Claims
- 1. A training device for use in practicing the correct positioning of an electrical apical locator comprising:
a) a support structure having a cavity; b) a tooth having a root canal and being located partially in said cavity so that a crown of said tooth is exposed and a root of said tooth is received in said support structure cavity during usage; c) a matrix securely holding said tooth in a fixed position in said support structure cavity; and wherein d) at least a portion of said matrix in the region of a tip of said root is an electrically conductive medium selected to impart an impedance that approximates an impedance associated with normal human tissue surrounding a root of a live tooth.
- 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
a) said support structure is an open topped enclosure suitable for holding by a user during usage.
- 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
a) said support structure is a manikin device simulating a human jaw with the tooth mounted in said jaw.
- 4. The device according to claim 3 wherein:
a) said jaw is a first jaw and said manikin includes a second articulated jaw.
- 5. The device according to claim 3 wherein:
a) said cavity is a socket sized and positioned in said manikin at a location whereat a tooth would be located in a human jaw; and including b) a sleeve operably snugly received in said socket; said tooth and said matrix being located within said sleeve.
- 6. The device according to claim 5 further including:
a) a pin operably extending between the manikin socket and sleeve so as to secure said sleeve in said socket.
- 7. The device according to claim 6 wherein:
a) said pin is a thumb screw having a head adapted to receive a connector of an apical position locator electrode; said head being exposed during use and an opposite end of said screw being sized and shaped to engage said conductive medium.
- 8. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
a) all of said matrix is conductive medium.
- 9. The device according to claim 1 wherein:
a) said conductive medium is a first highly conductive matrix component that is located only in the vicinity of said root and a remainder of said cavity is filled with a second matrix component that is less electrically conductive than said first component.
- 10. The device according to claim 9 including:
a) a root sleeve sized and shaped to surround said first component and a tooth root apex, so as to hold said first component in position.
- 11. The device according to claim 3 wherein:
a) said manikin is at least partially electrically conductive between said device and a location for attachment to an apical locator.
- 12. The device according to claim 1 in combination with:
a) an apical locator having a probe for insertion into said tooth root canal and an electrode adapted to be placed in electrical connection with said electrically conductive medium.
- 13. A teaching device for training dental students to locate a root canal apex in a tooth with an apical position locator; said device comprising:
a) a manikin having at least one jaw that simulates a human jaw; b) said jaw having at least one socket therein located whereat a human tooth would be located in a human jaw; c) a tooth operably positioned in said socket such that a crown of said tooth extends outward from said socket and a root of said tooth is located in said socket; and d) a matrix securing said tooth in said socket; at least a first component of said matrix surrounding an apex of said tooth root being sufficiently electrically conductive so as to simulate the electrical conductance in human tissue surrounding a live tooth.
- 14. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said jaw is a first jaw and said manikin has a second jaw articulated with said first jaw.
- 15. The device according to claim 13 including a matrix sleeve adapted to be snugly received in said socket and to receive said matrix and tooth within.
- 16. The device according to claim 15 including:
a) a pin to operably secure said matrix sleeve in said socket.
- 17. The device according to claim 16 wherein:
a) said pin is sized and positioned to have a tip end thereof engage said matrix first component and an opposite end adapted to be operably connected to a lead of an apical position locator.
- 18. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said first component is located only in close proximity to an apex of the tooth root.
- 19. The device according to claim 18 including:
a) a tooth root sleeve sized and shaped to surround and protect said matrix first component and said tooth root apex during usage.
- 20. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said matrix is essentially entirely composed of said first component.
- 21. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said first component of said matrix includes at least 5% water by weight.
- 22. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said first component of said matrix includes conductive metallic salt selected from the salts consisting essentially of sodium salts, calcium salts and mixtures thereof.
- 23. The device according to claim 13 wherein:
a) said first component of said matrix has a volume resistivity in the range from 1015 to 10−3 ohm/cm.
- 24. The device according to claim 13 including:
a) an apical position locator probe operably connectable to an apical locator device; said probe having a metallic central core with an exposed tip and having a shank covered by a non-conducting material.
- 25. A teaching device for training dental students to locate a root canal apex in a tooth with an apical position locator; said device comprising:
a) a manikin having at least one jaw that simulates a human jaw; b) said jaw having at least one tooth that has said jaw molded thereabout and being located whereat a human tooth would be located in a live human jaw; c) said tooth being operably positioned such that a crown of said tooth extends outward from said jaw and a root of said tooth is located in said jaw; and d) a matrix having a first component surrounding an apex of said tooth root and being sufficiently electrically conductive so as to simulate the electrical conductance in human tissue surrounding a live tooth; said matrix first component being adapted to be operably conductively connected to such an apical position locator.
- 26. A dental teaching aid comprising:
a) a support structure; b) a plurality of inserts wherein each insert fits modularly on said support structure; c) each insert mimics a portion of a human jaw; and d) each insert provides structure thereon that allows a dental student to practice at least one dental procedure.
- 27. The training aid according to claim 26 wherein:
a) one of said inserts provides training in crown and bridge procedures and includes an artificial skin for teaching a student to interface a bridge with such skin.
- 28. The training aid according to claim 26 wherein:
a) one of said inserts provides training in the repair of dental decay and provides at least one opening for receiving a tooth in a ligament mimicking matrix.
- 29. The training aid according to claim 26 wherein:
a) one of said inserts provides training structures for conducting root canals.
- 30. The training aid according to claim 29 wherein:
a) said support includes an electrical conductor that is adapted to electrically contact said root canal insert so as to conduct electricity between a lower end of a root of a tooth and said conductor.
- 31. The training aid according to claim 30 wherein:
a) said electrical conductor comprises a metal plate positioned to operably engage all of said inserts.
- 32. The training aid according to claim 29 wherein:
a) said support includes a first of a tongue and a slot pair; b) each of said inserts includes a second of the tongue and slot pair; all of said tongues and slots being-respectively positioned such that each of said tongue and slot pairs mate when said inserts are placed on said support so as to stabilize said inserts.
- 33. The training aid according to claim 29 wherein:
a) each of said inserts includes an inward facing lip; and including b) a plate that overlaps each insert lip and is securable to said support so as to lock said inserts to said support.
- 34. The training aid according to claim 29 wherein:
a) each of said inserts is interchangeable with other inserts having training structure therein for other procedures such that the inserts may all be assembled on a single support and configured for the same procedure or for different procedures.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/024,683 filed Dec. 18, 2001 and entitled DENTAL TRAINING DEVICE, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 09/848,739 filed May 3, 2001 and entitled DENTAL TRAINING DEVICE, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,775.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10024683 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Child |
10767793 |
Jan 2004 |
US |
Parent |
09848739 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10024683 |
Dec 2001 |
US |