WO2000072774A2

WO2000072774A2 - Protective device for dental use

Info

Publication number: WO2000072774A2
Application number: PCT/IT2000/000220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scipione Mortato
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-01
Filing date: 2000-05-29
Publication date: 2000-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2001-12-01
Also published as: ITMI991232A0; AU5102100A; WO2000072774A3; ITMI991232A1

Abstract

Protective device for dental use comprising a closed envelope (1) made of a transparent or semitransparent material, provided with at least two holes (2, 3) in substantially opposite positions wherein a tooth to be operated (4) and a dental instrument (7) respectively can be inserted, as well as with a rigid or semirigid perimetrical structure, which divides the envelope (1) into two portions, each one comprising one of said holes (2, 3).

Description

"PROTECTINE DEVICE FOR DENTAL USE"

The present invention relates to a protective device for dental use, and particularly to a device which can be used during the operations of removal of amalgam fillings, in order to prevent residues of these fillings to be scattered in the patient's mouth or in the dentist's surgery.

It is known that some dental operations, and particularly the operations of filling removal, cause the scattering of residues which can be toxic if swallowed or inhaled, so that several systems have been devised in order to avoid these events. For example, some dental surgeries have adopted protective masks, as well as complex and expensive suction systems for preventing fine residues from being inhaled by the patients or the operators.

A protective device, formed of an elastomeric material sheet provided with a central hole wherein the tooth to be operated can be inserted up to the neck, has been also produced. This known device forms, once arranged in the patient's mouth, a barrier suitable for preventing the patient from swallowing filling residues.

However, the above mentioned protective devices cannot eliminate completely the scattering of the residues, especially when these are very fine, and further the use thereof is quite complicated, since they notably impede the operators during use.

Therefore, object of the present invention is providing a protective device which is free from said drawbacks, that is a device which is simple to use and effective in preventing the scattering of residues in the patient's mouth or elsewhere. Said object is achieved by means of a device the main features of which are specified in the first claim and other features are specified in the following claims.

By virtue of the envelope of which it is provided, the protective device according to the present invention allows the tooth to be enclosed in a closed protected space well separated from the outside, so as to prevent completely the scattering of residues outside the envelope itself. Further, since it is elastic, transparent and relatively compact, the device does not significantly impede dental operations, particularly those for removing fillings, and can be even possibly used in combination with the known devices.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention consists in that it may be provided with suction ducts, possibly formed of the usual saliva ejector cannulae, in order to remove the residues captured inside it.

A further advantage of the device according to the present invention consists in that it is simple and therefore economical to manufacture, so that it can be eliminated after the operation together with the content thereof and be replaced with a new device for a following operation, so that it is used only once.

Further advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - figure 1 shows a schematical perspective view of the first embodiment; and - figure 2 show a schematic perspective view of the second embodiment.

With reference to figure 1, it can be seen that the first embodiment of the device according to the present invention comprises a closed envelope 1 made of a transparent or semitransparent elastomeric material, such as the rubber latex used for the manufacture of ordinary condoms. Said envelope is suitably provided with at least two holes 2, 3 in substantially opposite positions, which are surrounded by elastic borders preferably strengthened by an annular pad of the same material of envelope 1.

The tooth 4, from which a filling 5 has to be removed, is introduced in the first hole 2, possibly with the help of a pair of retractors (not shown in the figure). For this purpose, a pair of wings 6 (in the figure only one wing is visible) are connected to the edge of hole 2, so that they can be seized and pulled to widen the opening, thus allowing the passage through it of tooth 4 up to its neck. The seal between hole 2 and tooth 4 is guaranteed by the elasticity of the relevant border, but it can also be achieved by external means, such as the so called Ivory hooks.

In the second hole 3 is introduced the body of a dental instrument, for example a drill 7 provided with a bit 8 for removing filling 5.

Further, envelope 1 is suitably provided with a rigid or semirigid perimetrical structure 9, formed for example of a thin ring of plastic material, which is arranged between holes 2 and 3 so as to divide envelope 1 in two portions, each of which comprises one of said holes. By this measure, envelope 1 can be prevented from adhering to tooth 4 or to drill 7, thus avoiding that a portion thereof comes between filling 5 and bit 8. The residues of filling 5 removed by bit 8 of drill 7 are preferably sucked out of envelope 1 through one or more ducts 10 which can be connected to the known ejectors which are generally present in dentist's surgeries. The free ends of said ducts 10 are preferably provided with protective grids 11 and penetrate into envelope 1 through holes 12 extemporaneously made or already prepared and possibly strengthened with a thickened border. In other embodiments, the same saliva ejector cannulae used in dentistry can be inserted into envelope 1 instead of ducts 10. Now, with reference to figure 2, there is shown that the second embodiment of the device according to the present invention is different from the first one because it comprises only one sucking duct 13 which is connected through a fitting 14 to a rigid structure 15 having an annular shape which, differently from structure 9, is hollow and provided with a multiplicity of nozzles 16 positioned along the internal circumference for sucking the residues of filling 5.

Further variations and additions can be made by those skilled in the art to the described and illustrated embodiments, still remaining within the scope of the invention itself.

Claims

1. Protective device for dental use, characterized in that it comprises a closed envelope (1) made of a transparent or semitransparent flexible material, provided with at least two holes (2, 3) in substantially opposite positions wherein a tooth (4) to be operated and a dental instrument (7) respectively can be inserted, as well as with a rigid or semirigid perimetrical structure (9), which divides the envelope (1) in two portions, each comprising one of said holes (2, 3).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said holes (2, 3) are provided with strengthened elastic borders.

3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a multiplicity of wings (6) is connected to the border of one hole (2), which can be seized and pulled in order to widen the opening of said hole (2).

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said envelope (1) is provided with one or more further holes (12).

5. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of said further holes (12) is passed through by a sucking duct (10).

6. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the free end of said sucking duct is provided with a protecting grill (11).

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perimetrical structure (9) comprises a rigid ring.

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perimetrical structure (15) is hollow and is provided with a fitting (14) for connection with a sucking duct (13) as well as with a multiplicity of sucking nozzles (16) turned towards the inside of the structure irself.