Dental instrument

• US 5,797,740 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Develodent GmbH
• Original Assignee: Develodent GmbH
• Inventors: Lundvik, Kjell Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/835,816
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/141, 433/149, 433/215, 433/229
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns

Abstract

The instrument for the handling of dental fillings is characterized in that it is provided at one of its ends or at both ends with a head comprising a stuffing part which is made of a light transmitting or light conducting material and which can be connected to a light source. Preferably, the stuffing part is removably fastened to the head. Such an instrument allows a good exposure with light and thus provides good contact points of tooth fillings to be hardened as well as a good handling of the fillings.

Claims

1. A dental instrument for use in filling cavities with a light activated filling component, comprising:

a grip having first and second ends, wherein at least one of said first and second ends of said grip bears a through bore disposed orthogonally to the length direction of said grip; and

a plurality of light transparent stuffing parts which are removably fastenable within said through bore, said stuffing parts each including a stuffing end disposed at a first free end, and a second free end remote of said stuffing end which is adapted to receive an attachable light source.

2. The dental instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said through bore includes an inside thread and at least one of said stuffing parts includes a thread portion fittable into said inside thread.

3. The dental instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said stuffing end has a trapezoidal section.

4. The dental instrument as defined in claim 3, wherein said stuffing end has an upper surface disposed in parallel with said second free end of said stuffing part.

5. The dental instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said through bore is contained within a head fixed at said grip, the outside of said head being tapered towards said stuffing end when a stuffing part is held therein.

6. The dental instrument as defined in claim 5, wherein said head further includes means for conducting the light coming from said attachable light source.

7. The dental instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein first and second stuffing parts are disposed at respective ends of said grip.