A maxillary arch expander, in particular an expander for use with a human patient, is described. Also described are a method of treatment that includes the use of the maxillary arch expander and a method of inserting and removing the maxillary arch expander from the mouth of the patient. All or part of the maxillary arch expander is generally easily removable and reinsertable during use.

An orthodontic bracket has a base configured for attachment to a tooth surface, a bracket element with an arch wire slot attached to one side of the base, and a clip for securing the arch wire in the slot. The bracket element has a wall portion extending upward along one side of the arch wire slot. This wall portion has three indentations in a line parallel to the mesiodistal direction. There is a channel running entirely through the bracket element underneath the arch wire slot. The clip is substantially U-shaped and has three parallel protrusions shaped to fit within the three indentations of the wall portion, and a locking element. The clip is securable to the bracket by placing the clip through the channel and engaging the locking element onto the bracket element, and placing the protrusions into the indentations of the bracket element.

An orthodontic bracket has a base configured for attachment to a tooth surface, a bracket element with an arch wire slot attached to one side of the base, and a clip for securing the arch wire in the slot. The bracket element has a wall portion extending upward along one side of the arch wire slot. This wall portion has three indentations in a line parallel to the mesiodistal direction. There is a channel running entirely through the bracket element underneath the arch wire slot. The clip is substantially U-shaped and has three parallel protrusions shaped to fit within the three indentations of the wall portion, and a locking element. The clip is securable to the bracket by placing the clip through the channel and engaging the locking element onto the bracket element, and placing the protrusions into the indentations of the bracket element.

A near net shape medical device is described that is formed from a metal alloy mixture containing NiTiHf using additive manufacturing techniques. The medical device is aged to a desired ultimate tensile strength (UTS), presence of H-phase precipitate with an A.sub.f below body temperature.

A dental template for positioning an object on teeth of a patient and method for fabricating the same. The method includes creating a digital model of the patient's teeth, creating a simplified template model based on the digital model, and fabricating the dental template based on the simplified template model. The template model is simplified by removing certain features of the patient's tooth anatomy. The dental template can be located on a patient's teeth using four or fewer positioning teeth.

A dental template for positioning an object on teeth of a patient and method for fabricating the same. The method includes creating a digital model of the patient's teeth, creating a simplified template model based on the digital model, and fabricating the dental template based on the simplified template model. The template model is simplified by removing certain features of the patient's tooth anatomy. The dental template can be located on a patient's teeth using four or fewer positioning teeth.

A system for adjusting a cutting tool includes a cutting system having a cutting tool configured to cut material thermoformed to a dental model. The cutting system is configured to determine, based on a cut line generated for the cutting tool to cut a dental aligner from the material thermoformed onto the dental model, that the cutting tool is incapable of following the cut line. The cutting system is configured to adjust a position of the cutting tool with respect to the cut line so the cutting tool is capable of following the cut line.

A system for adjusting a cutting tool includes a cutting system having a cutting tool configured to cut material thermoformed to a dental model. The cutting system is configured to determine, based on a cut line generated for the cutting tool to cut a dental aligner from the material thermoformed onto the dental model, that the cutting tool is incapable of following the cut line. The cutting system is configured to adjust a position of the cutting tool with respect to the cut line so the cutting tool is capable of following the cut line.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a water flosser handle for providing treatment deep into a user's gum pockets. The water flosser handle may include a chamber configured to hold a treatment tablet, a flosser tip attached to a distal end of the handle, and a water supply tube attached to a proximal end of the handle. The handle may be configured to allow passage of pressurized water therethrough into a user's mouth. A treatment tablet may be positioned within the chamber such that the water pressure of the water configured to flow through the handle at least partially dissolves and transports the treatment tablet into the user's mouth and gums.

An orthodontic device for displacing a tooth and/or a group of teeth of a patient, which directly adjoin the tooth along a mandibular arch, in particular in the lower jaw in the area of the molars, the device comprising: a rigid, dimensionally stable connection between the tooth to be displaced and an attachment point for the device which fixed to the jaw and substantially does not change during the treatment of the patient, a regulating device for changing the length of the rigid connection in direct vicinity of the tooth to be displaced. A torsion-proof attachment of the device in the jaw bone may be provided. Alternatively, a point of support is provided on one tooth.