The subject matter of the invention is a three-dimensional molded body, in particular a milling blank, made of a polymerizable prosthetic material, which is suitable for milling machining by means of CNC and/or CAD/CAM, having a fracture toughness of greater than or equal to 1.9 Mpa.Math.m.sup.1/2 and a fracture work of greater than or equal to 900 J/m.sup.2. The milling blank preferably comprises core-shell particles modified by an elastic phase and is optionally based on a content of urethane (meth)acrylate polymerized into the polymer. Moreover, a subject matter of the invention is the use of the milling blanks for the production of at least parts of dental prosthetic parts, such as a prosthesis, artificial teeth, bridges, or of orthodontic appliances and instruments in medical field.

A method for producing a shape memory band of an orthodontic appliance. The shape memory band is one piece, has a cross section that can vary according to the longitudinal position of said cross section, and includes a bonding zone configured so as to exhibit a shape substantially identical to that of a tooth. The method includes: determining an orthodontic treatment suitable for treating the teeth, determining a set of forces to be exerted locally on the teeth in order to obtain the orthodontic treatment and the shape of the surface of the teeth to which bonding zones of the shape memory band are to be bonded, and producing the shape memory band. The local cross section of the shape memory band is determined according to the forces and in such a way as to define bonding zones substantially identical to the surfaces of the teeth.

A custom oral device is provided that fits on the maxillary or mandibular arch of a wearer. The oral device comprises a tray that corresponds with the shape and size of a wearer's oral anatomy. A soft liner is disposed within an occlusal channel of the tray having an upper surface that comprises an impression having features that correspond to at least a portion of the wearer's dentition and in which the wearer's teeth align. An apparatus and a method for making the custom oral device are provided.

Disclosed is a system and method for treating mal-alignment of teeth using super-elastic nickel titanium, heat activated nickel titanium coated or uncoated orthodontic wires with composite resins in order to effectuate desired tooth alignment. The composite resin is formed into beads that hold the wire in place preferably on the lingual surface of the teeth. Alternate embodiments using composite brackets are disclosed. The overall purpose of this invention is to provide a close contact, low profile orthodontic system, in particular, a lingual orthodontic system that is significantly more comfortable than existing orthodontic systems, completely concealed and effective.

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.

Methods and devices utilizing a dental appliance for dental retainer wire attachment are disclosed. One such wire attachment appliance includes a shell having one or more cavities formed therein and shaped to receive one or more teeth, at least two wire attachment members provided on the shell, and at least one attachment material reservoir provided on the shell, wherein the attachment material is provided to attach a wire to a tooth adjacent to a particular reservoir of the at least one attachment material reservoir.

A splint for releasably fixing a maxillary jaw and a mandibular jaw of a patient together during orthognathic surgery. The splint may include a locking mechanism including a lower section and an upper section. The lower section may be attached fixedly to the mandibular jaw. The lower section may include a horizontal locking pin moveable along a horizontal axis. The upper section may include a vertical locking key attached fixedly to the maxillary jaw. The vertical locking key may include a horizontal pin receiving hole provided along a diameter of the vertical locking key. The horizontal pin receiving hole may be configured to receive the horizontal locking pin. The maxillary jaw and the mandibular jaw may be fixed together responsive to the horizontal pin receiving hole is aligned with the horizontal axis and the horizontal locking pin is inserted into the horizontal pin receiving hole.

Methods of attaching a wire to a dentition. The methods may include placing a shell on the dentition, where first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir for receiving an attachment material, and second cavity of the shell includes a wire attachment member having a slot for receiving the wire. The methods may also include placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir and through the slot of the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to a tooth within the first cavity. The methods may further include placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to bond the attachment material and the wire to the tooth. Once the shell and the wire attachment member are removed from the dentition, the wire remains attached to the tooth via the attachment material.

A method is provided for placing a preformed dental article. The method comprises: providing a preformed dental article; providing an uncured self-supporting dental article having a first shape, wherein the uncured dental article comprises: a polymerizable resin system; at least 50 wt-% of filler; placing the preformed dental article onto a tooth structure such that the uncured dental article is provided at an interface between the preformed dental article and tooth structure; and forming the uncured dental article into a second shape thereby improving the continuity of the interface. Further, a dental article for use at an interface between a dental restoration and tooth structure having a first self-supporting shape are provided in accordance with the invention.

A system and method of automated formation of a preparation stub, based on an a priori created computational geometrical model, configured to conform to a prefabricated fixed dental prosthesis, is described. The system includes a digital imaging facility with an image acquiring device and a three-dimensional data digitizer, a modeling facility with an exterior surface design module and an interior surface design module, a fabrication facility operatively with a computer-aided manufacturing module, as well as an application facility including an ablation tool and in-situ preparation module; application facility preferably includes an intra-oral feedbacking appliance with a distance measurement probe for automated feedback-controlled formation of a preparation stub.