163 results about "Gingival tissue" patented technology

A dental implant abutment for attaching a dental prosthesis within a patient's mouth. The abutment is a single unit structure fabricated of a ceramic material, multicolored throughout to match the color of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue.

An implant analog is for supporting an article that is used to develop a dental prosthesis. The analog provides a main body for being anchored in a model of a mouth of a patient. The main body includes an upper surface for contacting the article that is used to develop a dental prosthesis. The analog includes a groove extending inward along a periphery of the main body below the upper surface for receiving a soft modeling material that replicates gingival tissue. Material for forming a soft tissue model flows into the groove to create a corresponding rib in the soft tissue model that allows the soft tissue model to be properly registered on the underlying stone model.

An oral carrier strip for the delivery of an oral care composition to the oral cavity of a human or animal subject is provided. The strip includes a first portion adapted to contact a front facing side of a plurality of teeth. A second portion is provided to be folded around the teeth so as to contact a back facing side of the teeth. The first portion has a first perimeter patterned to substantially match a shape of an outer gingival tissue, and the second portion has a second perimeter opposite the first perimeter and patterned to match a shape of an inner gingival tissue. The second perimeter defines an aperture disposed in the second portion having a rounded notch positioned in a center portion of the strip, configured to prevent the strip from tearing when folded around the teeth.

A method is provided for automatically separating tooth crowns and gingival tissue in a virtual three-dimensional model of teeth and associated anatomical structures. The method orients the model with reference to a plane and automatically determines local maxima of the model and areas bounded by the local maxima. The method automatically determines saddle points between the local maxima in the model, the saddle points corresponding to boundaries between teeth. The method further positions the saddle points along a dental arch form. For each tooth, the method automatically identifies a line or path along the surface of the model linking the saddle points to each other, the path marking a transition between teeth and gingival tissue and between adjacent teeth in the model. The areas bounded by the lines correspond to the tooth crowns; the remainder of the model constitutes the gingival tissue.

A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, perdiodontitis, and oral malodor while also promoting general oral hygiene.

A brush section for use in a powered toothbrush, and a powered toothbrush utilizing the brush section are provided. The brush section has a generally disk shaped carrier from which extends at least one finger that has oral care elements, i.e., bristles and elastomeric cleaning members, extending outwardly therefrom to provide increased contact area between the oral care cleaning elements and oral gingival tissue for enhanced massaging thereof.

An apparatus includes a template which locates hole positions in a jawbone while the template is separated from the jawbone by gum tissue. The template follows a contour of the gum tissue surrounding the jawbone and has guide holes which receive a cutting tool. Anchoring elements attach the template to the jawbone. A system includes means for scanning an implantation site on a patient's jawbone, simulating the implantation site, and determining nerve-rich areas or nerve paths in the jawbone. A holed template is produced which is separated from the jawbone by at least gum tissue of the patient. Attachment hole positions in the jawbone are located so as to avoid nerve paths. A method of forming holes to attach a dental implant to a patient's jaw bone without surgical intervention in gum tissue of the patient to expose the jawbone is disclosed which avoids impingement on a nerve path.

A dental drilling assembly comprises a drill (30) and a bushing (40) which is mounted, or mountable, coaxially with the drill (30). The bushing (40) can be inserted with the drill (30) into a bore hole of a surgical template and can similarly be removed from the bore hole when a hole has been drilled. The bushing has a serrated leading edge (51) for cutting soft gingival tissue. A pathway (54, 55) is defined between the drill (30) and the bushing (40). The pathway (54, 55) cooperates with a fluted channel on the drill and serves, in use, to evacuate soft tissue from the cutting surface (51). A surgical template has at least one bore hole representing a position where the drill is required to be used. The bore hole, or a bore tube lining the bore hole, has a diameter which is only slightly larger than the bushing.

A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue that includes a dam shaped to be fitted onto a tooth. In one embodiment, the well of the dam is pre-filled with a predetermined amount of a flowable retraction material having a heavy viscosity or putty consistency. The preloaded tooth dam is fitted to a prepared tooth so that when pressure is applied onto the tooth dam, the retraction material is displaced under pressure and forced into the sulcus, causing the gingival tissue to retract away from the tooth to enlarge the gingival sulcus. In another embodiment the cap is filled with a dilatant material. In another embodiment, the cap is filled with an impregnated compressible porous material. In yet another embodiment, the cap is pre-dosed with an astringent or hemostatic agent.

A soft tissue implant material is formed from biologically-compatible polymeric particles. The particles may have a diameter of up to about 500 microns and intraparticulate pores sized for ingrowth of soft tissue. The particles may have an inner core of a first biologically-compatible polymeric material and an outer layer generally surrounding the inner core, with the outer layer comprised of a second biologically-compatible polymeric material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material. The material may be utilized with collagen or other matrix materials. This material may be used in a method of reforming soft tissues by implanting the material within soft body tissues to modify soft tissue defects such as wrinkles or oral gingival tissue defects and reshape soft tissue, e.g., for urinary bladder inconvenience.

A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, perdiodontitis, and oral malodor while also promoting general oral hygiene.

Transfer apparatus is constructed for applying an orthodontic composition such as a bonding composition to selected areas of multiple teeth simultaneously. The selected areas of the teeth that receive the composition substantially correspond to areas of the teeth that subsequently receive orthodontic appliances. As a result, contact of the composition with other regions of the oral cavity such as the gingival tissue is avoided.

The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for producing dental molds, each having portions representing a patient's oral soft tissue and a desired tooth configuration. These molds are designed for use in the fabrication of appliances used in orthodontic treatment, particularly, elastic repositioning appliances. However, they may also be used in the fabrication of traditional appliances, such as retainers and positioners, used, for example in the final or finishing stages of an otherwise conventional treatment. The dental molds are comprised of a mold or relief of the patient's soft tissue, such as a palate, facial gingival tissue and / or lingual gingival tissue, and a separate or separable mold or relief of the patient's dental arch having teeth in a desired tooth configuration. Since, the tooth configuration will change as a patient progresses through orthodontic treatment, the relief of the dental arch will be fabricated separately from the relief of the oral soft tissue. Typically, the dental arch relief will be fabricated using rapid prototyping methods. The soft tissue relief may also be fabricated using rapid prototyping, however it may also be fabricated using traditional mold making methods, i.e., casting with plaster or other mold making materials. In either case, the resulting dental mold with be comprised of a “split-mold” having fixedly or removably joined arch and soft tissue reliefs.

A brush section for use in a powered toothbrush, and a powered toothbrush utilizing the brush section are provided. The brush section has a generally disk shaped carrier from which extends at least one finger that has oral care elements, i.e., bristles and elastomeric cleaning members, extending outwardly therefrom to provide increased contact area between the oral care cleaning elements and oral gingival tissue for enhanced massaging thereof.

PCT No. PCT / ES97 / 00178 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 24, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 24, 1999 PCT Filed Jul. 15, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 03129 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 29, 1998The invention comprises the following elements: cervico-anatomical orientation posts (FIGS. 1-8) used in the first surgical operation, in order to help replace the dental pieces to be restored; cervico-anatomical temporal healing pillars, of the direct or indirect type (FIGS. 9-12) whose design is intended to provide the gingival tissues with the morphology necessary in the healing phase and the ideal housing for the artificial tooth. Transporter (FIGS. 13 and 14), this being the element which evaluates the orientation, depth and inclination of the implants; direct and indirect cervico-anatomical transfer pins (FIGS. 16-18), which copy the exact intraoral position of the implants and the peri-implantory soft tissues; parallelizer (FIGS. 19 and 20) which replicate the position of the polygonal head of the implant; hexagonal base (FIGS. 23 and 24) for angle pillars; surgical guides (FIGS. 25-36) presenting the directing piece, patterns, tubular parts for bone drilling and direction posts.

A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

An impression gingival cuff for taking an impression during a restoration procedure of a dental implant osteointegrated in a jaw bone. The dental implant is engageably connectable with an abutment having a prominent countour. The impression gingival cuff has a tubular-conical shape, a circumferential thin wall, two open ends including an apical end oriented towards a tooth root and a proximal end oriented towards an occlusal direction, an inner surface oriented towards the abutment and an outer surface oriented towards surrounding gingival tissue. During installation of the cuff between the dental implant and the abutment, the apical end retains the prominent contour of the abutment so that the outer surface of the cuff pushes the surrounding gingival tissue away from the abutment. This allows taking an accurate impression of both the dental implant and abutment in order to fabricate a high precision restoration.

An improved retractor comprising one or more cheek positioning members and one or more lip positioning members has been developed. This retractor makes it possible to conduct X-ray CT or similar scans of the jaw and to construct anatomically accurate models of bone, teeth and gingival tissue. What is provided is an improved retractor useful when conducting CT scans of the jaw of an individual requiring a dental implant and models to be constructed that are anatomically accurate with respect to bone, teeth and gingival (soft) tissue. Drill guides, and prostheses are constructed with the jaw models.

A device for retracting gingival tissue away from a tooth or plurality of teeth prepared to receive a dental prosthesis comprising a retraction material associated with a provisional restoration to be packed into a sulcus associated with the prepared tooth. The device is preferably compressible, deformably rigid, extensile and non-elastic and will not stick to the gingiva or tooth structure thereby allowing for atraumatic removal leaving a dry open sulcus. A method of use is also disclosed.

Transfer apparatus is constructed for applying an orthodontic composition such as a bonding composition to selected areas of multiple teeth simultaneously. The selected areas of the teeth that receive the composition substantially correspond to areas of the teeth that subsequently receive orthodontic appliances. As a result, contact of the composition with other regions of the oral cavity such as the gingival tissue is avoided.

A gingival retraction material is prepared using fibrillated fibers to improve viscosity and combining taste-modifying agent, color agent, and kaolin filler to form a paste-like structure having the viscosity ranging from 31.0×106 cP to 71.0×106 cP. The gingival material is injectable into the patient's gingival sulcus to provide a physical active force that widens the patient's gingival sulcus by means of the material viscosity and also to control gingival tissue fluid and hemostasis so as to keep the gingival sulcus dry for further mold impressions.

A dental implant having a hollow ceramic cylinder compressed between two metal components of the implant. A principal embodiment comprises a hollow ceramic cylinder, a hollow abutment with an anti-rotational feature, a metallic tip with a hollow metal core, and a screw. The metal core is press-fit into the ceramic cylinder providing a metallic tip at the apical or bottom end of the ceramic cylinder. The screw is inserted into the hollow abutment and extends into and screws into the metal core. By tightening the screw, the ceramic cylinder can be compressed to improve its strength, and the abutment is thereby reversibly attached to the hollow ceramic cylinder. The hollow ceramic cylinder is implantable in both bone and soft tissue, extends through the interface between the bone and soft tissue, maintains the normal appearance of gum tissue after implantation, and has a maximum diameter between 1.8 to 6 mm.

Methods for injecting a local anesthetic into dental tissues, such as tough, dense ligamentary tissue adjacent to a patient's tooth. According to one embodiment, the method involves puncturing a patient's gingival tissue adjacent a selected tooth with an array of micro-needles having a length so that the micro-needles penetrate into ligamentary tissue adjacent to the tooth. A local anesthetic is then injected through the micro-needles so as to deliver the local anesthetic to the tissue surrounding the tooth. The micro-needles may be short to limit penetration through tissue and of narrow diameter to minimize pain and discomfort to the patient.

An attachment member for mating with a dental implant includes a non-rotational structure and a body. The non-rotational structure is configured to mate with a corresponding non-rotational feature of the dental implant. The body extends from the non-rotational structure. The body has (i) an exterior side surface configured to at least partially engage gingival tissue adjacent to the dental implant, (ii) an exterior top surface that is exposed through the gingival tissue, (iii) a screw access bore for receiving a screw that attaches the attachment member to the dental implant in a removable fashion, and (iv) a set of radiopaque information markers that is located internal to the exterior side surface and the exterior top surface. The set of radiopaque information markers indicates information regarding the dental implant that is revealed in response to a scan from a computerized tomography (CT) scanner.

A dental tool for retracting gingival tissue is provided that includes a shaft and a working end member, the working end member having an operative end including a first portion sufficiently narrow to retract tissue from a groove of a tooth and a second portion, adjacent the first portion, and being sufficiently wide to retract tissue from an area of the tooth adjacent the groove. A method for retracting gingival tissue is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing electricity are provided for non-human animals. Electrodes are used to deliver an electrical current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

An oral care composition and method of using are provided for treating and preventing malodors or disease conditions of the oral cavity in warm-blooded animals, including humans. When applying an oral care effective amount of the oral care composition of the present invention to the mucosal tissue of the oral cavity, the gingival tissues of the oral cavity, and / or surface of the teeth. The application can be as a liquid for bathing, rinsing or gargling, or lather generated by brushing the teeth for a sufficient time. After rinsing, gargling or brushing, the composition of the present invention should be swallowed to achieve effective reduction of various organisms, diseases and malodors. An oral care effective amount can also prevent and heal mouth sores and canker sores.

An electric toothbrush brush section and method of use thereof is disclosed, the brush section having a generally disk shaped bristle carrier from which extend one or more bristle bearing fingers of varying length and width, which fingers provide increased contact area between bristles and oral gingival tissue for enhanced massaging thereof.