Apparatus and method for therapeutic lavage and scaling of teeth

• US 5,125,837 A
• Filed: 08/07/1990
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dentsply Management Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dentsply Management Corporation
• Inventors: Warrin, George E., Perdreaux, Rene J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lepiane, Adriene B.
• Application Number:
  US07/564,666
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 433/86, 433/81, 433/80, 433/98, 433/119, 433/216
• US Class Current: 433/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0023 Foot control
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0036 one of those parts being a tool

Abstract

An apparatus for scaling of teeth and lavage of the gingival sulcus is provided. The apparatus comprises a base unit which contains reservoirs for the medicaments used in the lavage procedure, and a handpiece connected to the base unit by a conduit, which contains an insert for scaling of teeth. Switches on the base unit and a footswitch make it possible for the practitioner to use the apparatus for scaling only, lavage only, or for simultaneous lavage and scaling.

Claims

1. An apparatus for scaling of teeth and for therapeutic lavage comprising:

(a) a base unit having at least two fluid reservoirs each of said reservoirs having an outlet;

(b) a handpiece having a handle and an insert, said insert having tooth scaling means, said insert being connected to said outlet by a first conduit means, said first conduit means communicating with said outlets of said fluid reservoirs to supply fluid from said fluid reservoirs to the subgingival area of treatment;

(c) a first switching means for controlling dispensing of medicament containing fluid from said reservoirs through said first conduit means to said handpiece;

and

(d) a second switching means for controlling cooling fluid passage through a second conduit means connected to said handpiece to provide cooling fluid through said insert, whereby medicament containing fluid may be dispersed through said insert without scaling or simultaneously with scaling.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said handpiece has means for producing ultrasonic vibrations in said insert when said insert is a transducer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for producing ultrasonic vibrations comprises a coil which produces an alternating magnetic field in said handpiece.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said ultrasonic vibration causes heating of fluid in said handpiece.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which air pressure is used to provide flow of fluid from said fluid reservoirs to said handpiece.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said base unit has pump means for activating flow of fluid from said fluid reservoirs to said handpiece.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said insert for scaling of teeth has means by which medicament is dispensed through said insert during scaling to simultaneously deliver irrigants to the sulcus and clear the pocket of debris and chemomechanically clear the sulcus of infection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said insert has a tapered tip which is dimensioned to fit into a periodontal pocket and in which fluid from at least one of said reservoirs is dispensed through said handpiece when said insert is used without vibration to deliver said fluid directly to a pocket bottom.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said insert has an external channel for delivery of the fluid from the handpiece to said periodontal pocket on the outside of said tip.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said insert has a tip about 11 to about 21 mm long, said tip being at an angle of between about 105°

-140°

with respect to the handpiece axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a compound bend exists to provide a larger contact surface with the tooth.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said insert has a tip about 19 mm long, said tip being at an angle of about 135°

with respect to the handpiece axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid reservoirs and said handpiece and inserts are adapted to hold and dispense fluid selected from the group consisting of solutions of hydrogen peroxide, stannous fluoride, chlorine dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, zinc chloride, quaternary ammonium compounds including cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorohexidine, water and mixtures thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which an internal return is provided for coolant which is used to cool said insert.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least two fluid reservoirs are concentrically arranged within one cylindrical configuration.

16. An apparatus for therapeutic lavage and scaling of teeth comprising:

a reservoir,

a base unit,

a handpiece,

a first switching means for controlling dispensing of medicament containing fluid,

a medicament conduit, and

a second switching means for controlling water passage from a water supply,

said reservoir being supported by said base unit, said handpiece having a handle and an insert, said insert having tooth scaling means, said first switching means being connected to said reservoir, said reservoir being connected to said medicament conduit, said medicament conduit being connected to said insert, said handpiece being connected to said second switching means, whereby medicament containing fluid is readily applied from said reservoir to a subgingival area of treatment through said insert, and water is readily passed to said handpiece.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an air supply, said air supply being connected to said first switching means said first switching means being adapted to control passage of medicament containing fluid through said insert.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a water supply, said water supply being connected to said second switching means, whereby said second switching means is adapted to control water passage through said insert.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus comprises at least two reservoirs each connected to said medicament conduit.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said tooth scaling means is an ultrasonic scaling means.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said has a tip and has an external channel and a dispensing port opening into said channel.

22. A method for therapeutic lavage and scaling of teeth comprising:

providing a reservoir, a base unit, medicament conduit, a handpiece, a first switching means for controlling dispensing of medicament containing fluid, a second switching means for controlling water passage from a water source, said handpiece having a handle and an insert, said insert having tooth scaling means, said reservoir being supported by said base unit, said first switching means being connected to said reservoir, said reservoir being connected to said medicament conduit;

said medicament conduit being connected to said insert, said handpiece being connected to said second switching means,

applying medicament containing fluid from said reservoir through said insert to a subgingival area of treatment, and

conveying cooling water from said water source through said insert.