Abstract: A tool for crimping a substantially straight filing shaft of an endodontic file comprising a device having a first and a second jaw for being urged toward nesting engagement and for forming the bends of the shaft inserted between the jaws, the first jaw having a first crimp forming surface having a convex arch-shaped ridge and the second jaw having a concave arch-shaped cavity opposite the ridge.

Abstract: An endodontic device for instrumenting a root canal includes an elongated wire, a handle at one end of the wire, and one or more movable stops extending a portion of the wire and abutting on the handle. The length of the portion of the wire which protrudes from the stop(s) constitutes the working length for the root canal treatment. The working length is maintained the same during the treatment, since the stopping means is sandwiched by two stiff objects, namely, the tooth being treated and the rigid object. Also disclosed are (1) a set of movable stops of specific thicknesses for precisely setting a range of working lengths, and (2) a container for storing the set.

Abstract: A measuring handle for treating dental root canals comprises a handle in which an instrument slides longitudinally. The guide hook of the instrument engages in a helical screw rotatably mounted in the handle and is guided longitudinally in a longitudinal slot in the handle. The handle is expanded at its rotating end to form a gripping head in which is arranged a cylindrical mounting space for a rotary body of a rotary handle which actuates the helical screw. A section of the longitudinal slot expands through the rotary handle into the gripping head and is covered in the region of said slot, so that, in a development of the handle having an additional gripping head at the end nearer the instrument, the head can be firmly gripped when gloves are worn or the handle is wet with water or saliva.

Abstract: Canal instrument used in endodontics, characterized in that its flexible blade is made at least partially of titanium or of titanium alloy.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending dental instrument for use in root canals. The apparatus includes two rotatable sleeves made of plastic material one of which is carried by a stationary element which acts as a handle and the other one of which is carried by a movable member articulated on the handle. A coil spring interposed between the handle and the movable member urges the two sleeves to be maintained at distance one from each other. The blade of the instrument to be bent is engaged between the two sleeves when they are positioned distant from each other. A force then is exerted on the movable member for moving one of the sleeves toward the other one and pinching the blade of the instrument between them. Then, while the blade is pinched between the sleeves, a traction is exerted on the instrument accompanied with a lateral displacement that produces the bending of the blade.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument is disclosed which comprises an elongate shank having a lower working length. One or more helical flutes are positioned on the working length, and the bottoms of the flutes define a solid core which is cylindrical in one embodiment, and reversely tapered in another embodiment. The solid core permits the working length to permanently twist upon becoming locked in the canal during root canal therapy, and the twists move upwardly from the point of locking engagement until they may be visually and/or tactilely noted by the dentist, and so that the dentist is alerted before breakage occurs.

Abstract: An endodontic reamer or file instrument for cleaning and shaping root canals includes a shank having a tapered working portion extending along a section of the shank length to a leading end. A pilot is attached to the working portion adjacent the leading end and is smaller in diameter than is the working portion at the leading end. The working portion includes at least one continuous helical flute which spirals along its length and a helical land at the periphery of the working portion which extends between adjacent flutes. The working portion also includes at least one lip adjacent the pilot which has a cutting edge which lies generally in a radial plane of the shank, and each flute which spirals along the length of the working portion toward the leading end terminates at the cutting edge of a corresponding lip so that as the instrument is moved longitudinally through a root canal, root canal tissue disposed to one side of the pilot is exposed to the cutting edge of the working portion.

Abstract: A root canal sealer and cleaner provided with a dimension discriminating part at their heads so as to discriminate the dimension easily, and a method and device for forming the dimension discriminating part on the root canal sealer and cleaner.According to the root canal sealer and cleaner of the invention, a coloring part having a hue for indicating the required dimension is formed directly at the head gripped by an operating tool such as pincers, etc., at the time of the root canal cleaning and sealing treatment of a tooth, so that it is possible to indicate the dimension by each root canal sealer and cleaner itself, to discriminate easily and exactly the dimension of each root canal sealer and cleaner, and to distinguish it from those of different standards even when it is mixed with them in the course of operation.

Abstract: Tensioning handle for a root-canalling instrument and comprising a grip (1) with an outside-threaded shank (2) at one end, an inside-threaded cap (3) that screws onto the shank, a bore (4) that extends axially through the shank and the cap, and a tensioner that surrounds a tool inserted in the bore and tightens around the shaft of the tool when the cap is screwed tight, characterized in that the tensioner comprises sleeves (10) that loosely surround the shaft (5) of the tool (6) and have opposing sloping surfaces (15 & 16) that displace them laterally when the cap is screwed on.

Abstract: An endodontic filing tool which can be chucked into a dental tool holder with slight play but secured against rotating movement as well as against axial movement by chucking balls. A circumferential groove is provided at the rearward end of the tool shaft, wherein the circumferential groove is interrupted at at least one location, so that a stop for the chucking ball is formed.

Abstract: There is provided a combination dental tool for forming a bore in a tooth stub and which can then be used for the anchoring of a dental prosthesis to the stub. The combination tool is formed having a first cutting end portion and an opposite, and second, holder end portion, to be held by a dental handpiece. The holder portion is formed adjacent a crown anchor portion and the holder portion can be removed after the bore is formed. Preferably, the crown anchor portion is formed of a softer material which can be readily formed to the desired shape for the prosthesis. The cutting portion preferably has alternating sections of larger and smaller diameter and has laterally facing cutting surfaces to form undercut portions along the bore to aid in firmer seating of the anchor post.

Abstract: The end of an instrument for the treatment of dental root-canals is coated with a layer of anti-friction material. The low coefficient of friction of the antifriction material and the fact that it renders the end of the instrument non cutting or non abrasive facilitates greatly the penetration of the instrument in the dental root-canal, especially when the canal is curved, and has the result that the instrument does not bite into the wall of the canal and does not exert thereon an action which is greater on the outside of the curve than on the inside thereof.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument having a rotatable shank and a working portion which extends along at least a portion of the length of the shank to a tip includes two continuous helical flutes which spiral along the length of the working portion. Each of the helical flutes has a shoulder which generally faces in the same direction along the length of the working portion as the shoulder of the other flute and which has a helical angle which is different from the helical angle of the shoulder of the other flute. In one embodiment, the instrument includes shoulders which generally face in the direction along the working portion toward the tip and is well-suited for thermomechanically condensing gutta-percha in a root canal of a tooth and for cutting dentinal chips from the wall of an extirpated root canal and transporting the cut chips to the terminus of the root canal system.

Abstract: In root canal preparation, there is provided a smooth sided pilot ended endodontic K-type file, a K-type reamer file, a H-type Hedstroem file, an S-type file, and a R-type file (rhomboid), with the safe end of the instrument or file measured from D1 from 1-3 mm before the cutting edges are developed on all types of endodontic cutting instruments and on all sizes from 06-140.The smooth sided pilot end of the apex file can be incrementally increased based upon the increasing size of the instruments. For example, #15=1 mm smooth sided pilot end, #20=2 mm safe end, #25=3 mm smooth sided pilot end, etc. This is to be used for ease with the step back preparation technique. The smooth sided pilot ended apex file instrument has the ability to act as pathfinder into the root canal without damaging the apex portion during this phase.The smooth sided pilot ended endodontic file of this invention avoids forcing debris and filling material out the apex and creates a proper apical stop of proper retention and resistance.

Abstract: Differences in the diameters of successive cutting instruments, either hand- or engine-powered, within sets of instruments described herein progress sequentially by constant percentages of increase, rather than by constant linear increase as is currently the practice in the dental manufacturing industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dental tool which operates as a reamer, while reducing the danger of removing excessive tooth material when boring out the tooth canal. The dental tool includes a first holder end portion designed to be receiveable in a dental tool holder, such that the dental tool holder can rotate the dental tool; a second reaming end portion having a polygonal cross-section and cutting edges tapering longitudinally endwardly to a minimum effective cutting diameter plane, or a point, from a plane of maximum effective cutting diameter, and optimally also having reverse cutting surfaces tapering longitudinally in the opposite direction to an inner plane of reduced effective cutting diameter; and a shank portion extending between the two end portions. The plurality of reamer cutting edges extend axially, and are designed for reaming out a bore into a tooth canal of a patient upon rotation of the tool.

Abstract: A broaching tool has a needle-shaped working portion (2) and a shank portion which is shaped for attachment in the distal end (18) of a drive bar (12) of a drive instrument for the tool. The shank portion of the tool has at least one bend (8) and preferably also a second oppositely directed bend (10). A proximal end (14) of the drive bar (12) of the drive instrument is adapted to be coupled to a vibratory element (16) which, thereby, is able to generate longitudinal high frequency vibrations in the drive bar (12). The distal drive bar end (18) is angled (B) about an axis (22) which acts as a hinge having a certain rigidity of bending. By adapting and matching a. o. the angle (B) and the bends (8, 10) in the tool, it is possible to compensate away distructive natural oscillations in the tool which, thereby, can be powered and used with high working frequencies without risk of fatigue fractures in the material of the tool.

Abstract: There is provided a combination dental tool for boring and grinding undercut bore holes in teeth. The tool includes a boring end portion tapering longitudinally endwardly to a minimum effective diameter at the tip and providing an axially facing cutting surface for drilling a bore into a tooth upon rotation of the tool. A shank portion extending axially from the drilling end portion includes at least two successive longitudinally extending sections, the first section having laterally facing cutting surfaces and a relatively larger effective diameter, and the second section, immediately adjacent the first section, having a relatively smaller diameter. Using this tool, an axially directed force forms the bore hole, and a laterally directed force exerted on the tool within a previously drilled bore hole, routs out an undercut portion in the internal surface of the bore.

Abstract: An endodontic device in the form of a platform adapted to be mounted on a dentist's finger. A foam insert holder mounted on the platform is adapted to receive a removable foam insert for holding a plurality of root canal instruments. An open-ended slot formed in the platform is adapted to receive one of the instruments. Scale indicia is provided on the platform adjacent to the slot to permit adjustment of the working length of the instrument in the slot to guide the dentist in using the instrument during a root canal procedure. The platform also is formed having a plurality of instrument receiving holes to permit curving of the instrument where desired. The platform further has a plurality of finger-operated indexing plates having indicia to permit the dentist to assign a separate indication of the working length in each root canal being worked on.

Abstract: The pulp canal of a tooth requiring filling is hollowed out using boring bits fitted to and driven by a vibrating instrument; the bits are organized in sets, with a number of discrete sets making up the full range. The abrasive tine of the bits of each set is tapered; its length and tip diameter remain the same throughout the set, whereas the diameter at the point where it joins with the shank increases progressively from the smallest to the largest size.

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 20,0000 rpm.

Abstract: A dental instrument adapted to be used as a dental file and dental reamer for removing dead or damaged tissue from the root canal of a tooth. The dental compactor instrument is formed with a tapered shank having at least two helical flutes defining at least two continuous helical cutting edges. A helical peripheral land extends between the helical flutes at the periphery of the shank. The cutting edges have a neutral rake angle.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic handpiece adapter for use in root canal procedures is provided in which a fire well is formed in the body of the device. The lower surface of the file well is frusto-conical in shape and receives a file wherein an enlarged file head has a frusto-conical shape at its bottom which seats against the lower surface of the file well when downward pressure is exerted on the file and which floats with respect to the lower surface of the file well when upward pressure is exerted on the file. A clutch mechanism is thereby provided wherein the file blade is in its engaged position during a cutting stroke and wherein the file blade floats during the motion of positioning the blade for the next cutting stroke. A cutting file has the tip of its shank flared so that the shank is prevented from being pulled through the file head. The apparatus may be connected to a conventional source of sub-sonic or ultrasonic power.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a condenser instrument for thermomechanically condensing a thermoplastic material, such as gutta percha, in the extirpated root canal of a tooth through rotation of the instrument is disclosed. The condenser instrument includes a shank having a tapered working portion along part of its length. The working portion includes a single, continuous helical flute defining a continuously helical shoulder having a negative rake angle. The shoulder is generally directed downwardly toward the tip end of the shank. A wide land is formed at the periphery of the shoulder. In a second embodiment, a remover instrument for removing a thermoplastic material, such as gutta percha, from a previously obturated root canal of a tooth through rotation of the remover instrument is disclosed. The remover instrument includes a shank having a tapered working portion along part of its length.

Abstract: An endodontic file comprises a flexible filing shaft having a filing portion extending along the length thereof from a first end, said filing portion having one or more elongated, bow-shaped bends therealong for being urged against a root canal for enlarging or shaping said canal.

Abstract: Selection of a proper drill bit for preparing a tooth to receive a crown or a bridge is accomplished through the use of a kit which includes a measuring guide and a template showing the profiles of various drill bits. The measuring guide and template are adapted to cooperate with the conventional X-ray. The X-ray is placed behind the measuring guide and oriented with the axis of the tooth perpendicular to a scale which is printed on the measuring guide. The measuring guide is otherwise transparent. By holding the X-ray and measuring guide up to light, a safe margin around the pulp chamber can be identified by the lines of the scale. Next, the drill template is placed in the measuring guide and manipulated until a drill bit profile is located which will maintain the safe margin around the pulp chamber and yet not cut into adjacent teeth. The method is taught together with a kit for practicing the method. The kit includes a selection of drill bits, the drill bit template, and measuring guide.

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: An improved root canal instrument is provided having a novel handle. This handle is provided for a root canal file. This novel handle is formed and/or constructed of spaced cylindrical portions having grooves located between the cylindrical portions. The handle 14 is provided with flat sides 20. Theses flat sides have grooves formed and/or constructed therein. The shape of the grooves is inconsequential. They may be V-shaped or of other desired forms so long as they run across both the flat and curved portions of the handle.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument in accordance with the present invention includes a substantially non-cutting pilot segment, a relatively short cutting segment, and a flexible shaft segment, which can have a handle at its distal end for manual manipulation, or an adapter for attachment to a mechanical handpiece. The non-cutting pilot, the short length of the cutting segment, and the flexibility of the shaft combine to allow the instrument to be used in curved root canals without causing undue change in the natural root canal contours.

Abstract: A tool holder is furnished for fastening a dentistry-type tool to be subjected to vibrations. A core is attached to a generator of vibrations and includes a housing for a tool. A locking assembly cap having a rear end is fitted onto a forward area of the core. A locking assembly sliding component is placed over a rear area of the core for contacting the rear end of the core with front end of the locking assembly cap. A compressive spring engages the core and the locking assembly sliding component for pushing the locking assembly sliding component in a forward direction.

Abstract: A series of instruments for use in cleaning and shaping the root canal of a tooth is disclosed. The instruments are files having increasing tapers on sequentially-used files, with all of the files having the same, or nearly the same, small diameter at the tip of the cutting surface. The files create an increasingly tapered aperture in the root canal, which is exactly sized to admit a selected one of a set of variable taper filling materials available for filling a prepared root canal. Each file also has a safe edge to eliminate perforating the root canal, a rounded tip to eliminate ledging, and a handle shaped to provide a tactile reference to the orientation of the safe edge.

Abstract: A dental drill having an elongate drill body tapered to a conical tip. The drill body has a plurality of substantially identical barbs projecting outwardly from the drill body and arranged helically about the drill body. Each barb has an outer peripheral profile resembling a parabola in shape extending generally toward the tip of the drill body. Each barb has a flat surface contiguous with the flat surface of an adjacent barb at a point of juncture with the drill body. The barb flat surfaces are disposed in a common helical path about the drill body and each has a shape resembling a parabola. The barbs have a peripheral profile also resembling a parabola. Each resembles a paraboloid in which intersections by planes parallel to the corresponding flat surface thereof and spaced axially on the drill body resemble parabolas with the axes thereof decreasing in length as the intersections are made in a direction toward the tip of the drill body.

Abstract: A manually operated endodontic instrument composed of: an endodontic file; and a handle to which the file is immovably secured, the handle being formed to be gripped between the thumb and the index finger, having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and including a central, longitudinally extending portion and first and second bulbous portions each joined to a respective longitudinal end of the central portion and each projecting laterally beyond the central portion, the handle being provided, at its outer surface, with at least two circumferentially spaced recesses extending longitudinally along at least part of the central portion.

Abstract: Drive head for an endodontic treatment instrument composed of a support body provided with a passage, an instrument support member having a longitudinal axis and mounted in the passage for movement relative to the body in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and drive components coupled to the instrument support member for inparting to the instrument support member alternating movements in the direction of the longitudinal axis, said instrument support member supports an andodontic treatment instrument in a manner to cause the instrument to move with the support in the direction of said longitudinal axis and to have a freedom of rotation about the longitudinal axis and relative to the support body and/or to cause the alternating movements in the direction of the longitudinal axis to have a variable amplitude.

Abstract: An endodontic stop positioner combined with a reamer or a file used for taking a measurement of the root canal length of the tooth, includes a positioning body with a hard member and a soft member made of non-metal material, a central penetrating hole formed in the positioning body for accomodating the reamer or file, which reamer or file is movably held in the central penetrating hole for being inserted into the root canal of the tooth in taking the measurement in an X-ray, and at leat a wire disposed in a bottom center of the hard member and located in perpendicular intersection with the reamer or file. Consequently, the intersection point between the wire and the reamer or file can be clearly indicated in the X-ray for accurately measuring the root canal length of the tooth therewith.

Abstract: A tool for use in bending root canal files is disclosed which grips a file between an upper jaw with a plastic insert to protect the surface of the file and a lower jaw having a file bending anvil thereon. The file bending anvil has ten specific bending diameters thereon, and the file is bent by gripping it in the jaws and wrapping it around the desired specific bending curve. A template having circles thereon corresponding to the specific bending diameters on the file bending anvil may be used with an X-ray of the root canal to select the appropriate bending diameter for the file.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diamond-coated endodontic access bur which is coated at least 10 mm along the shaft. This significant amount of diamond coating along the shaft permits the bur to be used both for dentin removal and finishing the slope and sidewalls of the tooth's pulp chamber. The bur sphere, also diamond coated, has a diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 mm, approximately.

Abstract: An endodontic file is provided for use in root canal procedures. The file has an elongated blade with cutting edges formed on the lower portion thereof and having a shank at its upper portion. A file head is provided having a passageway formed therein which receives the shank of the blade. The end of the shank is flared to prevent the shank from being drawn through the passageway in one direction. By anchoring the file blade in this manner, the use of a low profile handpiece is facilitated for ease of use in a patient's mouth.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dental instrument for performing root canal work. An end portion, integrally connected to the instrument shaft, is provided with four faces of like size, shape and orientation. The four faces are joined to one another by curved, continuous edges. Thus, the end portion has a square cross-section, provided so canal walls can be rasped at four points while leaving the walls of the canal smooth. Because the face edges meet at one point, a separate tip element is not necessary.

Abstract: In a manually operated instrument such as a root-canaling instrument, a security cord (10) is attached at one end to the handle (1) of the instrument by means of a mounting shell (5), which can be snapped onto and seated against the handle from the shaft end of the instrument, and at the other end to a ring (13) on the operating dentist's finger.The security cord (10) is attached to the finger ring (13) with a wrapping or clamping device (15) and can be released.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental drill.According to the invention, the drill has a triple helicoidal flute and progressive pitch, the free spaces between the cutting lips increasing from the tip (3) toward the shank (1) of the drill.Application: dental apparatus.

Abstract: Drive head for an endodontic treatment instrument composed of a support body provided with a passage, an instrument support member having a longitudinal axis and mounted in the passage for movement relative to the body in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and drive components coupled to the instrument support member for imparting to the instrument support member alternating movements in the direction of the longitudinal axis, said instrument support member supports an endodontic treatment instrument in a manner to cause the instrument to move with the support in the direction of said longitudinal axis and to have a freedom of rotation about the longitudinal axis and relative to the support body and/or to cause the alternating movements in the direction of the longitudinal axis to have a variable amplitude.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a rigid dental tool for carrying out the reaming and rectification of dental root canals and adapted to be operated either manually or through the use of dental hand held tools. The dental tool has two longitudinal portions with the first forming the attachment stem. The second is conical or cylindrical and extends from the first one through a frusto-conical connection piece. The second portion constitutes the working portion and is provided with cutting and/or reaming means; which may be of a uniform type over the whole working portion or may comprise more types successively distributed along the working portion. The first and second portions are centrally provided with an inner longitudinal cavity that houses a freely rotating flexible core which projects an appropriate extent from the free end of the second portion, as required by the operation.

Abstract: In a compression handle for securing a dental root-canal instrument, a helical spring (10) is positioned between the threaded end (2) of the grip (1) and the screw-on cap (3) and loosely surrounds the shaft (5) of the instrument with its coils extending in the opposite direction from that of the threading and with its ends accommodated stationary in bores (12 & 13) in the threaded mechanisms (2 & 3) in such a way that it is screwed in and compresses the shaft of the instrument when the cap is screwed on.

Abstract: A dental instrument is attachable to a tooth whose apex is to be located. Indicator means, composed of a material that produces a visible image on a radiograph, is adjustably coupled to the mounting means to permit adjustment of the indicator means relative to the mounting means. When the dental instrument is attached to the tooth, the indicator means is adjusted relative to the tooth to permit substantial alignment of the images of the indicator means and tooth apex on the radiograph.

Abstract: An accessory for use in pricking depth-indicating washers on to dental reamers comprises a body constituting a receptacle. The washers which are located in the receptacle are brought into a free space of the body within which they are juxtaposed. They successively engage a notch in a movable small plate, constituting a distributor element, which enables the washer located in the notch, by transverse sliding of the small plate, to be brought opposite to a hole of the body. The washer thus placed can easily be pricked by a dental canal reamer passing through a hole provided in the cover of the accessory and which is situated opposite to the hole of the body. The diameter of this hole is greater than that of the washers to allow the washer which is pricked on the spindle to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

Abstract: A dental reamer adapted for removing damaged nerve tissue and dead or injured cell material from the root canal of a tooth is formed with a tapered shank with at least two oppositely disposed continuous helical flutes formed along at least a part of its shank to define two oppositely disposed continuous helical upwardly facing cutting edges.

Abstract: An instrument for use in the treatment of dental canals. The instrument includes a tool such as a pulp-burr or reamer connected by a friction coupling or slip-clutch to a mandrel driven by power to rotate the tool. Should the tool jam in a dental canal, the clutch allows the mandrel to rotate by slipping relatively to the tool thus avoiding application of excessive torque to the tool which might break it. The slip-clutch can be a helical spring fast with one end of the tool and fitted in a cylindrical bore in and co-axial with the mandrel, the spring being stressed so some of its turns press against inner surfaces of the bore to provide the friction coupling between the spring and bore.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endodontic file that is resistant to failure from fracturing and breaking during operation by having an ideal length, which if increased or decreased by more than 1 mm, will result in increased file breakage.

Abstract: A dental root marking and measuring instrument used for determining the position of the apex of a dental root and measuring the thickness of the alveolar bone facing the lip comprising a main body having a mounting portion, a reamer on the mounting portion with an end which may reach the apex of a dental root, an arm disposed alongside of the reamer having a base end rotatably supported on the main body and a free end rotatable toward the reamer, a positioning member on the lower portion of the arm for adjusting the distance between the main body and the arm, and an indicating pin connected to the upper portion of the arm for putting a mark on the gum having a free end alignable with the free end of the reamer. The free end of the indicating pin is aligned with that of the reamer, and the reamer is inserted into the pulp canal of a tooth so that its end may be disposed at the apex of its root.