FR2605200A1 - Ergonomic dental hygiene instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

This instrument consists of a hollow cylindrical body acting as a handle 1 in which a reel of dental floss is accommodated. A perforated stopper acting as a floss cutter closes the reel housing of the handle 2. The handle is extended at this end by a floss-holder tail (tang) 3 equipped with a catch (dog) 4 and with two bent branches for stretching the floss 5; and, at the other end, by a neck 6, bent in a direction opposite to the floss-holder branches, and a totally rounded brush head 7.

Description

 Instrument of dental hygiene with double action complementary to the brush and the wire, intended for the prevention of caries and periodontopathies by complete elimination of the bacterial plate from the surface of the teeth.

Traditional toothbrushes are not designed for
favor the vertical brushing technique (called "roller") recommended by dental practitioners, and do not allow, despite rigorous use, perfect cleaning of the interdental spaces, representing about 20% of the surface of the teeth and which are the seat elective of 80% of caries.

 Only the use of silk thread allows access under the interdental contact points and the elimination of the plaque at this level.

 The classic commercial wire guides facilitate this use, but add to the wire spools and the toothbrush to constitute a small arsenal reserved for highly motivated patients.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy this state of affairs by proposing a single instrument, allowing brushing and cleaning with silk thread practiced in sequences * on a regular basis.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the instrument:
Figure 1 shows a side view
Figure 2 shows a front view.

 This instrument includes: -A central body (1) responding to the work functions; that is to say, adequate handling by a form of cylindrical handle of about 2cm in diameter, striated longitudinally, adapting to the palm of the hand to allow a firm and effortless grip (even in people with disabilities), necessary for good control of brushing pressure for the required time, while determining a brushing movement back and forth vertically by alternating rotation of the wrist.

 This body is hollow and open at one of its ends to accommodate a coil of dental floss.

-A removable perforated plug (2) through which the wire passes and in which a metal wire cutter is included, allows the body to be closed.

 The body is extended by a thread-carrying tail (3) comprising a cleat to wedge the thread (4) and two tapered branches bent about 200 downwards (5) to stretch the silk while varying their elasticity.

 At its other end, the body narrows into a bent neck about 100 upwards and long enough to facilitate the use of the brush head (7) which follows the neck, at the posterior teeth.

 The junction of the neck and the body is completely rounded.

 The neck has an ovoid, slightly flattened section.

 The brush head has dimensions resulting from a synthesis study as to the optimum size-efficiency ratio for an adult oral cavity.

 These dimensions are approximately: 30 mm in length, 19 mm in width and 16 mm in height.

 The bristle mounting tab is completely rounded, to avoid any trauma to the mucous membranes in the event of slippage during the brushing movement.

 The bristles are about 11 mm high, which is a length necessary to fit into the gingival dental groove without damaging the gingival epithelium. They are arranged in four rows of ten tufts each, following the roundness of the frame the working surface of the bristles is completely flat.

 The body can be made in a single press molding operation in synthetic resin type polypropylene or polyamide of different colors. The crimping of the bristles is done conventionally, in a second step. The plug retaining the coil of wire will be molded in flexible plastic; the metal lamella cut-off can be simply stapled.

 This instrument is completed by a protective cover of the brush head (8) in transparent plastic and perforated for drying, coming to fit on a groove (9) formed at the base of the neck of the brush head. (Figure 3 ).

 Another molded plastic element serving as a self-adhesive hook for wall hanging (10) in the V shape into which the thread-carrying fork is fitted, is shown in the diagrams (Figure 4).

 US such an instrument, by its practical side (ergonomics and double action) and by its low cost (by its manufacturing process) is intended to encourage motivation in terms of prevention as well as to improve and simplify dental hygiene techniques.

 Ergonomic dental hygiene instrument.

Legend of the drawings:
1: Body - cylindrical handle 2: Removable perforated plug 3: Thread holder 4: Cleat 5: Angled branches 6: Brush neck 7: Brush head 8: Protective cover 9: Hood fitting groove 10: Support self adhesive wall

Claims (5)

CLAIMS.  1) Instrument for dental hygiene characterized in that it comprises a hollow cylindrical body acting as a handle (1) in which it. It is possible to accommodate a spool of dental floss.This handle is extended at one end by a thread-holding tail with two bent arms; and at the other end by a bent neck and a completely rounded brush head. (resp. (3), (5), (6), (7).)  2) Instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that a removable and perforated plastic plug through which the wire exits from the body and provided with a stapled wire cutter, comes to close the housing of the wire spool of the handle. (2).  3) Instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the cylindrical handle body has non-slip longitudinal striations.  4) Instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the thread holder tail and the neck of the brush head are both slightly bent relative to the main axis of the handle and each in a direction opposite to the other.  5) Instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the length and fineness of the bent branches (5) made of synthetic resin provides them with elasticity making it possible to tension and bandage the wire at their ends.