The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a dental restoration, in which an oxide ceramic material is (a) subjected to at least one heat treatment, and (b) cooled, wherein the cooling comprises (b1) a first cooling step with the cooling rate T1 and (b2) a second cooling step with the cooling rate T2 and wherein the absolute value of the cooling rate T2 is less than the absolute value of the cooling rate T1.

A dental bur for removing precise portions of a tooth includes a shank and a head. The shank includes first and second end, an attachment section located adjacent the first end, and a guide section located between the attachment section and the second end. The attachment section is configured to be inserted into and rotationally driven by a high-speed rotary device. The guide section includes at least one portion having a first width measured in a transverse direction of the shank and a second portion having a second width measured in the transverse direction. The first width being different than the second width. The head is arranged on the second end of the shank and includes a tip located opposite the shank. The tip has a rounded portion configured to remove portions of the tooth, and the head is entirely coated in an abrasive diamond material.

Antimicrobial polymer composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for making oral devices used in dental applications, such as denture bases. Acrylic resin composite materials comprising antimicrobial polymers and antimicrobial fillers provide reduction in common oral microorganisms after long-term aging, with reduced release rate of antimicrobial agents from the composite material. Antimicrobial polymers are prepared from compositions comprising acrylate and/or methacrylate monomers and polymerizable quaternary ammonium silicon-containing compounds.

A dental surgical article is manufactured by combining one or more isocyanates with one or more polyols including at least one polyol that has a molecular weight of at least 2000.

A method for making a dental appliance configured to position at least one tooth of a patient includes printing a hardenable liquid resin composition on a major surface of a polymeric material to form a pattern of discrete unhardened liquid regions thereon; at least partially hardening the unhardened liquid regions to form a corresponding array of structures on the major surface of the polymeric material, wherein the structures have a characteristic cross-sectional dimension of about 25 microns to about 1 mm, and a feature spacing of about 100 microns to about 2000 microns; and forming a plurality of cavities in the polymeric material to form the dental appliance including an arrangement of cavities configured to receive one or more teeth.

Improvements in a dental/prosthetic implant is disclosed. The implant includes interior and exterior threaded surfaces. The use of both interior and exterior expanding threaded surfaces for integrations of the insert and a prosthetic with the same implant. The implant is immediately usable under load and promotes rapid integration with bone growth. The expanded insert essentially makes contact with the tapped bone surfaces where loads can be immediately applied so a person can utilize the prosthetic implant. The implant can further include security devices GPS, ID with medical records making removal of the implant difficult to extract. A cushioning member may be further integrated. The implant/abutment can include a surface with a plurality of contacts with sufficient gold contact points to attach residual nerve endings, during implanting surgery to provide nerve identification, send, receive, target so as to exploit proprioceptive memory or retraining.

The invention is an assortment of apparatuses to magnetically tether a dental hygienist's hand to the utility tubes and hoses commonly found in a dental office. In a preferred embodiment, this is a ring containing a magnet which is worn by the hygienist. This tethers him or her finger to a utility hose or tube, which has a clasp that contains a reciprocal magnet. In another embodiment, the invention is a finger hold which contains a magnet that tether to the utility hose or tube via the magnetized clasp.

A ligating clip for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes: a labial arm having a free end and a further end; a lingual arm having a free end and a further end; a connecting arm connected to the further ends of the labial arm and the lingual arm the labial arm, wherein the connecting arm and the lingual arm each have a distal side and a mesial side, the labial arm and the lingual arm extend generally in a gingival-occlusal direction and the connecting arm extends generally in a lingual-labial direction; and a locking element in form of a hook arranged at the free end of the lingual arm, wherein the hook protrudes in a lingual-labial direction. At least one cutout is arranged at the free end of the lingual arm, the at least one cutout being open at either the distal or the mesial side of the lingual arm.

An oral therapy apparatus is disclosed and configured for being positionable within a mouth of a user having orthodontic braces. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a flexible, substantially cylindrical, elongated body sized and configured for being positioned within the user's mouth, substantially between gums of the user and an inner surface of the user's mouth. The body has a diameter sized for creating a space between the inner surface of the user's mouth and the braces, thereby preventing the inner surface of the user's mouth from coming into contact with the braces.

An endodontic file for dental nerve treatment according to the present invention comprises: a helical shaped blade that is to be inserted into a root canal, remove dental nerve, and enlarge the root canal; a head that is detachably inserted into a rotary power tool, and a connection part extending by a predetermined length between the head and the blade and having a diameter smaller than that of each of a contact end of the blade and the head. According to the endodontic file for dental nerve treatment, by forming the connection part of the endodontic file with an adjusted thickness or shape such as a thin thickness so that stress generated during rotation of the endodontic file is concentrated on the connection part rather than the blade, the endodontic file is induced to be fractured outside the tooth rather than inside the tooth root, thereby allowing fractured pieces to be easily found and removed.