A mouthguard assembly that includes a U-shaped body, a protective member, and a protective layer. The body includes a posterior wall, an anterior wall, and a middle bite portion disposed between the posterior wall and the anterior wall. The posterior wall and the anterior wall extend from the middle bite portion to define a groove. The protective member is at least partially embedded within the body, if not completely embedded within the body. The protective layer covers the teeth-side surface of the protective member. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the mouthguard assembly.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a dental retractor for controlling the position of soft tissue within a mouth, the dental retractor comprising: a lip retractor for controlling the position of a lip; and a cheek retractor comprising a pair of arms for controlling the position of a cheek; and wherein the dental retractor comprises a tongue retractor removably coupled to the dental retractor for controlling the position of a tongue.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a dental retractor for controlling the position of soft tissue within a mouth, the dental retractor comprising: a lip retractor for controlling the position of a lip; and a cheek retractor comprising a pair of arms for controlling the position of a cheek; and wherein the dental retractor comprises a tongue retractor removably coupled to the dental retractor for controlling the position of a tongue.

An intraoral multisensor device includes a mouthpiece, a plurality of sensors at least one of attached to or integrated with the mouthpiece, and a data communications unit configured to receive signals from the plurality of sensors. The mouthpiece has a form to permit stable arrangement at least partially within a person's mouth such that it can remain for hands-free sensing of a plurality of biological parameters. Also, an intraoral multisensor system includes an intraoral multisensor device and a data processing device adapted to communicate with the intraoral multisensor device.

An intraoral multisensor device includes a mouthpiece, a plurality of sensors at least one of attached to or integrated with the mouthpiece, and a data communications unit configured to receive signals from the plurality of sensors. The mouthpiece has a form to permit stable arrangement at least partially within a person's mouth such that it can remain for hands-free sensing of a plurality of biological parameters. Also, an intraoral multisensor system includes an intraoral multisensor device and a data processing device adapted to communicate with the intraoral multisensor device.

A dental bite block is provided. The dental bite block includes a body having a first end and a second end, an outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall. The body comprises an upper biting surface positioned within an upper channel and a lower biting surface within a lower channel. The outer sidewall and the inner sidewall extend past the upper and lower biting surfaces and define the upper channel and the lower channel, respectively. The upper channel and the lower channel are each able to receive a row of teeth therein. The dental bite block prevents the biting down and provides safe access to the interior of the mouth. A handle extends from the bite block and is releasably tethered to a toothbrush such that the teeth of the subject may be brushed when the teeth are received within the mouth of the subject.

A dental bite block is provided. The dental bite block includes a body having a first end and a second end, an outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall. The body comprises an upper biting surface positioned within an upper channel and a lower biting surface within a lower channel. The outer sidewall and the inner sidewall extend past the upper and lower biting surfaces and define the upper channel and the lower channel, respectively. The upper channel and the lower channel are each able to receive a row of teeth therein. The dental bite block prevents the biting down and provides safe access to the interior of the mouth. A handle extends from the bite block and is releasably tethered to a toothbrush such that the teeth of the subject may be brushed when the teeth are received within the mouth of the subject.

The invention provides methods to prepare protein conjugates from proteins having at least two cysteines. In one embodiment, a protein with a disulfide linkage is reduced to provide two free cysteines for reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant, linking the sulfur atoms of the two cysteines together. The ketone inserted between the sulfur atoms is then used to form a Schiff base to an aminated payload molecule, thus conjugating the protein to a payload. In another embodiment, two cysteine residues are tied together by reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant. The linkage between the sulfur atoms in each case holds the protein or peptide in a constrained conformation, while also providing a convenient place for attaching a payload with good specificity and efficiency.

The invention provides methods to prepare protein conjugates from proteins having at least two cysteines. In one embodiment, a protein with a disulfide linkage is reduced to provide two free cysteines for reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant, linking the sulfur atoms of the two cysteines together. The ketone inserted between the sulfur atoms is then used to form a Schiff base to an aminated payload molecule, thus conjugating the protein to a payload. In another embodiment, two cysteine residues are tied together by reaction with a 1,3-dihaloacetone or similar reactant. The linkage between the sulfur atoms in each case holds the protein or peptide in a constrained conformation, while also providing a convenient place for attaching a payload with good specificity and efficiency.

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.