Patent Application
20220346922
The entire contents of the following application are incorporated by reference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/672,704; filed Dec. 7, 2018; issued as U.S. D958,362 on Jul. 19, 2022; and entitled PERIODONTAL INSTRUMENT WITH A COLORED LOWER SHANK.
Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to periodontal instruments and methods of use. Certain embodiments discloses herein include periodontal instruments with colored terminal/lower shanks.
Dental Hygiene is a profession that is over 100 years old. Although a dental hygienist is trained in many aspects of oral health, their core function remains overseeing patients' periodontal health through proper instrumentation during a typical dental visit by removing deposits (i.e., “cleaning” patients' teeth) that may lead to periodontal disease.
According to the CDC, nearly half the adult population 30 years of age and older, and 70% of adults age 65 and older, have periodontal disease, the most common oral disease in adults. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy used to treat this disease involves the mechanical removal of the hard and soft deposits using either ultrasonic or hand instruments. This treatment requires considerable time and a high level of operator skill. The use of appropriate instruments, and the correct use of those instruments, significantly increases clinical efficiency and outcomes.
Instrumentation is a fine motor skill that is a requisite for students, yet very challenging and difficult to master. Understanding the key concepts of instrument design, classification, grasp, fulcrum, and the three A's (adaptation, angulation, and activation) along with proper sharpening techniques are all essential in creating a solid foundation in instrumentation.
Each dental hygiene instrument has unique design characteristics enabling its usage for anterior or posterior teeth. All designs require the terminal shank to be appropriately aligned with the (crown or root) long axis of the tooth, allowing the cutting edge to create an ideal 70-80 degree angle. This angle enables the blade of the instrument to properly adapt to the tooth, rendering deposit removal successful. Holding the instrument at a particular angle is also essential when sharpening dental hygiene instruments. Instruments that are used incorrectly, or dull instruments, can lead to tissue damage and painful outcomes for the patient. Correct usage and proper sharpening of instruments are paramount.
For faculty and students of dental and dental hygiene programs, teaching and learning the use of dental hygiene instruments continues to be an extremely subjective and inconsistent obstacle to evaluation. Further, dental hygiene instruments are susceptible to improper sharpening, which can result in dull and/or damaged instruments.
There remains a need for a standardized method or instrument which removes the subjectivity of evaluating students when learning instrumentation. Without proper knowledge or attention being placed on the terminal shank to produce the ideal instrument angulation, subjectivity remains an obstacle to evaluation. In addition, there remains a need for a standardized way to visualize the angle of the instrument for proper sharpening.
The disclosure includes a periodontal instrument comprising an end including a functional shank and a working end located distal to the functional shank, wherein the functional shank includes a colored portion. The periodontal instrument may also comprise a handle configured to extend proximally from the end, the handle sized and configured to be received by a user's hand. In some embodiments, the end comprises a first end, the functional shank comprises a first functional shank, the working end comprises a first working end, and the colored portion comprises a first colored portion. The first colored portion may define a first terminal shank of the first functional shank, and the first colored portion may be configured to aid the user in identifying the first terminal shank.
In some embodiments, the periodontal instrument further comprises a second end located opposite the first end, the second end including a second functional shank and a second working end located distal to the second functional shank, wherein the second functional shank includes a second colored portion. The second colored portion may define a second terminal shank of the second functional shank, and the second colored portion may be configured to aid the user in identifying the second terminal shank. In some embodiments, the first colored portion defines a different color than the second colored portion. The first colored portion may define a same color as the second colored portion. In some embodiments, the first colored portion and the second colored portion are black.
The first colored portion may comprise a first etching on the first functional shank, and the second colored portion may comprise a second etching on the second functional shank. In some embodiments, the first colored portion comprises a first coating on the first functional shank, and the second colored portion comprises a second coating on the second functional shank.
The periodontal instrument may comprise one of an explorer, a scaler, and a curette. In some embodiments, the first working end comprises a first end including a pointed end or a rounded end, and the second working end comprises a second end including a pointed end or a rounded end. In some embodiments, the first working end comprises a first end selected from the group consisting of zero cutting surfaces, one cutting surface, and two cutting surfaces. The second working end may comprise a second end selected from the group consisting of zero cutting surfaces, one cutting surface, and two cutting surfaces.
The disclosure includes a method of using a periodontal instrument, the method comprising positioning a functional shank of the periodontal instrument adjacent a treatment site, aligning a colored portion of the functional shank with a long axis of a tooth, wherein the colored portion defines a terminal shank of the functional shank, and contacting a working end of the periodontal instrument to the tooth. In some embodiments, the functional shank comprises a first functional shank, the treatment site comprises a first treatment site, the colored portion comprises a first colored portion, the terminal shank comprises a first terminal shank, and the working end comprises a first working end. The method may further comprise positioning a second functional shank of the periodontal instrument adjacent a second treatment site, wherein the second functional shank is located opposite the first functional shank, aligning a second colored portion of the second functional shank with a long axis of a different tooth, wherein the second colored portion defines a second terminal shank of the second functional shank, and contacting a second working end of the periodontal instrument to the different tooth.
In some embodiments, the first colored portion is configured to aid a user of the periodontal instrument in identifying the first terminal shank, and the second colored portion is configured to aid the user in identifying the second terminal shank.
When the first working end of the periodontal instrument is in use, the first colored portion may be configured to be aligned substantially parallel to the long axis of the tooth. In some embodiments, when the first working end of the periodontal instrument is in use, the first colored portion is configured to be aligned at an angle to the long axis of the tooth. When the second working end of the periodontal instrument is in use, the second colored portion may be configured to be aligned substantially parallel to the long axis of the different tooth. In some embodiments, when the second working end of the periodontal instrument is in use, the second colored portion is configured to be aligned at an angle to the long axis of the different tooth.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.
Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and to modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. For example, in any system or device disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the system or device may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order-dependent. Additionally, the structures, methods, and/or procedures described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.
For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein.
Each dental hygiene instrument has unique design characteristics enabling its usage for anterior or posterior teeth. All designs require the terminal shank to be aligned properly with the (crown or root) long axis of the tooth allowing the cutting edge to create an ideal 70-80 degree angle. This angle enables the blade of the instrument to properly adapt to the tooth rendering deposit removal successful. Holding the instrument at a particular angle is also important when sharpening dental hygiene instruments. Instruments that are used incorrectly, or dull instruments, can lead to tissue damage and painful outcomes for the patient. Correct usage and proper sharpening of instruments are paramount.
Disclosed herein are embodiments of dental hygiene instruments with a colored terminal shank. Coloring the terminal shank provides enhanced visualization of the terminal shank and allows users to correctly angle the instrument during use on teeth and/or when sharpening an instrument, thereby removing the guesswork of determining proper angulation. Coloring the terminal shank can benefit students, such as dental and/or dental hygiene students, by allowing them to practice instrumentation and confidently maintain proper angulation without requiring confirmation from an instructor. Further, the visual clarity provided by a color-coded terminal shank can be immensely helpful for visual learners. In addition, coloring the terminal shank can benefit dental professionals by providing a standardized look to instruments. For example, rather than having to “start over” and identify the terminal shanks on a new set of instruments and/or in a new setting (e.g., at a new job in a different dental practice), the color-coded terminal shanks may serve as a quick “refresher” and enable a more seamless return to performing periodontal care.
The first working end 206a and the second working end 206b may be different from one another and may be referred to as “unpaired working ends.” In some embodiments, the first working end 206a and the second working end 206b are the same and may be referred to as “paired working ends.” The first working end 206a and the second working end 206b may be mirror images of one another, such that the first working end 206a is identical to the second working end 206b, but with the structure reversed. In some embodiments, by virtue of being mirror images, the first working end 206a is arranged and configured for use on one side of the mouth, and the second working end 206b is arranged and configured for use on the other side of the mouth.
The first working end 206a and the second working end 206b may include a pointed end or a rounded end. The first working end 206a may include a cutting surface. The first working end 206a may include two cutting surfaces. In some embodiments, the first working end 206a includes no cutting surfaces. Similarly, the second working end 206b may include a cutting surface. The second working end 206b may include two cutting surfaces. In some embodiments, the second working end 206b includes no cutting surfaces. Depending on the number of cutting surfaces and whether it has a rounded end or a pointed end, the periodontal instrument 200 may comprise one of an explorer, a scaler, and a curette, as those terms are understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art of making and/or using periodontal instruments. The first working end 206a may be different from the second working end 206b such that the first working end 206a comprises, for example, a pointed end with two cutting surfaces, and the second working end 206b comprises, for example, a rounded end with no cutting surfaces. Accordingly, the periodontal instrument 200 may comprise one end that is a scaler and one end that is an explorer. It should be noted that like the periodontal instrument 200, the periodontal instrument 100 of
In some embodiments, an explorer is a periodontal assessment instrument for locating calculus deposits on the crowns and roots of teeth. An explorer commonly has a curved or hooked working end that is generally circular in cross-section and has a thin flexible shank. A scaler is a periodontal instrument for removing calculus deposits from the crowns of teeth and has a curved or hooked working end that is generally triangular in cross-section and has a shank that is more rigid than the shank of an explorer. A curette is a periodontal instrument used for removing calculus deposits from the crowns and roots of teeth and has a curved or hooked working end that is generally semi-circular in cross-section and has a shank that is more rigid than the shank of an explorer.
As previously discussed in this disclosure, proper angulation of a terminal shank with respect to a long axis of a tooth is of the utmost importance when using a periodontal instrument. In some cases, especially with complicated functional shanks with multiple curves or bends, it can be difficult to identify the terminal shank, leading to user error of the periodontal instrument. User error can result in sub-par teeth cleaning (i.e., incomplete removal of deposit from a tooth's surface), injury to a patient, and/or damage to the instrument. It is therefore vital to ensure that terminal shanks can be correctly identified so that users can maintain a proper angle of the terminal shank with respect to the tooth. Further, easy identification of the terminal shank can help users more quickly switch between different periodontal instruments (i.e., instruments with different types of functional shanks) while treating a patient.
In contrast to
Similar to
As discussed with reference to
Turning now to
In some embodiments, the functional shank mentioned in
The first colored portion (i.e., the first terminal shank) and the second colored portion (i.e., the second terminal shank) may be configured to be aligned substantially parallel to the respective target teeth. In some embodiments, the first terminal shank and the second terminal shank are configured to be aligned at an angle to the respective target teeth. Whether the terminal shanks are aligned substantially parallel or at an angle may depend on the cutting surface(s) of the working ends. For example, in some embodiments, the cutting surface(s) is angled, so the terminal shank can be held parallel. The cutting surface(s) may be level, so the terminal shank needs to be slightly angled toward the tooth in order to achieve the proper angle of the cutting surface(s) with respect to the tooth. In some embodiments, the ideal angle of the cutting surface(s) with respect to the target tooth is between 70 and 80 degrees.
On a double-ended periodontal instrument, such as the periodontal instrument 200 illustrated in
None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, or example in this specification can be combined or used with or instead of any other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart, or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.
The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” may include embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodiments described in other sections may apply to and be combined with embodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.
The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the order specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.
The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or” applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments can include A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.
The term “substantially” is used to mean “completely” or “nearly completely.” For example, the disclosure includes “In
The term “adjacent” is used to mean “next to or adjoining something else.” For example, the disclosure includes “In some embodiments, the method begins with positioning a functional shank of a periodontal instrument adjacent a treatment site, at step 1400.” In this context, the functional shank may be positioned next to or adjoining the treatment site, and be considered “adjacent” the treatment site, as the term is used in this disclosure.
The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used to refer to relative directions along a periodontal instrument, with respect to a user holding the handle. For example, in a single-ended periodontal instrument, such as the ones illustrated in
While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29672704 | Dec 2018 | US |
| Child | 17863244 | US |
