Process and apparatus for cleaning a tooth
First Claim
1. A process for treating periodontitis existing in the mouth of a patient having teeth with roots extending downwardly in the gums by using a scaler including a scraper with a cutting edge and a handle for the scraper, a dentist using the scraper to remove tartar, concretions and necrotic root element from a tooth by guiding the cutting edge along the tooth under the gums from the lowest point of the gum pocket and while exerting pressure on the root suddenly moving the cutting edge with a powerful jerk in scraping manner toward the chewing face of the tooth, the scaler being adapted for manual movement by the dentist and also having means which when actuated initiates and performs the jerk action without manual movement of the scraper by the dentist, said means including a striking rod and a striking body, said rod and said body moving in opposite directions, the rod producing the jerk action, the body producing a like counteraction, said process including the steps of manually moving the edge by manual operation of the dentist until the jerk action is desired and then automatically initiating and performing said action without manual movement of the scaler by the dentist.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for treating periodontitis existing in the mouth of a patient having teeth with roots extending downwardly in the gums by using a scaler including a scraper with a cutting edge and a handle for the scraper. A dentist uses the scraper to remove tartar, concretions and necrotic root element from a tooth by guiding the cutting edge along the tooth root under the gums from the lowest point of the gum pocket and while exerting pressure on the root suddenly moving the cutting edge with a powerful jerk in scraping manner toward the chewing face of the tooth. The scaler is adapted for manual movement by the dentist and also has a mechanism which when actuated initiates and performs the jerk action without manual movement of the scraper by the dentist.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for treating periodontitis existing in the mouth of a patient having teeth with roots extending downwardly in the gums by using a scaler including a scraper with a cutting edge and a handle for the scraper, a dentist using the scraper to remove tartar, concretions and necrotic root element from a tooth by guiding the cutting edge along the tooth under the gums from the lowest point of the gum pocket and while exerting pressure on the root suddenly moving the cutting edge with a powerful jerk in scraping manner toward the chewing face of the tooth, the scaler being adapted for manual movement by the dentist and also having means which when actuated initiates and performs the jerk action without manual movement of the scraper by the dentist, said means including a striking rod and a striking body, said rod and said body moving in opposite directions, the rod producing the jerk action, the body producing a like counteraction, said process including the steps of manually moving the edge by manual operation of the dentist until the jerk action is desired and then automatically initiating and performing said action without manual movement of the scaler by the dentist.
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2. A scaler for use in the treatment of periodontitis, said scaler comprising:
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an elongated striking rod having a bore in one end; a scraper having a projection with a cutting edge, the scraper having an opposite end disposed in said bore; an elongated handle, the scraper being disposed in the handle and being longitudinally movable back and forth along the direction of elongation within the handle, the bore containing end of the rod extending out of the handle; means in the handle for periodically initiating an action at which the rod is first moved rapidly outward with respect to the handle and almost immediately thereafter is moved rapidly inward to be returned to the original position in the handle, said means including a movable striking body coupled to the rod, said striking rod contained in part within said striking body, and an additional mechanism for causing the body to move in an opposite direction to the rod and produce a like counteraction when the action is periodically initiated. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification