130results about "Dam holders" patented technology

Dental crown forms and methods of using them are disclosed. The dental crown forms may include one or more of the following features: a handle attached to the dental crown form at a location removed from the base of the dental crown form; a vented handle through which excess amounts of hardenable dental material can pass during placement of the crown form; and one or more lines of weakness that may be separated to remove a dental crown form from hardenable dental material after placement of the filled crown form. The dental crown forms may also be located in packages with hardenable dental material located within the dental crown forms as packaged.

An application tip (100) for a viscous or pasty composition comprises a body (101) including a proximal end (102) that can be fastened onto a device for dispensing said composition and a distal end (103) that is provided with an outlet orifice (104), an internal duct (110) extending between the proximal and distal ends of said body. The internal duct (110) comprises at least one portion (112) of flat shape opening out at the outlet orifice (104) and including adjacent grooves (113) in at least one of its sides.

An apparatus for separating teeth utilizing a base member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. A first spring extends outwardly from the first end portion while a second spring extends outwardly from the second portion of the base member. A lingual shield spans the distal portions of the first and second springs extending from the base member. A pair of tines overlap one another, one tine extending from the base member, the other extending from the shield. The first and second springs urge the meeting or overlapping of the first and second tines in the vicinity of gap for meeting place between a pair of teeth.

The invention describes methods, devices, kits and systems for isolating one or more teeth. The devices include a topology conformable device that can be constrained into a shape that can be delivered into an oral cavity and unconstrained to allow the device to isolate a target tooth and initiate a working field.

Provided herein is a retraction device for retracting soft tissue from the dental surfaces in the oral cavity of a patient. The retraction device is comprised of a topology conformable structure, where the topology conformable structure is adaptable to be delivered to the oral cavity in a constrained shape. The device can then undergo a conformation change in the oral cavity, where the device transforms into its unconstrained shape. The unconstrained shape of the device creates a useable working field in the oral cavity. The useable working field can provide increased accessibility to and/or visibility within the oral cavity. Also provided herein are methods for using the device and kits.

A matrix wedge restorative system comprising a matrix strip adapted for fitting between a pair of adjacent teeth for supporting a restoration material in one of said pair of teeth; a wedge shaped lingual retainer providing a first gripping means; and a wedge shaped buccal retainer providing a second gripping means; the first and second gripping means enabled for mutual stepwise engagement as the lingual and buccal retainers are drawn together; the lingual and buccal retainers each further providing a V-shaped flexible wedge surface adapted for flexible tight fitting between the pair of adjacent teeth, each of the retainers conformable to surfaces of said teeth. The retainers, together, adapted for pressing the matrix strip into a desired shape and for holding the matrix strip in said desired shape during a tooth restoration.

An elongated flexible dental strip includes front and rear surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. The strip also includes first and second edges defining a lateral width therebetween. A first portion of the strip further is spaced from a second portion along the length of the strip, wherein the thickness of the first portion is different from the thickness of the second portion. The strip has a constant thickness across a lateral width defined between the first and second edges.

A dental matrix is used to support a filler material placed into a tooth in a class II, III or IV restoration. The matrix has a retainer portion of a thin metal sheet stock having a generally concave surface of a size and configuration capable of abutting the tooth. The retainer portion includes a topper marginal ridge area, a central contact area and a lower, convex shaped gingival margin area, the marginal ridge area and the contact area are made thinner than the gingival margin area. The sheet stock is made of a material that may deform during the insertion process, and that will then resume its original shape when in place.

A device for interproximal separation and matrix band adaptation and retention for use in a dental restoration procedure. The device includes a pair of integral wedge elements and a pair of cushion elements that together achieve simultaneous separation, adaptation and retention. A system is also provided including the device and a matrix band. A method of preparing a tooth for restoration is also provided that includes placement of the matrix band and positioning of the device to adapt the matrix band to a tooth to be prepared and retain it in its properly adapted position while simultaneously separating the tooth to be restored from an adjacent tooth.

Structures and methods are disclosed which may be used for applying force to the base of a matrix band or cavity filling material mold during a cavity filling procedure. In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a unitary body of elastic material is stretched preferably by applying force in opposite directions to the opposite ends of the unitary body such that a central portion of the body of material is thinned. The thinned portion of the unitary body may then be easily inserted in the space between two adjacent teeth next to the base of a matrix band or cavity filling material mold. After the unitary body has been inserted into the space between two adjacent teeth next to the base of the matrix band or cavity filling material mold, the force which has been applied to the opposite ends of the unitary body is then removed. As a result, the previously stretched elastic unitary body contracts and becomes thicker in its central portion that had been previously thinned. The contraction and thickening of the unitary body in the space between adjacent teeth fills this space and applies and outward force to the walls of this cavity. Accordingly, the contracted unitary body applies a force on the base of the matrix band or cavity filling material mold which forces the base of the matrix band or filling material mold adjacent to the base of the tooth to be filled.

A dental matrix for containing a light curable composite restorative inserted in a prepared tooth is provided including a contour portion and flange portions for engaging the tooth and composite restoration. A flange portion is provided with a port positionable to allow a curing light beam to reach the restorative to induce hardening of the composite and influence direction of shrinkage incidental to curing of the composite.

A device for creating interproximal contacts of restorations placed between posterior and anterior teeth comprising a single or plurality of dental inserts which is sized and dimensioned and can be inserted into unset restorative material and compacted so as to exert lateral forces in the interproximal areas of tooth preparations thereby creating tight anatomical and functional interproximal contacts. A method of use of said dental inserts is also described.

This invention relates to methods and devices for restoring teeth using fixed restorations. In particular, the invention provides a system, kit, and devices for the management of interproximal areas for traditional cementation and/or bonding of dental crowns, onlays, inlays, veneers and bridges. In the method, a barrier is positioned in contact with the tooth being restored and an adjacent tooth to cover a section of the tooth being restored and to create separation of the tooth being restored and the adjacent tooth. Cement is applied to the first mating surface of the fixed restoration and/or to the second mating surface of the tooth, and the first mating surface of the fixed restoration and the second mating surface of the tooth are positioned adjacent each other to seat the fixed restoration on the tooth. The barrier covers a section of the tooth being restored to prevent cement from bonding to the section of the tooth. This eliminates the need to remove hardened cement from this section of the tooth.

An improved dental tooth spacer assembly provides a safe separation of the restoring tooth and the adjacent tooth during dental procedures. The improved dental tooth spacer assembly includes a separating portion made of a durable flexible material, and comprising a first wall and a second wall. Also the improved dental tooth spacer assembly includes a fixing member comprising an elongated body, a first wing and a second wing.

The anterior composite matrix dental restoration system provides a matrix for holding a composite filling material in place as it cures, and a tool for holding the matrix in place during the curing of the filling material. The matrix comprises a thin, flat, flexible, and transparent sheet of plastic material with parallel tubular extensions on the opposite ends. The distal ends of the specialized forceps tool are inserted into the tubular ends of the matrix and used to install, hold, and remove the matrix. The relatively small and narrow tool greatly increases the comfort of both patient and dentist or dental technician by precluding need to insert and hold the fingers in the mouth of the patient to install, hold, and remove the matrix. The matrices may be provided in different sizes, with at least the tubular end components being optionally color coded to indicate the corresponding size.

The invention relates to a dental device (1) for dilating the interdental spaces (7, 8). The inventive dental device (1) comprises two interdental matrices (4, 5) for insertion into the interdental spaces (7, 8), two retaining means (2, 3) for the interdental matrices (4, 5) and a spacer device (6, 6', 60, 61, 60b, 61b, 90, 91) for guiding the retaining means (2,3) in parallel and for separating next but one adjacent teeth (111, 112). Unlike conventional wedges, the inventive dental device (1) allows a better access to the mesial and distal tooth surfaces in the area of the interdental spaces (7, 8) and prevents gingival injuries and damages to the dental enamel caused by the pressure. The embodiments relate to interdental matrices (4, 5) with a window (9), embodiments of the retaining means (2, 3) for detachably fixing the interdental matrices (4, 5) and spacer devices with separator screws (6, 6', 60, 61) and guide pins (60b, 61b, 90, 91). The inventive dental device (1) is useful in prophylactic or restorative odontotherapeutical methods.

A matrix band retainer for dental restoration has a unitary member of a stiff planar spring material. The unitary member has an open ring substantially in a first plane, with the plane of the material of the ring perpendicular to the first plane. A tine at each end of the open ring extends substantially normal to the plane of the ring. Each tine has a first planar portion extending from the ring and a second planar portion extending from the first planar portion. The second planar portion is at an angle to the first planar portion and adjoins the first planar portion to define a ridge. The ridges of each tine face each other across a gap. Each tine may be bifurcated at the end distal from the ring so that the distal portion of each of the first planar portion and the second planar portion are divided by a notch. A dental wedge can be inserted through the notch with the matrix band retainer in place.

A dental wedge for use in the inter-proximal space between adjacent teeth is described. The wedge comprises a taper section ending at a tip, and a body section extending to the tapering section at one end. The body section has an inverted V-shaped cross-section, flexing of the sides of the V-shape allows the wedge to adapt to various contours of the inter-proximal space. The mid-portion of the body section is narrower than at least a portion of the wedge either end of the mid-portion.

A dental implement includes a wire member that forms a generally ring-shaped portion and first and second ends, which depend from the ring-shaped portion. The ring-shaped portion lies in a plane, with the first and second ends depending from the generally ring-shaped portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the plane. At least a portion of the first end touches at least a portion of the second end when in an initial resting state, wherein the first and second ends generate an inward force towards each other when separated.