166results about "Dental splints" patented technology

The present invention relates to an orthodontic retainer to be fitted to an orthodontically treated dentition in order to fix the teeth in their orthodontic treatment state. In particular, the present invention relates to an orthodontic retainer that achieves, for example, improvement of strength of the retainer, improvement of wearing comfort and esthetics, reduction in cost, and improvement of a function as the retainer.

A digitally-based method is described for the design and production of customized removable dental appliances. The plastic component of custom appliances is designed using software, and milled directly over a plaster model of the dentition. A patient's upper, lower, and bite-registered arches are digitized, registered to a bite or centric occlusion position, and articulated in software using either an average geometry or the geometry of a specific articulator. Appliance design is performed by defining the desired plastic surfaces and margins as dictated by the relative movement and positions of the arches as functionally required for a specific appliance. Standard CAM software is used to read the design file and command a multiaxis machine center to mill the plastic while directly on a plaster model.

A dental prosthesis for periodontal integration is disclosed. Furthermore a customized dental prosthesis for osseointegration is disclosed having a first manufactured portion shaped to substantially conform to the three-dimensional surface of a root of a tooth to be replaced and a second manufactured portion shaped to substantially conform to the three-dimensional surface of a crown of a tooth to be replaced. Furthermore a customized manufactured splint is disclosed to position and fixate a tooth-shaped prosthesis. Furthermore a CAD/CAM based method of and a system for manufacturing a customized dental prosthesis replacing an extracted tooth is disclosed, where the extracted tooth is scanned regarding its three-dimensional shape and substantially copied using (a) an imaging system in-vitro like a 3D scanner or in-vivo like a cone beam CT system, (b) CNC machinery and (c) biocompatible material that is suitable to be integrated into the extraction socket and at least partially adopted by the existing tissue forming the socket.

An oral device for use with a person in which at least one non-toxic gas pulse is delivered to a predetermined location in the mouth via a device conduit. The oral device may be provided as a kit with at least one device for measuring the subject's responses and representing them as feedback to the subject/clinician. A method of creating a gas bolus pulse train, delivering it to a predetermined mouth area, and monitoring the subject's responses to it, is also shown. The oral device and method may be used as a diagnostic tool, or a therapeutic tool, in swallowing or speech rehabilitation of children and adults who have swallowing, speech, salivary, and/or oral sensorimotor impairments.

Disclosed is a system and method for treating mal-alignment of teeth using super-elastic nickel titanium, heat activated nickel titanium coated or uncoated orthodontic wires with composite resins in order to effectuate desired tooth alignment. The composite resin is formed into beads that hold the wire in place preferably on the lingual surface of the teeth. Alternate embodiments using composite brackets are disclosed. The overall purpose of this invention is to provide a close contact, low profile orthodontic system, in particular, a lingual orthodontic system that is significantly more comfortable than existing orthodontic systems, completely concealed and effective.

A method of preparing fiber reinforced acrylic thickened compositions which can be molded under low pressures and temperatures to provide thermoset articles, wherein liquid reactive components are slowly absorbed in high molecular weight solid acrylic resin in the form of large particles. The acrylic resin functions as a thickener which delays the viscosity build allowing fiber reinforcement to be incorporated before molding. The molding composition is well suited for use in dentistry and other fields where small amounts or molding composition are used occasionally.

A fiber-reinforced composite material with graded stiffness, and method of making the same. The degree of stiffness variation may be controlled via modifications to the fabrication processes. Products with varying stiffness along their lengths are described. In one example, a dental post is fabricated from material according to the present invention which has one end with low stiffness adapted for insertion into the root of the tooth, and a high stiffness end suitable to support the restoration.

Custom dental prosthesis or implants each individually designed and manufactured to replace nonfunctional natural teeth positioned in a jawbone of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example dental prosthesis/implant includes a dental implant body having a prosthesis interface formed therein to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component. The prosthesis interface has a custom three-dimensional surface shape positioned and formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when positioned thereon.

An oral appliance includes a reinforcing member or splint embedded within a polymer shell. The reinforcing member or splint includes an anterior portion embedded within an anterior wall of the polymeric shell, a posterior portion embedded within a posterior wall of the polymeric shell, and a transverse portion embedded within a transverse plate of the polymeric shell. The reinforcing member or splint is operative for preventing movement of the user's dentition over time when wearing the oral appliance.

Dental implant assemblies, custom dental implants, and custom dental prosthesis and components each individually designed and manufactured to replace nonfunctional natural teeth of a specific pre-identified patient are provided. An example dental prosthesis/assembly includes a transgingival interlock abutment having a prosthesis interface formed therein to receive an occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component, and an implant interface form to receive a dental implant body. The prosthesis interface has a custom three-dimensional surface shape formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the occlusally-facing dental prosthesis component when connected herewith. The implant interface also has a custom three-dimensional surface shape formed to create a form locking fit with respect to the dental implant component when connected therewith.

A method of automatically producing or reproducing a customized AGP (Anterior Guidance Package) equipped splint for a patient with or without a severe malocclusion is provided. The method of automatically producing or reproducing an AGP equipped splint according to current invention comprises of combining Virtual Articulation, CAD (Computer Aided Design)-CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) method with AGP and special retentive piece technology. The method of the current invention enables a patient with or without a severe malocclusion to receive his/her customized AGP equipped splint or a replacement thereof automatically without visiting the dentist again and again.

Methods and systems are provided for generating a treatment plan for arch expansion where a polymeric shell appliance is utilized to generate one or more activation forces that facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.

A system for reimplanting avulsed teeth includes a dental splint having a pre-shaped channel that releasably engages a dental arcade having one or more avulsed teeth. The avulsed teeth are reinserted into their sockets and the dental splint is positioned over the dental arcade. The dental splint is worn continuously until reattachment is substantially attained. One embodiment provides masticatory surfaces to the dental splint that assist a user in eating while wearing the dental splint. Another embodiment provides a resilient layer to an engagement surface of the dental splint, which conforms to and engages the dental arcade. Adhesives may be disposed between the dental splint and the dental arcade when necessary.

A dental bite block assembly includes a U-shaped mounting base having an upper bite portion, a lower bite portion, a central portion, an accessory mount, and a first magnetically energetic material embedded in the central portion of the U-shaped mounting base proximate the accessory mount. A dental accessory has a dental bite block mount that is detachably coupled with the accessory mount of the U-shaped mounting base and a second magnetically energetic material disposed in the dental accessory proximate the dental bite block mount. When the dental bite block mount is coupled with the accessory mount, the first magnetically energetic material embedded in the central portion of the U-shaped mounting base and the second magnetically energetic material disposed in the dental accessory are in operable magnetic engagement with each other.

A dental retainer device for stabilization, so-called retention, of pairs of teeth or groups of teeth in a lower jaw and/or an upper jaws in orthodontic treatment. The retainer device is formed of a pair (2) of retainer elements, consisting of two preferably individual, but in the position of use cooperating, retainer elements (4, 6). Each of the retainer elements (4, 6) is formed in with a retainer approximal surface (16, 18), the retainer approximal surfaces (16, 18) being formed complementary relative to one another. In use, one or more pairs (2) of retainer elements is/are positioned and secured with its/their individual elements (4, 6) preferably on the inner face of a tooth (20, 22) each of a pair of adjacent teeth, so that in the position of use the retainer approximal surfaces (16, 18) bear on each other and support, possibly lock, each other. Thereby pairs of teeth or groups of teeth are stabilized while it is possible at the same time to carry out normal dental hygiene by means of a toothbrush, dental floss or toothpicks, which is otherwise difficult to carry out when known retainers are used.

The invention discloses a direct manufacturing method of a customized lingual orthodontic retainer by selective laser melting. The method comprises the following steps: measuring dentition data to obtain shape structure parameters of teeth, establishing a CAD model of teeth by reverse engineering, designing a CAD structure model for a single lingual retainer according to orthodontic requirement and teeth shape characteristics, guiding the model to a selective laser melting forming machine, and directly making a metal retainer body by a lamination manufacturing method; bending a wire of the retainer according to groove shape of the retainer, welding the wire with the groove by a laser welding method. The method for manufacturing the orthodontic retainer by direct selective laser melting forming can realize customized production according to individual requirements, the obtained retainer is matched with the teeth shape and has high precision without deformation, and suitable for long-term use, has thin thickness, short manufacturing cycle; and direct forming of the retainer saves procedures, time and cost, so the method has wide application scope.

A custom oral splint that is operatively secured to the maxilla and mandible of a subject/patient to assist in reduction and provide maintenance of reduction of maxillary and mandibular fractures in the edentulous or partially edentulous subject/patient. In this difficult patient population, there are very limited options for maxillomandibular fixation, and none provide stable reduction of fractures. The novel device minimizes operative time and equipment, as well as offers the ability to transition the patient from rigid fixation to elastics postoperatively. The novel device is custom-designed for each patient's degree of bone atrophy, ensuring a high quality, and effective product.

A retainer for stabilizing a position of teeth of a human dentition, the retainer comprising: an arc that has a parabolic curvature overall so that the retainer is applicable to teeth of an upper jaw or lower jaw of a patient to be treated, wherein the retainer includes a plurality of local shapes that are arranged along a center line of the retainer and that are oriented perpendicular to the center line, wherein the local shapes are respectively adapted to cooperate with interdental spaces between adjacent teeth, wherein the retainer is integrally provided in one piece from a thermoplastic synthetic material which is configured to be processed by a SD pressure method.

A mouth opening instrument includes an upper member suitable for attaching on an upper jaw side within the mouth of a patient and a lower member suitable for attaching on a lower jaw side. The instrument further includes a connecting section, a control section, and an input section. The connecting section connects end portions of the upper member and the lower member such that a resistance of opening or closing actions of the upper member and the lower member are controllable. The control section controls the resistance of opening or closing actions of the upper member and the lower member. The input section receives an operating state signal indicating an operating state of a dental treatment device. When the operating state signal indicating an operating state of a dental treatment device is inputted, the closing resistance of the upper member and the lower member is set to be greater than that at a time when the operating state signal is not inputted.