U.S. patent number 3,772,790 [Application Number 05/170,233] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-20 for tooth isolating shield.
Invention is credited to Richard R. Despain, Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clifford S. Swan-Gett.
United States Patent |
3,772,790 |
Swan-Gett , et al. |
November 20, 1973 |
TOOTH ISOLATING SHIELD
Abstract
A tooth isolating shield constructed with semi-rigid dentition
bridge conforming members connected to a soft deformable apron of
material. A cushion deformable material is within the dentition
conforming members and can be molded or fitted to conform closely
to a dental patient's upper and lower teeth. The dentition
conforming members, apron and cushion material can be sectionally
cut away to provide access through which a dentist can work on a
selected tooth or teeth. The shield then isolates the tooth or
teeth being worked on, keeping the area worked on dry,
uncontaminated and effectively exposed. It also effectively
protects mouth tissue and other teeth from injury and contamination
during the dental procedure. A fitting is provided for connection
to an aspirator and the fitting connects to intake ports located to
collect moisture and some solids accumulating on or under the sheet
material.
Inventors: |
Swan-Gett; Clifford S. (Salt
Lake City, UT), Despain; Richard R. (Salt Lake City, UT),
Jacobsen; Stephen C. (Arlington, MA) |
Family
ID: |
22619096 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/170,233 |
Filed: |
August 9, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
5/80 (20170201); A61B 1/24 (20130101); A61C
17/08 (20190501) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
5/12 (20060101); A61C 5/00 (20060101); A61B
1/24 (20060101); A61c 005/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;32/14,17,34,4R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Claims
We claim:
1. A tooth isolating shield comprising
interconnected upper and lower shield portions having generally
U-shaped upper and lower dentition conforming members
comprising
a covering of non-porous, bendable material overlying a deformable
material adapted to be conformed to the teeth of a dental patient,
said covering and said deformable material being readily cut;
and
an apron of flexible sheet material forming a solid barrier
extending fully between the leg portions of both of the generally
U-shaped dentition conforming members and also radiating outwardly
therefrom.
2. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 1, wherein the upper and
lower shield portions are integrally formed.
3. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 1, further including
a tube on the lower shield portions at the junction of the
dentition conforming member and the apron, said tube having holes
extending from the interior thereof to below the apron;
an aspirator; and
a fitting connected to the interior of the tube, and providing
means for attachment of an aspirator, whereby waste materials
collected on the lower shield portions can be removed.
4. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 3, further including holes
through the tube extending from the interior thereof to above the
apron.
5. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 1, wherein the upper and
lower shield portions are hingedly interconnected.
6. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 5, further including means
at the hinge connection between the upper and lower shields
portions to bias them apart.
7. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 5, further including
a tube on the lower shield portions at the junction of the
dentition conforming member and the apron, said tube having holes
extending from the interior thereof to below the apron;
an aspirator; and
a fitting connected to the interior of the tube, and providing
means for attachment of an aspirator, whereby waste materials
collected on the lower shield portions can be removed.
8. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 7, further including holes
through the tube extending from the interior thereof to above the
apron.
9. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 8, wherein the upper and
lower shield portions are integrally formed.
10. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 9, further including means
at the hinge connection between the upper and lower shield portions
to bias them apart.
11. A tooth isolating shield as in claim 10, wherein the means at
the hinge connection to bias the upper and lower shield portions
apart comprises
spring wires embedded in the deformable material.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for protecting mouth tissue and
healthy teeth of a dental patient from contamination and
inadvertant accidental damage during a dental procedure, while
isolating one or more of the patients teeth such that they are
fully presented during the dental procedure.
2. Prior Art
It has long been recognized that there is a need for a device that
can be used to effectively isolate one or more teeth being worked
on from the other teeth and from mouth tissues during dental
procedures. Without such isolation the field of the tooth being
worked upon may be repeatedly contaminated by the tongue or saliva.
Also, there is always a possibility that an instrument may slip to
injure tissue or teeth, and there is always a possibility that
during an operation uninfected tissue and teeth can be
contaminated. At the same time, it is desirable that the dentist
not be exposed to patients breath, coughs or other germ carrying
expulsions. In the past, various types of partial coverings and
absorbent pad bridges have been used in attempts to reduce the
possibilities for damage and contamination. So far as we are aware
however, none have incorporated a total mouth coverage, such as is
provided by the present invention and none have given the degree of
protection against impact or the work area isolation afforded by
the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a low
cost, disposable shield which will cover and protect the entire
mouth area, while providing complete access to a selected tooth or
tooth area necessary for treatment. Other objects are to provide
such a shield constructed to constantly allow for removal of
accumulated liquids and solids and to provide a good cushion-type
protection for teeth not exposed for a dental operation.
Principal features of the present invention include a shield which
is constructed with a deformable shock absorbent, cushion material
that can be molded or fitted to closely conform to a patient s
teeth, a non-porous somewhat bendable covering over the deformable
material. Both the cushion material and the bendable covering are
made of easily cut material so that openings can be readily cut to
provide a means whereby one or more teeth can be exposed.
A fitting is provided in the front of the lower section, whereby a
low pressure suction source can be applied to remove materials
which accumulate within the mouth. Ports are provided through the
lower portion of the shield to connect with a discharge tube from
which the fitting projects.
The shield may be constructed in different sizes to accommodate
various basic mouth sizes and may be formed to be permanently open
or to be biased open so that it assists the patient in holding his
mouth open during a dental procedure.
Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description taken together with the
accompanying drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as
being the best mode of the invention.
THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shield of the invention;
FIG. 2, an enlarged sectional perspective view taken within the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and showing a section of the shield cut away
to provide access to a tooth, a patients teeth and jaw area being
shown fragmentarily.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings:
The shield 10 of the invention, consists of an upper shield portion
11, and lower shield portion 12, preferably formed integral with
the upper shield portion. As illustrated, the shield portions are
contacted to be hinged together at 10a and are shaped such that
when the shield is in a patients mouth, the hinge 10a is at the
rear of the mouth. A somewhat flexible, but semi-rigid covering 13
overlays a layer of cushion material 14 and is connected to a
flexible apron 15 which may be made a resilient latex or plastic
type material, for example. The covering 13 and material 14 of the
upper and lower shield portions are shaped to respectively fit over
the upper and lower teeth of a patient. A tube 16 has holes 16a
above apron 15 and hole 16b below apron 15. The holes are spaced
along the tube 16, and the tube is positioned at the junction of
the lower shield portion and the apron 15. The tube 16, in addition
to serving as a conduit to waste materials, as will be further
explained, provides rigidity to the overall assembly and helps to
hold the shield portions in place as they are placed over the teeth
of a patient.
The materials from which the shield is made are readily cut to
provide an opening at any desired location, such as is shown at 17.
Through the opening a dentist can have complete access to a tooth
or teeth to be worked on while at the same time the covering 13 and
cushion material 14, which are molded tightly against the teeth,
and the apron 15 which radiates away from, and that interconnects
spaced portions of the covering 13, protects the remainder of the
patients mouth from contamination during dental procedures.
Alternatively, the covering 13 can be somewhat resilient so that it
will clamp the cushion material tightly over the teeth.
A fitting 19 extends outwardly from tube 16 and provides a means
whereby a low pressure suction applied through tube 16 and the
holes 16a and 16b will remove water, saliva, etc. that may collect
on the lower portion of the shield or beneath the shield.
Spring wires 20 are preferably embedded in the material 14 at the
junction of the upper and lower shield portions. The spring wires
bias the sections apart and thus assist a patient in holding his
mouth open, while at the same time holding the upper and lower
portions on the upper and lower teeth of the patient, respectively.
While the shield could be made with permanently open sections to
forcefully hold a patients mouth open, the spring biased
arrangement preferred so that the mouth can be closed, if desired,
without removing the shield.
In operation, the opening 17 is cut to fit over the tooth or teeth
to be worked on and the upper and lower shield portions are
respectively fitted onto the upper and lower teeth of a patient,
with the material 14 formed tightly against the teeth. The apron 15
extends fully between the legs of the generally U-shaped upper and
lower dentition conforming members formed by covering 13 and
cushion material 14 and outwardly thereof and is spread to protect
mouth tissues from contamination and the dental procedure is
practiced.
During the procedure, an aspirator, not shown, draws waste
materials that may accumulate out through holes 16a, tube 16 and
fitting 19. Thus, the patients tooth being operated upon is
maintained uncontaminated, uninfected teeth and mouth tissues are
fully protected, and the dentist has a clean area in which to
work.
The entire assembly is preferably made from low cost plastics or
other low cost materials, such that the shield can be economically
thrown away after use.
Although a preferred form of our invention has been herein
described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is
made by way of example and that variations are possible, without
departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter,
which subject matter we regard as our invention.
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