Dental hygienic device

• US 3,977,084 A
• Filed: 08/26/1974
• Issued: 08/31/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tsset Scientific and Pharmaceutical Limited
• Original Assignee: Tsset Scientific and Pharmaceutical Limited
• Inventors: Sloan, Robert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/500,376
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 32/57, 32/58, 32/59
• US Class Current: 433/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/005 Devices for dental prophylaxis

Abstract

A dental hygienic device including a unique prophylactic cup for removal of dental plaque and/or polishing teeth. The generally bell shaped prophylactic cup includes an inner generally concave working surface for engagement of the tooth surfaces. The inner surface will form an outwardly flaired lip to conform with and adapt to the irregular surfaces of teeth and for limited, controlled entry into the gingival crevice. The inner working surface therefor abrasive members which may vary according to the distance from the outer lip of the inner surface and the outer surface of the cup includes a member which will limit entry of the outer lip of the cup into the gingival crevice.

Claims

1. A dental hygienic device including a rotable bell-shaped prophylactic cup and means for rotating said cup about the axis thereof, said cup having a generally concave inner working surface designed to flair outwardly and adapt to contacted tooth surfaces, said inner working surface having a circumferentially outer lip for insertion into the gingival crevice, the outer surface of said cup including a shoulder for limiting the insertion of said lip into the gingival crevice, said inner working surface having abrasive means thereon, said abrasive means being arranged to have a varying abrasive effect dependent upon the radial distance from the outer circumference of said lip, the abrasive means having a lesser abrasive effect on that portion of the inner working surface immediately adjacent said outer lip than on other portions of the inner working surface.

2. The dental hygienic device of claim 1 wherein said means to apply a rotary motion includes a hand held casing containing a motor and a gear train.

3. The dental hygienic device of claim 1 wherein said abrasive means include protrusions extending from said inner working surface.

4. The dental hygienic device of claim 3 wherein said protrusions extend substantially perpendicularly from said inner surface.

5. The dental hygienic device of claim 1 wherein said abrasive means includes abrasive particles embedded in the inner working surface of said cup.

6. The dental hygienic device of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said cup is substantially smooth and non-abrasive compared to the inner working surface.

7. A dental hygienic device including a rotable bell-shaped prophylactic cup and means for rotating said cup about the axis thereof, said cup having a generally concave inner working surface designed to flair outwardly and adapt to contacted tooth surfaces, said inner working surface having a circumferentially outer lip for insertion into the gingival crevice, the outer surface of said cup including a shoulder for limiting the insertion of said lip into the gingival crevice, said inner working surface including abrading protrusions extending therefrom, said protrusions adjacent the central area of said inner working surface being less flexible than the protrusions on that portion of the inner surface insertable into the gingival crevice.

8. A dental hygienic device including a rotable bell-shaped prophylactic cup and means for rotating said cup about the axis thereof, said cup having a generally concave inner working surface designed to flair outwardly and adapt to contacted tooth surfaces, said inner working surface having a circumferentially outer lip for insertion into the gingival crevice, the outer surface of said cup including means for limiting the insertions of said lip into the gingival crevice, said inner working surface having abrasive means thereon, said abrasive means being arranged to have a varying abrasive effect dependent upon the radial distance from the outer circumference of said lip, the abrasive means having a lesser abrasive effect on that portion of the inner working surface insertable into the gingival crevice than on other portions of the inner working surface, said outer surface further including at least one radially outwardly extending portion eccentric to the remainder of the outer surface with respect to the rotational axis of said cup for applying a compressive and then a relaxive force to gum tissues simultaneously with said inner working surface abrading contacted tooth surfaces.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said portion extends smoothly from said outer surface.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said other portion of said inner working surface includes a plurality of second abrasive means for polishing contacted tooth surfaces.

11. A dental hygienic device for use with a relatively non-abrasive dentifrice to remove dental plaque from tooth surface and to stimulate the free gingiva, said device including a rotatable, generally bell-shaped prophylactic cup having a generally concave inner working surface and a relatively non-abrasive outer surface, said outer surface having at least one smoothly, outwardly extending portion eccentric to the remainder of the outer surface for applying a compressive and then a relaxive force to the free gingiva, said cup being relatively flexible away from its axis rotation to flair outwardly and adapt to contacted tooth surfaces, said cup having a relatively thinner outer periphery for entry into the gingival crevice and a relatively thicker portion adjacent to the thinner portion which is incapable of entry into the gingival crevice, said inner working surface having abrasive means selectively arranged thereon, said abrasive means being arranged on said inner surface such that the portion of the inner surface at the thinner outer periphery of the cup has a lower abrasive effect than other portions of the inner working surface.