survival rate of re-implanted or repositioned tooth or teeth.

Example embodiments of this invention include a method and a device for assessing the internal structure of the tooth. In one example, the method is comprised of emitting a sequence of ultrasonic pulses from a given point on the tooth surface into the tooth at various directions of incidence (angles of incidence) with respect to the local tooth surface, recording the corresponding sequence of ultrasonic echoes from different internal dental formations, and processing the collected ultrasonic pulse-echo and pulse-direction data to present internal structure of the tooth in quantitative or graphical form.

An intra-oral simultaneous bilateral inter arch isolation appliance features a generally W-shaped body having first and second cheek retractor wings, and first and second transitions respectively joining the cheek retractor wings to a tongue crib of generally U-shaped configuration with an open posterior end. In a patient worn position, each cheek retractor wing runs buccally along a respective half of a patient's dental arches to retract and isolate buccal mucosa, while the transitions curve posteriorly around the rear molars between the maxillary tuberosity and retromolar pad to carry the tongue crib inside the dental arches, where it shields and isolates the tongue. Commissure cradles at anterior ends of the cheek retractor wings hook around the patient's oral commissures at terminal ends of the appliance. Inner passageways within the body accommodate fluid extraction and/or light transmission through the appliance.

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.

An ultrasonic root end retro-preparation endodontic apical surgical instrument. The instrument has a double-angled shape with a length of between about 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 mm), and is made of a metal which safely and effectively propagates ultrasonic energy from a base segment to a bent distal tip with a length of between about 0.08-0.15 in (0.20-0.38 mm). The instrument includes a swivel segment that permits rotation of the bent distal tip of up to 360. By allowing the bent distal tip to be swiveled, the instrument may be used for all quadrants, anterior and posterior teeth without switching out the instrument for another one.