A method of using a dental filler is disclosed. The method may include securing a prosthetic to a dental implant, the prosthetic having an access channel therethrough. The method may also include filling a portion of the access channel by inserting a polytetrafluoroethylene dental plug into the access channel and compressing the polytetrafluoroethylene dental plug within the access channel.

An instrument for drilling dental root canals includes a tapered rod having over at least a part of its length—the active part—a polygonal cross-section forming at least two cutting edges, the active part terminating by a point and being defined by an envelope of cylindrical or conical shape, whose longitudinal axis coincides with the instrument's axis of rotation. The active part has a first portion extending from the point and a second portion extending following the first portion towards the rear of the active part. At least one cross-section of the first portion has a center of mass located on the axis of rotation and the cutting edges are located on the envelope. Any cross-section of the second portion has a center of mass offset with respect to the axis of rotation and at least one cutting edge defined by the cross-section is located set back.

Integrated support devices for providing temporary primary stability to a dental prosthesis implant, each individually designed and manufactured for a specific pre-identify patient are also provided. An integrated support device can include a prosthesis interface member configured to connect to an abutment or reduced sized portion of a dental prosthesis/implant. The integrated support device also includes one or more bonding wings for connecting to the adjacent healthy teeth.

A bonded retainer configured to stabilize a plurality of teeth in a jaw, the bonded retainer including a contact surface that is aligned overall with a parabolic curvature of the jaw in a longitudinal direction of the bonded retainer and that is aligned locally with a lingual surface contour of the teeth; a lingual surface that extends lingually in parallel with the contact surface, and retentions that extend from the lingual surface transversal to the longitudinal direction.

The invention relates to manufacturing a surgical guide to be placed in a patient's mouth. The patient's mouth is scanned to obtain surgical-region scan data at a region where an implant is to be located. The patient's mouth is also scanned in the opened position to acquire dental conditions opposite from the surgical region to obtain opposing-condition scan data. A virtual model is developed using the surgical-region scan data and the opposing-condition scan data. Using the virtual model, a surgical plan is developed that includes the location of the implant to be installed in the patient. A virtual surgical guide is also developed based on the surgical plan. The dimensions of instrumentation to be used with the surgical guide are checked to ensure they will fit within the mouth by use of the opposing-condition scan data. After checking, final surgical-guide manufacturing information is obtained for manufacturing the surgical guide.

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.

Devices, methods, computer-readable media, and systems for determining an identity of a food are disclosed. For example, a method may receive at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food from an intra-oral device including a spectrometer, the at least one property obtained via the spectrometer, compares the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures, and determines the identity of the food based upon the comparing. In another example, a system may include an intra-oral device and a wireless device. The intra-oral device may include a spectrometer for measuring at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food. The wireless device may include a processor for receiving the at least one property, comparing the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures, and determining the identity of the food based upon the comparing.

The removable veneer for teeth is a cosmetic accessory adapted to overlay the teeth. The accessory includes a veneer designed to simulate perfectly positioned human teeth. A fastener system is employed to removably attach the veneer to the existing natural teeth of a user. Various teeth adornments may be attached to the veneer, if desired, when the wearer wants to assume a more modern look.

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.

Feedback data useful in prosthodontic procedures associated with the intra oral cavity is provided. First, a 3D numerical model of the target zone in the intra oral cavity is provided, and this is manipulated so as to extract particular data that may be useful in a particular procedure, for example data relating to the finish line or to the shape and size of a preparation. The relationship between this data and the procedure is then determined, for example the clearance between the preparation and the intended crown. Feedback data, indicative of this relationship, is then generated, for example whether the preparation geometry is adequate for the particular type of prosthesis.