Dentistry – Apparatus – Jaw – cheek – lip – or tongue positioner
Patent
1995-10-12
1997-09-09
O'Connor, Cary E.
Dentistry
Apparatus
Jaw, cheek, lip, or tongue positioner
600238, A61C 500
Patent
active
056649460
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a wedge and is more particularly concerned with a wedge for propping open the mouth of a patient (human or animal) in order to facilitate oral examination and/or treatment, eg dental treatment or cleaning of the teeth. Oral examination or treatment on uncooperative patients and especially those with special needs, is usually effected by wedging open the mouth of the patient with a finger or by using a mouth gag or prop, and by restraining head movement. However, there are dangers inherent to this procedure and it is an object of the present invention to provide a dental wedge which can enable oral examination and/or treatment to be carried out more safely both for the patient and for the person carrying out such examination and/or treatment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dental wedge comprising an elongate portion which is adapted to be inserted between the jaws of the patient, and at least one flange extending laterally from the elongate portion at or near the distal end of the latter, said at least one flange serving to limit insertion of the elongate portion into the mouth of the patient.
Preferably, the elongate portion is capable of elastic deformation, whereby to reduce damage to the patient. Preferably, two oppositely directed flanges are provided. Said at least one flange is preferably dimensioned so that the wedge cannot be swallowed or inhaled. The flange or flanges are preferably integrally formed with the elongate portion. The elongate portion may be hollow and of a size to receive a finger of the person carrying out the examination and/or treatment. Such hollow elongate portion may have a substantially oval cross-section to provide an improved grip on the finger. One or more passages and/or grooves may be provided in or through said at least one flange portion and/or said elongate portion in order to facilitate breathing of the patient.
In a convenient embodiment, the wedge is provided with a handle whereby it can be held between the fingers rather than supported between the jaws of the patient by insertion of the finger into the elongate portion.
Other possible modifications include forming the elongate portion so that it includes means for performing additional dental functions including tongue depression and liquid aspiration.
The elongate portion may have undulations or other formation thereon to resist slippage from between the jaws of the patent in use.
Also according to the present invention, there is provided a method of propping open the mouth of a patient, comprising inserting between the jaws of the patient a wedge according to the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the use of a dental wedge according to the present invention, and
FIGS. 2 to 8 show various forms of the device.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, a dental wedge similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4 is inserted between the jaws of a patient to allow teeth to be cleaned.
In FIG. 2, the wedge comprises a frusto-conically tapered elongate portion in the form of rod 1 with integrally moulded, oppositely directed flanges 2a and 2b at the base distal end of the rod 1, and a handle 3 extending substantially coaxially with the rod 1 in the opposite direction away from flanges 2a and 2b. The device is moulded from a suitably strong, resilient, inert plastics material such as Kel-F (EX3M Company). In use, rod 1 is inserted using the handle 3 and the rod 1 between the patient's jaws until the flanges 2a and 2b abut against the face of the patient so as to assist in locating the rod 1 between the teeth and preventing the wedge from being swallowed or being inhaled.
In FIG. 3, passages 4a to 4e are provided in the flanges 2a and 2b and rod 1 so as to prevent the patient's breathing from being unduly impaired in the unlikely event that
REFERENCES:
patent: 307930 (1884-11-01), Ehrhardt
patent: 1657148 (1928-01-01), Catlin
patent: 2220674 (1940-11-01), Bloomheart
patent: 3352301 (1967-11-01), Abelson
patent: 3825014 (1974-07-01), Wroten
patent: 4585416 (1986-04-01), DeNiro et al.
patent: 4944313 (1990-07-01), Katz et al.
patent: 5275619 (1994-01-01), Engebretson et al.
O'Connor Cary E.
The University of Birmingham
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