Abstract: Alternative methods are described for machining a root-canal instrument, such as a root-canal reamer, which includes a working section having three flutes forming three cutting lips which are located at the apices of an isosceles triangle.

Abstract: A container for packaging a plurality of endodontic instruments, and for laying out the endodontic instruments to indicate the preferred sequential use of the instruments by a practitioner, includes a case having a bottom, and a lid for enclosing the bottom of the container. The bottom includes a tray for receiving the endodontic instruments and a plurality of sequence markings which illustrate (for example, by color) progressive operating procedures for using sequences of the endodontic instruments. The lid is removed by the practitioner at the start of a treatment, and includes at least one counter which can be used to indicate the number of times a particular sequence of endodontic instruments has been used.

Abstract: A dental handpiece which can receive one of a number of vibrating instruments for applications in endodontics or periodontal treatment includes an elongate handpiece for defining a body enclosing a non-rotating axle excited mechanically in vibration, mounted in the body by semi-flexible supports which contribute to generating and localizing a vibration node towards the front of the handpiece and to retain the vibrating axle centrally with its housing. A flexible interconnection is provided between the axle and the rotating driven shaft of the operating motor, to develop the vibrations which are desired.

Abstract: Automatic apparatus for cleaning dental handpieces and turbines is in the form of a housing having a compartment with hinged door. Standard motor noses project down from the top of the compartment to receive handpieces or turbines to be cleaned. Cleaning fluids, namely water, a disinfectant and oil are supplied sequentially to the motor noses while internal shafts of the motor noses are rotated by a set of pinions to drive the handpieces or turbines while the fluids are passed through them. The hinged door has an inflatable tube seal.

Abstract: This packing case comprises a support provided with a plurality of separate parallel cavities adapted to receive the dental canal instruments and a protection cover consisting of a self-adhesive sheet. This sheet of thin transparent and flexible material has a gripping edge parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavities and this edge projects laterally from the support surface. By raising the sheet by means of the gripping edge the user can uncover the cavities one by one and thus pick up a selected instrument by simply turning the case upside down, the other instrument being retained in the case. With this packing case it is possible to pack various types of dental instruments such as files, reamers, drills, Hedstroem files, nerve broaches, etc., and the cover may also be used as a label carrying inscriptions concerning the type of dental instrument contained in the case.

Abstract: This equipment for dental surgeons comprises a hand-piece incorporating at least one bulb for illuminating the treatment area and an endpiece housing a battery. This endpiece comprises on its front end a pair of springloaded contact studs adapted to engage with corresponding concentric tracks formed on the rear face of the handpiece for energizing the bulb. The battery is rechargeable by means of a device comprising two concentric tracks of same diameter as the handpiece tracks and connected to a circuit adapted to switch automatically between a quick-charging condition and a slow-charging condition according to the voltage developed across the battery terminals.

Abstract: This device comprises a dental handpiece (15), notably a contra-angle, detachably coupled to a socket (35) so that the handpiece can rotate freely relative to the socket, this socket incorporating a micromotor for driving the dental treatment tool. The handpiece comprises means for illuminating the treatment area and the electric power supply between the two elements is taking place by means of spring loaded contact pistons (19, 22) parallel to the handpiece axis and projecting from the front face of one of the two elements, the contact pistons being adapted, in the coupled condition, to be urged against corresponding annular electric tracks (18, 21) provided at the end of the other element, these tracks being insulated from each other by a ring (20).

Abstract: A precision injection system and method for intralignmental anesthesia and the like having a syringe with a tubular handle portion to which are removably connectable individually tubular headpieces as a longitudinal extension thereof. The headpieces receive a carpule cartridge with semi-solid contents therein or with liquid injection contents monitored during injections through elongate windows on opposite sides of the headpieces. Provision is also made for injection of known composite materials the viscosity of which cannot be determined by standard viscosity measurement methods. A dosing plunger housed in the tubular handle portion in a retracted start position is activated by a servo-dosing lever and advances incrementally axially into a mounted headpiece for delivery of metered quantities of the contents of the carpule cartridge each time the servo-dosing lever is actuated.

Abstract: A transmission device for use in a dental handpiece has a modular unit comprising an input shaft coaxial to and driven by the motor shaft, and an oblique shaft extending obliquely with respect to the input shaft and also to the tool driving shaft. Each end of the oblique shaft carries a bevel pinion, one bevel pinion meshing with a bevel wheel fixed to the input shaft and the other bevel pinion meshes with another bevel wheel fixed to the tool driving shaft. The input and oblique shafts are mounted in suitable bores formed in a socket, the oblique bore remaining without the peripheral limits of the socket. The socket is adapted to be forcibly fitted into the handle of the handpiece.

Abstract: A chuck for receiving a plain shank of a dental burr is rotatably mounted in the head of a dental handpiece and is driven by a pinion or by turbine vanes. The chuck comprises a sleeve adapted to receive the shank of a burr and provided with at least one elongate clamping claw which is movable radially between an inner clamping position and an outer releasing position. Facing grooves in the clamping claw and in an actuating member which is movable axially relative to the sleeve define a ramp way for a row of bearing balls. The ramp way extends in a direction which is generally axial but is inclined at an angle of 1.degree. to 4.degree. to the axis so that the clamping claw is moved radially by axial movement of the actuating member. The clamping claw is spring biased to clamping position and is movable to releasing position by a push button for moving the actuating member axially relative to the sleeve and thereby moving the clamping claw radially outwardly.

Abstract: A dental contra-angle handpiece composed of a front body having a tight fit onto a rear body. The fixing device between the two pieces consists of a key in the form of a segment of a circle which passes through slits cut in the front body, in the rear body and the inner sheath which supports the driving shaft. A ring in the form of a cap which is fitted onto the front body and onto the rear body locks the key. The invention is applicable to all kinds of dental handpieces.

Abstract: A dental handpiece comprises a front part with a head and a handle part. The head is provided with at least one miniature bulb mounted therein for illuminating the treatment area and the dental handpiece is provided with means for supplying electric power to the bulb. At the junction between the front part and the handle part of the handpiece is disposed an axially extending spring blade contact mounted in the handle part. When these parts are operatively connected, the spring blade contact is spaced from a fixed contact carried by the front part. A switch comprised of a push-knob is mounted on the handle part adjacent to the spring blade contact and operative to actuate the spring blade contact for closing the light circuit. The spring blade contact acts as a return spring to the push-knob so as to normally urge it to its open-circuit position. Thus, the dental surgeon can light the bulb only when required.

Abstract: The contra-angle is provided with means for illuminating the site of treatment. The light source is incorporated inside the body of the contra-angle, and in front of this light source is inserted an optical element arranged to deflect the light rays towards the site of treatment. This optical element comprises a total reflection prism embedded in a recess in the body of the contra-angle.

Abstract: This contra-angle head of a dental handpiece comprises means for axially locking the dental instrument, in the form of a hollow guide member enclosing the upper portion of the driving pinion inside the head casing, this guide member being mounted for axial movement in the casing and rotating with the pinion by means of at least two wedge members disposed in the guide member and adapted to engage an annular groove of the dental instrument and to bear against the upper edge of this groove. A spring constantly urges the guide member away from the casing so that the instrument is pushed inwardly in the pinion by the wedge members for engagement with a shoulder formed in the pinion bore and acting as a stop means, the wedge members thus exerting a constant play take-up function.

Abstract: A precision injection system for intralignmental anesthesia and the like having a syringe with a tubular handle portion which is removably connected a tubular headpiece as a longitudinal extension thereof. The headpiece receives a carpule cartridge with injection contents monitored during injections through elongate windows on opposite sides of the headpiece. A dosing plunger housed in the handle portion in a retracted start position is activated by a servo-dosing lever and advances incrementally axially into the headpiece for delivery of metered quantities of the contents of the carpule cartridge each time the servo-dosing lever is actuated. Provision is made for semiautomatic resetting of the dosing plunger to a retracted start position by depressing a resetting key and raising the syringe to a generally vertically raised position.

Abstract: A system for maintaining in the head of a vibratable dental tool holder a dental tool releasably held axially in fixed position in a transverse passage oblique to the longitudinal axis of the dental tool holder. The system comprises a first sleeve axially of the dental tool holder having a leading edge bearing against the dental tool. A second sleeve is threaded on the dental tool holder and it keeps the first sleeve in close contact with the dental tool keeping it from moving axially away from the dental tool in response to vibration of the dental tool holder during operation.

Abstract: A hand-held implement for removing dental scale provided with a rigid shaft to which is applied vibrations in a rotational or circumferential direction by a dynamically unbalanced air driven turbine. The rotor of the turbine is coupled to the shaft by a bearing and the shaft is restrained from rotating and restrained axially. Provision is made for supplying cooling water through the shaft to a dental scale removing tool mounted on a free end of the vibrated shaft.