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,positioning a mounting surface of an enclosure against a tooth surface at or near a treatment region of the tooth to enclose the treatment region and to expose an access opening of the enclosure to the treatment region;
- anddirecting liquid through a flow pathway within the enclosure to produce a swirling flow profile within at least the liquid passing through the access opening toward the treatment region, wherein the liquid directed through the flow path within the enclosure is substantially gas-free.
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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.
467 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for treating an infected or decaying condition in a tooth, the method comprising,
positioning a mounting surface of an enclosure against a tooth surface at or near a treatment region of the tooth to enclose the treatment region and to expose an access opening of the enclosure to the treatment region; - and
directing liquid through a flow pathway within the enclosure to produce a swirling flow profile within at least the liquid passing through the access opening toward the treatment region, wherein the liquid directed through the flow path within the enclosure is substantially gas-free. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for treating an infected or decaying condition in a tooth, the method comprising,
positioning a mounting surface of an enclosure against a tooth surface at or near a treatment region of the tooth to enclose the treatment region and to expose an access opening of the enclosure to the treatment region; -
directing liquid through a flow pathway within the enclosure to produce a swirling flow profile within at least the liquid passing through the access opening toward the treatment region; and evacuating liquid and organic material from the treatment region by way of an outflow opening. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification