Compositions and methods for inhibiting and interrupting biofilm formation, and for destabilizing established biofilms are provided, the novel compositions including polymeric resins and monomeric non-polymerizable and polymerizable resins. More particularly, the compositions and methods enable the protection and removal of biofilms from surfaces in the context of medical, consumer, domestic, food service, environmental and industrial applications, where the effects constitute beneficial and desirable biofilm attenuating activity.

Compositions and methods for inhibiting and interrupting biofilm formation, and for destabilizing established biofilms are provided, the novel compositions including polymeric resins and monomeric non-polymerizable and polymerizable resins. More particularly, the compositions and methods enable the protection and removal of biofilms from surfaces in the context of medical, consumer, domestic, food service, environmental and industrial applications, where the effects constitute beneficial and desirable biofilm attenuating activity.

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.

Disclosed is a method for filling a root canal in a tooth. The method includes positioning a fiber in the root canal of the tooth, filling at least a portion of the root canal with an unset hydrogel composition, such that the unset hydrogel composition contacts at least a portion of the fiber, setting the hydrogel composition, thereby forming a set hydrogel, and removing the fiber from the set hydrogel, thereby leaving a channel in the set hydrogel. Methods and kits for repairing teeth are also described.

A natural and sustainable material is derived from the nut of the tagua palm tree that may be fashioned into devices for humans and animals. A pulverized and reconstituted material is disclosed herein that is also treated with a low temperature atmospheric plasma treatment. In an embodiment, a biocompatible carrier gas is ionized to form a biocompatible atmospheric plasma stream. Material, such as nano-scale powdered hydroxyapatite, is introduced into the plasma stream, which is then applied to the natural nut material.

A natural and sustainable material is derived from the nut of the tagua palm tree that may be fashioned into devices for humans and animals. A pulverized and reconstituted material is disclosed herein that is also treated with a low temperature atmospheric plasma treatment. In an embodiment, a biocompatible carrier gas is ionized to form a biocompatible atmospheric plasma stream. Material, such as nano-scale powdered hydroxyapatite, is introduced into the plasma stream, which is then applied to the natural nut material.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices (tags), systems, and methods to determine structural integrity and other states of orthodontic-elements, such as orthodontic-brackets, orthodontic-archwires, orthodontic-expanders, orthodontic-elastic-bands, and orthodontic-power-chains, to name a few, in a non-invasive and contactless way, with respect to monitoring; and using comparatively safe and/or low energy electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. Negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors are implanted in or attached to such orthodontic-elements. Such arrangements may permit monitoring of forces acting on teeth by various orthodontic-elements. Using backscatter imaging technology, the structural integrity and other states of the orthodontic-elements may be monitored; which may allow non-invasive and contactless detection of problems such as cracking, bending, excessive pressure, improper temperature, and/or the like. Additionally, initially unknown locations of the implanted negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors may be readily determined upon a given scanning (reading) session; and thus mapped to provide an effective image of the orthodontic-elements.

Embodiments of the present invention provide devices (tags), systems, and methods to determine structural integrity and other states of orthodontic-elements, such as orthodontic-brackets, orthodontic-archwires, orthodontic-expanders, orthodontic-elastic-bands, and orthodontic-power-chains, to name a few, in a non-invasive and contactless way, with respect to monitoring; and using comparatively safe and/or low energy electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. Negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors are implanted in or attached to such orthodontic-elements. Such arrangements may permit monitoring of forces acting on teeth by various orthodontic-elements. Using backscatter imaging technology, the structural integrity and other states of the orthodontic-elements may be monitored; which may allow non-invasive and contactless detection of problems such as cracking, bending, excessive pressure, improper temperature, and/or the like. Additionally, initially unknown locations of the implanted negligible-sized backscatter-tags with sensors may be readily determined upon a given scanning (reading) session; and thus mapped to provide an effective image of the orthodontic-elements.