A dental apparatus is disclosed. The dental apparatus can comprise a pressure wave generator to be disposed at a treatment region of a tooth. The pressure wave generator can include an opening to deliver a flowable filling material to the treatment region. The apparatus can include a reservoir for supplying the filling material to the pressure wave generator. The pressure wave generator can be configured to generate pressure waves through the treatment region to cause the filling material to substantially fill the treatment region.

A composition delivery source (200) is provided that includes (a) a chamber (202), which is shaped so as to define (A) one or more liquid ports (310) in fluid communication with an interior of the chamber (202), and (B) one or more solid-liquid composition ports (312) in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber (202); (b) a solid-liquid composition delivery tube (314) in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more solid-liquid composition ports (312); (c) a mixing tube (316) in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more liquid ports (310) and at least one of the one or more solid-liquid composition ports (312); and (d) a liquid-supply tube (318) in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more liquid ports (310). A pump unit (201) includes one or more pumps (223), which are arranged to cause flow in the mixing tube (316) during a mixing activation state (342), and to cause flow in the liquid-supply tube (318) during a particle-delivery activation state (344).

A laser-based system and method for treatment of hard tissue enhances remineralization and fluoride uptake to improve resistance to demineralization. The system can include a laser source, an optic, and a controller for controlling the laser source and/or the optic to deliver radiation to a treatment region with desirable characteristics (e.g., to remove carbonate without damaging the tissue surface). In some cases, the system includes a handpiece having an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam to render the beam non-ablative, prior to the laser beam's delivery to the treatment region. In some embodiments, treatment with the laser can be combined with a fluoride treatment for enhanced therapeutic effect.

Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.

A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.

A device for filling a container, such as a dispensing tip, with a powdered or liquid material, and methods of use of the device are disclosed. The device generally includes a vacuum manifold having at least one port, and a vacuum source for creating a negative pressure in the vacuum manifold. The device may further include at least one container having an axial bore therethrough, a proximal end, and a distal end which includes a stop positioned therein. The negative pressure created in the vacuum manifold by the vacuum pump is sufficient to pull the powdered or liquid material through the distal end into the axial bore of the at least one container. A clearance between an outer surface of the stop and an inner wall of the container is configured to prevent passage of the powdered or liquid material.

A dental apparatus is disclosed. The dental apparatus can comprise a pressure wave generator to be disposed at a treatment region of a tooth. The pressure wave generator can include an opening to deliver a flowable filling material to the treatment region. The apparatus can include a reservoir for supplying the filling material to the pressure wave generator. The pressure wave generator can be configured to generate pressure waves through the treatment region to cause the filling material to substantially fill the treatment region.

This disclosure relates to various systems and methods related to preventative laser-based treatment of a dental tissue; for example, to prevent a patient from forming cavities. In some instances, a laser-based treatment system can generate a laser beam pulse with a fluence profile at a treatment site that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. In some instances, the laser-based treatment system can direct the laser beam to various locations within a treatment site according to a temporal and/or spatial pattern, that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. Many other systems and techniques for preventative and other laser-based treatment are also described.

A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.

An apparatus for treating a tooth includes a delivery vessel configured to be inserted into a root canal of a tooth. The delivery vessel includes an internal lumen configured to permit the flow of an obturation material therein and at least one port positioned to supply the obturation material to the root canal from the internal lumen.