Abstract: An absorbent dental point is provided with a scale of graduated depth indicators, arranged in a manner such that the depth to which the tip of the dental point has been inserted into a root canal may be quickly and reliably measured each and every time a subsequent dental point is inserted in the root canal in the course of a root canal procedure.

Abstract: An obturator for use in filling an endodontically prepared root canal in a tooth formed as an elongated body having a handle portion and a shaft, the handle portion being configured for grasping by a practitioner whereby the shaft may be inserted into a root canal, the shaft tapering from the handle to the shaft distal end, the shaft having an exterior surface having a generally linear groove therein extending from near the handle to the shaft distal end, or at least adjacent the shaft distal end, the groove providing: (a) a channel for flow of excess filler material as the shaft is positioned into a prepared root canal; (b) increased flexibility of the shaft, and (c) a passageway that will accept a slender, tapered metallic retrieval tool, such as a typical endodontic file, to assist in the removal of the shaft from a root canal.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument having depth indicating calibrations formed between the handle and the fluted tapered end portion, and wherein the calibrations are formed by a cold rolling operation. The rolled calibrations do not form fracture points, they may be rapidly and inexpensively formed, and they have a smooth surface finish. Further, the rolled calibrations provide a sufficient physical indentation to be readily visible on x-ray photographs.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal is provided. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endodontic instrument which can be fitted on a vibratory handpiece (1) for the treatment of a tooth canal or the retreatment thereof, wherein it is made up of a rigid proximal portion constituting the sleeve which allows it to be fixed to the vibratory handpiece (1), of a median portion (4) which is also rigid and whose axis forms an angle (x) with the proximal portion, and of a distal portion (5) whose axis at the end forms an angle (y) with the median portion in the direction opposite that of the proximal portion, said distal portion being of a general conical line and of a dimension at the tip permitting its penetration into the canal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for dispensing washers for controlling a depth a penetration of a reamer during root canals. The apparatus has a body including a recess for storing a number of washers to be positioned on the reamer. The body also has a washer access door with an aperture, mounted on said body. The recess within the body has oppositely disposed side walls which converge to a notch at a location proximate said access door and top and bottom walls bounding said notch. The top wall has a passageway and aperture formed in said top wall above said notch for receiving said access door within the passageway between the top wall and recess, the access door being slidably movable between a first position in which the aperture of the top wall and aperture of the access door are in registration with the notch to permit a washer within the notch to be engaged by said reamer, and a second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endodontic instrument for rapid mechanical widening of the canal mouth and rectification of the first two thirds of the dental root canals. It comprises a head (2, 3, 4) and an elongated conical body or tine (1) joined to the head (2, 3, 4) with a neck part (5). The tine (1) is disaligned with respect to the head (2, 3, 4) in that the neck part (5) has a straight portion (5a), coaxial with the head, and a portion (5b) with an axis which is oblique and coplanar in relation to the axes of the tine and head.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument has a comfortable grip especially for use for a long time of period. A handle of the endodontic instrument includes a cylindrical stem, opposite end portions, and plural brims radially extending from the circumferential surface of the stem in a plate shape juxtaposed in the axial direction of the stem with a predetermined space. When an operator grips the handle of the endodontic instrument, the operator's fingers can readily control the handle through contacts to the brims while the brims engage the bulges of the fingers adequately. The brim preferably has recesses to provide the identification of the instrument's orientation in the finger and also can preferably be made of a resilient material to make the contacts softer to provide better blood flow in finger tips and providing less finger tip stress.

Abstract: This invention relates to a root canal treatment instrument comprising: a needle extending in a rodlike form, comprising: working section made of a superelastic alloy extending from a distal end of the needle; and a shank extending axially between the working section and a proximal end of the needle, made of at least partially a non-superelastic alloy, and a handle attached to a proximal end of the needle and adapted to be manipulated by a hand of a dentist. The working section possesses flexible nature because of its superelastic alloy composition, whereas the shank possesses rigid nature because of its non-superelastic alloy composition.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument which comprises an elongate shank which has a tapered working length adjacent the pilot end, and at least one continuous helical flute formed along the tapered working length so as to define sharp cutting edges along the sides of the flutes. Also, at least one relief, in the form of a flat surface, extends axially along a substantial portion of the length of the working length, which acts to reduce the tendency of the tapered working length to screw into and crack the tooth during manipulation thereof by the dentist in the course of root canal therapy.

Abstract: An endodontic system of shaping instruments, irrigation cannulas, filling instruments and materials designed to safely create specific tapers of root canal preparations and to clean, dry, seal, and restore them. The shaping instruments are a series of reamers, files, and handpiece burs, made of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, or other alloys, which impart several different specifically-tapered apertures in root canals. The instruments have one or more safety features to eliminate perforating curved roots, including shorter flute length as the angle of taper increases and variable sharpness along the length of the flute portion, as well as variable flute pitch along the length of the flute portion to maximize cutting efficiency and resistance to breakage, and a rounded tip to eliminate ledging. The hand instruments have a handle designed to optimize use of the instruments in apically directed, rotary cutting motions.

Abstract: An instrument for boring dental radicular canals in which the conicity of the active part of the tapered stem of the instrument is not constant but the angle of its opening is greater at its rear portion, positioned beyond the diameter D.sub.9, than the angle of opening of its front portion positioned between its end and the diameter D.sub.9 so that a dental canal bored with the instrument has a bell-mouthed shape.

Abstract: The length of the active part of each drill of the set is inversely proportional to the diameter of the cutting edge of each drill, that prevents the drills of the set being too much engaged in the coronary canal, since the depth of the working depends with precision from the used drill.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved endodontic dental instruments for extirpating and enlarging a root canal and methods for use thereof. The dental instruments of the invention include a helical radial land and a helical blade edge spaced from the land on its opposite sides by helical flutes. Dental instruments according to the invention exhibit improved and more balanced side cutting in curvilinear canals and non-circular canal areas such as fins or anastomosis canal regions.

Abstract: Microsurgical drill bits for selective connection to an ultrasonic transducer head for use in dental retro-filling preparations each have a hub at one end for coupling to the transducer head, a cutting tip at the opposite end, and a shaft extending from the hub to the tip. The shaft has one or more steps in diameter at a predetermined position in its length designed for optimum vibration of the cutting tip without increasing the breakage rate above acceptable limits. The drilling tips have shafts which are angled relative to the hub and at least some have bent end portions so that the cutting tip is at an angle to the remainder of the shaft, allowing the transducer head to be held at a comfortable angle.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument which comprises an elongate shank which has a tapered working length adjacent the pilot end, and at least two continuous helical flutes formed along the tapered working length. The flutes are non-uniformly separated in the axial direction, and they define a relatively broad helical land and at least one relatively narrow helical surface. In one embodiment, the helical surface is a relatively narrow helical land and in another embodiment, the helical surface is a sharp helical edge.

Abstract: The central part of the instruments of the boring set, prior to the portion having the cutting edges, has a section of a polygonal shape. The lateral faces of the central part are either convex, for the instruments of small diameter, plane for the instruments of middle diameter and concave for the instruments of largest diameter, in such a way that the curve of the bending moments of the instruments of the set is substantially rectilinear. Thus the variation of the bending moments of the instruments is linear, while, in previously known sets of instruments, the curve is exponential. Hence, the flexibility of the instruments of the set is satisfactory for the entire set of instruments, while; in the known conventional sets, if previously flexibility of the small instruments of the set is satisfactory, the instruments of largest diameter will be too rigid, and vice versa.

Abstract: A set of instruments for boring of radicular dental canals, in which the diameter D1 of each instrument, measured at the root of the pointed end portion thereof, varies according to a geometrical progression as well as the diameter D2 of each instrument measured at the root of the cutting edges. Hence, the variation is more pronounced for the diameters D2, larger than the diameters D1, than it is for the diameters D1. The conicity of the stem of the instruments increases in this manner from one instrument to another, so as to permit a the dentist to form the radicular canals with a specially funnelled shape which is best suited for some obturations, especially those to be treated with gutta-percha.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

Abstract: A device is described which is useful for providing a dedicated access channel to the root canal of a tooth. The device, which is the frustum of a cone, has a hollow interior passageway adapted to receive and loosely accommodate the shank of a standard assortment of endodontic files. The vertical length of the cone is approximately 10 mm to 15 mm. The wider end of the conical device has an outer diameter of approximately 2.5 millimeters. In practice, the orifice of a root canal is exposed by drilling an access cavity. An appropriately sized endodontic file is selected which will fit within the orifice of the canal. The conical device is slid over the endodontic file until the wider end of the cone is adjacent to the file handle. The file tip is then inserted into the root canal, and the conical device is slid down the shaft of the file until it is brought to bear against the floor of the access cavity with the narrow end of the conical device juxtaposed to the exposed orifice of the root canal.

Abstract: A set of instruments for boring dental radicular canals in which the conicity of the rear part of the set positioned beyond the diameter D.sub.9 of the instruments, increases more for the first instruments of the set than for the last ones. The conicity of the front part of the instruments does not increase much for the first instruments of the set, but does increase for the last ones. Hence, while using successively the instruments of a set, the dentist bores first the coronary portion of the tooth, then its medium portion and then its apical portion. The end part of the instruments, between the point thereof and their diameter D.sub.3, situated at 3 mm from the point, is provided with one or several grooves for elimination of the dental scraps, but which have no cutting edges so that this part of the instruments functions only for their guidance.

Abstract: A kit of endodontic instruments which are adapted for use in performing root canal therapy, and wherein the instruments in the kit have increasing diameters and differing tapers. The instruments are designed to be used sequentially in root canal therapy, and the difference of the tapers serves to prevent the whole working length of the instruments from being engaged with the wall of the tapered canal being formed, to thereby reduce the frictional loading of the instruments and the risk of breakage.

Abstract: An improved dental root canal bacterialcidal lubricant for allowing the cleaning wires or files to move more freely when removing a nerve from a tooth. The composition reduces packing of tissue and dentin debris within the nerve cavity. This new formulation is also resistive to decomposition during cold weather shipping and includes cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid, propylene glycol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl, paraben all in a purified (spring) water solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endodontic instrument for rapid mechanical widening of the canal mouth and rectification of the first two thirds of the dental root canals. It comprises a head (2, 3, 4) and an elongated conical body or tine (1) joined to the head (2, 3, 4) with a neck part (5). The tine (1) is disaligned with respect to the head (2, 3, 4) in that the neck part (5) has a straight portion (5a), coaxial with the head, and a portion (5b) with an axis which is oblique and coplanar in relation to the axes of the tine and head.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting a dental post into a tooth root canal. The method comprises the steps of cutting out a post hole in the tooth and inserting a threaded tap into the post hole for creating at least one groove along the hole. Significantly, the tap includes at least one slot defined by a pair of flexible legs and running at least a portion of the length thereof for reducing stress along the post hole during threaded insertion. Also provided is a lentulo drill comprising a spiraled wire with a reverse spiral configuration at the apical end thereof for confining cement placement in the post hole prior to insertion of the dental post.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: A kit of endodontic instruments for use in root canal therapy wherein each instrument comprises an elongate blade having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, and with the blades of the instruments in the kit respectively having progressively increasing tapers. The kit is employed to fill an extirpated root canal with gutta percha, and instruments of progressively increasing taper are used in sequence during the obturation procedure so as to control the compaction of the gutta percha points in the canal.

Abstract: In an appliance for use in filling an endodontically prepared root canal of the kind comprisinga) a central insertion rod (2) of flexible material, surrounded partly byb) an elongate filler body (3) of plastic or thermoplastic material, the new feature is represented byc) a core (4) surrounding the rod (2) and surrounded by the filler body (3) and consisting of material that is or may be made sufficiently soft to allow removal of the rod (2) without removal of the filler body (3).One advantageous effect of this arrangement is that anchoring holes for a tooth crown may be drilled without risk of encountering a broken-off part of an insertion rod that would previously have been left to remain permanently in the filler body (3).

Abstract: A dental instrument adapted to be used as a file or reamer for removing dead or damaged tissue from the root canal of a tooth. The instrument comprises a body part, of which solely the proximal part is shown, an intermediate part and a shank, these three parts preferably being integral with each other. The shank is adapted to be inserted releasably in a chuck, so that it may be driven to rotation when the instrument is used for treating the root canal of a tooth (not shown). A fracture groove between the intermediate part and the shank ensures that fracture occurs at this location, if the body part gets stuck in a tooth, thus avoiding the risk of small distal parts of the instrument being left in the root canal in a manner making it impossible to remove them.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rotary handpiece for cleaning and enlarging the root canal of a tooth with a rotary endodontic file. The handpiece includes a retractable support rod attached to and extending from the handpiece positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the endodontic file. The support rod is adapted to rest on a tooth whereby the retraction of the support rod controls the advance of the endodontic file into the root canal. The control of the advance of the endodontic file insures that the file does not self thread into the canal or become excessively loaded whereby it sticks or breaks off while the root canal is being cleaned and enlarged.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dental root-canal preparing instrument with a grip nd a tool held in the grip. The grip comprises a device indicating how often the instrument already was used. The device includes a displaceable element, such as a ring, shiftable along the grip into various discrete positions, with clearances such as annular channels being provided in axially spaced manner to receive the displaceable element. Following each use, the displaceable element is shifted ahead to another discrete position, whereby the number of uses already having taken place is indicated by the present position of the displaceable element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a remotely operable surgical cutting instrument, useful, for instance, in microsurgical procedures, having a two portion main body with one portion oriented at an angle with respect to the other, and a blade having an arcuate cutting edge mounted at one end of the body.

Abstract: A dental root-canal preparation instrument includes a grip and a tool contained therein. The grip has a body fitted at its periphery with axially spaced zones preferably in the form of rings projecting above the periphery of the body. The rings are made of silicone rubber to increase grippability when manually grasping the preparation instrument.

Abstract: Endodontic files which provide constant dentin volume removal from file to file based on the actual volume of dentin removed from file to file. Each file removes exactly the same increase in volume as its predecessor. In this manner, a clinician may use each file in a sequential manner from smallest to largest without the need to alternate sizes or rely on subjective factors. Correspondingly, the time required to prepare a patient's root canal drops as a function of the reduced need to interchange sizes along the way and provide a clinical method of preparing root canals that relies on objective clinical techniques.

Abstract: An endodontic apparatus and related method for the instant detection of the anatomical structure of a tooth and for the restoration of a dead or severely decayed tooth using induced fluorescence spectroscopy. A root canal probe having an optical fiber through its center transmits excitation light into the tooth's root canal. The excitation light induces the tissue within the root canal to fluoresce. The fluorescent light is collected by the optical fiber and transmitted back to a sensor that generates electrical signals indicative of the intensity of light within predetermined wavelength bands. The electrical signals are processed to identify the tissues within the root canal. The probe may include a slightly conical metal surface having flutes for shaving and removing dentin from within the root canal. Using the fluorescent emission properties of the tissues of components of a tooth, the entrance of the root canal is located.

Abstract: A set of endodontic cutting instruments, each having handles and each having a different working tip diameter incrementally increasing in size from one instrument to the next. The set includes a first smaller standard size endodontic cutting instrument having a grasping end with a first color according to a standard color code, a second larger standard size endodontic cutting instrument having a grasping end with a second color according to the standard color code and a non-standard intermediate size endodontic instrument having a size between the first smaller standard size and the second larger standard size and having a grasping end with a color combination including a first portion having the first standard color corresponding to the first smaller standard size and a second portion having the second standard color corresponding to the second larger standard size.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: Dental or endodontic instruments such as drills, files, rasps, broaches, reamers, and the like are arranged to allow radiation of electromagnetic energy into a man-made or natural cavity in the tooth under treatment. The energy may be in the form of microwave or radio-frequency (RF) radiation. The energy raises the temperature of the surrounding tooth material, which tends to disinfect the material as a direct consequence of the temperature. Also, if a disinfectant material is additionally introduced into the tooth cavity, the temperature of the disinfectant material itself may be raised, which enhances its activity. In the particular application to the removal of degenerated pulp, the instrument may be introduced, and electrical or electromagnetic power applied to coagulate the pulp about the instrument, allowing more complete removal of the pulp. The dental instrument may be used with an RF energy delivery system for application of particular amounts of energy per unit time (power).

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for use in root canal therapy which comprises an inner core of a metal having a specific flexibility, and at least one outer shell of a metal having a different flexibility. By selecting the ratio of the two metals, the instrument may be designed to have a predetermined desired flexibility which is sufficient to assure proper operation of the instrument, yet not so stiff as to risk damage to the tooth canal. A kit which is composed of several such instruments of increasing diameter is also disclosed, and with the instruments being designed to be used sequentially in root canal therapy, and wherein all of the instruments possess substantially the same degree of flexibility. The instruments can thus be used with predictable and consistent results.

Abstract: A canal instrument intended to be mounted on the head of a vibrating handpiece and allowing the application in the dental canal of filling paste by applying successive layers in order either to produce a complete filling or to produce a thin layer on the walls of the canal with a view toward lubrication or blocking-out of the spaces which can be left free by condensed gutta-percha points, including a handle (1) of known type for its fastening to the vibrating handpiece and a blade (2) provided over a part of its length, starting from its distal end, with one or more helicoid grooves whose edges (3) are rounded in order to prevent any cutting effect, and therefore reaming the root canal.

Abstract: An endodontic procedure is disclosed which involves extirpating a root canal of a tooth, and then inserting a machine driven compactor which is coated with alpha phase gutta percha into the extirpated canal. The compactor is then rotated at a relatively high speed and so that the alpha phase gutta percha is plasticized solely by the frictional heat generated by the rotating compactor. The plasticized gutta percha is thrown radially outwardly, and pushed downwardly, so as to fill all of the voids of the canal, and the compactor is then withdrawn and the gutta percha cools and solidifies. A crown may be then fitted to the tooth above the gutta percha in the conventional manner.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for preparing the root canal which is suitable for being mounted on an endodontic contra-angle and with a conventional handle for manual use. The instrument is constituted by a series of broaches in which the working part is short with respect to the overall length. The instrument, by pivoting with its end portion in the apical part of the canal, which is prepared beforehand by the files, always works at the apex and prepares, in each instance, a small part of the canal, advancing progressively from the coronal inlet to the apex.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dental handpiece having a thin, flexible, elongated abrasive tool attached thereto for removing calculus deposits from the surface of teeth. A thin, flexible abrasive tool having a specifically selected diameter is used in conjunction with an ultrasonic handpiece for the purpose of removing calculus from deep within a periodontal pocket without traumatizing the surrounding tissue and bone. The use of a diamond coated abrasive tool aids in tactually detecting fine calculus deposits deep below the gum line. An annular aperture surrounding the circumference of the abrasive tool is used to provide a fluid spray for washing away loosened calculus. The ease and efficiency of calculus removal is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A dental instrument has a stem which presents, besides helicoidal ramps providing helicoidal cutting edges, annular grooves of V-shaped cross-section and spaced apart. One of the faces of each of the grooves is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the instrument. Due to the grooves, the instrument can be used not only as a reamer, with a rotative movement, but also as a file, with a back and forth movement when the faces of the grooves produce a scraping effect on the wall of the root canal being treated.

Abstract: A set of instruments is provided for reaming out dental root canals. The instruments of the set are distributed in groups of three having, in each group, a common diameter D1 measured at the root of its terminal point. In each group, the diameter D2 measured at the root of the cutting lips of a conical stem of the instrument is different, from one instrument to the next one of the group. Thus, the conicity of the three instruments of each group increases from one to the next, which enables a practitioner to ream out dental root canals to impart thereto a more wide-mouthed shape than is usually the case, such shape being especially suitable to be sealed by means of gutta-percha.

Abstract: An appliance (20) for use in conjunction with the obturation of prepared root canals employing a rigid carrier member (23) coated with a thermoplastic material (29) comprises an instrument (40) having a barrel (41), a movable plunger (43), and an orifice (48), and a quantity of the thermoplastic material (29) within the barrel. The orifice has a diameter greater than the distal end (30) of the rigid member, the member being insertable through the orifice and into the thermoplastic material whereby upon extrusion of a quantity of the thermoplastic material from the barrel, the rigid member is provided carrying a coating of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An endodontic file comprising a handle and an elongate cutting portion, a distal end remote from the handle and formed to have a first file portion which is adjacent the distal end and has the physical form of a k file, and a second file portion, which is located between the first portion and the handle and has the physical form of a Hedstrom file.

Abstract: A dental instrument adapted to be used as a dental compactor for condensing a thermoplastic material in the extirpated root canal of a tooth. The dental compactor instrument is formed with a tapered shank or working portion having at least two helical flutes defining at least two continuous helical shoulders. A helical peripheral land extends between adjacent helical flutes at the periphery of the shank. The shoulders have a neutral rake angle at the periphery of the shank.

Abstract: A dental toolholder (2) has an endodontic filing tool (18) which is clamped in the toolholder so as to be secured against rotational and axial movements. A vibrating movement is impressed on the tool. The tool (18) can be clamped at its rear shaft end with a slight play and the vibrations can be imparted to the tool at its front shaft end (15). This part encloses the front shaft end (7b) with slight play and comprises a cylindrical recess whose cross-sectional shape has a constant-diameter configuration. Accordingly, the tool is set into a swinging movement perpendicular to its axis. The structural component part (15) rotates preferably at approximately 20,000 rpm.