A bactericidal insert for introduction into a canal in a tooth during a root canal procedure is provided, along with a method of producing the insert and a method of using the insert in a root canal procedure. The insert is in the form of a carrier having a plurality of pores or interstices. The carrier had been impregnated with a liquid photosensitive dye so that the dye entered the pores or interstices and then the carrier with the liquid photosensitive dye forms a dye-impregnated carrier. The dye-impregnated carrier is configured and adapted for insertion within the canal of the tooth. The carrier, if dried, is adapted to receive a wetting agent to dissolve the dye therein to produce a liquefied dye, which is activatable to produce singlet oxygen within the canal when it is irradiated by light from outside of the tooth.

A method treating a root canal in a tooth by introducing into the pulp chamber of a tooth and pulsing a laser light into the fluid reservoir so as to disintegrate pulp within the root canal without generation of any significant heat in said liquid fluid so as to avoid elevating the temperature of any of the dentin, tooth, or other adjacent tissue more than about 5″ C.

An endodontic instrument comprising a tapered rod, the rod comprising an active portion, the active portion terminating at a distal tip end of the rod and defining a conical envelope, the conical envelope having a longitudinal axis that coincides with an axis of rotation of the instrument.

An endodontic instrument comprising a tapered rod, the rod comprising an active portion, the active portion terminating at a distal tip end of the rod and defining a conical envelope, the conical envelope having a longitudinal axis that coincides with an axis of rotation of the instrument.

A method and an arrangement for the cleaning of a circumferentially closed canal using a light guide conducting a laser beam, with the entry of the laser beam into the light guide being interrupted when the free end of the light guide is outside of the canal and/or the movement of the light guide within the canal is monitored and if there is no movement or the movement is below a first threshold value then a signal is triggered and/or the laser radiation is turned off or its output is reduced. The turning off of the laser radiation or its reducing is controlled in dependency of at least one signal change and/or a second threshold and/or a signal change relative to the second threshold determined during at least one course of time starting before and including the entry of the light guide into the canal.

A method and an arrangement for the cleaning of a circumferentially closed canal using a light guide conducting a laser beam, with the entry of the laser beam into the light guide being interrupted when the free end of the light guide is outside of the canal and/or the movement of the light guide within the canal is monitored and if there is no movement or the movement is below a first threshold value then a signal is triggered and/or the laser radiation is turned off or its output is reduced. The turning off of the laser radiation or its reducing is controlled in dependency of at least one signal change and/or a second threshold and/or a signal change relative to the second threshold determined during at least one course of time starting before and including the entry of the light guide into the canal.

A root canal irrigation assembly, comprising a vacuum device, a suction element having an elongate suction tip, and a sonic device having a sonic handpiece for introducing sonic vibrations into the suction element and thus causing the suction tip to vibrate, wherein the rear end of the suction element is connected to the vacuum device such that an irrigation fluid containing tissue residues and/or bacteria can be suctioned out of a root canal. The suction element comprises an internal vibrator which is held in the suction tip and projects out of the front end thereof, wherein the suction tip and the internal vibrator are interconnected at their rear ends, wherein the suction tip is resiliently formed and dimensioned such that, when the suction tip is introduced into a root canal, the suction tip sealingly closes the root canal in the region of the root canal wall.

A pharmaceutical formulation for topical dental administration or medical (e.g., implant) treatment, including effective amounts of: at least one antimicrobial compound; at least one peroxide source compound; and at least one gel agent. Also disclosed are methods of oral anatomy treatment. The pharmaceutical formulation and treatment methods provide the patient with oral anatomy benefits including, for example, decreased or arrested gum recession; decreased or arrested bone recession; decreased or arrested bone mass loss; decreased or eliminated pain; decreased or eliminated bleeding; decreased or eliminated swelling; enhanced regeneration of bone; enhanced soft tissue repair; or a combination thereof.

A pharmaceutical formulation for topical dental administration or medical (e.g., implant) treatment, including effective amounts of: at least one antimicrobial compound; at least one peroxide source compound; and at least one gel agent. Also disclosed are methods of oral anatomy treatment. The pharmaceutical formulation and treatment methods provide the patient with oral anatomy benefits including, for example, decreased or arrested gum recession; decreased or arrested bone recession; decreased or arrested bone mass loss; decreased or eliminated pain; decreased or eliminated bleeding; decreased or eliminated swelling; enhanced regeneration of bone; enhanced soft tissue repair; or a combination thereof.

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.