Dental scaler

• US 5,927,977 A
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DenMat Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Professional Dental Technologies, Inc. (TOLMAR Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Elbert L. Jr., Sale, David William, Haynes, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US08/977,592
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 433/86, 433/80, 433/82, 433/84, 433/98, 433/101, 433/32, 433/126, 433/119
• US Class Current: 433/86
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0061 Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0084 Supply units, e.g. reservoir arrangements, specially adapted pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics

Abstract

A dental scaling system includes a scaling instrument with a handpiece and a scaling tip at the end of the handpiece. An ultrasonic transducer is connected to the scaling tip, and there is an irrigant outlet in the scaling tip. A cable is attachable to the handpiece and includes an irrigant passage and two lead wires for supplying irrigant and electrical energy to the handpiece. An irrigant supply bottle is releasably attachable on a housing, and the cable is attachable on the housing. The housing includes an air pump to pressurize and transfer irrigant liquid from the irrigant supply bottle through the cable to the handpiece. The housing also includes electronics to power and control the ultrasonic transducer. Each irrigant supply bottle includes a mounting member with a pair of wings, received in a forked docking assembly on the housing, with the mounting member lockable in the docking assembly.

Claims

1. A dental scaling system comprising:

a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto; and

,

means for monitoring tip wear disposed in the housing.

2. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the attaching means is a cable which includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the housing to the handpiece.

3. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the tip is a scaling tip.

4. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the tip is an irrigation tip.

5. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein an ultrasonic transducer is located in the handpiece.

6. The dental scaler system of claim 5 further comprising control means for adjusting a power level of the ultrasonic transducer and for adjusting a rate of flow of irrigant to the tip.

7. The dental scaler of claim 5 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the ultrasonic transducer.

8. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein each end of the attachment means includes a resilient boot, the boot including:

a first cylindrical passage having a first passage diameter extending axially into the boot;

a second cylindrical passage coaxial with the first passage and having a second passage diameter smaller than the first passage diameter;

a first electrical contact on an inner surface of the first passage, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to the first electrical wire; and

a second electrical contact on an inner surface of the second passage, the second electrical contact being electrically connected to the second electrical wire;

the irrigant passage of the attachment means being in fluid communication with the second passage.

9. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical shoulder portion and a cylindrical tip portion adjacent thereto coaxial with the shoulder portion, the tip portion diameter being smaller than the shoulder portion diameter, the irrigant inlet being in an end of the cylindrical tip portion.

10. The dental scaling system of claim 9 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

11. The dental scaling system of claim 10 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

12. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the irrigant bottle includes a cap having a mounting member, the mounting member having first and second passages extending therethrough, and having an irrigant liquid outlet on an upper surface thereof, the mounting member further having a neck portion beneath a pair of opposed wings, and a pair of opposed alignment flanges, each of the wings having a ramp on a lower surface thereof.

13. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a docking assembly for receiving the irrigant supply bottle, the docking assembly including:

a fork with a pair of tines spaced to receive an irrigant bottle thereon;

a receiving surface having an irrigant port and a vent port; and

a receiving member mounted between the fork and the receiving surface, the receiving member defining a bay and an entry slot for receiving the means for mounting the irrigant bottle therein.

14. The dental scaling system of claim 1 and wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, the means for mounting being rotatable between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation in one quarter turn.

15. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle includes seal means on an upper surface thereof for preventing leakage as the irrigant passes out of the bottle.

16. The dental scaling system of claim 15 wherein the seal means comprise an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

17. The dental scaling system of claim 1 wherein the transfer means deliver pressurized air to the irrigant bottle to displace the irrigant therefrom.

18. The dental scaler system of claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring include a frequency analyzer to monitor a resonance frequency of the tip and to issue a signal when the resonance frequency exceeds a predetermined limit.

19. The dental scaler of claim 1 further comprising a foot pedal for activating transfer means.

20. The dental scaling system of claim 1 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

21. The dental scaler of claim 20 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

22. A dental scaling system comprising:

a scaling instrument having a handpiece, a scaling tip at a first end of the handpiece, an ultrasonic transducer in the handpiece connected to the scaling tip, an irrigant outlet in the scaling tip, and an irrigant inlet opening to an irrigant passage extending through the handpiece, the irrigant passage acting as a negative power conductor in the handpiece to reduce handpiece diameter;

a cable releasably attached at a first end thereof to the handpiece, the cable having an irrigant passage and first and second wires extending therethrough, a resilient boot at least a first end thereof, the boot including a first cylindrical passage having a first passage diameter extending axially into the boot, a second cylindrical passage coaxial with the first passage and having a second passage diameter smaller than the first passage diameter, a first electrical contact on an inner surface of the first passage connected to the first wire, and a second electrical contact on an inner surface of the second passage connected to the second electrical wire, the irrigant passage of the cable being in fluid communication with the second passage;

the cable being attachable at a second end thereof with a source of irrigant liquid and electrical energy.

23. The dental scaling system of claim 22 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical contact shoulder having a shoulder diameter and a cylindrical contact tip coaxial with the shoulder having a tip diameter, the tip diameter being smaller than the shoulder diameter, the irrigant inlet being in the cylindrical tip.

24. The dental scaling system of claim 23 wherein the shoulder diameter is approximately equal to the first passage diameter and the tip diameter is approximately equal to the second passage diameter.

25. The dental scaling system of claim 22 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

26. The dental scaler of claim 22 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

27. The dental scaling system of claim 22 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

28. The dental scaling system of claim 22 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

29. A method for scaling tooth surfaces comprising:

providing a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

providing means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

providing an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

providing a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto;

connecting the attaching means to the handpiece and to the housing;

selectively supply power to the handpiece;

using the tip to scale tooth surfaces, and while supplying irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle to the tip; and

,

monitoring a resonance frequency of the tip and issuing a signal when a preselected upper frequency limit is exceeded.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing at least two irrigant supply bottles, providing a medicament in at least one of the bottles and selectably supplying the medicament to surfaces in the mouth.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising heating the irrigant as it passes through the handpiece.

32. The method claim 29 wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, and further comprising placing the irrigant supply bottle on the housing and rotating the mounting member one quarter turn between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

33. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing an ultrasonic transducer in the handpiece.

34. A dental scaling system comprising:

a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant; and

a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto;

wherein each end of the attachment means includes a resilient boot, the boot including;

a first cylindrical passage having a first passage diameter extending axially into the boot;

a second cylindrical passage coaxial with the first passage and having a second passage diameter smaller than the first passage diameter;

a first electrical contact on an inner surface of the first passage, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to the first electrical wire; and

a second electrical contact on an inner surface of the second passage, the second electrical contact being electrically connected to the second electrical wire;

the irrigant passage of the attachment means being in fluid communication with the second passage.

35. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the attaching means is a cable which includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the housing to the handpiece.

36. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the tip is a scaling tip.

37. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the tip is an irrigation tip.

38. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein an ultrasonic transducer is located in the handpiece.

39. The dental scaler system of claim 38 further comprising control means for adjusting a power level of the ultrasonic transducer and for adjusting a rate of flow of irrigant to the tip.

40. The dental scaler of claim 38 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the ultrasonic transducer.

41. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical shoulder portion and a cylindrical tip portion adjacent thereto coaxial with the shoulder portion, the tip portion diameter being smaller than the shoulder portion diameter, the irrigant inlet being in an end of the cylindrical tip portion.

42. The dental scaling system of claim 41 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

43. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the irrigant bottle includes a cap having a mounting member, the mounting member having first and second passages extending therethrough, and having an irrigant liquid outlet on an upper surface thereof, the mounting member further having a neck portion beneath a pair of opposed wings, and a pair of opposed alignment flanges, each of the wings having a ramp on a lower surface thereof.

44. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the housing includes a docking assembly for receiving the irrigant supply bottle, the docking assembly including:

a fork with a pair of tines spaced to receive an irrigant bottle thereon;

a receiving surface having an irrigant port and a vent port; and

a receiving member mounted between the fork and the receiving surface, the receiving member defining a bay and an entry slot for receiving the means for mounting the irrigant bottle therein.

45. The dental scaling system of claim 34 and wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, the means for mounting being rotatable between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation in one quarter turn.

46. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle includes seal means on an upper surface thereof for preventing leakage as the irrigant passes out of the bottle.

47. The dental scaling system of claim 46 wherein the seal means comprise an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

48. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the transfer means deliver pressurized air to the irrigant bottle to displace the irrigant therefrom.

49. The dental scaling system of claim 34 further comprising means for monitoring tip wear disposed in the housing.

50. The dental scaler system of claim 49 wherein the means for monitoring include a frequency analyzer to monitor a resonance frequency of the tip and to issue a signal when the resonance frequency exceeds a predetermined limit.

51. The dental scaler of claim 34 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the irrigant transfer means.

52. The dental scaling system of claim 34 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

53. The dental scaler of claim 52 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

54. The dental scaling system of claim 34 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

55. A dental scaling system comprising:

a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto; and

the irrigant supply bottle includes a cap having a mounting member, the mounting member having first and second passages extending therethrough, and having an irrigant liquid outlet on an upper surface thereof, the mounting member further having a neck portion beneath a pair of opposed wings, and a pair of opposed alignment flanges, each of the wings having a ramp on a lower surface thereof.

56. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the attaching means is a cable which includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the housing to the handpiece.

57. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the tip is a scaling tip.

58. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the tip is an irrigation tip.

59. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein an ultrasonic transducer is located in the handpiece.

60. The dental scaler system of claim 59 further comprising control means for adjusting a power level of the ultrasonic transducer and for adjusting a rate of flow of irrigant to the tip.

61. The dental scaler of claim 59 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the ultrasonic transducer.

62. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical shoulder portion and a cylindrical tip portion adjacent thereto coaxial with the shoulder portion, the tip portion diameter being smaller than the shoulder portion diameter, the irrigant inlet being in an end of the cylindrical tip portion.

63. The dental scaling system of claim 62 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

64. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the housing includes a docking assembly for receiving the irrigant supply bottle, the docking assembly including:

a fork with a pair of tines spaced to receive an irrigant bottle thereon;

a receiving surface having an irrigant port and a vent port; and

a receiving member mounted between the fork and the receiving surface, the receiving member defining a bay and an entry slot for receiving the means for mounting the irrigant bottle therein.

65. The dental scaling system of claim 55 and wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, the means for mounting being rotatable between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation in one quarter turn.

66. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle includes seal means on an upper surface thereof for preventing leakage as the irrigant passes out of the bottle.

67. The dental scaling system of claim 66 wherein the seal means comprise an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

68. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the transfer means deliver pressurized air to the irrigant bottle to displace the irrigant therefrom.

69. The dental scaling system of claim 55 further comprising means for monitoring tip wear disposed in the housing.

70. The dental scaler system of claim 69 wherein the means for monitoring include a frequency analyzer to monitor a resonance frequency of the tip and to issue a signal when the resonance frequency exceeds a predetermined limit.

71. The dental scaler of claim 55 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the irrigant transfer means.

72. The dental scaling system of claim 55 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

73. The dental scaler of claim 72 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

74. The dental scaling system of claim 55 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

75. A dental scaling system comprising:

a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto; and

wherein the housing includes a docking assembly for receiving the irrigant supply bottle, the docking assembly including;

a fork with a pair of tines spaced to receive an irrigant bottle thereon;

a receiving surface having an irrigant port and a vent port; and

a receiving member mounted between the fork and the receiving surface, the receiving member defining a bay and an entry slot for receiving the means for mounting the irrigant bottle therein.

76. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the attaching means is a cable which includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the housing to the handpiece.

77. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the tip is a scaling tip.

78. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the tip is an irrigation tip.

79. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein an ultrasonic transducer is located in the handpiece.

80. The dental scaler system of claim 79 further comprising control means for adjusting a power level of the ultrasonic transducer and for adjusting a rate of flow of irrigant to the tip.

81. The dental scaler of claim 79 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the ultrasonic transducer.

82. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical shoulder portion and a cylindrical tip portion adjacent thereto coaxial with the shoulder portion, the tip portion diameter being smaller than the shoulder portion diameter, the irrigant inlet being in an end of the cylindrical tip portion.

83. The dental scaling system of claim 82 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

84. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the irrigant bottle includes a cap having a mounting member, the mounting member having first and second passages extending therethrough, and having an irrigant liquid outlet on an upper surface thereof, the mounting member further having a neck portion beneath a pair of opposed wings, and a pair of opposed alignment flanges, each of the wings having a ramp on a lower surface thereof.

85. The dental scaling system of claim 75 and wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, the means for mounting being rotatable between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation in one quarter turn.

86. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle includes seal means on an upper surface thereof for preventing leakage as the irrigant passes out of the bottle.

87. The dental scaling system of claim 86 wherein the seal means comprise an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

88. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the transfer means deliver pressurized air to the irrigant bottle to displace the irrigant therefrom.

89. The dental scaling system of claim 75 further comprising means for monitoring tip wear disposed in the housing.

90. The dental scaler system of claim 89 wherein the means for monitoring include a frequency analyzer to monitor a resonance frequency of the tip and to issue a signal when the resonance frequency exceeds a predetermined limit.

91. The dental scaler of claim 75 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the irrigant transfer means.

92. The dental scaling system of claim 75 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

93. The dental scaler of claim 92 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

94. The dental scaling system of claim 75 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

95. A dental scaling system comprising:

a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, having controls for providing power thereto; and

wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle includes seal means on an upper surface thereof for preventing leakage as the irrigant passes out of the bottle, the seal means being an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

96. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the attaching means is a cable which includes a first electrical wire and a second electrical wire for transferring electrical energy from the housing to the handpiece.

97. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the tip is a scaling tip.

98. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the tip is an irrigation tip.

99. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein an ultrasonic transducer is located in the handpiece.

100. The dental scaler system of claim 99 further comprising control means for adjusting a power level of the ultrasonic transducer and for adjusting a rate of flow of irrigant to the tip.

101. The dental scaler of claim 99 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the ultrasonic transducer.

102. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the handpiece has a connector portion having a cylindrical shoulder portion and a cylindrical tip portion adjacent thereto coaxial with the shoulder portion, the tip portion diameter being smaller than the shoulder portion diameter, the irrigant inlet being in an end of the cylindrical tip portion.

103. The dental scaling system of claim 102 wherein means for electrical isolation are located in the handpiece between the contact tip and the contact shoulder.

104. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the irrigant bottle includes a cap having a mounting member, the mounting member having first and second passages extending therethrough, and having an irrigant liquid outlet on an upper surface thereof, the mounting member further having a neck portion beneath a pair of opposed wings, and a pair of opposed alignment flanges, each of the wings having a ramp on a lower surface thereof.

105. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the housing includes a docking assembly for receiving the irrigant supply bottle, the docking assembly including:

a fork with a pair of tines spaced to receive an irrigant bottle thereon;

a receiving surface having an irrigant port and a vent port; and

a receiving member mounted between the fork and the receiving surface, the receiving member defining a bay and an entry slot for receiving the means for mounting the irrigant bottle therein.

106. The dental scaling system of claim 95 and wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, the means for mounting being rotatable between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation in one quarter turn.

107. The dental scaling system of claim 106 wherein the seal means comprise an inner o-ring and an outer o-ring, the inner and outer o-rings being concentric, the irrigant liquid outlet being positioned within the inner o-ring, the mounting member further including a bottle vent communicating between the inside of the bottle and the upper surface of the mounting member, the bottle vent being positioned between the inner o-ring and the outer o-ring.

108. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the transfer means deliver pressurized air to the irrigant bottle to displace the irrigant therefrom.

109. The dental scaling system of claim 95 further comprising means for monitoring tip wear disposed in the housing.

110. The dental scaler system of claim 109 wherein the means for monitoring include a frequency analyzer to monitor a resonance frequency of the tip and to issue a signal when the resonance frequency exceeds a predetermined limit.

111. The dental scaler of claim 95 further comprising a foot pedal for activating the irrigant transfer means.

112. The dental scaling system of claim 95 further comprising means for heating the irrigant as it passes through the irrigant passage in the handpiece.

113. The dental scaler of claim 112 wherein the heating means is an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the irrigant passage.

114. The dental scaling system of claim 95 wherein the electrical isolation means comprise resilient o-rings.

115. A method for scaling tooth surfaces comprising:

providing a handpiece, a tip mounted at a forward end of the handpiece, an irrigant outlet in the tip, the handpiece having an irrigant inlet and an irrigant passage passing therethrough connected to the irrigant outlet;

providing means for releasably attaching the handpiece to an irrigant supply and a power supply, an irrigant passage extending therethrough, the means for attaching having a first end attachable to the handpiece;

providing an irrigant supply bottle containing an irrigant;

providing a housing on which the irrigant supply bottle is releasably attached, the irrigant supply bottle having means for releasably mounting to the housing, the housing having means for engaging a second end of the attaching means, the housing having means for transferring the irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle through the attaching means to the tip, and having controls for providing power thereto; and

connecting the attaching means to the handpiece and to the housing;

selectively supplying power to the handpiece;

using the tip to scale tooth surfaces, and while supplying irrigant from the irrigant supply bottle to the tip; and

wherein the means for mounting the irrigant bottle has an unlocked orientation and a locked orientation, and further comprising placing the irrigant supply bottle on the housing and rotating the mounting member one quarter turn between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

116. The method of claim 115 further comprising providing at least two irrigant supply bottles, providing a medicament in at least one of the bottles and selectably supplying the medicament to surfaces in the mouth.

117. The method of claim 115 further comprising heating the irrigant as it passes through the handpiece.

118. The method of claim 115 further comprising monitoring a resonance frequency of the tip and issuing a signal when a preselected upper frequency limit is exceeded.

119. The method of claim 115 further comprising providing an ultrasonic transducer in the handpiece.