Tooth preparation system with lateral prongs for limiting three-dimensional movement

Abstract

A tooth preparation system () includes a dental tool () and guide device () for contacting the dental tool to limit its movement in removing predetermined tooth structure from a working tooth. The guide device includes a body () having an inner surface (A), a channel (A,B), an aperture (), and an opening (A,B). The inner surface is configured for attachment to a tooth to releasably fix the guide device. The channel extends partially through the body, defines a longitudinal axis, is configured for contacting a flange (A,B,A,B) extending from a shaft of the dental tool to limit a movement of the tool, and defines a channel diameter perpendicular to a direction the longitudinal axis extends. The aperture extends through the body and is configured to expose the predetermined tooth structure. The opening extends between the channel and the aperture and has an opening diameter less than the channel diameter.