The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1997
George Salem, Natick, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A dental debridement tool is provided for use with a rotary dental handpiece to remove a surface contaminant from a surface of a tooth. The tool includes a shaft extending along an axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is sized and shaped for connection to the rotary dental handpiece. The tool also includes an operative tip being carried at the distal end of the shaft. The operative tip has a length parallel to the axis. The length is at most 8.0 millimeters and the operative tip is no wider than 4.0 millimeters at any point along the length. The operative tip is operably compressible during removal of the surface contaminant and includes an abrasive composition of matter. The abrasive composition may include polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester, acrylic, or silicone. An abrasive powder may be included in the abrasive composition. The abrasive powder may include pumice, mica, diamond, talc, aluminum oxide, tin oxide, silicone oxide, or a ceramic material. The operative tip may have a substantially cylindrical shape, may be sufficiently compressible to conform substantially to the shape of the tooth, and may be sufficiently porous to carry a disinfecting agent. The tooth surface may be an outward-facing surface of the tooth or an inward-facing surface of the tooth.