Abstract: A handpiece is provided. The handpiece comprises a shaft one end of which includes a connection means in the form of a shank to accept an aperture in a dental handpiece drive, the other end of the shaft includes a pin with a central longitudinal axis offset from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. Bearings are disposed about the shaft at either end so as to support the shaft in a casing which extends to encompass the shaft, the casing including a portion at one end which is enlarged to accept the dental handpiece drive and at the other end a housing into which the pin protrudes. The housing is adapted to retain a member comprising a mounting component and a head, which head is disposed outside of the housing and to permit the pin to engage in a groove in the member in a manner such that operation of the dental handpiece drive causes the shaft to rotate which in turn imparts an oscillating arcuate motion to the member including the head.

Abstract: An oral hygiene system includes a method of removing plaque from teeth and gums by brushing the teeth with a plaque-disclosing dentifrice composition including a dye which will differentially stain plaque according to the organizational structure of the plaque, correlating the observed color of the plaque to the plaque structure, and brushing to remove the plaque structure so identified. The system also includes a toothbrush having a head and a handle, where the head has bristles with their freestanding end in a square pyramidal shape with sides having a slope corresponding approximately to buccal and lingual contours of a tooth.

Abstract: A clinical appliance (10) which is useful for taking samples from a tissue or a tissue associated material is disclosed. The appliance (10) has a head (13), and a handle (11) and a pressure sensitive element which comprises the head (13) and the handle (11) attached by a resiliently deformable member (12), and an instrument (140 retained in the head. Marks (21) are provided respectively on the head (13) and the handle (11) to indicate that when the marks are aligned a selected force is being exerted on the instrument (14). A portion of the instrument (14) consists of a needle member for probing periodontal pockets.

Abstract: An oral hygiene system includes a probe for use as a clinical measuring instrument or gauge. The probe is adapted for assessing the degree of inflamation of various animal tissues. One embodiment of the probe is useful for examination of periodontal tissues, particularly the determination of pocket depths and the degree of gingivitis. The probe has a needle member affixed orthogonally to one end of its head, and the other end of the head mounts in a handle. Between the two ends of the head there are thin resilient members adapted for transmitting an appropriate force to the tip of the needle during measurement of the depth of the pocket. Another needle member has upper and lower ends. At the lower end, there is a hemispherical tip having an angular bevel facing toward the upper end of the needle so as to form an equatorial rim about the tip. There are calibration marks extending from the tip of the needle.