Dental treatments and methods, including treating gum disease, using peroxide gel and a viscous antibacterial agent including tetracycline to chemically debride and curettage a treatment area. Treatments and methods include non-surgically scaling and root plaining the treatment area with dental tools such as periodontal scalers and/or curettes during the active period of the chemical debridement. The working surfaces of dental tools can be sharpened for optimal root and tooth surfacing during treatment. Treatment can include instructions for co-therapy by or on behalf of treatment subjects between visits and for maintenance care.

Dental treatments and methods, including treating gum disease, using peroxide gel and a viscous antibacterial agent including tetracycline to chemically debride and curettage a treatment area. Treatments and methods include non-surgically scaling and root plaining the treatment area with dental tools such as periodontal scalers and/or curettes during the active period of the chemical debridement. The working surfaces of dental tools can be sharpened for optimal root and tooth surfacing during treatment. Treatment can include instructions for co-therapy by or on behalf of treatment subjects between visits and for maintenance care.

A NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient, having a tip, middle portion and rear portion divided along the longitudinal direction. The internal microstructure of the tip is martensite, of the rear portion is austenite, and of the middle portion is a combination of martensite and austenite. The microstructure of martensite is continuously reduced and the microstructure of austenite is continuously increased as the distance from the tip increases. A manufacturing method for the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient. As the internal microstructure of the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient gradually changes along the axial direction and the strength also gradually changes, the flexibility and strength show a gradient change along the axial direction of the root canal file, providing excellent cutting property, high anti-fatigue life and significantly improving operation performance, safety, and life of the root canal files.

A NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient, having a tip, middle portion and rear portion divided along the longitudinal direction. The internal microstructure of the tip is martensite, of the rear portion is austenite, and of the middle portion is a combination of martensite and austenite. The microstructure of martensite is continuously reduced and the microstructure of austenite is continuously increased as the distance from the tip increases. A manufacturing method for the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient. As the internal microstructure of the NiTi alloy root canal file with a flexibility gradient gradually changes along the axial direction and the strength also gradually changes, the flexibility and strength show a gradient change along the axial direction of the root canal file, providing excellent cutting property, high anti-fatigue life and significantly improving operation performance, safety, and life of the root canal files.

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.

Apparatus and methods for an articulating endodontic file are provided. The apparatus may include two or more file segments. Each file segment may articulate with respect to an adjacent file segment. The articulating file may include a joint between two file segments. The articulating file may include a first joint that allows a file segment to articulate in a first direction. The articulating file may include a second joint that allows a second file segment to articulate in a second direction. The articulating file may be configured such that torque applied to a first file segment is transmitted to one or more other file segments in the file.

Apparatus and methods for an articulating endodontic file are provided. The apparatus may include two or more file segments. Each file segment may articulate with respect to an adjacent file segment. The articulating file may include a joint between two file segments. The articulating file may include a first joint that allows a file segment to articulate in a first direction. The articulating file may include a second joint that allows a second file segment to articulate in a second direction. The articulating file may be configured such that torque applied to a first file segment is transmitted to one or more other file segments in the file.

An endodontic handpiece including a handpiece body defining a neck portion extending to a head portion which defines a chamber with an opening therefrom. A chalk is positioned in the chamber and includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a retainer for holding an endodontic tool co-axially with the cylindrical body, and a pin receiving bore defined in the cylindrical body transverse to the longitudinal axis. A shaft is rotatably supported within the neck portion and having a pin extending from an end thereof and received in the pin receiving bore of the chalk. The pin is offset from a central axis of the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the chalk to move downwardly, rotate in a clockwise direction, move upwardly and rotate in a counter-clockwise direction over each 360° rotation of the shaft.

An endodontic handpiece including a handpiece body defining a neck portion extending to a head portion which defines a chamber with an opening therefrom. A chalk is positioned in the chamber and includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a retainer for holding an endodontic tool co-axially with the cylindrical body, and a pin receiving bore defined in the cylindrical body transverse to the longitudinal axis. A shaft is rotatably supported within the neck portion and having a pin extending from an end thereof and received in the pin receiving bore of the chalk. The pin is offset from a central axis of the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the chalk to move downwardly, rotate in a clockwise direction, move upwardly and rotate in a counter-clockwise direction over each 360° rotation of the shaft.

A dental file includes a working portion having a spiral shape, wherein a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the working portion has a trapezoidal shape including an upper bottom, a lower bottom, and first and second oblique sides, vertexes at both ends of the lower bottom are located on an imaginary circle having a center at an axis in the longitudinal direction of the working portion, vertexes at both ends of the upper bottom are located inside the imaginary circle, and the imaginary circle has a diameter decreasing from a base end portion toward a leading end portion of the working portion.