In a method and system for performing a treatment on a tooth, ultrasonic energy is generated and transmitted by an ultrasonic instrument to a fluid located in the interior of the tooth. The amplitude and frequency of the ultrasonic energy causes inertial cavitation of gas vesicles located in bacteria present in the fluid to assist in cleaning, disinfecting, and/or delivering a payload to the fluid and interior of the tooth but is below the safety limit for ultrasonic imaging.

Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.

Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.

Examples of apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments are described. The apparatus can include a fluid platform configured to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber during treatment. The fluid platform can help maintain fluid circulation in the tooth chamber as fluid flows into and out of the tooth chamber. The apparatus can also include a pressure wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves that can be used for cleaning root canals and tooth surfaces in the tooth chamber. Examples of pressure wave generators include a liquid jet, an electromagnetic energy delivery device, and an ultrasonic device. The fluid can include antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to assist in tooth cleaning. The fluid may be degassed to have a reduced dissolved gas content (compared to non-degassed fluids used in endodontic treatments), which may improve the effectiveness of the pressure wave generation or the cleaning.

Examples of apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments are described. The apparatus can include a fluid platform configured to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber during treatment. The fluid platform can help maintain fluid circulation in the tooth chamber as fluid flows into and out of the tooth chamber. The apparatus can also include a pressure wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves that can be used for cleaning root canals and tooth surfaces in the tooth chamber. Examples of pressure wave generators include a liquid jet, an electromagnetic energy delivery device, and an ultrasonic device. The fluid can include antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to assist in tooth cleaning. The fluid may be degassed to have a reduced dissolved gas content (compared to non-degassed fluids used in endodontic treatments), which may improve the effectiveness of the pressure wave generation or the cleaning.

A dental apparatus is disclosed. The dental apparatus can comprise a pressure wave generator to be disposed at a treatment region of a tooth. The pressure wave generator can include an opening to deliver a flowable filling material to the treatment region. The apparatus can include a reservoir for supplying the filling material to the pressure wave generator. The pressure wave generator can be configured to generate pressure waves through the treatment region to cause the filling material to substantially fill the treatment region.

A dental apparatus is disclosed. The dental apparatus can comprise a pressure wave generator to be disposed at a treatment region of a tooth. The pressure wave generator can include an opening to deliver a flowable filling material to the treatment region. The apparatus can include a reservoir for supplying the filling material to the pressure wave generator. The pressure wave generator can be configured to generate pressure waves through the treatment region to cause the filling material to substantially fill the treatment region.

Dental hygiene and periodontal hand instrumentation requires alignment of the cutting surface of the instrument at a specific angle and adaptation to the tooth surface. A dental hygiene and periodontal hand instrumentation tutor provides an objective, consistent and accurate way to measure and display the actual angulation and adaptation angles of a periodontal hand instrument and assess instrument use continuously. The method includes detecting the position, orientation, motion path, pressure, angulation angle, adaptation angle, and centerline angle of a periodontal hand instrument and comparing them to ideal positions, orientations, and motion paths; and provides various forms of user feedback.

Dental hygiene and periodontal hand instrumentation requires alignment of the cutting surface of the instrument at a specific angle and adaptation to the tooth surface. A dental hygiene and periodontal hand instrumentation tutor provides an objective, consistent and accurate way to measure and display the actual angulation and adaptation angles of a periodontal hand instrument and assess instrument use continuously. The method includes detecting the position, orientation, motion path, pressure, angulation angle, adaptation angle, and centerline angle of a periodontal hand instrument and comparing them to ideal positions, orientations, and motion paths; and provides various forms of user feedback.

Methods of treating exposed tooth pulp are provided herein, including, e.g., methods of pulp capping comprising administering a combination of growth factor substance and pulp capping material to exposed pulp thereby inducing dentin formation and/or pulp revitalization.