Abstract: A dental prophylaxis angle includes a body, a drive gear and a driven gear. The body has a sleeve with an open rear end, a neck, a head, a first axial bore, and a second axial bore. The first axial bore is located in the neck, and the second axial bore is located in the head. The first and second axial bores communicate with each other at an intersection. A channel extends through the body from the base of the neck to the open rear end. The drive gear is adapted to be inserted into said body through said head. The drive gear includes a gear, an intermediate portion and a shaft. The shaft extends rotatably from the open rear end of the sleeve, through the first bore, and into the second bore. The intermediate portion further includes an angled leading edge. The drive gear defines a circumferential groove between said gear and said intermediate portion. The driven gear is rotatably mounted in the head and operatively connected to the drive gear. The body further includes a lip extending into the channel.

Abstract: A high-speed medical/dental handpiece includes a handle, which carries air, water, and light to a disposable cartridge which is received on the sleeve. The cartridge includes a head portion and a sleeve portion. The cartridge head defines a chamber having an upper and lower portions each of which receives a bobbin shaped sleeve bearing, and a central portion which receives a turbine. The bearings each form annular channels with their respective chambers. The cartridge includes water and air passages which direct water to the turbine so that the turbine is driven by an air/water mixture. Water is also directed to the upper bearing and grooves in the lower bearing chamber allow water to enter the annular channel around the lower bearing. Axial passages in the bearings enable water to pass from the annular chamber to the bit to contact the bit shaft. The air and water in the chamber are exhausted through the bit opening in the bottom of the head as well as through a plurality of exhaust ports in the head.

Abstract: A lighted air/water syringe includes a head mounted on a sleeve via a neck. The sleeve includes an air supply line, a water supply line, and a light tube which are connected to sources of air, water, and light by a supply conduit. The air and water passages are in communication with the air and water lines in the sleeve and extend through the neck to a front of the head. Valves are positioned in the air and water passages to selectively regulate the flow of air and water to the end of the head. The light tube in the sleeve extends through the neck and partially into the head. The head removably receives a probe or nozzle in its end. The probe is made from a light transmitting material, and, when placed in the head, is in light transmitting communication with the light tube. The probe includes air and water passages having entrances in the side of the probe and exits at a forward surface of the prove.

Abstract: A connector is provided to connect a medical/dental instrument to a supply hose carrying air, water, and light from a control unit. The connector includes a first portion which is rotatably received in a second portion. The first portion includes a body and a nose extending from the body. The connector includes air and water passages and a light tube passage which are operably connectable to the sources of air, water, and light through a supply hose. The nose has a generally smooth uninterrupted surface. The operating air and water passages exit on the side of the nose, and the light tube passage and chip air passage exit at the end of the nose. The connector first portion can be used by itself to support an instrument which, for example, need only the light, or in association with the second portion.

Abstract: A high speed dental handpiece (1) of the present invention includes a metal non-disposable body (3) and a plastic disposable cartridge (5, 5′, 205, 205′, 305, 605) received in the body (3). The body (3) is a one-piece body, has a sleeve (7), and an annular head (9) at an end of the sleeve (7). The sleeve (7) carries an air input line (27), an air exhaust path, a water line (25), and a fiber optic cable (29). The air input and water line (27, 25) are operatively connected to a supply of air and water, respectively. The fiber optic cable (29) is operatively connected to a source of light to carry the light to a patient's mouth to enable a dentist to more clearly see what is being operated upon. The disposable cartridge carries a turbine (95, 401, 501) and is placed in communication with the air input line (27) to drive the turbine. A bit (DB) is received by the turbine (95, 401, 501) and the water is directed toward the bit for cooling.

Abstract: A prophylaxis cup is provided which has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion of the cup is adapted to mount the cup to a driven member of a prophylaxis angle. The upper portion of the cup includes a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is smooth and uninterrupted and defines a cavity having a floor and which receives prophylaxis paste. A central post extends up from the cavity floor. A continuous, uninterrupted, circumferential flange extends inwardly from a top of the wall's inner surface. A sloped working surface extends between the flange inner edge and the wall outer surface. The cup is pre-formed to define a flare or annular wedge at the outer edge of the working surface which is sized to permit the working surface to clean a tooth subgingivally and interproximally. A generally circular groove on the working surface helps hold the prophy paste. The groove spirals outwardly.

Abstract: A maintenance-free dental prophylaxis angle includes a one-piece body including a sleeve and a head. The sleeve and head define intersecting bores. A one-piece drive gear including an enlarged bearing part and a forward gear end is journaled directly in the sleeve and held axially between a retaining ring engaging the rear of the enlarged bearing part and a ball engaging the forward gear end. A one-piece driven gear is journaled solely in a cap which is press fit in the head bore The driven gear is engaged and driven by the drive gear. The driven gear includes an upper bur tube and a lower gear part. The gear part of the driven gear rests on the ball, and is restrained from axial movement by the cap and the ball, which forms a thrust bearing for the driven gear. A dental tool is connected to the bur tube of the driven gear, and forms a seal with the cap.

Abstract: A dental applicator of the present invention is provided for applying a dental compound to a tooth surface. The applicator includes an applicator body having a handle and a neck extending forwardly from the handle. The neck has a forwardly facing socket or socket is formed at the end of the neck to receive an absorbent sponge. The sponge is slidingly received in the socket so that its position in the socket can be selectively changed. The sponge, when prepared for insertion into the socket, has an overall cross-sectional dimension greater than the diameter of the socket. The sponge thus has to be compressed when it is inserted in the socket. Thus, when the sponge is inserted in the socket, the sponge forms an enlarged, ball-shaped or bulbous tip. By selectively altering the amount the sponge extends from the end of the neck, the enlarged sponge tip can be made larger or smaller, to hold larger or smaller amounts of liquid.

Abstract: A medical/dental device is provided which includes a body having a hollow sleeve and a head at an end of the sleeve. The head defines an upwardly opening chamber which receives a chuck. The chuck includes a bur tube which removably receives a medical/dental tool of the latch-shaft type and a push button actuator to release the shaft from the bur tube. The bur tube includes a flexible arm which extends above the bur tube's upper surface and an inwardly extending finger positioned to engage the groove of the shaft. A resilient member (preferably a leaf spring) is received in a transverse slot formed in the top of the bur tube body and is retained in place by a retainer key. The shoulder of the latch-type bur abuts the bottom of the spring to reduce axial play of the bur and to allow for use of non-standard burs in the bur tube.

Abstract: A dental tray of the present invention includes a body made from a generally fluid impervious material (preferably a closed cell foam) having a bottom and side walls to define an arched channel sized and shaped to fit over a patient's teeth. A deformable, arched gasket is fixed to the body along an upper edge of the body wall. The gasket extends inwardly from the tray body wall and defines an arched slot. The gasket inner edge contacts and seals against the patient's gums and teeth when the tray is applied to the patient's teeth to substantially prevent compounds from leaking from the sides or back of the tray during use of the tray. Preferably, two identical trays are connected together by a connector. The connector is adhered to the base of the trays, generally at a front of the trays. The connector is folded over upon itself when the two trays are inserted in a patient's mouth and define a handle. The handle extends through the patient's lips from a position generally between the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A maintenance-free dental prophylaxis angle includes a one-piece body including a sleeve and a head. The sleeve and head define intersecting bores. A drive assembly, comprising a drive gear and a bushing, is force fitted in the sleeve. A one-piece driven gear is received in the head bore to be driven by the drive assembly. The driven gear includes an upper bur tube, a gear part, and a lower shaft. The gear part of the driven gear rests on an upper face of a boss in the head, the boss forming a thrust bearing for the driven gear. Intersecting bores in the boss form part of a lubricant circulating system. A metal cap is force fitted in the head bore to close the head bore and retain the driven gear in place in the head. A dental tool is connected to the bur tube of the driven gear, and forms a seal with the cap.

Abstract: A high-speed dental handpiece of the present invention includes a metal non-disposable body and a plastic disposable cartridge received in the body. The body is a one piece body and has a sleeve and an annular head at an end of the sleeve. The sleeve carries an air input line, an air exhaust path, a water line and a fiber optic cable. The air input and water lines are operatively connected to a supply of air and water, respectively. The fiber optic cable is operatively connected to a source of light to carry the light to a patient's mouth to enable a dentist to more clearly see the area being operated upon. The disposable cartridge carries a turbine and is placed in communication with the air input lines to drive the turbine. A bit is received by the turbine and the water is directed toward the bit for cooling. The cartridge is at least partially made of light transmitting material and the fiber optic cable abuts the cartridge to transmit light therethrough.

Abstract: A plastic, disposable, easy-to-assemble dental angle is provided. The angle includes a one-piece hollow body having a head at its front end which is angled with respect to the body. Both the head and the body have a bore therethrough. The head has an aperture which is centered with respect to the bore of the body to allow insertion of a drive gear through the head of the angle. A driven gear is inserted in the head from above. A snap cap fits within the head over the driven gear to lock both the drive gear and the driven gear in the angle. A sheath on the cap covers the aperture. A latch on the cap is received in the aperture to lock the cap to the head to hold the angle together. An elongated slot in the body permits the body to be force-fit on a dental handpiece.

Abstract: A dental prophylaxis angle includes a body having a sleeve, a neck, and a one piece hollow head formed at the end of the neck. A drive member, including a drive gear and shaft is received in the body. A driven member, including a driven gear and shaft, is received in the head so that the driven and drive gears mesh with each other. A cap is received and secured in the head and snappingly receives the driven member. The cap locks the driven member in the head of the angle. The driven member includes a platform spaced above the driven gear having a diameter equal to the diameter of the head to close the opened head. The platform and driven gear define a channel. The cap has a side wall, a part of which is flexible. A finger extends inwardly from the flexible portion of the cap wall and into the channel between the driven gear and platform to snappingly secure the driven member in the cap. The cap includes a projection which interacts with the head to lock the cap in the head.

Abstract: A medical/dental device is provided which includes a body having a hollow sleeve and a head at an end of the sleeve. The head defines an upwardly opening chamber which receives a chuck. The chuck includes a bur tube which removably receives a medical/dental tool of the latch-shaft type and a push button actuator to release the shaft from the bur tube. The bur tube includes a flexible arm which extends above the bur tube's upper surface and has an inwardly extending finger positioned to engage the groove of the shaft. The push button includes a downwardly extending pedestal which engages the arm to move the arm from a first position in which the groove and the finger create an interference fit to prevent the shaft from being removed from the head to a second position in which the finger is disengaged from the groove to allow removal of the shaft.

Abstract: A maintenance-free dental prophylaxis angle includes a one-piece body including a sleeve and a head. The sleeve and head define intersecting bores. A drive assembly, comprising a drive gear and a bushing, is force fitted in the sleeve. A one-piece driven gear is received in the head bore to be driven by the drive assembly. The driven gear includes an upper bur robe, a gear part, and a lower shaft. The gear part of the driven gear rests on an upper face of a boss in the head, the boss forming a thrust beating for the driven gear. Intersecting bores in the boss form part of a lubricant circulating system. A metal cap is force fitted in the head bore to close the head bore and retain the driven gear in place in the head. A dental tool is connected to the bur tube of the driven gear, and forms a seal with the cap.

Abstract: A dental prophylaxis angle includes a body defining a sleeve and a head. A drive assembly is rotatably mounted in the sleeve. A driven gear is rotatably received in the head to be driven by the drive assembly. A cap is mounted in the head to close the head and retain the driven gear in place in the head. A threaded bur tube on the driven gear extends into a stem portion of the cap. The stem portion includes an externally beveled annular knife edge which forms a seal with a dental tool, such as a prophy cup, which is threaded into the bur tube. A protector ring on the cap surrounds the knife edge to prevent damage to the knife edge should the angle be dropped or otherwise contact a hard surface. The protector ring is spaced from the stem sufficiently to permit an elastomeric portion of the dental tool to extend between the stem and the ring.