Apparatus and methods for treating root canals of teeth
First Claim
1. A method of cleaning a root canal, comprising:
- forming an opening in a side surface of the tooth;
forming a liquid jet;
directing the liquid jet at a substantial angle to the long axis of the root canal through supplied liquid to generate pressure waves that propagate through the root canal, the pressure waves having sufficient energy to clean the root canal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.
470 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of cleaning a root canal, comprising:
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forming an opening in a side surface of the tooth; forming a liquid jet; directing the liquid jet at a substantial angle to the long axis of the root canal through supplied liquid to generate pressure waves that propagate through the root canal, the pressure waves having sufficient energy to clean the root canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of cleaning a root canal of a tooth, comprising:
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forming an opening in a side surface of the tooth; positioning a handpiece on the side surface of the tooth near the opening, the handpiece comprising an acoustic energy generator; and activating the acoustic energy generator to propagate acoustic waves in the tooth to substantially clean the root canal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification