A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.

The present invention includes a medicated dental floss and a method of making a medicated dental floss comprising: stretching a dental floss; dipping the dental floss in a biocompatible polymer—solvent bath to coat the braided dental floss; drying the coated braided dental floss; dipping the coated dental floss in a medicated solution comprising an encapsulated medicament; and drying the medicated encapsulant on the coated dental floss.

The invention relates to a curable composition for dental retraction comprising a resin matrix comprising at least one polyorganosiloxane with at least two olefinically unsaturated groups as component A1, at least one organohydrogenpolysiloxane as component A2, optionally at least one vinyl functional QM silicone component as component A3, at least one alkylsiloxane having at least one carbinol, silanol, or alkoxy moiety as component B, optionally surfactant(s) as component E, optionally additive(s) as component F, a filler system comprising filler(s) as component D, a catalyst system comprising addition cure catalyst component C-A suitable to cure components A1 and A2, condensation cure catalyst component C-B suitable to cure component B, the curable composition being provided as a kit of part comprising a Catalyst Part I and a Base Part II the Catalyst Part I comprising components C-A, C-B, A1, the Base Part II comprising components A2, A1, B, wherein each of components D, E and F and A3, if present, can be present either in the Catalyst Part I or the Base Part II or the Catalyst Part I and the Base Part II, and wherein component B is present in an amount of 6 wt. % or more with respect to the whole composition.

A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.

An application tip for dispensing a dental material has a tubular dispensing end made of a plastic material. The dispensing end being formed of a circumferential wall having a thickness T.sub.1 and which forms a dispensing opening of a diameter D.sub.i1 and having a diameter-to-thickness-ratio D.sub.i1:T.sub.1 at the opening which is 13 or greater. The wall thickness increases in a direction away from the opening. The application tip preferably facilitates appropriately depositing the dental material.

Provided is a dental cord using a nanofiber multiple yarn having a large specific surface area and a large number of three-dimensional pores, thereby effectively impregnating a drug such as a hemostatic agent, and a method of manufacturing the dental cord. The dental cord includes: a nanofiber multiple yarn which is obtained by plying and twisting at least two nanofiber tape yarns and which is impregnated with a drug, wherein the at least two nanofiber tape yarns are integrated by nanofibers made of fiber moldability polymer materials and having an average diameter of less than 1 μm, to thus be formed of a nanofiber web having three-dimensional micropores.

A custom tool for forming a dental restoration in a mouth of a patient includes a one-piece mold body providing for a customized fit with at least one tooth of the patient, the one-piece mold body including an occlusal portion forming an occlusal surface corresponding with an occlusal surface of the tooth, a mesial proximal portion forming a mesial proximal surface corresponding with a mesial proximal surface of the tooth, and a distal proximal portion forming a distal proximal surface corresponding with a distal proximal surface of the tooth. The mold body is configured to combine with the tooth of the patient to form a mold cavity encompassing missing tooth structure of the tooth. The occlusal portion, the mesial proximal portion, and the distal proximal portion are based on three-dimensional scan data of the mouth of the patient.

A dental retraction cord band is used to create a gap between a tooth under repair and the surrounding gingival tissue. The gap between the tooth and the gingival tissue is necessary to make an accurate impression for subsequent construction of a crown or bridge. The dental retraction cord band is constructed from an elastic material such as cotton, fits snugly around the tooth and is pressed into the space between the tooth and gingival tissue. When the dental retraction cord band is removed, a gap is created between the tooth and gingival tissue for placement of the mold device and construction of an accurate impression of the tooth. The dental retraction cord band may be constructed of various sizes to fit around various sizes of teeth. The dental retraction cord band may also be constructed in different widths to make a larger or small gap as desired.

A dental material dispensing device has a plunger means which for dispensing the dental material is movable for urging at least one component of a dental material toward a dispensing area. The device further has cure control means with an energy source and a flow path on which the dental composition and/or the dental material flows past the energy source during dispensation. The device is operable for exposing the dental composition and/or the dental material to a specific energy by control of the energy source and/or by control of the speed of the flow of the dental composition and/or the dental material on the flow path. The device is configured for dispensing a coherent strand of dental material in a dispensing cycle. The device is further configured for operating in a first dispensing mode and additionally in a second dispensing mode during the same dispensing cycle. The ratio between the specific energy in the second dispensing mode and the specific energy in the first dispensing mode is smaller than 1.

A dispensing device for dental retraction material. The dispensing device has a cannula that forms a free front end. The free front end is formed by a first cannula portion and a second cannula portion that is arranged directly adjacent the first cannula portion. The first cannula portion has a first elongated section and a first rounded section. The second cannula portion has a second elongated section and a second rounded section. A first outer diameter (D1) of the cannula is defined on the first rounded section at the free front end, and a second outer diameter (D2) of the cannula is defined on the second rounded section at the transition between the second rounded section and the first cannula portion. The second outer diameter is greater than the first outer diameter. The first cannula portion comprises a predetermined separation structure directly adjacent the second cannula portion. The first cannula portion can be broken or cut off to provide the dispensing device with a new free front end.