This patent application describes a weighted, easily sanitized, dental garment that both shields pediatric patients from biological fluids and helps them remain still during dental procedures.
Dentists and hygienists use dental napkins to shield their patients and their clothing from splash and liquids during cleaning and procedures. Usually, dental napkins are roughly 1.5 ft square and are attached to either end of a chain hung around the patient's neck. They are usually disposable.
Dental aprons usually shield patients from radiation during dental x-rays. Usually (though not always) made of lead, they cover (and thus distribute weight across) the patient's entire torso and groin. The dental aprons have an expected useful life of about five years, although this may vary with care and use.
This disclosure inventively adopts the structure of a dental apron to create a non-disposable, weighted, dental garment that functions as a stress relieving dental napkin. In one embodiment, the garment is shaped like a traditional dental apron. It is rectangular, although different shapes are possible, and spreads across patient's torso and groin. A scoop in the top of the rectangle accommodates the patient's neck. Two loops at the top of the apron allow it to be hung up. Multiple quilted layers comprise the garment. The top and bottom layers are made of a substance such as vinyl that may be easily disinfected with a sanitizing spray. The quilted sections form a plurality of cells that contain weighed disks or beads. A strap stretches across the back layer of the garment. In an alternative embodiment, this single strap is replaced by two separate straps or two pockets.
The weight garment serves at least two purposes. First, like all dental napkins, it protects the patient from splashes and spills. Second, it improves upon past dental aprons by helping the patient to remain still and calm, reducing fidgeting during the dental procedure. The weight of the blanket simulates a calming embrace. Importantly, the patient may also hold and pull the strap across the back with varying degrees of force during the dental procedure to provide a stress outlet.
As shown in the drawings, an apron indicated generally at 10 includes a generally rectangular front panel 12 and a rectangular back panel 11. Both panels are made of vinyl or some other easily sanitized material. The tops of the panels are scooped to accommodate the neck, as shown in the area between loops 13 and 14. Two loops 13 and 14 are attached, one on each side of the scoop, to allow the apron to be hung up. Binding 15 attaches the front and back panels at their perimeter. Either stiches or adhesive may quilt the panels together as indicated by 16.
The cells 17 formed by the quilting are filled glass beads or some other material that weighs, for example, approximately 1 Kg/660 cm3. A horizontal strap 18 appropriate for gripping attaches at the approximate midpoint of each vertical edge.
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