Danville Engineering

Danville Materials

Danville Manufacturing Inc.

Other

Align Technology, Inc.

Craig R Bruns

Thomas S Blake

Mark S Fernwood

Eric E Kuo

Peter G Knopp

Robert Eugene Tricca

Stephen Swihart

Choi Woncheol

John J Bembenek

Marc S Gottlieb

Patrick L Roetzer

A dental wedge and forming device utilizing a unitary body having a pair of wings which are intended to lie against the outer surfaces of adjacent teeth, either on the lingual or buccal region of the teeth. A curved nose is constructed to extend between the adjacent teeth and includes a flat side and an opposite radiused side. A pair of the devices are nested in opposition in order to hold a dental matrix band in place about a prepared tooth, thus allowing a dental practitioner to practice proper biomimetic restorative techniques.

Dental wedge and former device

An apparatus for separating teeth utilizing a base member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion. A first spring extends outwardly from the first end portion while a second spring extends outwardly from the second portion of the base member. A lingual shield spans the distal portions of the first and second springs extending from the base member. A pair of tines overlap one another, one tine extending from the base member, the other extending from the shield. The first and second springs urge the meeting or overlapping of the first and second tines in the vicinity of gap for meeting place between a pair of teeth.

Teeth separating apparatus

A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize 'bleed down' of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.

Hand-holdable gas/abrasion apparatus

Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a polymeric shell dental appliance, including providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of the type which is removably placeable over a patient's dentition, said shell having a concave trough which conforms to the teeth when the appliance is placed over the dentition and a location in the trough corresponding to a missing tooth; and depositing a flexible, durably affixed material in the location to form the pontic.

Method and kits for forming pontics in polymeric shell aligners

A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize &ldquo;bleed down&rdquo; of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.

An apparatus for dispensing a pressurized stream of gas having particles suspended therein, is described. A double acting pinch valve suitable for use in the apparatus is also described. The apparatus finds particular utility in the dental industry.

Gas abrasive particle apparatus and valving therefor

A removable nozzle head for a miniature sandblaster used for medical or industrial applications is disclosed comprising a nozzle, a handpiece nozzle adapter, a nozzle locking ring where the nozzle and nozzle handpiece adapter each have corresponding first and second bore in fluid communication to allow delivery of independent supplies of a gas and an abrasive laden stream to a mixing chamber in the nozzle for delivery through a orifice tube to a surface to be abraded, cleaned or modified.

Removable nozzle for a sandblaster handpiece

A device for containing abrasive particles expelled from air-abrasive apparatus and permitting their facile removal without the aid of a vacuum source, while facilitating a relatively unobstructed view of the working area during use. One embodiment disclosed is a device for containing abrasive material expelled by a gas abrasive dental apparatus. The device comprises a flexible puncturable, substantially flat distal sheet comprising one side of the device for isolating a tooth surface to be abraded; a transparent, puncturable, substantially flat proximal sheet comprising the other side of the device; an enclosure for containing the abrasive material. The enclosure is formed by the junction of the proximal sheet and the distal sheet; an enclosure sealing means for permitting access to the enclosure and sealing the enclosure, a filtering means integrated with at least one sheet for permitting the passage of a gas while entrapping the abrasive material, and a rubber dam integrated with the distal sheet, which rubber dam can be secured from within the enclosure around the tooth surface to be abraded by a clamping member. Certain other embodiments of the device can be used for non-dental applications.

Abrasive container for gas-abrasive applications

Air abrasive particle apparatus

The present invention describes a novel composition and system for use for removal of organic and inorganic materials from a variety of substrates, including a tooth surface, without damage occurring to the substrate. The disclosed composition comprises a friable abrasive particle which when propelled by a gas stream at a surface for a time sufficient departs adequate energy to remove organic and inorganic materials from the surface without causing any significant ablation of the surface.

Friable abrasive media

A removable nozzle head for a minature sandblaster used for medical or industrial applications is disclosed comprising a nozzle, a handpiece nozzle adapter, a nozzle locking ring where the nozzle and nozzle handapiece adapter each have corresponding first and second bore in fluid communication to allow delivery of independent supplies of a gas and an abrasive laden stream to a mixing chamber in the nozzle for delivery through a orifice tube to a surface to be abraded, cleaned or modified.

A method and apparatus for an air abrasive unit such as those used in the dental field. This method and apparatus utilizes an internal vibrator motor with vibration transmitters which transmit the vibrations throughout the abrasive jar. The abrasive pickup assembly uses pressure differentials to suck up abrasive through a screen which controls the flow rate and particle size of the abrasive flowing through the system. This system can utilize a photo optical detection system to detect the abrasive level. Alternatively, a pressure/pulse detection system may be used to measure abrasive level. Dilution of the air/abrasive mixture and 'air only' modes are possible with the present system. Depressurization and mere reductions of pressure can also be accommodated.

Growing community of inventors

Danville, CA, United States of America

Craig R Bruns