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 oral appliance that includes tongue positioning structures which are useful in treating snoring, OSA and related disorders. The invention provides a passive tongue location device which includes cavities located on the internal surface adjacent the tongue, the cavities operatively providing a retentive effect on the tongue when it is in its relaxed state. Further, the present invention provides an oral device adapted to operatively enhance the operation of a sleeping user's airway, including a carrier adapted to be positioned over at least some of the lower teeth of the user and having an interior projection over at least part of the gums of a user, the projection defining a pair of opposed cavities, the cavities being shaped and operatively adapted so that the tongue of the sleeping user will passively engage the cavities.

There is provided a retainer for maintaining an alignment of a first tooth and a second tooth adjacent to the first tooth. The retainer is configured in a form of a metal wire. The retainer includes: a first contact portion coming into contact with at least a part of a surface of the first tooth; a second contact portion coming into contact with at least a part of a surface of the second tooth; and a spaced portion. The spaced portion extends from the first and second contact portions, is located between the first and second contact portions, and is spaced from the first and second teeth. The spaced portion is located between an embrasure configured between the first and second teeth and an interdental space existing between the first and second teeth, and at least one edge of the spaced portion is a parabola having a small curvature.

A manufacturing system comprises a holder, a robot arm, a press and a laser. The holder is configured to receive a feature of a dental appliance and to hold the dental appliance by clamping the feature of the dental appliance, wherein the holder holds the feature of the dental appliance at a reference position. The robot arm is configured to retrieve an object and to place the object against the feature at the reference position. The press is configured to apply pressure to press the object against the feature of the dental appliance while the dental appliance is held by the holder. The laser is configured to expose an interface of the dental appliance and the object to coherent light to weld the object to the feature of the dental appliance while the press presses the object against the feature of the dental appliance.

A medical apparatus including a bar with a first attachment loop, a second attachment and a plurality of hooks, wherein the medical apparatus is an arch bar.

A splint device for robotically-guided surgery includes elongate co-extending first and second splint portions each defining spaced-apart relief holes between first and second ends. A first separability provision is disposed between and extends along the first and second splint portions. A tracking portion is engaged with and extends outwardly from the first or second splint portion and extending outwardly therefrom, and has a kinematic mount engaged therewith. A second separability provision extending between one of the relief holes of the first splint portion and one of the relief holes of the second splint portion, wherein the second separability provision is arranged to be severable so as to facilitate adjustability of a length of the first and second splint portions and the first separability provision. The splint device can include a tool calibration provision or a fiducial marker element disposed in a predetermined disposition relative to the kinematic mount.

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.

A medical apparatus including a bar with a first attachment loop, a second attachment and a plurality of hooks, wherein the medical apparatus is an arch bar.

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.

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.