Dental probe with bristles

• US 8,414,294 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Mcwhorter
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Mcwhorter
• Inventors: McWhorter, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, YOGESH P
• Application Number:
  US13/047,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20120237888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 433 29- 31, 433/215, 433/216, 433141-148, 132308-310, 132/321, 151/671, 15/221, 15/222
• US Class Current: 433/143
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2203/00 Means for making patients feel at ease during dental treatment, e.g. dental instruments in the form of toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/00 Dental tools or instruments implanting tools A61C8/00; tools for fastening artificial teeth A61C13/12; visual inspection devices, e.g. dental mirrors, A61B1/24

Abstract

The present application discloses a method and apparatus for disguising a dental probe from a patient for use, for example, in the field of pediatric dentistry, or special needs dentistry, the apparatus and method of using the apparatus having a first section and a second section. In a preferred embodiment, the first section is a hard probe that is configured for probing a patient'"'"'s teeth for carious lesions.

Claims

1. A dental tool for probing for carious lesions comprising:

a first end portion and a second end portion and a length between said first end portion and said second end portion;

a plurality of tooth-brushing bristles located at said first end portion of said dental tool and extending in a first normal direction from said first end portion of said dental tool, wherein said bristles defining an outer perimeter; and

a hard probe non-movably secured in said first end portion of said dental tool and extending outward from said first end portion of said dental tool in a normal direction, wherein said hard probe comprises an elongate metal probe, wherein said hard probe is secured in said first end portion of said dental tool interior to said outer perimeter defined by said plurality of bristles.

2. The dental tool of claim 1, wherein said probe comprises a rounded section.

3. The dental tool of claim 1, wherein said dental tool comprises a mechanism for removing said first end portion of said dental tool.

4. The dental tool of claim 1, wherein said dental tool comprises a light source configured to illuminate an area of a patient'"'"'s mouth.

5. The dental tool of claim 4, wherein said dental tool comprises a rechargeable energy source configured for providing power to said light source.

6. The dental tool of claim 1, wherein said probe having a height which is greater than a height of said bristles.