196 results about "Dental Equipment" patented technology

A tool for use with an electronic tool recognition system includes a tool blank with a distal tip configured for performing a procedure and a proximal handle encasing, fixedly, a proximal end of the tool blank. A tool-identifying apparatus including a mechanical resonator is embedded in a proximal end of the tool blank to provide a tool identifier. A conductive wire in electrical contact with the resonator provides the identifier to a processor. In another arrangement, conductive brushes in contact with slip rings provide the identifier to a processor. In another arrangement, a dental tool handle includes an insulating portion defining a recess in a proximal end of the handle configured to receive either a sensor or an information-managing chip.

A variety of improvements to the vibrating devices for dental remodeling are provided, including improved bite plate designs that accommodate common patient bite structure, a connector for a bite plate, a sizing tray for same, as well as better motors providing improved performance characteristics for an extraoral vibrator, and a completely intraoral vibrating dental plate with very thin cross section.

The present invention provides methods for acquiring and utilizing time-based 3d jaw motion images (4d datasets) to enhance the computer-aided design (CAD) of dental devices, which may include dental restorations, oral prostheses, and oral appliances. These 4d datasets may be used directly to provide a jaw motion model suitable for enhanced CAD or, they may be used to derive mathematical expressions that are then used to drive a motion simulation. The methods of the invention are based on acquiring time-based 3d images (a 4d sequence) of the upper and lower teeth, with each 3d frame in the time sequence capturing some upper and lower arch anatomy (the oral anatomy). Each image in the 4d sequence may therefore contain an accurate record of the relationship between the upper and lower arch in three dimensions.

An electrolytically activated, microcidal aqueous solution is disclosed which is used in the elimination and control of biofilm in dental unit water lines. The solution has a pH between 6.75 and 10 with microcidal as well as anti-oxidising, dispersing and surfactant properties, rendering the solution bio-compatible and non-corrosive, as well as capable of eliminating biofilm in dental unit water lines, while simultaneously dispersing and dislodging the biofilm from the water lines so as reduce the micro-organisms in the dental water to a predetermined level. The aqueous solution is produced using an electrolytic device that allows the independent manipulation of specific individual properties of two separate product streams (a cation-rich stream and an anion-rich stream), the manipulation being performed by separate and independent recirculation through the same electrode chamber or counter-electrode chamber of the electrolytic device to modulate the respective properties of the anion-containing and the cation-containing solutions.

The present invention relates to a wireless remote control for dental equipment, such as dental scaler tools, dental drills, prophy angles and other rotary instruments. The wireless control switch can control the on and off state of the dental tool, or it can also be programmed to control the speed of the tool by a switch on the tool. The wireless control switch can be in the form of, for example, a foot switch, and replaces manual and foot operated controls formerly connected by cables to the dental tools. This removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions. The wireless control can be battery powered, further eliminating the need for cables.

A device for feeding a treatment liquid into medical appliances. The device includes an outlet opening for the treatment liquid, especially for feeding water into dental equipment, a feed line for the treatment liquid, means to introduce degerminating agents into the treatment liquid, and an on / off valve disposed upstream from an outlet opening onto which the feed line is connected. A back-flush valve is connected to the on / off valve, and a reservoir is provided for the treatment liquid, whereby the treatment liquid is transported from the reservoir with the aid of a pump. Further, a back-flush line is connectible alternatively via a drain valve to a drain or to the reservoir so that the treatment liquid is pumped into the drain, or in circulation from the reservoir through the feed line to the switch valve and through the back-flush line again into the reservoir.

A dental appliance has an auxiliary feature bonded to a polymeric surface of a shell body with a compartment for receiving teeth. The auxiliary feature is bonded with a light-curable acrylic adhesive comprising acrylate base material and photoinitiator. Auxiliary features include colored layers and, decals, reinforcing features and auxiliary dental devices. A light-curable acrylic adhesive may include a thiol monomer and / or a pigment. A dental appliance may have a shell body with a bonding surface adapted for attachment of an auxiliary feature, such as prepared by a pretreatment to mar the surface of to impregnate the surface with a reactive adhesion promoter.

A dental equipment for cutting teeth, forming root canals and so on. The dental apparatus includes: an actuator for actuating a cutting tool; a load sensor for sensing a load worked in the cutting tool; and a load indicator for making an operator know the load sensed by the load sensor visually, aurally and / or tactily.

Vibrating dental devices and accessories are provided, including a unique snap fit dental plate and vibrator connection; risers for adjusting the thickness of a dental plate; a pointer or wand that can be clamped onto a dental plate to reach even severely misaligned teeth; a cushioned dental plate having a non-Newtonian fluid therein that allows conformation of the cushion to the dentition, but hardens on use to allow the transmission of vibration to the teeth. Accessories such as carrying cases and docking stations are also provided.

An intraoral dental device includes an insert for protecting the teeth, dental arches, mandible, maxilla, temporal mangila joint and lips of the wearer from impact that may arise in athletic activities. The insert is an open cell structure which may optionally contain a fluid material, such as hydrogels, amorphous solids, semisolids, liquids and / or gases. The insert may be permanently or resiliently deformable whereby a portion of the fluid material, if present, is expelled from the insert's cells. The inserts are replaceable after they are rendered ineffective from the sustained impact.

A dental equipment for cutting teeth, forming root canals and so on. The dental apparatus includes: an actuator for actuating a cutting tool; a load sensor for sensing a load worked in the cutting tool; and a load indicator for making an operator know the load sensed by the load sensor visually, aurally and / or tactily.

A dental appliance has an auxiliary feature bonded to a polymeric surface of a shell body with a compartment for receiving teeth. The auxiliary feature is bonded with a light-curable acrylic adhesive comprising acrylate base material and photoinitiator. Auxiliary features include colored layers and, decals, reinforcing features and auxiliary dental devices. A light-curable acrylic adhesive may include a thiol monomer and / or a pigment. A dental appliance may have a shell body with a bonding surface adapted for attachment of an auxiliary feature, such as prepared by a pretreatment to mar the surface of to impregnate the surface with a reactive adhesion promoter.

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.

The invention relates to an adjustable impression tray (1) comprising a trough (2) in the form of an arch with a straight central portion (7) extended by two lateral branches (8,9), essentially matching the form of a dental arch and comprising several integral zones which may be deformed at the temperature of use in the form of a multi-directional extension means (12), for example an accordion-like bellows arrangement (13 to 16). The impression tray, preferably for single usage, advantageously comprises splitting zones (17, 18) which allow the production of impression trays of differing sectors, which by comprising one or several deformation zones are equally adjustable. The invention is of interest to dentists and prosthetic dentists and more generally to producers and users of dental equipment.

A method of producing a stream of aqueous chlorine dioxide sterilizing fluid suitable for use in sterilizing medical and dental equipment or for wound irrigation or skin asepsis is described. Steps are: pumping fluid portions of a first reagent and a second reagent into the proximal end of an elongate reaction chamber (24) to form a reaction mixture, the reagents being selected to react together to form aqueous chlorine dioxide; providing a stream of water around or adjacent to the distal end of the reaction chamber (24); continuing to pump fluid portions of said reagents so as to cause the reagent mixture to travel through the reaction chamber and then into the stream of water to form a stream of aqueous chlorine dioxide sterilizing fluid; wherein the pumping rates and the internal dimensions of the elongate reaction chamber (24) are selected so that the reaction to form chlorine dioxide is substantially complete when the reagent mixture exits the reaction chamber (24); and continuing pumping fluid portions of said reagents until a desired quantity of said sterilizing fluid has been produced; wherein the pumping of each reagent is carried out by means of a diaphragm pump (90, 92) or a piston pump via a pressure-control valve (32, 34) so that each fluid portion is pumped at substantially constant pressure.

A dental device including an elongated handle and a tip portion formed at a distal end of the handle and tapering to a tip end. A plurality of bristles is integrally molded with the tip end from a flexible polymer material.

A dental device which comprises both an upper part fitted to the upper jaw of a wearer and a lower part fitted to the lower jaw of the wearer, wherein the upper part includes an upper magnet, the lower part includes a lower magnet, and the magnets are arranged so as to establish a magnetic repulsion between the magnets which opposes the closing of the jaw, thereby opposing direct contact between the upper part and the lower part.

A variety of improvements to the vibrating devices for dental remodeling are provided, including improved bite plate designs that accommodate common patient bite structure, a connector for a bite plate, a sizing tray for same, as well as better motors providing improved performance characteristics for an extraoral vibrator, and a completely intraoral vibrating dental plate with very thin cross section.

A dental device with an integrated sanitation chamber is configured for receiving and sanitizing a dental-device accessory, such as a brush, flosser, pic or other dental accessory within a housing of the device. The sanitation chamber is configured to sanitize the dental accessory using one or a combination of ultraviolet light and / or sound waves. The sanitation chamber may form a portion of the device handle to extend it and provide an enlarged handle for improved gripping.

The present invention relates to a wireless remote control for dental equipment, such as dental scaler tools, dental drills, prophy angles and other rotary instruments. The wireless control switch can control the on and off state of the dental tool, or it can also be programmed to control the speed of the tool by a switch on the tool. The wireless control switch can be in the form of, for example, a foot switch, and replaces manual and foot operated controls formerly connected by cables to the dental tools. This removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions. The wireless control can be battery powered, further eliminating the need for cables.

A dental device for exposing teeth to electromagnetic radiation includes a carrier and at least one source of electromagnetic radiation attached to the carrier and oriented so that the electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the source to a surface of a tooth. The dental device may also include a power source internally or externally disposed with respect to the carrier, and may include a circuit for controlling radiation emitted from the source. The dental device may be used for whitening teeth, and dental hygiene in general. Related methods are also disclosed.

A dental device for exposing teeth to electromagnetic radiation includes a carrier and at least one source of electromagnetic radiation attached to the carrier and oriented so that the electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the source to a surface of a tooth. The dental device may also include a power source internally or externally disposed with respect to the carrier, and may include a circuit for controlling radiation emitted from the source. The dental device may be used for whitening teeth, and dental hygiene in general. Related methods are also disclosed.

Dental devices coated with substantially aqueous-free, saliva soluble, base coatings and ablative abrasives that break down during flossing; which combination creates the perception during flossing that said devices are working.

A consumable tip assembly for use with a dental tool and a system for irrigation of a tooth root canal. The dental tool has an ultrasonic energy generator positioned therein. The tip assembly provides a single continuous flow path for delivering fluid from a reservoir at the proximal end of the needle to a root canal of a tooth at the distal end of the needle. Energy generated by an ultrasonic energy generator is translated into movement of a needle to provide optimum cleaning to the root canal. The system also includes a pressure source of irrigation fluid connected to the tip assembly. The irrigation fluid has ultrasonic energy imposed thereon as it passes through a hand piece of the dental tool.

A dental apparatus for removing fluid from a patient's mouth during a dental procedure, the dental apparatus includes an intraoral tip having a wall defining a cavity, the wall having a plurality of apertures and at least one opening, the apertures being distributed over the wall; and a hollow tube coupled to the intraoral tip, the hollow tube for connecting the opening of the intraoral tip to a suction device. The intraoral tip is continuously within the patient's mouth during the dental procedure and the dental apparatus removes fluid from the patient's mouth through the apertures of said intraoral tip. In one embodiment, the dental apparatus further includes a valve for modulating the rate of fluid removal from the patient's mouth. In another embodiment, the dental apparatus further includes a fastener for securing the intraoral tip within the patient's mouth.

The present invention provides a dental device preferably for infants and small children. A dental device in accordance with the present invention includes a handle portion and a head portion joined by a joinder. The head portion includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of bristle bunches. In one embodiment, the plurality of projections encircle a core in an about 190 to about 280 degree circumference and the plurality of bristle bunches encircle a core in an about 190 to about 80 degree circumference. In another embodiment, the plurality of projections encircle a core in a plurality of alternating segments interspaced with the plurality of bristle bunches. The plurality of projections can include, but are not limited to a plurality of raised wave-shaped projections, a plurality of circular disks, a plurality of circular grooves, a plurality of ribs, a plurality of spikes and combinations thereof.

An adjustable dental device for use with a CPAP system in the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring is comprised of an upper bite block, a lower bite block having one or more tongue retainers, means for adjustably connecting the upper bite block to the lower bite block, and means for connecting the dental device to a CPAP system. The adjustable dental device is compatible with a variety of CPAP systems, including systems that utilize nasal inserts and systems that utilize a nasal mask.

The present invention is directed to disinfecting compositions for dental unit water lines, particularly effective against microbial flora in biofilms which form on the luminal walls of the piping and reservoir components of dental equipment, as well as methods related to the use of such compositions to reduce microbial numbers in water-bearing dental and other equipment and maintain reduced levels on a continuous basis.

The invention relates to an adjustable impression tray (1) comprising a trough (2) in the form of an arch with a straight central portion (7) extended by two lateral branches (8,9), essentially matching the form of a dental arch and comprising several integral zones which may be deformed at the temperature of use in the form of a multi-directional extension means (12), for example an accordion-like bellows arrangement (13 to 16). The impression tray, preferably for single usage, advantageously comprises splitting zones (17, 18) which allow the production of impression trays of differing sectors, which by comprising one or several deformation zones are equally adjustable. The invention is of interest to dentists and prosthetic dentists and more generally to producers and users of dental equipment.