Patient specific dental appliances, dental bands and methods for manufacturing the dental bands. The dental bands are manufactured based on the specific anatomy of each patient so that the dental bands more closely conform to the patient's anatomy. The dental bands can include inner surfaces with an average surface roughness that is greater than an average surface roughness of an outer surface to enhance the bond between the dental band and the tooth surface. In addition, the dental bands can include marginal portions connecting the buccal and lingual surfaces of the bands that extend into marginal spaces with adjacent teeth and the marginal portions do not extend into interproximal spaces with the adjacent teeth as is required by conventional dental bands. The dental bands can also optionally include an occlusal portion that covers portions of an inner occlusal surface of the tooth and/or an outer occlusal surface of the tooth.

Processes and systems for creating digital designs of patient specific dental appliances and parts thereof, such as dental bands and wires. After receiving an order for a dental appliance that includes data regarding the patient's teeth and optionally adjacent anatomy, the digital design of the dental appliance is automatically started by dental appliance design software using rules based logic. Thereafter, a human can continue, and in some embodiments complete, the digital design. Or the entire design can be completed by the dental appliance design software without any human intervention. The final digital design can then be used to create the patient specific dental appliance.

Processes and systems for creating digital designs of patient specific dental appliances and parts thereof, such as dental bands and wires. After receiving an order for a dental appliance that includes data regarding the patient's teeth and optionally adjacent anatomy, the digital design of the dental appliance is automatically started by dental appliance design software using rules based logic. Thereafter, a human can continue, and in some embodiments complete, the digital design. Or the entire design can be completed by the dental appliance design software without any human intervention. The final digital design can then be used to create the patient specific dental appliance.

A patient support apparatus includes a plurality of primary sensors adapted to measure different parameters used in the control of the patient support apparatus. One or more suites of secondary sensors are added to the patient support apparatus to provide data about the primary sensors. The secondary sensors may be used to detect errors in the primary sensors, to modify outputs from the primary sensors, and/or to provide usage and/or diagnostic data about the use of the patient support apparatus. The suite(s) of secondary sensors may measure parameters that affect the outputs of one or more of the primary sensors. In some embodiments, the suite(s) of secondary sensors include one or more dormant sensors that are not used on the patient support apparatus until a code modification is received from one or more external sources instructing the control system of the patient support apparatus to begin using the dormant sensor(s).

A patient support apparatus includes a plurality of primary sensors adapted to measure different parameters used in the control of the patient support apparatus. One or more suites of secondary sensors are added to the patient support apparatus to provide data about the primary sensors. The secondary sensors may be used to detect errors in the primary sensors, to modify outputs from the primary sensors, and/or to provide usage and/or diagnostic data about the use of the patient support apparatus. The suite(s) of secondary sensors may measure parameters that affect the outputs of one or more of the primary sensors. In some embodiments, the suite(s) of secondary sensors include one or more dormant sensors that are not used on the patient support apparatus until a code modification is received from one or more external sources instructing the control system of the patient support apparatus to begin using the dormant sensor(s).

A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient comprising: a mold body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the facial side and the lingual side of at least two adjacent teeth of the patient, and a flexible film, wherein the mold body is configured to combine with the flexible film to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of at least one tooth to be restored.

A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient comprising: a mold body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the facial side and the lingual side of at least two adjacent teeth of the patient, and a flexible film, wherein the mold body is configured to combine with the flexible film to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of at least one tooth to be restored.

A dental separator device includes an elastic body having a first end and a second end. A first surface engager is connected to the first end of the body. The first surface engager includes a first distal section and a first mesial section and a notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section. The first distal section and the first mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. A second surface engager is connected to the second end of the body. The second surface engager includes a second distal section and a second mesial section, and a notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section. The second distal section and the second mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. The hands are for engaging teeth and/or for creating adaptation pressure on a dental matrix stabilizer and/or dental matrix.

A dental separator device includes an elastic body having a first end and a second end. A first surface engager is connected to the first end of the body. The first surface engager includes a first distal section and a first mesial section and a notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section. The first distal section and the first mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. A second surface engager is connected to the second end of the body. The second surface engager includes a second distal section and a second mesial section, and a notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section. The second distal section and the second mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. The hands are for engaging teeth and/or for creating adaptation pressure on a dental matrix stabilizer and/or dental matrix.

A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a one-piece mold body providing for a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient, the one-piece mold body including an occlusal portion forming an occlusal surface corresponding with an occlusal surface of the tooth, a mesial proximal portion forming a mesial proximal surface corresponding with a mesial proximal surface of the tooth, and a distal proximal portion forming a distal proximal surface corresponding with a distal proximal surface of the tooth. The mold body is configured to combine with the tooth of the patient to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of the tooth. The occlusal portion, the mesial proximal portion, and the distal proximal portion are based on three-dimensional scan data of the mouth of the patient.