Methods of forming wire attachment appliances. Methods may include forming a shell having multiple cavities and an attachment material reservoir within a first cavity of the multiple cavities. The attachment material reservoir may be positioned such that, when the wire attachment appliance is positioned on a dental arch, an attachment material provided within the attachment material reservoir is arranged to contact a surface of a particular tooth for attaching a wire to the particular tooth. Forming the wire attachment appliance may further include forming at least two wire attachment members on an interior surface of at least two second cavities of the multiple cavities. The at least two wire attachment members may be shaped to hold the wire in position with respect to the particular tooth.

The invention relates to a multi-layer, preferably co-extruded, plastic film with improved modulus properties, which is suitable, in particular, for producing three-dimensionally shaped articles.

Colored dental floss and a method for using colored dental floss. The colored dental floss includes an elongated filament having a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is a distinct color. The elongated filament is disposed within an interior volume of a container. The container includes an aperture for the elongated filament to pass therethrough. The method of using colored dental floss includes the steps of preparing a lingual side of a plurality of teeth for application of a bonding agent, applying the bonding agent to the lingual side, threading the elongated filament between a desired number of adjacent teeth in sections such that the elongated filament forms a plurality of loops on the lingual side, placing a wire through the plurality of loops, tensioning the elongated filament, applying the bonding agent to a contact point between the lingual side and the wire, curing the bonding agent, and removing the elongated filament.

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.

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 maxillofacial fixation implant having a registration member positioned so as to abut, surround and/or engage with the anterior nares and the anterior nasal spine of a human skull, and the method of designing, manufacturing and utilizing the implant, wherein the implant has an upper anchor implant portion adapted for affixation to the upper portion of a maxilla and a lower anchor implant portion adapted for affixation to separated bone segments of the maxilla.

Described herein is a tissue retractor for use in endodontic procedures. The tissue retractor includes a bite pad having a proximal end and a distal end, a tooth registration block connected to the distal end of the bite pad, an arm having a proximal end and distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the tooth registration block such that the tooth registration block is between the bite pad and the arm, a cheek retractor having a proximal end, a distal end and a length, the length defining a top edge and a bottom edge, where the distal end of the cheek retractor is connected to the distal end of the arm, and at least one cheek catch extending from the top edge of the cheek retractor.

A bite block with inclined surfaces fits between a patient's upper and lower jaws to hold them apart and fixes the bite block position relative to the jaws. A support plate slides relative to the bite block to position a needle guide on the support plate along an axis of the support plate. A position stop on the support plate contacts the anterior border of the Ramus of the patient's mandible to position the needle guide along the axis. A syringe needle is guided by the needle guide to a predetermined location to administer anesthetic, preferably to the inferior alveolar nerve as it enters the mandible. The needle guide is inclined to avoid gaging and a tongue depressor attached to the support plate positions the patient's tongue.

A palatal splint composed of titanium or other metal of similar characteristics, the splint configured in a horseshoe or strut configuration and designed to minimize coverage and contact with the teeth. The splint has alternating tooth recesses and interdental extensions.

A method for capturing digital data for fabricating a dental splint involves displaying a GUI on a display of a smartphone that provides an alignment feature for a user to align a camera of the smartphone to a first position that captures teeth of a person, receiving digital video of the teeth, overlaying the alignment feature on the digital video of the teeth on the display to show alignment between the teeth and the alignment feature, capturing digital image information of the teeth while the alignment feature overlaps with the teeth, the captured digital image information including depth information, and transmitting the captured digital image information, including the depth information, from the smartphone for use in fabricating a dental splint.