MXPA96003737A - Dental profilactic cup that has a channel disposal that distributes the pa - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental prophylactic cup, characterized in that it comprises a body having a rear mounting portion adapted to be mounted on a rotating manual part for rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a coupling portion of the tooth Forntal formed from an elastomeric material and including a cavity for receiving an abrasive paste, the cavity expands toward a front end of the body, the cavity is defined by a surface that is formed therein a channel arrangement, comprising a supply channel of dough extending forward from a posterior portion of the cavity, and a circumferentially extending dough distribution channel, separated rearwardly from a front end of the body, the dough supply channel intersects and terminates in the duct channel. distribution of paste, in such a way that the paste induced to flow within the channel arrangement b garlic the thrust of the centrifugal force during the rotation of the body

Description

DENTAL PROPHYLACTIC CUP THAT HAS A CHANNEL DISPOSAL THAT DISTRIBUTES THE PASTA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dental prophylactic cup in dental prophylaxis procedures and, in particular, to a novel configuration and construction of such a cup. A dental prophylaxis procedure usually involves the application of an abrasive paste (i.e., a paste containing abrasive particles) to the tooth surface whereby pressure and rotational movement are applied. The removal of plaque, tartar and stains is facilitated by the resulting abrasion at the interface between the abrasive particles and the tooth surface. The pressure and rotational movement are applied to the abrasive pulp by means of a prophylactic cup, which comprises a flexible, cup-shaped element approximately 0.63 cm in diameter (one quarter of an inch).

A rear portion of the cup is mounted on an impeller shaft, which rotates the cup at high speed, for example, of about 1500 rpm. The front portion of the cup forms an internal cavity, which receives the paste. The wall of the cavity normally includes a plurality of fins REF: 23023 extending in a front to back direction. An operator presses the front portion of the cup against a tooth, after the insertion of the abrasive paste into the cavity. The paste serves as a lubricant, and the abrasives in the function of the paste to abrade separating plaque, tartar and stains from tooth surfaces. This procedure has traditionally presented certain disadvantages. For example, the centrifugal force generated by a prophylactic cup rotating at 1500 rpm causes the paste to be displaced from the cavity. In fact, the amount of paste retained at the interface between the surface of the cup and the tooth after one second (25 rotations) is a small fraction of the initial volume. This reduction of the paste results in reduced abrasion and cleaning performance. An additional disadvantage is related to the geometry of the cup itself. In this regard, the prophylactic cups are designed to be flexible, such that the operator presses the cup against the surfaces of the tooth, the outer annular rim of the cup flexes to conform to the shape of the tooth surface, and therefore it increases the area of surface contact between them. However, the presence of fins along the wall of the cavity tends to make the cup stiff, such that the ability of the cup to flex and conform to the curvature of the tooth surface is reduced. This makes it difficult for the operator to control the magnitude and placement of the abrasion. Therefore, it will be advantageous to provide a dental prophylactic cup, which increases the residence time and degree of distribution of the abrasive paste therein. It would also be advantageous to increase the flexibility of the cup to allow the cup to better conform to the shape of the tooth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dental prophylactic cup, comprising a body having a rear mounting portion, adapted to be mounted on a rotating hand piece, for rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a front portion of coupling with the tooth formed of an elastomeric material and including a cavity for receiving an abrasive paste. The cavity expands towards a front end of the body. The cavity is defined by a surface, on which there is formed a channel arrangement consisting of a dough supply channel, which extends forward from a rear portion of the cavity and a circumferentially extending dough distribution channel. , separated backward from a front end of the body. The pasta supply channel intersects the pasta distribution channel and ends in the pasta distribution channel, in such a way that the paste is induced to flow along the channel arrangement under the thrust of the centrifugal force during the rotation of the body. The paste is retained within the cavity for a prolonged period and is widely distributed within the cavity. Preferably, there is a plurality of circumferentially spaced pasta supply channels, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced pasta distribution channels. The channel arrangement forms a network of ridges. Each flange has a surface that engages the tooth, which generally faces the axis of rotation, when the cup is in a relaxed state. A front flange assembly is forwardly spaced from a rear flange assembly. The mating surfaces of the tooth of the rear set of flanges is located closer to the axis of rotation than to the mating surfaces of the tooth of the front set of flanges. Each tooth engaging surface has a front edge located farther from the axis of rotation than its trailing edge.

The cup body is preferably formed of polyisoprene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, together with the accompanying drawings, in which the similar number designates similar elements and in which: FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective, front of a dental prophylactic cup according to the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a front end view of the prophylactic cup, shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2; FIGURE 5 is a schematic view showing the flexion of the prophylactic cup under moderate pressure; and FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5, when the prophylactic cup is subjected to a greater force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION The dental prophylactic cup 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 comprises a body formed of a highly flexible material, preferably polyisoprene. A rear mounting portion 12 of the cup would be configured to be mounted to the driving rod of a rotary hand piece (not shown) by screwing, locking or snapping, as is conventional. The illustrated mounting portion 12 includes a hole 14, which leads to an enlarged cavity 16 within which the free end of the rod is inserted by snap fit in the usual manner. Projecting forward from the mounting portion 12, there is a tooth cleaning portion 20, which forms a cavity 22 configured to be symmetrical about a central axis of rotation A of the cup. The cross section of the cavity expands towards the front of the cup. The cavity 22 is defined by an internal surface 24, which forms a paste reservoir 26 at a rear end of the cavity. Placed on the surface 24, there are four channels 28 of the pulp supply, each extending longitudinally forwardly and radially outwardly of the pulp container 26 and two circumferentially extending pulp distribution channels 30, 32, spaced apart longitudinal These channels 28, 30, 32 cooperate to form two sets of flanges 34, 36 that extend circumferentially. A rear assembly of the flanges 34 is located longitudinally rearward from a front assembly of the flanges 36. There are four uniformly spaced rear flanges 34, each bounded by the pasta supply channels 28 and one rear of the distribution channels of the pasta. pasta. It will be appreciated that the front walls of the rear paste distribution channel 30 are formed by the rear walls 35 of the front flanges 36. There are four uniformly spaced front flanges 36, each bounded by two pasta supply channels 28 and one front of the pasta distribution channels 32. The rear flanges 34 form tooth engaging surfaces 38 and the front flanges 36 form the tooth engaging surfaces 40. The dough supply channels 28 are forwardly divergent, whereby front flanges 36 are longer than the rear flanges 34 in the circumferential direction. Also, the front flanges 36 are spaced apart from the axis A than the rear flanges 34, when the cup is in a relaxed condition (without flexing). In this way, it will be appreciated that the pasta supply channels 28 will become progressively less deep towards their front ends. The two lateral surfaces 39, circumferentially spaced apart from each of the front flanges 36 are inclined to converge radially inwards A (as can be seen in Figure 1). The same is true of the lateral surfaces 41 of the rear flanges 34. Each of the coupling surfaces 38, 40 of the tooth of the flanges 34, 36 rear and front, is inclined in such a way that its rear flange is located closer to the axis A than what is its front edge, when the body is in a relaxed state (as can be seen in FIGURE 3). In the front pasta distribution channel 32, it is circumferentially continuous, while the subsequent pasta distribution channel 30 is circumferentially interrupted by the pasta supply channels. The pasta supply channels 28 thus terminate in the front pasta distribution channel 32 and the front ends of the pasta supply channels 28 are closed by a circumferentially continuous front wall 42 of the pasta distribution channel 32, frontal.

Extending forward from the wall 42, there is an outwardly flared surface 44, which terminates forward at the radially inner shoulder of a flange surface 46 that faces forward. An outer surface of the cup body includes a cylindrical portion 52 (see FIGURE 4) with a radially outer edge of the flange surface 46, and a concave portion 54 extending from a trailing edge of the cylindrical portion 52 to an end front of a portion 56 generally frusto-conical. The latter tapers back towards an external surface 58 of the mounting portion 12. During use, the cavity 22 is filled with an abrasive paste, the cup is pressed against the surface T of the patient's tooth (FIGURE 5) and the cup is rotated (preferably at 1500-2000 rpm). During the application of a normal (moderate) F force to the cup (for example, 0.22 kg (0.5 lbs)), the engaging portion 14 with the tooth is bent to make the front surface 44, circumferentially continuous and the surfaces 40 of the front flanges 36 contact the surface T of the tooth, which is curved small to moderate, as shown in FIGURE 5. When the coupling of the surface T 'of the tooth which is of moderate to severe curvature (see FIGURE 6), a greater force F' is applied to the cup to cause in addition that the tooth engaging surface 14 is flexed, such that the surfaces 38 of the posterior flanges 34 also contact this tooth surface T ', as shown in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated that the bending the cup is facilitated by the presence of channels 28, 30, 32, which reduces the thickness of the body of the cup and defines annular bending support points around which certain portions of the body of the cup can be flexed to allow surfaces 44 and 40 (and optionally surface 38) in engagement with the tooth surface. In other words, the cup is more capable of being confirmed by the curvature of the tooth surface. As the cup rotates, the compressed abrasive paste between the cup and the tooth abrade separating stains and adhering materials, such as plaque and tartar. The centrifugal force causes the pulp to move radially inward and thus longitudinally forward, due to the forwardly expanding shape of the cavity surface 24. Some of the paste placed inside the cavity is quickly expelled from the cup by centrifugal force. Gradually, the replacement paste flows forward from the reservoir 26 along the dough supply channels 28 and enters the dough distribution channels 30, 32 for the circumferential distribution. The paste, which reaches the front pasta distribution channel 32, is obstructed by another forward movement by the front wall 42 thereof. Accordingly, it is ensured that a broad amount of paste distributed generally uniformly resides in the cavity 22 for a prolonged period. The cup is of reduced height H, for example, 10% shorter than the standard prophylactic cups, in such a way that the cup is more accessible to hard-to-reach areas. The cup of preference is 0.86 cm (0.34 inches) in a height cup H screwed (0.81 cm (0.32 inches) in height in a closed cup), and a maximum diameter of 0.25 (front end). The standard prophylactic cups are 0.95 cm (0.375 inches) in height. As noted in the above, the body of the cup preferably is formed of polyisoprene. This material may exhibit various degrees of hardness, depending on its composition, as is known to those skilled in the art. For regular cleaning of tooth stains, a prophylactic cup according to the present invention, having a hardness value (ie, hardness) of 30-40 could be used.; for the cleaning of intense stains, such as tobacco stains, the prophylactic cup could have a durometer value greater than 50 (eg, 50-70). In accordance with the present invention, a prophylactic cup is provided, which effectively distributes the abrasive paste within the cavity and prevents the centrifugally induced loss of the paste from the cavity. This serves to preserve the paste and also to conserve time, reducing the number of occasions in which the operator must interrupt a tooth cleaning operation to replenish the prophylactic cup with paste. It is also less likely that at any given time, the operator will perform a cleaning operation with an insufficient amount of paste in the cup. Also, the body is only flexible, due to the presence of the longitudinal and circumferential channels, allowing the cup to conform more closely to the curvature of a tooth surface. By increasing the retention time of the paste and the distribution, and increasing the contact area of the tooth, the total abrasiveness (and thus the effectiveness) of the prophylactic cup is increased. Although the present invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, modifications and substitutions not specifically described can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined. in the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (17)

1. A dental prophylactic cup, characterized in that it comprises a body having a rear mounting portion adapted to be mounted on a rotating manual part for rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and a coupling portion of the front tooth formed of an elastomeric material and which includes a cavity for receiving an abrasive paste, the cavity expands towards a front end of the body, the cavity is defined by a surface forming therein a channel arrangement, comprising a dough supply channel extending forwardly from a rear portion of the cavity, and a circumferentially extending pasta distribution channel, spaced apart from a front end of the body, the pasta supply channel intersects and terminates in the pasta distribution channel, such that the paste is induced to flow into the channel arrangement under the thrust of the center force fugue during the rotation of the body.

2. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that the dough distribution channel includes a circumferentially continuous front wall.

3. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a plurality of circumferentially spaced pulp supply channels and a plurality of longitudinally spaced pulp distribution channels.

4. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 3, characterized in that there are four paste supply channels separated by ninety degrees.

5. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that the pasta distribution channel constitutes a front pasta distribution channel, the cavity further includes a subsequent pasta distribution channel placed rearwardly of the front pasta distribution channel and extending circumferentially, the subsequent pulp distribution channel is circumferentially interrupted by the pulp supply channel.

6. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 5, characterized in that the dough supply channel becomes progressively less deep in a forward direction.

7. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 5, characterized in that there is a plurality of circumferentially spaced pulp supply channels, the pulp supply and the paste distribution channels forming between them front and rear flange assemblies extending circumferentially , the flanges of each assembly are circumferentially separated by the pulp supply channels, the pulp supply channels are divergent forward, such that the shoulders of the rear assembly are shorter than the shoulders of the front assembly in the circumferential direction .

8. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the front and rear flanges have a surface of engagement with the tooth, generally facing the axis of rotation, a front edge of each of the surfaces of the tooth. coupling with the tooth, which are further apart from the axis than its posterior edge, when the body is in a relaxed condition.

9. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the front and rear flanges has a mating surface with the tooth, generally facing the axis of rotation, the mating surfaces with the tooth of the posterior ridges are placed closer to the axis than the mating surfaces with the tooth of the front flanges.

10. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the front and rear flanges has a mating surface with the tooth, generally facing the axis of rotation, the mating surfaces with the tooth of the posterior flanges are placed closer to the axis than the tooth engaging surface of the front flanges.

11. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity includes a paste reservoir placed at its rear end, the paste distribution channel positioned forward of the reservoir, the paste supply channel extending from the reservoir to the distribution channel of the pasta.

12. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling portion with the tooth is formed of polyisoprene.

13. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 1, characterized in that a longitudinal height of the cup is not greater than 0.86 cm (0.34 inches).

14. A dental prophylactic cup, characterized in that it comprises a body having a rear mounting portion adapted to be mounted on a rotating manual part, for rotation about a longitudinal axis of rotation and a coupling portion with the front tooth formed of a elastomeric material and including a cavity for receiving an abrasive paste, the cavity includes a paste reservoir located at its rear end, the cavity gradually expands toward a front end of the body, the cavity includes a plurality of paste supply channels that they extend forward from the reservoir and dough distribution channels extending circumferentially from front to back, the front distribution channel is circumferentially continuous and separated rearward from a front end of the body, the dough supply channels intersect the ducts. front and rear leg distribution channels and end in the front pasta distribution channel, the pasta supply and distribution channels of the dough forming between them front and rear flange assemblies extending circumferentially, the flanges of each set are circumferentially separated by the pulp supply channels , each of the ridges forming a mating surface with the tooth, generally facing the axis of rotation, the mating surfaces with the tooth of the posterior ridges, which are placed closer to the axis than the mating surfaces of the tooth of the front flanges, a front edge of each mating surface with the tooth that is further apart from the axis than its back edge, when the body is in a relaxed condition.

15. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 14, characterized in that the dough supply channels are forwardly divergent, in such a way that the front rims are longer in the circumferential direction than the rear rims.

16. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 14, characterized in that the coupling portion of the tooth is formed of polyisoprene.

17. The dental prophylactic cup according to claim 12, characterized in that a longitudinal height of the cup is not greater than 0.86 cm (0.34 inches).