3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Tsi-Zong Tzou

Sumita Basu Mitra

Richard Paul Rusin

Robert K Schultz

David S Arney

Kevin M Cummings

Paul A Burgio

Danna L Ross

Matthew T Scholz

James D Hansen

Ming-Lai Lai

Joan V Brennan

Orthodontic appliances and related methods are provided, including a fast-dissolving and humidity-resistant coating, containing a colorant and a binder selected from a polyamide, cellulose derivative, or homopolymer/copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide). The coating can facilitate appliance identification and serve as a reference marking to assist the practitioner in appliance placement. Advantageously, the composition of these coatings allows the color marking to be rinsed off quickly, and yet the color of the coating does not bleed during storage even in high humidity environments. The fast-dissolving nature of these coatings also allows the coating to be deposited in concave and recessed areas of the appliance, such as the archwire slot and vertical slot, since these coatings can be removed prior to archwire installation.

Orthodontic appliances with dissolvable coatings

The present application provides a glass composition comprising 10-50% by weight CaO, at least 15% and less than 50% by weight PO, less than 3% by weight AlO, less than 10% by weight LiO, NaO, and KO combined, and 0-60% by weight of SrO, MgO, BaO, ZnO, or combinations thereof; dental compositions comprising the glass composition, and methods of making and using such dental compositions.

Dental compositions with calcium phosphorus releasing glass

The present application provides dental compositions, and methods of making and using dental compositions that include a calcium and phosphorus releasing glass. Such dental compositions can be useful for delivering ions to the oral environment.

Systems for moving teeth of a patient's dental arch from a first tooth arrangement to a second tooth arrangement include a plurality of resilient appliances such as positioning trays or elongated arch members that are used in sequence. Each appliance of the systems includes a row of spaced apart couplings for connection to respective teeth of the dental arch. The appliances have certain geometric characteristics that match the geometric characteristics of other appliances of the system, and at least one appliance has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of at least one other appliance.

Orthodontic systems with resilient appliances

An orthodontic separator, dimensioned such that it can be inserted between adjacent teeth. The separator is characterized in that it exhibits an increase in compressive force after insertion between adjacent teeth in the oral environment. The separator, after insertion, exerts sufficient force on the adjacent teeth to push the teeth apart.

Orthodontic separators

Pharmaceutical aerosol formulations comprising flunisolide, ethanol, and a propellant selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, and a mixture thereof.

Flunisolide aerosol formulations

Pharmaceutical aerosol formulations substantially free of chlorofluorocarbons and comprising a therapeutically effective amount of flunisolide in solution with ethanol and a propellant selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane and a mixture thereof are used for the treatment of bronchial asthma. The formulation may be delivered by a metered dose inhaler with a canister that is inert to flunisolide.

Growing community of inventors

Arcadia, CA, United States of America

Tsi-Zong Tzou