Apparatus and methods for treating root canals of teeth
First Claim
1. A method for treating an infected or decaying condition in a tooth, the method comprising:
- providing a liquid medium at a treatment region of the tooth including the infected or decaying condition, wherein providing a liquid medium at the treatment region comprises supplying a substantially degassed liquid;
generating a pulsed coherent energy beam with a pressure wave generator;
directing the pulsed coherent energy beam into the liquid medium present at the treatment region of the tooth; and
generating pressure waves within the liquid medium to remove infected or decaying material from the tooth at the treatment region.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for treating an infected or decaying condition in a tooth, the method comprising:
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providing a liquid medium at a treatment region of the tooth including the infected or decaying condition, wherein providing a liquid medium at the treatment region comprises supplying a substantially degassed liquid; generating a pulsed coherent energy beam with a pressure wave generator; directing the pulsed coherent energy beam into the liquid medium present at the treatment region of the tooth; and generating pressure waves within the liquid medium to remove infected or decaying material from the tooth at the treatment region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating an infected or decaying condition in a tooth, the method comprising:
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supplying fluid to a treatment region of the tooth including the infected or decaying condition in the tooth wherein supplying fluid comprises supplying a substantially degassed liquid; and directing a coherent energy beam into the supplied fluid to generate pressure waves through the fluid, the generated pressure waves being sufficient to treat the infected or decaying condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification