A mouthpiece (76) is detachably attached to the maxillary teeth dentition of a patient. A mouthpiece body (78) has an approximately uniform thickness. A mandibular teeth dentition impression (84) in an optimized chewing occlusal jaw position that balances the systemic basal muscle tone of the patient is formed on the occlusal surface of the mouthpiece body (78). When the patient attaches the mouthpiece (76) to the maxillary teeth dentition to achieve a chewing occlusal state or a resting occlusal state, the mandibular teeth dentition is induced to a proper positional relationship that balances a systemic basal muscle tone with respect to the maxillary teeth dentition due to the tongue/jaw position reflex and masseter/jaw position reflex of the patient, caused by attaching the mouthpiece (76), whereby a systemic pain symptom can be resolved or greatly relieved.

A maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) device having an arch bar with a plurality of spaced tabs and gaps, and further having apertured mounting plate members mounted onto the arch bar, each mounting plate member having a slot to receive a tab on the arch bar, whereby the mounting plate members may be repositioned laterally along the arch bar from one tab to another prior to affixing the MMF device to the maxilla or mandible of a patient in order to position the mounting plate members at locations where the underlying tooth root will not be damaged by insertion of a bone screw.

Methods and systems are provided for generating a treatment plan for arch expansion where a polymeric shell appliance is utilized to generate one or more activation forces that facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.

The invention relates to a recycling process for contaminated polyolefins, in particular HDPE, wherein the contaminated polyolefin is swelled using a solvent such that contaminants in the polyolefin dissolve in the solvent, and the solvent as well as the contaminants dissolved from the solvent are removed from the polyolefin.

The invention relates to a three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) and to a method for producing such a retainer (2) in which the three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) is matched to the exact shape of the adjacent teeth (3) and is produced from a blank (1) in such a manner that the physical properties of the material of the remaining part of the blank (1) are unchanged in the retainer (2). The method for producing the three-dimensional orthodontic retainer (2) comprises the following method steps: creating a three-dimensional model of the structure of the patient's teeth (3); designing a customised, precisely fitting model of the retainer (2); producing the retainer (2) on the basis of the designed 3D model by computer-controlled deposition or application of material.

An orthodontic retention system includes a fixed component that remains on teeth and a component that attaches to this fixed component. The fixed component and the component have mating or interlocking parts. The component that mates with the fixed component can be removable. The component that mates with the fixed component can be adjustable. The retention system also can include magnetic retention components to retain the removable component with respect to one or more teeth. The retention system also can include an element that replaces as tooth.

A technique for fabricating a surgical splint for use in correcting a dental condition of a patient. The technique involves obtaining a three-dimensional digital model of lower and upper arch dentitions of the patient having the dental condition. Relative positions of the lower and upper arch dentitions are adjusted with respect to each other in the three-dimensional digital model using a computing device. An electronic model of a splint is generated based on the adjusted relative positions of the lower and upper arch dentitions. A splint is then generated in a physical form from the electronic model of the splint.

Custom dental prosthesis or implants each individually designed and manufactured to replace nonfunctional natural teeth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example dental prosthesis/implant includes a dental implant body having a prosthesis interface formed therein to receive an occlusal-facing dental prosthesis component. The prosthesis interface has a custom three-dimensional surface shape positioned and formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the occlusal-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

Disclosed is a bite blocker device for preventing occlusion of an affected dentition. The channel of the bite block follows and engages a portion of the user's upper teeth, while a base portion, opposite the channel portion, follows and engages a portion of the user's lower teeth. The base portion and the channel are separated forming a gap between the user's upper teeth and lower teeth. The bite block is placed substantially opposite the affected tooth or teeth, the gap formed by the bite block preventing occlusion of the affected teeth.

A device for attaching dental surgical guides without surgical attachment to the patient's internal skeletal structures, including gingival tissues and/or bone. The device attaches to the front surface of the upper or lower teeth, and the dental surgical guides can then attach to the device.