Abstract: A prophylaxis cup formed of a silicone elastomer having perlite particles incorporated therein as an abrasive material. The silicone elastomer and perlite particles are processed in a 3-roll mill so that the perlite particles have a predetermined size and are uniformly dispersed throughout the prophylaxis cup. As the prophylaxis cup is used to clean and polish teeth, the prophylaxis cup disintegrates upon contact with the teeth releasing the perlite particles which act as a cleaning and polishing agent between the prophylaxis cup and the teeth.

Abstract: A prophylaxis cup formed of a silicone elastomer having perlite particles incorporated therein as an abrasive material. The silicone elastomer and perlite particles are processed in a 3-roll mill so that the perlite particles have a predetermined size and are uniformly dispersed throughout the prophylaxis cup. As the prophylaxis cup is used to clean and polish teeth, the prophylaxis cup disintegrates upon contact with the teeth releasing the perlite particles which act as a cleaning and polishing agent between the prophylaxis cup and the teeth.

Abstract: An improved prophylaxis cup (10) formed of a silicone elastomer incorporated with a pumice material (17) uniformly incorporated throughout the cup and mounted on a mounting button (11) in a non-disposable dental handpiece (110 ) is described. After a teeth cleaning procedure, the prophylaxis cup is disposed of and the mounting button and the dental handpiece are sterilized for reuse. The mounting button is comprised of a bulbous mounting head (23) having a circular cross-section that mates with a similarly shaped cavity (19) in a mounting section (13) of the cup. The cavity is preferably about 5 to 15 percent smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the mounting head so that the cup must be stretched over the mounted head for mounting the cup on the mounting button. A working section (15) of the cup is provided with a conical recess (15c) that wears down as the teeth are being cleaned to provide continuous application of fresh abrasive to the tooth surface.

Abstract: An improved prophylactic cup device (10, 100) comprised of a prophylactic cup (12, 102) mounted on a mounting screw (14, 104) is described. In the preferred embodiment, the prophylactic cup is molded from a silicone polymer containing a dental cleaning and polishing agent such as pumice and is mounted onto a circular cross-sectioned mounting screw comprised of a shaft (14a) with a threaded portion (14c) and a head (14b). The head provides for cylindrical inlet or channel portions (14g) and (14h), and retaining slots (14i) and (14j). Since silicone polymers are poorly adherent to any surface and because the strength of silicone polymers is greatly reduced by the addition of pumice, the channels and retaining slots increase the contact surface area between the prophylactic cup and the mounting screw. This allows the prophylactic cup device to be mounted on a dental handpiece and to be used to clean teeth and gingival crevices without a dental paste.