Abstract: A method of converting an air/water dental syringe of the type having a syringe body and an autoclavable dental tip and lacking illumination into a converted air/water dental syringe adapted to be used with a disposable dental tip different from the autoclavable dental tip and with illumination capabilities includes using a conversion kit having a retainer body and a self-contained module. The syringe body is attached to a proximal end of the retainer body through a proximal opening for providing air and water. A proximal end is inserted into a distal opening of the retainer body. The self-contained module includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF. Light emitted from the LED provides illumination through a light opening on an outer surface of the retainer body generally towards a distal end of the disposable dental tip.

Abstract: A method of converting an air/water dental syringe of the type having a syringe body and an autoclavable dental tip and lacking illumination into a converted air/water dental syringe adapted to be used with a disposable dental tip different from the autoclavable dental tip and with illumination capabilities includes using a conversion kit having a retainer body and a self-contained module. The syringe body is attached to a proximal end of the retainer body through a proximal opening for providing air and water. A proximal end is inserted into a distal opening of the retainer body. The self-contained module includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF. Light emitted from the LED provides illumination through a light opening on an outer surface of the retainer body generally towards a distal end of the disposable dental tip.

Abstract: Adapter units enabling a disposable tip to connect to an existing dental syringe configured to receive a different type of tip such as an autoclavable tip. In addition, adapter units constructed in accordance with this invention provide built-in light sources and/or video camera units, thereby providing the syringe bodies to which the adapters attach capabilities that they could not have without the adapters. A self-contained module, removably coupled to the retainer body, includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a battery powering the LED, and a switch to turn the LED ON and OFF, the LED generating light generally proximally toward the distal end of the disposable tip. In the preferred embodiments, the retainer body includes a cavity into which the self-contained module is removably received. The conversion kit may further include a lens to direct light from the LED toward the distal end of the disposable tip.

Abstract: A dental syringe tip system for attachment to a dental syringe. The dental syringe tip system can include components such as an outer core, an inner core, and a carrier which can be combined in a multitude of combinations to achieve different fluid flow characteristics, such as discharge pressure and discharge pattern, through the dental syringe tip. The outer core and inner core can have passages designed to modify fluid flow characteristics. In addition, the outer core and inner core can have additional connectors for receiving fluids from sources other than a dental syringe. Some or all of the components can be separate to be assembled by a manufacturer or an end-user. Assembly of multiple components can be facilitated by retention features located on the components.

Abstract: Conversion assemblies enable an air/water dental syringe adapted for connection to an existing tip such as an autoclavable tip to instead receive disposable tip. A conversion kit includes a cap subassembly with a cap body having a distal opening into which the disposable tip is inserted, and an adapter subassembly having a proximal end configured for connection to the syringe body and a distal end configured for coupling to the cap subassembly. The adapter subassembly includes one or more components with cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip through the cap subassembly. To accommodate a wide variety of syringe styles, the adapter subassembly may include a proximal receptacle to receive a stem on the syringe; a proximal stem insertable into the syringe; one or more proximal air- or water-carrying tubes insertable into the syringe; or a threaded connection to the syringe body.

Abstract: Conversion assemblies enable a disposable tip to connect to an existing air/water dental syringe configured to receive a non-disposable tip. A conversion kit enabling an air/water syringe body to receive a disposable tip includes a retainer body having a distal opening into which the proximal end of the elongated disposable tip is inserted, and one or more internal components with cut-outs, grooves or channels to direct air and water from the syringe body to the air-carrying channels and water-carrying tube of the disposable tip. All of the components internal to the retainer are installed through the proximal opening in the retainer, enabling the proximal end of the retainer to be adjacent to the syringe body, such that there are no seams in the outer surface of the retainer from the syringe body to the distal end of the retainer that might collect pathogens or dirt.