CA1075940A - Dental instrument - Google Patents
Dental instrumentInfo
- Publication number
- CA1075940A CA1075940A CA260,771A CA260771A CA1075940A CA 1075940 A CA1075940 A CA 1075940A CA 260771 A CA260771 A CA 260771A CA 1075940 A CA1075940 A CA 1075940A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- instrument
- handle
- colour
- instruments
- anodized coating
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
DENTAL INSTRUMENT
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A dental instrument consists of an extended handle part which at one or both of its ends carries a tool of corrosion-proof material, preferably stainless steel. The handle part is shaped as a sleeve of circular cross-section consisting of a light-metal alloy. Externally the sleeve has a colour symbolising the function of the instrument.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A dental instrument consists of an extended handle part which at one or both of its ends carries a tool of corrosion-proof material, preferably stainless steel. The handle part is shaped as a sleeve of circular cross-section consisting of a light-metal alloy. Externally the sleeve has a colour symbolising the function of the instrument.
Description
1()7S~4~) This invention relates to dental instruments and particularly to dental instruments having an elongate handle with a tool part mounted at one end.
In the past such instruments have included a solid handle made from the same material as the tool part. Typically this is steel and, to reduce the weight as far as possible, it has been necessary to make the handle very thin and slender which, in turn leads to difficulties in handling. To prevent the instrument from inadvertently twisting and slipping in use the handle part has heen hexagonal or non-circular in cross section.
During treatment of a patient a dentist will normally use a number of hand instruments, for example probes for examination of the status of the teeth, ball stoppers for modelling and for the application of insulating cement, amalgam cutters for the trimming of amalgam fillers, silicate instruments for silicate fillings, and tartar instruments for the removal of tartar. At the start of the treatment, a number of dental instruments are arranged on a tray. During the treatment the dentist frequently changes the instrument being used and often the assortment on the tray has to be added to by additional instruments of a special character.
After using a particular instrument the dentist replaces it on the tray but it is rarely replaced in a particular position.
Consequently when most of the instruments have been used at least once the result is that all of them lie jumbled up on 1 -- .
~ .
, .
-` 1075~4~
a tray. Once this state has occurred special attention is required by the dentist to select a particular instrument.
It is customary for all the instruments in the set to have similar handles and, therefore the only way in which the different instruments can be identified is by examination of their tool parts. The instruments usually have a brightly polished finish and this together with a powerful working light gives rise to reflections in the instruments and as a particular instrument is often required in a hurry this leads to mistakes in the selection of a particular instrument from the jumble on the tray. The instruments are often required in a hurry as there may only be a limited time available for the completion of a particu~ar operation, for example the completion of a filling before the amalgam becomes unworkable.
According to a first aspect of this invention a dental instrument comprises an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy and having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, the handle including an anodized - coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made.
According to a second aspect of this invention a set of dental instruments comprises three or more of the following types of instrument: - a probe; an amalgam cutter;
a ball stopping lnstrument; a tartar instrument; and, a silicate instrument: each instrument comprising an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy and each having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, each handle including an anodized coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made, and the colour of the anodized .~
1(~75940 coating on each type of instrument in the set is different to the colour of any other type of instrument in that set so that, in use, the type of instrument is readily distinguishable.
The set may also include two or more of each type of instrument and, in this case the handles of the instruments of each type are anodized with the same colour but with a different shade, so that the colour gives an indication of their size or gauge as well as their type.
Preferably the anodized coating on the probe is coloured orange tinted with brown, the anodized coating on the amalgam cutter is coloured black, the anodized coating on the ball stopper is coloured blue, the anodized coating on the tartar instrument is coloured red, and the anodized coating on the silicate ins~rument is coloured yellow. The instrument, or each instrument of the set, may include two corrosion resistant tool parts, one mounted at each end of its handle.
An example of a dental instrument and a set of dental instruments in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of an instrument which is often used for amalgam work.
The dental instrument shown in the drawing includes tool parts 1 and 2 made from stainless steel. The tool parts 1 and 2 are permanently mounted one at each end of a handle 3.
The handle 3 is generally cylindrical and includes on its outer surface a central zone 4 having a smooth surface and two end zones 5 and 6 which are knurled. In manufacture of the instrument the handle 3 is produced by, for example, machining a solid cylindrical or tubular blank. The blank which is made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy is first knurled 1~75940 along its entire length and then the blank is turned to create the central zone 4. Ends 7 of the handle 3 are then machined into a conical shape. The tool parts 1 and 2 are press-fitted into each end of the handle, the tool part shanks being an interference fit into holes drilled into each end of the handle, or into an existing bore of the handle when it is tubular.
Before the assembly of the instrument the handle 3 is anodized and given a coloured coating which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made. The coloured anodized coating provides a surface on the handle which resists repeated sterilization of the instrument by autoclaving or sterilizing with hot air.
The use of an aluminium or an aluminium based allow for the handle has other advantages. The relatively low density of the material when compared to that of steel enables the handle 3 to be made with a larger cross-sectional area than a steel handle of the same weight. This makes the instrument more comfortable to work with. The nature of the material also enables the knurling and the other machining to be performed easily. The dental instrument shown in the drawing may form part of a set of dental instruments and, in this case, all of the instruments in the set have a handle of similar shape and size, the sole difference being in the shape of the tool parts which are fitted in each end of the handle. This leads to greater efficiency in the production since the same shape and size of handle is used for all the different tools in the set.
The anodized coating applied to the handle 3 can be provided in several different colours. Each type of instrument is given a different, distinctively coloured coating, and it is possible to choose a colour code in which the colour associated with each instrument is related to the function of that ~075940 instrument. As an example the coating on a tartar instrument is coloured red, since there is always a certain àmount of blood flow in connection with the removal of tartar. Similarly the coating on an amalgam instrument is coloured black while the coating on a silicate instrument for the insertion of silicate front tooth fillings is yellow. Ball stoppers used for the application of insulating cement and for some amalgam work have a blue coloured coating and probes used for the detection of decay have a coating which is coloured orange with a tinge of brown, this colour occurring in chronic attacks of decay.
When a set of dental instruments includes more than one instrument of each type the coatings applied to the instruments of the same type are made in different shades of the same basic colour. The instruments may be arranged so that the lighter colour coating indicates an instrument having a finer gauge tool part and at a darker colour coating indicates an instrument having a coarser gauge tool part. Colour codes other than the one described here may also be used.
Thus the instruments in accordance with this invention may be lighter and certainly more convenient to work with than correspondlng conventional steel instruments and they may be manufactured for a $imilar or lower cost. Further a particular instrument can be identified at a glance even if it is ~umbled up with the other instruments of the set as a result of the characteristic colour marking of the handle of the instrument.
The anodized coating applied to the surface of the handle not only acts as colour coding but also provides a completely smooth - and poreless surface finish which enables a high degree of sterility to be achieved.
. e~
i ~
.
In the past such instruments have included a solid handle made from the same material as the tool part. Typically this is steel and, to reduce the weight as far as possible, it has been necessary to make the handle very thin and slender which, in turn leads to difficulties in handling. To prevent the instrument from inadvertently twisting and slipping in use the handle part has heen hexagonal or non-circular in cross section.
During treatment of a patient a dentist will normally use a number of hand instruments, for example probes for examination of the status of the teeth, ball stoppers for modelling and for the application of insulating cement, amalgam cutters for the trimming of amalgam fillers, silicate instruments for silicate fillings, and tartar instruments for the removal of tartar. At the start of the treatment, a number of dental instruments are arranged on a tray. During the treatment the dentist frequently changes the instrument being used and often the assortment on the tray has to be added to by additional instruments of a special character.
After using a particular instrument the dentist replaces it on the tray but it is rarely replaced in a particular position.
Consequently when most of the instruments have been used at least once the result is that all of them lie jumbled up on 1 -- .
~ .
, .
-` 1075~4~
a tray. Once this state has occurred special attention is required by the dentist to select a particular instrument.
It is customary for all the instruments in the set to have similar handles and, therefore the only way in which the different instruments can be identified is by examination of their tool parts. The instruments usually have a brightly polished finish and this together with a powerful working light gives rise to reflections in the instruments and as a particular instrument is often required in a hurry this leads to mistakes in the selection of a particular instrument from the jumble on the tray. The instruments are often required in a hurry as there may only be a limited time available for the completion of a particu~ar operation, for example the completion of a filling before the amalgam becomes unworkable.
According to a first aspect of this invention a dental instrument comprises an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy and having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, the handle including an anodized - coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made.
According to a second aspect of this invention a set of dental instruments comprises three or more of the following types of instrument: - a probe; an amalgam cutter;
a ball stopping lnstrument; a tartar instrument; and, a silicate instrument: each instrument comprising an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy and each having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, each handle including an anodized coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made, and the colour of the anodized .~
1(~75940 coating on each type of instrument in the set is different to the colour of any other type of instrument in that set so that, in use, the type of instrument is readily distinguishable.
The set may also include two or more of each type of instrument and, in this case the handles of the instruments of each type are anodized with the same colour but with a different shade, so that the colour gives an indication of their size or gauge as well as their type.
Preferably the anodized coating on the probe is coloured orange tinted with brown, the anodized coating on the amalgam cutter is coloured black, the anodized coating on the ball stopper is coloured blue, the anodized coating on the tartar instrument is coloured red, and the anodized coating on the silicate ins~rument is coloured yellow. The instrument, or each instrument of the set, may include two corrosion resistant tool parts, one mounted at each end of its handle.
An example of a dental instrument and a set of dental instruments in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of an instrument which is often used for amalgam work.
The dental instrument shown in the drawing includes tool parts 1 and 2 made from stainless steel. The tool parts 1 and 2 are permanently mounted one at each end of a handle 3.
The handle 3 is generally cylindrical and includes on its outer surface a central zone 4 having a smooth surface and two end zones 5 and 6 which are knurled. In manufacture of the instrument the handle 3 is produced by, for example, machining a solid cylindrical or tubular blank. The blank which is made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy is first knurled 1~75940 along its entire length and then the blank is turned to create the central zone 4. Ends 7 of the handle 3 are then machined into a conical shape. The tool parts 1 and 2 are press-fitted into each end of the handle, the tool part shanks being an interference fit into holes drilled into each end of the handle, or into an existing bore of the handle when it is tubular.
Before the assembly of the instrument the handle 3 is anodized and given a coloured coating which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made. The coloured anodized coating provides a surface on the handle which resists repeated sterilization of the instrument by autoclaving or sterilizing with hot air.
The use of an aluminium or an aluminium based allow for the handle has other advantages. The relatively low density of the material when compared to that of steel enables the handle 3 to be made with a larger cross-sectional area than a steel handle of the same weight. This makes the instrument more comfortable to work with. The nature of the material also enables the knurling and the other machining to be performed easily. The dental instrument shown in the drawing may form part of a set of dental instruments and, in this case, all of the instruments in the set have a handle of similar shape and size, the sole difference being in the shape of the tool parts which are fitted in each end of the handle. This leads to greater efficiency in the production since the same shape and size of handle is used for all the different tools in the set.
The anodized coating applied to the handle 3 can be provided in several different colours. Each type of instrument is given a different, distinctively coloured coating, and it is possible to choose a colour code in which the colour associated with each instrument is related to the function of that ~075940 instrument. As an example the coating on a tartar instrument is coloured red, since there is always a certain àmount of blood flow in connection with the removal of tartar. Similarly the coating on an amalgam instrument is coloured black while the coating on a silicate instrument for the insertion of silicate front tooth fillings is yellow. Ball stoppers used for the application of insulating cement and for some amalgam work have a blue coloured coating and probes used for the detection of decay have a coating which is coloured orange with a tinge of brown, this colour occurring in chronic attacks of decay.
When a set of dental instruments includes more than one instrument of each type the coatings applied to the instruments of the same type are made in different shades of the same basic colour. The instruments may be arranged so that the lighter colour coating indicates an instrument having a finer gauge tool part and at a darker colour coating indicates an instrument having a coarser gauge tool part. Colour codes other than the one described here may also be used.
Thus the instruments in accordance with this invention may be lighter and certainly more convenient to work with than correspondlng conventional steel instruments and they may be manufactured for a $imilar or lower cost. Further a particular instrument can be identified at a glance even if it is ~umbled up with the other instruments of the set as a result of the characteristic colour marking of the handle of the instrument.
The anodized coating applied to the surface of the handle not only acts as colour coding but also provides a completely smooth - and poreless surface finish which enables a high degree of sterility to be achieved.
. e~
i ~
.
Claims (6)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A dental instrument comprising an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based alloy and having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, the handle including an anodized coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made.
2. An instrument according to claim 1, in which the handle includes two tool parts mounted one at each end of the handle.
3. A set of dental instruments comprising three or more of the following types of instrument: - a probe; an amalgam cutter; a ball stopping instrument; a tartar instrument; and, a silicate instrument: each instrument comprising an elongate handle made from aluminium or an aluminium based allow and each having a corrosion resistant tool part mounted at one end, each handle including an anodized coating on its outer surface which is different in colour to the natural colour of the material from which the handle is made, and the colour of the anodized coating on each type of instrument in the set is different to the colour of any other type of instrument in that set, so that, in use, the type of instrument is readily distinguishable.
4. A set of instruments according to claim 3, in which each instrument includes two tool parts, one mounted at each end of its handle.
5. A set of instruments according to claim 3 or claim 4, which includes two or more of each type of instrument, the handles of the instruments of each type including an anodizing coating which is the same in colour but different in shade, so that the instruments of each type are readily distinguishable.
6. A set of instruments according to claim 3 or 4, in which the anodized coating on the probe is coloured orange tinted with brown, the anodized coating on the amalgam cutter is coloured black, the anodized coating on the ball stopper is coloured blue, the anodized coating on the tartar instrument is coloured red, and the anodized coating on the silicate instrument is coloured yellow.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,771A CA1075940A (en) | 1976-09-08 | 1976-09-08 | Dental instrument |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,771A CA1075940A (en) | 1976-09-08 | 1976-09-08 | Dental instrument |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1075940A true CA1075940A (en) | 1980-04-22 |
Family
ID=4106811
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,771A Expired CA1075940A (en) | 1976-09-08 | 1976-09-08 | Dental instrument |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1075940A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-09-08 CA CA260,771A patent/CA1075940A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |