97 results about "Endodontic instrument" patented technology

Endodontic instruments, including files, reamers, and condensers, that lack margins or radial lands. The instruments include at least one edge that does not provide significant tissue-cutting action and at least one cutting edge. The elimination of margins or radial lands reduces the surface area over which the root canal wall is contacted by the working length of the instrument.

An endodontic instrument and method for making same is provided. A rod of superelastic material is set into a shaped configuration to form an instrument, such that the instrument may be inserted into a root canal in a configuration different than the shaped configuration and revert towards its shaped configuration during the endodontic procedure.

Method for manufacturing endodontic instruments having either helical or non-helical flutes with hard surfaces and resilient cutting edges by either an EDM or ECM process, wherein material is removed from the instrument blank in the desired flute pattern. The EDM or ECM process disintegrates the surface material, and as it cools, at least a portion of the removed material re-deposits onto the surface being machined to form a recast layer having a surface hardness that is at least about 15% greater than the hardness of the material forming the instrument blank.

An endodontic file (200) is provided particularly adapted for the removal of tooth structure, decayed or damaged nerve tissues or dentine material on the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and/or enamel from the external tooth wall. The endodontic instrument includes a shaft (202) having a shank portion (204) and a generally elongated working portion (206). The working portion preferably includes cutting or abrading features (232) adapted upon rotation and/or reciprocation of the instrument to cut, abrade or remove tissue from the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and/or enamel from the external tooth wall. The working portion extends from a proximal end (207) adjacent the shank portion to a distal end (208) terminating at a tip (250). The entire instrument and/or at least the working portion thereof is formed of an amorphous or essentially amorphous material having no or essentially no detectable crystalline structure and/or from a nanocrystalline material having an average crystalline grain size less than about 1 μm. The instrument may be formed by conventional grinding operations or by direct casting, forging or molding, in a manner producing an integral as-molded instrument having one or more sharp cutting edges. The instrument is inexpensive to manufacture and exhibits improved cutting-edge sharpness, wear resistance, lubriciousness and resistance to breakage.

A carrier composition for filling a tooth root canal, comprising a cross-linkable material.

Present invention relates to an endodontic instrument comprising a shaft and a work portion connecting to the shaft. The work portion has a plurality of helically extending blades to form a rectangular cross section in which the opposite edges of one set are longer edges and the opposite edges of the other set are shorter edges, the work portion having each apex of a right angle.

A process for producing an endodontic instrument by selectively hacking burr-like cutting projections or barbs into an elongated metal rod. A cylindrical hacking blade or other suitable blade having a convex cutting edge is preferably used to produce generally cup-shaped or concave barbs for greater strength and cutting efficiency. The barbs may be formed in a variety of shapes, sizes, orientations and patterns, such as regular or irregular helical or linear patterns, on the instrument.

A dental handpiece with an integrated camera and computer. Computer receives information input by dental professionals and data retrieved from integrated sensors. Computer allows pre-programmed procedural steps and information supplied by dental professional to be stored for later use. Computer transmits camera image, stored information and real-time procedural data to dental professional via attached monitor. Computer assists dental professional in handpiece set-up and procedural steps including feedback as treatment proceeds. Based on data received from the user and sensors, the computer dynamically makes adjustments to the procedural steps as well as handpiece mechanical motion, such as, but not limited to, rotational speed, rotational direction, torque, advance feed rate, and withdraw rate.

A method and system are described for 3D digital endodontics characterized in that 3D imaging equipment such as a CT or MRI scanner, ultrasound or the like are used to digitize the infected tooth or teeth, a 3D representation of the root canal system is extracted from the image data and visualized on a computer screen, a surgical template is designed to guide the endodontic instruments to localize the root canal(s) intra-operatively and said guide is manufactured by means of a computer driven system (e.g. milling, rapid prototyping, etc.).

A non-landed endodontic instrument has flutes formed along a working length of the instrument shaft. The flutes define cutting edges for shaping a root canal of a tooth. The cutting edges lie at a major diameter of the shaft and peripheral flute surfaces behind the cutting edges extend along decreasing radial distances from the center of the shaft, in a direction opposite the cutting direction of the instrument.

A method for manufacturing a nonlinear superelastic file comprising the steps of: providing a superelastic file having a shaft and a file axis; providing a fixture including a file groove being defined by one or more displacement members, the file groove configured for receiving the shaft; inserting at least a portion of the shaft into the fixture along the file groove, the portion of the shaft including a first portion of the shaft; contacting the first portion of the shaft with a first displacement member of the one or more displacement members such that the first portion of the shaft is displaced from the file axis thereby forming a first offset portion of the shaft; heating the portion of the shaft while inserted in the fixture to a temperature of at least about 300° C. for a time period of at least about 1 minute to shape-set the portion of the shaft thereby forming a shape-set nonlinear file.

The present invention is directed to a dental composition, and specifically to an improved composition for endodontic instruments useful for filling root canals or sealing.

The invention relates to an endodontic instrument used for working on a canal in a tooth, having a base from which an active portion for working on the canal extends longitudinally, characterized in that said active portion has at least one slot extending longitudinally and forming a passage for fluid.

A method of manufacturing endodontic instruments is disclosed. Each of the instruments includes a substantially non-cutting pilot portion, a relatively short working portion, and a flexible shank portion which is of a substantially smaller average circumferential span than the working portion. The working portion of the instrument has a maximum circumferential span larger than that of the blank from which it is made. The instrument may have a handle at its distal end for manual manipulation, or may be adapted for attachment to a mechanical handpiece. The non-cutting pilot, the short length of the working portion, and the flexibility of the shank combine to allow the instrument to be used in curved root canals without causing undue change in the natural root canal contours.

A fluteless endodontic file is provided, formed from a tapered shaft of material having a prismatic shape generally defined by three or more side surfaces and three or more interposed corners. A plurality of notches are cut into one or more corners defining cutting surfaces, points and/or edges. The notched cutting surfaces are formed such that the file, when rotated and/or reciprocated within a root canal, effectively cuts/debrides hard tissue (known in the art as dentin) as well as soft tissue, thus, forming an optimal canal shape. The cutting surfaces are also preferably formed at an angle to the centerline of the instrument to provide optimal cutting efficiency and material removal. The fluteless file design exhibits increased efficacy, with less tendency to bind and break within the root canal and also significantly reduces manufacturing and capital equipment costs.

A method of manufacturing an endodontic instrument using an electrochemical (ECG) grinding process. An instrument blank is formed from stock material, and an electric current is applied between an electrically conductive grinding wheel, acting as a cathode, and the instrument blank, acting as an anode. A continuous stream of electrolyte fluid, a conductive aqueous solution, is applied at an interface between the grinding wheel and the instrument blank, the electrolyte fluid having an associated volume and pressure. The instrument blank is advanced past the electrically conductive grinding wheel to remove material from the instrument blank to form at least one cutting flute. The electric current applied between the grinding wheel and the instrument blank is reduced, and the instrument blank is advanced past the grinding wheel again to form a finish surface, e.g., a sharp cutting edge, on the at least one cutting flute. The process may be repeated to form an endodontic instrument having a plurality of cutting flutes. The cutting flutes may be helically or non-helically shaped. The instrument blank is formed of an electrically conductive material, such as nickel titanium or stainless steel. In one variation, the electric current may be eliminated entirely during the final finishing pass. The volume and pressure of the electrolyte may be varied. Endodontic instruments formed by the method of the present invention are also disclosed.

An endodontic instrument set of progressively smaller sizes adapted for use in performing root canal therapy and a method of using the instrument set are provided. Each of the instruments have an elongated shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a short enlarged continuously tapered working length formed on the shaft adjacent to the distal end. The short enlarged continuously tapered working length has at least one continuous cutting edge thereon.