45 results about "Dental Offices" patented technology

An augmented reality system for integrating video imagery of an actual dental restoration into a computer-implemented display of a model (that represents a preparation, mesial / distal neighbors, and opposing occlusion) that has been generated from a 3D scan of a patient. The 3D scan data may be generated at a dental office remote from a location at which the augmented reality system is implemented. In one embodiment, the 3D scan data is provided to the augmented reality system as a digital impression.

A “digital impression” is provided in lieu of a physical “dental” impression. A 3D digitizer is used to capture the digital impression, e.g., by scanning in a patient's oral cavity. A digital impression “data set” is formed using a computer-implemented method. The method begins by generating a three dimensional (3D) restoration model. Then, a bounding volume of the restoration model is computed. The bounding volume is defined as at least a minimum 3D volume that contains the 3D model. Thereafter, a lower solid 3D model, and an upper solid 3D model are created; these lower and upper models have a predetermined relationship with one another. In particular, when superimposed upon one another within the bounding volume, the lower and upper 3D models define a cavity into which the restoration model is adapted to fit. The restoration model, the lower solid 3D model and the upper solid 3D model are then aggregated into the data set to form the digital impression. Typically, the digital impression is generated at a first location, i.e., a dental office, and then transmitted to a second location, a dental laboratory, remote from the first location. Such transmission is conveniently done over a network, such as a TCP / IP network (e.g., the Internet). A dental item is then manufactured at the second location. Thus, for example, the lower solid 3D model may be used to build a coping, or the restoration model itself used to build a restoration. In the latter case, information in the data set may be used to check a fit of the restoration.

An integrated digital x-ray diagnostic system and a method for conducting dental radiography which includes optimizing exposure settings based on certain physical parameters of a patient, communicating the operational status of the x-ray generator and the exposure settings directly to the a CCD sensor without radiation sensitive detector elements, and supplying various viewing stations with image data thereby improving dental office workflow. The activation of the sensor and the x-ray source are coordinated so as to avoid pre-integration of charge in the image sensor, and at the same time reduce risk of over-exposure to the patient.

Apparatus, kits and methods for providing accelerated treatment of a patient's teeth. The apparatus, kits and methods involve the use of a dental impression tray that includes a patient dentition impression formed from a dental impression material such as an alginate. The impression tray advantageously includes heating means for heating and maintaining the formed patient dentition impression at a temperature greater than about 105° F. The heated dental trays may be used to accelerate the activity of dental bleaching agents (e.g., peroxides), desensitizing agents (e.g., potassium nitrate), remineralizing agents (e.g., fluoride salts), and the like. A dental office procedure for treating teeth involves the basic steps of: (1) coating a specially-prepared patient dentition impression with a dental composition such as a bleaching, desensitizing or remineralizing composition; (2) placing the coated patient dentition impression into the patient's mouth; (3) heating the patient dentition impression and dental composition to a temperature of at least about 105° F.; and (4) retaining the patient dentition impression in position for period of time in a range of about 1 minute to about 60 minutes. The procedure can be adapted to microwave heating, electrical resistance heating, or hot fluid heating of the patient dentition impression.

Portable x-ray devices and methods for using such devices are described. The devices have an x-ray tube powered by an integrated power system. The x-ray tube is shielded with a low-density insulating material containing a high-Z substance. The devices can also have an integrated display component. With these components, the size and weight of the x-ray devices can be reduced and the portability of the devices enhanced. The x-ray devices also have an x-ray detecting means that is not structurally attached to the device and therefore is free standing. Consequently, the x-ray devices can also be used as a digital x-ray camera. The portable x-ray devices are especially useful for applications where portability is an important feature such as in field work, remote operations, and mobile operations such as nursing homes, home healthcare, or teaching classrooms. This portability feature can be particularly useful in multi-suite medical and dental offices where a single x-ray device can be used as a digital x-ray camera in multiple offices instead of requiring a separate device in every office.

A 3D dental imaging system which is used for producing and transferring 3D volumes of a patient from a remote cloud storage device and which includes a 3D volume imaging software for displaying cone beam images. The software retrieves volumes from storage located in the dental office. The 3D volumes are acquired via a cone beam scanner. There is storage located in the dentist office for storage of 3D volumes that were acquired via a cone beam scanner. There is also storage located remotely of the dentist office for storage of 3D volumes that were acquired via a cone beam scanner located in the dentist office. The 3D volumes are transferred between the local storage and the remote storage. The patient appointment information is retrieved for patient's future appointments from a patient scheduling software. The 3D volumes automatically are downloaded from remote storage to local storage based upon patient's future appointment information.

A method and apparatus for preventing tooth decay by treating the tooth surface, including the occlusal surface and unexposed surfaces such as subgingival, interproximal, and contact areas, with a laser with a coherent or noncoherent light source are described. This process makes the tooth more resistant to acid and better able to bond fluoride, thus requiring a lower concentration of fluoride. The method allows the treatment to penetrate deeper into the tooth then previously accomplished with other methods and can be used in a dental office or at home.

A dental system for dental patients at a dental office is disclosed that is completely digital in storage of data. The data is obtained from instrumentation and patients, as well as from staff. The data is used to operate the dental office and treat the patients. Non-linear Web technology is applied to the data to functionally use the data in treatment and facility operation.

A teeth whitening device having a lens which fits against the teeth. The lens has a casing containing a plurality of light emitting diodes which project light into the lens. The lens filters the light to produce a 430 to 450 nanometer blue light which is projected onto the surface of the teeth. When carbamide peroxide is placed on the surface of the teeth the blue light will activate the peroxide to whiten the teeth several shades within one hour without heating or sensitizing the teeth. The lens has a bite plate which a user bites down on to keep the lens in position against the teeth, leaving the user's hands free. The device and method are safe enough for use outside the dental office.

A potable water distribution system for use in aircraft, as well as potable water systems of boats, recreational vehicles / caravans, residential homes, dental offices, laboratories, vending machines, and the like, provides for sanitizing of the system without opening filter and / or purification units and removing filtering and / or purifying cartridges from the filter and / or purification units during the sanitizing process.

The invention provides methods of making provisional and long-term dental restorations, particularly dental veneers, crowns and bridges. In one embodiment, the restoration can be fabricated indirectly by a dental laboratory. In another version, a dental practitioner can make the restoration chairside for a patient in a dental office. A polymerizable dental composite material, which is dimensionally shape-stable in its uncured state, is used to make the restoration. A substructure such as a metal coping can be used to support the polymerizable material. The material includes a polymerizable acrylic compound, polymerization initiator system capable of being activated by light or heat, and preferably a filler material. The resulting dental restoration has good aesthetics, mechanical strength, and margins and contacts.

A cabinet assembly for a dental office has a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments. An arm has a proximal end and a distal end that extends beyond the front of the base. A linear translatable coupler is affixed to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the translatable coupler adapted for linear translation laterally with respect to the base. An extended working surface is positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm. An adjustable coupler has a portion affixed to the distal end of the arm and a portion affixed to the extended working surface and is movable in response to a force applied by a user for moving the extended working surface relative to the arm.

A dental isolation block adapted for maintaining the mouth of the dental patient open, while keeping the work field dry and exposed with the lip retracted and the tongue suppressed to facilitate performance of a dental procedure by a dental practitioner. The dental isolation block includes a first and second bite platform capable of being disposed between the maxillary arch and mandibular arch, a lip retractor with a first end adjacent the first bite platform and a second end adjacent the second bite platform, and a tongue shield extending between the first and second bite platform. The lip retractor may include a channel for receiving and directing saliva to a suction drain and suction holes all in fluid communication with a dental office suction system. A suction extension may be affixed to the first and / or second bite platform to further evacuate saliva from entering the work field. The dental isolation block can be positioned such that the lip retractor retracts the upper lip if the work field is on the upper arch or to retract the lower lip if the work field in on the lower arch.

An office communication system provides intra-office communication within a medical or dental office, for example. The system includes a door or wall unit, a table or desk unit, and a wearable or portable unit. The door and desk units are configured to transmit and receive both infrared and radio frequency type wireless signals. The portable unit may include an infrared light transmitter configured to transmit infrared light encoded with a unique address or identifier. The system operates to non-obtrusively notify office personnel whether a practitioner has entered or is presently within a particular exam room of the office, even if a door of the exam room is closed.

For those experienced with medical and dental practice management, it is clear that there exists a substantial need for better communication across medical / dental offices as pertains directly to mutual patient treatment and care. The specification herein provides a straightforward way to better serve the patient and improve practice efficiency through the design of a single, centralized system for which to manage all patient referrals in their practice. More specifically the present disclosure comprises a simple, thorough, and straightforward answer to this problem. The methods and management systems are easy to use, reliable, and created by medical / dental personnel for medical / dental personnel to provide cost savings, increase practice production, and most importantly, improve the patient experience.

The activity notification process includes a first step of selecting an activity center on a home screen of a home station. The home screen of the home station has a plurality of selectable activity center choices, the selection thereof generating a plurality of selectable patient location options. The next step includes selecting one of the location options to send a message to an activity station of the activity center, the home station touch screen returning to its home screen with the activity center being predominantly highlighted thereon. The activity station generates an alert window providing directions to a location. The predominately highlighted activity center on the home station touch screen is deselected, only when the message has been answered, thereby returning the home screen thereon to a state that does not show the predominant highlights, the deselection providing verification that the message has been answered. The activity center may be disabled until the required activity is completed. The activity notification system is particularly adapted for use in a physician or dental office.

A replaceable module for capturing amalgam and mercury from the waste water disposal system of a dental office, in which the waste water flows into a settling chamber, overflows from the settling chamber into a magnetically-assisted sluice, and then after being further cleaned by the sluice, flows on to a sewer connection.

Taking an intraoral scan of a patient's mouth with existing implants, creating a digital model of the patient's mouth, digitally designing a denture bar based on the digital mouth model, fabricating a physical bar based on the digital bar model, delivering the physical bar into the patient's mouth, capturing records of the patient's mouth and installed physical bar, producing a physical denture and joining it to the physical bar, and delivering the physical denture and bar into the patient's mouth, all in no more than three dental office visits. The step of digitally designing a denture bar typically includes selecting a cement gap for the abutments based on errors in the digital mouth model resulting from the intraoral scan, as well as designing lateral cement ports into the digital bar model. And the step of fabricating a physical bar typically includes using additive manufacturing such as 3D printing.

A method and device for determining the correct shade for porcelain crowns, composite fillings and other dental restorations comprising generating a light spectrum in at least two distinct wavelength spectra in sequence under the control of the operator of the light source generating the light spectrum with light in the first wavelength spectrum corresponding to daylight to enable the dentist or dental professional to perform a shade match the way a patient would view their restoration outside of a dental office in a real world environment and then switching to a second wavelength spectrum corresponding to either room light or ambient light.

Portable x-ray devices and methods for using such devices are described. The devices have an x-ray tube powered by an integrated power system. The x-ray tube is shielded with a low-density insulating material containing a high-Z substance. The devices can also have an integrated display component. With these components, the size and weight of the x-ray devices can be reduced and the portability of the devices enhanced. The x-ray devices also have an x-ray detecting means that is not structurally attached to the device and therefore is free standing. Consequently, the x-ray devices can also be used as a digital x-ray camera. The portable x-ray devices are especially useful for applications where portability is an important feature such as in field work, remote operations, and mobile operations such as nursing homes, home healthcare, or teaching classrooms. This portability feature can be particularly useful in multi-suite medical and dental offices where a single x-ray device can be used as a digital x-ray camera in multiple offices instead of requiring a separate device in every office.

A system for treating infectious medical waste is provided that includes a collection infrastructure, handling, and a shredding sub-system for feeding partially processed waste to an oxidizer to eliminate potential airborne infectious waste prior to transforming the medical waste into useful co-products. Waste generators of potentially infectious medical waste include, but is not limited to hospitals, medical offices, dental offices, clinics, laboratories, research facilities, veterinarian offices, and emergency medical service providers. The medical waste is collected from the waste generators, transported to a processing site in sealed containers, and transformed into value-added products including hydrocarbon based gases, hydrocarbon-based liquids, and carbonized material in a system proceeded by a negative pressure region and having as a transformative element an anaerobic carbonizer.

A forced heated air dryer for dental / medical instruments may be used to dry instruments prior to sterilization to prevent water corrosion and the discoloration of instruments. The dryer may also be used to dry damp instruments after the sterilization process to ensure the instruments and packaging are dry prior to storage. This may prevent corrosion and discoloration of instruments between usages. The dryer may allow a medical / dental office to dry their instruments in a single automated step not combined with washing, providing for an economical, efficient and safe solution to dry instruments.

The present invention relates to a composition for a dental barrier, comprising at least one monomer of methacrylate or methacrylic derivative type, at least one thickener, a photochemical means of initiating polymerization, and at least one colored indicator.The invention also relates to a method for making a dental barrier, the dental barrier thus obtained, and the use of said dental barrier for protecting the dental tissues, in particular the gums, during treatment in the dental office, in particular an office-bleaching treatment.

This ozone appliance for the professional dental office and other medical applications introduces dissolved ozone into dental and surgical operatory water lines. This dissolved ozone can not only disinfect water and water lines; it can also reduce gum bleeding, gingivitis, bad breath, teeth stains and oral bacteria. Additionally, it can aid in wound disinfection in surgery and attack microbial contamination of water from dental and surgical operatory water lines and attached hand pieces and dispensing devices by automatically killing waterborne germs and destroying biofilms where germs can hide and grow. It can, therefore, be used to disinfect water lines in dental operations and for other medical applications such as providing liquid containing ozone for cleaning and disinfecting skin prior to surgery (and tissue exposed during surgery). Further, a unit connected to operatory water lines can give an audible or other alarm if the water becomes unsafe.