A dental instrument configured to measure a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth is described. The dental instrument may include a handle and a taper measuring component coupled to a distal end of the handle. The taper measuring component includes a first, second, and third elongated member. A bottom surface may be formed at a coupling point of the second and third elongated member, where the second elongated member is configured to be substantially vertical when the bottom surface is placed adjacent to a tooth, and the third elongated member projecting radially from the second elongated member at a predefined angle. The third elongated member is shaped and positioned to rest substantially flush along the at least one side wall of the tooth when a degree of tapering of the tooth is substantially similar to the angle, and may include a measuring component.

A dental ultrasonic tool configured to connect to a magnetostrictive or piezoelectric transducer of a dental instrument operating in the frequency range between 18 kHz and 50 kHz. The tool includes a tip and a singular surface marking having a minimum width of 0.5 mm disposed on the tip. The tip includes a distal point as a datum. The singular surface marking is spaced-apart from the distal point of the tip and defines at least one edge. The at least one edge is not coincident with a first flexural node of the tip at an operating frequency of the tip. Dental ultrasonic tip wear measurement tools for measuring the wear on a tip are also provided.

In a method for closing a space between a first tooth and a second tooth, a pair of dental matrices is used. The pair of dental matrices is selected using a matrix selection tool, such as a gauge having a distal end section with color coded sections.

A dual-ended triple tooled dental applicator apparatus, comprising a plurality of tools with interchangeable dental tool applicators. The dental apparatus further comprises an elongated handle having two distinct tools on both ends and being detachable and interchangeable. During procedures, the dentist can alternate between both ends of the apparatus and among three dental tool applicators. A set of overlapping and circumferential friction enhancement means, along and about the apparatus, facilitate safe and effective handling during procedures. The multi-functioned dental apparatus is comprised of a lightweight but rigid material (e.g., plastic), which allows the dentist to efficiently use the same tool for working with and applying different materials to a patient's teeth. Upon completion of a given procedure, the entire device may be readily disposable.

Provided are a zirconia sintered body capable of being widely used as a dental material, in particular, a zirconia sintered body capable of being applied to both a dental material for a back tooth and a dental material for a front tooth and a simple and easy method for manufacturing the zirconia sintered body.

The method for manufacturing a zirconia sintered body includes a molding step of molding a powder composition that has an yttria content of more than 3% by mole and 5.2% by mole or less and that contains a first zirconia powder having an yttria content of 2% by mole or more and 4% by mole or less and a second zirconia powder having an yttria content of more than 4% by mole and 6% by mole or less to obtain a green body, and a sintering step of sintering the green body to obtain a sintered body.

A dental multi-colored milling blank having at least two layers (16), a transition zone, where material from both layers is present. In the transition zone, a transition geometry exists that extends three-dimensionally. The transition geometry comprises round surfaces facing towards both directions of extension of the layers.

The invention relates to a process for the production of a dental restoration, in which an oxide ceramic material (a) is subjected to a first heat treatment, (b) is subjected to a second heat treatment and (c) is cooled,
wherein the heat treatment in step (a) is effected at lower pressure than the heat treatment in step (b).

A set of osteotomes have conical tips with free end diameters alternately increasing by a constant increment, k, as a step function, beginning with the first osteotome; and working base diameters alternately increases by a constant increment, C, as a step function, beginning with the second osteotome. For seven osteotomes, the first and second diameters respectively are: 1 mm and 2 mm; 1 mm and 3 mm; 2 mm and 3 mm; 2 mm and 4 mm; 3 mm and 4 mm; 3 mm and 5 mm; and 4 mm and 5 mm. In a first mode all seven osteotomes are used to provide very gradual diameter escalations. In a second mode the first, third, fifth, and seventh osteotomes provide conventional Summers' diameter escalations. In third and fourth modes the first, fourth, and seventh osteotomes, and the second, fifth, and seventh osteotomes respectively provide increasingly more aggressive Summers' type escalations.

The present invention relates to devices having a thermochromic temperature indicator for accommodating, heating and applying dental materials, to corresponding methods of heating dental materials and of recognizing the temperature of the dental materials, and to a corresponding kit.

Provided herein is a system for repositioning teeth of a user in need thereof from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, the user having a dental arch that comprises malpositioned (MP) teeth and normal-positioned (NP) teeth, the system comprising one or more cycles of successive appliances, each cycle of successive appliances including: (a) at least one first appliance having a geometry selected to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement to a first intermediate arrangement or the final tooth arrangement, (b) optionally one or more intermediate appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive intermediate arrangements including a last intermediate tooth arrangement, and (c) at least one final appliance having a geometry selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement or the last intermediate arrangement to the final tooth arrangement. The system comprises a decorative element on a labial side of the at least one first appliance, the optional one or more intermediate appliances, or the at least one final appliance.