DE102016005282B4 - Interdental brush - Google Patents

Abstract

Interdental brush (1) for diagnosing diseases in the interdental space, comprising a handle (2) and a wire element (4) extending from the handle (2) to a free end (5), the bristles (7) ) to the free end (5) of the wire element (4) have a decreasing length at least in one section, wherein at the free end (5) of the wire element (4) a bristle-free section (8) is formed, and wherein the bristle-free section (8 ) in the axial direction via a geometric tip (11) from an intellectual extension of an outer contour (10) of the bristles (7), characterized in that the wire element (4) has two twisted strands (6) that the twisted strands ( 6) in the bristle-free section (8) form a bristle-free loop (9) that the bristle-free loop (9) serves as an insertion aid and is aligned relative to the handle (2), and in that on the handle (2) has a mark (23)is present, which indicates the room level in which the loop (9) is aligned.

Description

The invention describes an interdental brush with a handle and a wire element which extends from the handle to a free end and carries bristles.

Such interdental brushes are usually used to clean the interdental spaces. For this purpose, for example, the bristles on the bristle head essentially form a cylinder or a cone. The bristle head is inserted into the interdental space and moved back and forth there.

From the DE 93 13 034 U1 For example, an interdental brush is known in which the bristles are held by two wires twisted together, the two wires being twisted so that at least one bristle-free loop is formed. The bristles have a decreasing length at least in one section.

From the US 2008/0216267 A1 an interdental brush is known, which also has an electric drive for linear movement of the brush within a tooth space to increase the cleaning performance.

The width of the interdental spaces can vary widely from person to person and also between a person's teeth. For this reason, the interdental brushes are usually offered with different sized bristle heads, so that a suitable interdental brush is available for each interdental space. The interdental brushes are available as sanitary products for use by the user or as medical devices for use by a dentist.

If the interdental spaces are not regularly cleaned with an interdental brush, bacteria will accumulate in them, which can lead to gingivitis, periodontitis or tooth decay. Also, because the cleaning of such interdental spaces by a normal toothbrush is not sufficient. The greatest risk of illness is in tight spaces between the teeth. A narrow interdental space is defined by the fact that the two teeth forming the interdental space touch each other at least at one contact point.

Such a bacterial disease of the interdental spaces, in particular a chronic gingivitis, could also be diagnosed with the aid of interdental brushes. There are diagnostic interdental brushes with a cylindrical brush head, which are inserted into the interdental space. During insertion, the bristles are slightly bent in the direction of the handle through the teeth and the gums. When pulling out the interdental brush, the bristles fold over. This feather effect of the bristles provokes bleeding in diseased tissue.

However, this diagnosis only works if the bristles are long enough to reach the diseased tissue, for example in the junctional epithelium. The bristles may not be too long, because then the folding does not take place. The bristles remain bent in the direction of the handle and no bleeding is triggered even in case of illness. If the bristles are significantly too long, the interdental brush can not be inserted into the interdental space at all.

Since it is not clear from the outset which brush head diameter has the suitable bristle length, there are diagnostic sets with several, for example 12, interdental brushes with increasing brush head diameters.

Starting with the interdental brush with the smallest head diameter, the head diameter is gradually increased until bleeding occurs or even with the largest brush no bleeding occurs.

Depending on the size of the interdental space and the experience of the dentist, it may still be necessary to try a large number of different brushes. This is time consuming. In addition, a lot of interdental brushes are needed.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an interdental brush, which allows a simple, fast and reliable diagnosis of diseases in the interdental space.

This object is achieved by an interdental brush with the features of claim 1 and by an interdental brush set with the features of claim 7.

Further advantageous features of the invention are mentioned in the subclaims and the description.

The interdental brush according to the invention is characterized in that the bristles have a decreasing length towards the free end of the wire element, at least in one section.

Since the interdental space is only a few millimeters long and the interdental brush should not look any length on the other side of the tooth, the length of the wire element, so the brush head is limited in total. So that as many bristles with different lengths can be arranged on this limited length, a steep opening angle of the outer contour of the bristles is advantageous. Therefore, the bristle-free section is an intellectual extension of Outer contour on the wire element to out. This ensures a sufficiently steep outer contour, so that the bristle lengths between the individual bristles not only differ marginally.

The advantage consists in the fact that the interdental brush according to the invention has bristles of different lengths. For the diagnosis of diseases in the interdental space, therefore, only this one interdental brush is necessary. The bristle length gradually increases starting from the free end in the direction of the handle. When introducing the interdental brush according to the invention into a tooth space, the bristle length within the interdental space is thus increased stepwise. When pulling out the interdental brush, one of the bristle lengths will usually have fitted exactly to this interdental space. At least these matching bristles then flip over and provoke bleeding in diseased tissue. Regardless of how the interdental space is measured, always fits at least one bristle length. This means that diseased tissue is almost always diagnosed positively.

Conversely, a disease can virtually be ruled out if there is no bleeding. In previous interdental brushes always an inappropriate bristle length was considered.

For reliable diagnosis, therefore, only an interdental brush is necessary. The application becomes much easier and safer in the statement.

With conventional interdental brushes, it may be difficult to penetrate the interdental space, especially for larger bristle lengths. Due to the resistance of the bristles, a brush only slips under pressure into a space between the teeth. This resistance is greater the longer the bristles are in relation to the interdental space. If the resistance becomes too great, the wire element may bend and the interdental brush will not enter the interdental space to be examined.

In the case of the interdental brush according to the invention, a bristle-free section is now formed at the free end of the wire element, ie at the bristle head. This bristle-free section serves as an insertion aid for the interdental brush. Since there are no bristles in this section, this area of the wire element can be inserted virtually force-free into each interdental space until the first bristles abut the teeth and gum. Only then is the resistance formed, which must be overcome by pressure. The interdental brush is then already safely guided in the interdental space. This can be assisted by a loop described in more detail, which can serve as an additional guide, because it rests on the left and right of the teeth. Due to the pressure on the interdental brush, the wire element can no longer bend, but follows the bristle-free section into the interdental space.

As a result, the introduction of the interdental brush according to the invention becomes much simpler and safer. Overall, the interdental brush allows a simple, fast and safe diagnosis of gum diseases, such as chronic gingivitis.

The bristles are attached to the wire element. The wire element is therefore formed in a suitable manner for receiving the bristles. It may, unlike the name suggests, for example, plastic or metal wire. For example, the bristles could be mounted in a plastic wire element in an in-mold process.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wire element has two mutually twisted strands, which hold the bristles between them and which are interconnected at the free end. For this purpose, preferably a metal wire is suitable. The wire element thereby has a rounded or round end. This eliminates the risk that the gums and / or teeth may be injured or damaged by sharp edges on this insertion end.

It may be particularly advantageous if the two wire strands are integrally formed. In this case, the wire element can be easily produced by bending or bending a wire and then twisting.

In order to ensure a secure guidance within the interdental space, it can be advantageous if the bristle-free section extends around one another over at least a length of one complete turn of the twisted strands.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the twisted strands in the bristle-free section form a bristle-free loop. This loop essentially causes a planar guidance of the interdental brush in the interdental space and thereby prevents the interdental brush from twisting during and after insertion of the interdental brush into a tooth space. Furthermore, the loop prevents the opposite papilla of a tooth gap from being injured. In addition, the loop also gives the patient the feeling that he can not be injured. In this respect, the interdental brush already contributes to calming the patient. Through this Reducing a degree of freedom of movement further simplifies the application of the interdental brush.

It is expedient if the bristle-free loop has a maximum outer diameter which is greater than an outer diameter of the twisted strands in the region of the bristles. This ensures safe guidance of the interdental brush in the interdental space.

In particular, it may be advantageous here if the loop extends around one another over at least a length of one complete turn of the twisted strands.

Due to these geometric conditions, the dimensions for the bristle-free section and possibly the loop arise.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the bristle-free section is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, particularly preferably at least 2 mm long. This length is sufficient to ensure a safe insertion aid.

In principle, the outer contour of the brush head formed by the free ends of the bristles is not essential to the invention, as long as the bristle length decreases at least in a section towards the free end. The outer contour could, for example, have a quadrangular, triangular or round cross-section.

It is particularly advantageous if the bristle length at the free end is the lowest, so that insertion into a tooth space is simplified.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the bristles with their free bristle ends define an outer contour that tapers towards the free end. With such a shape, the bristle length changes steadily in uniform steps, which allows a defined accurate diagnosis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this outer contour is conical or conical. The cross section of the brush head is circular, whereby the bristle length are equal in all radial directions transverse to the wire element. Such a conical interdental brush therefore has no preferential orientation, which must be taken into account during insertion, whereby the handling is facilitated. On the other hand, an interdental brush with an acute-angled triangle could be more advantageous as a cross-section for very narrow interdental spaces.

An interdental brush according to the invention with a loop at the open end of the brush head has only two possible spatial orientations in which it can be introduced into a tooth space. It is therefore advantageous if the handle has a means that identifies this preferred orientation.

For example, there may be a mark on the handle that identifies the plane of the room in which the loop is aligned. For example, this mark could be an imprint.

However, the handle could also have, for example, an oval handle or a grip area which is flattened in the plane of the loop. As a result, the orientation of the sling could be detected purely haptically.

It is particularly expedient to provide an interdental brush set with at least two interdental brushes according to the invention, wherein the or a bristle-free loop at the free end of the wire element of each of the at least two interdental brushes has a uniform orientation with respect to the associated handle. This ensures that all interdental brushes have the same orientation.

With the interdental brush according to the invention is also a new, efficient diagnostic method feasible, which is also part of the invention.

In this diagnostic method, an interdental brush according to the invention is introduced into a narrow interdental space between a tooth interface and a ciliary epithelium, and it is detected whether a hemorrhagic hemorrhage of the epithelium is provoked.

Due to the described advantages of the invention, only one interdental brush is necessary for each interdental space in this diagnostic method. In addition, the diagnostic method according to the invention has a sensitivity of almost 100%, with simultaneously very good selectivity of likewise almost 100%. This means that any bleeding that occurs is almost always indicative of a medical condition and a lack of bleeding virtually always excludes disease.

The diagnosis of diseases in the interdental space is done quickly and reliably according to this method.

In a further development of the diagnostic method, a number of narrow interdental spaces are contrasted with a number of narrow interdental spaces with provable bleeding. This is for example for each interdental space notes whether it is a close interdental space, whether a gap closure has taken place and whether a disease exists. This ratio then indicates how many of the interdental spaces are affected. Appropriately, this diagnosis is provided with a date and repeated regularly. In particular, it may be useful if the diameter or the bristle length is noted, which provoked the bleeding.

In this way, a tooth and disease history can be created. It can be read from it, for example, when a gap closure between two adjacent teeth has taken place and if and when in this interdental space then a disease has occurred.

From this history beyond a predictive diagnostics can be realized. Due to previous times between gap closure and illness, the time of a disease can be predicted for further gap closures. This new disease can then be counteracted by targeted treatment.

For this purpose, it may be expedient if, in interdental spaces with provable bleeding, regular cleaning is carried out with an interdental brush having an outer contour with a constant cross section, for example with a cylindrical or prismatic outer contour of the bristles. This outer contour can be described here by the free ends of the bristles.

The diagnostic method according to the invention can provide in a further development that it is checked again at predetermined time intervals whether bleeding can be provoked in the regularly cleaned interdental spaces. For this purpose, an interdental brush according to the invention is used again.

For those interdental spaces in which bleeding is provociable, a suitable bristle diameter is again selected for regular cleaning, which is usually larger than the previous one. This may be necessary, for example, because an inflammation-induced swelling of the gums has receded, so that the interdental space has become wider again.

The invention further includes the use of an interdental brush according to the invention for a diagnostic method as described above and the production of an interdental brush according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• 1: eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Interdentalbürste,
• 2: eine Detailansicht des borstenlosen Bereichs der Interdentalbürste der 1 mit Längenangaben,
• 3: eine Detailansicht des borstenlosen Bereichs der Interdentalbürste der 1 mit Durchmesserangaben,
• 4: eine Detailansicht des borstenlosen Bereichs der Interdentalbürste der 1 mit markierter Außenkontur,
• 5: eine schematische Darstellung eines Zahnzwischenraumes,
• 6: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer eingeführten zylindrischen Interdentalbürste mit zu kurzen Borsten,
• 7: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer eingeführten zylindrischen Interdentalbürste mit passenden Borsten,
• 8: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer eingeführten zylindrischen Interdentalbürste mit zu langen Borsten,
• 9: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 und eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste,
• 10: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer eingeführten erfindungsgemäßen Interdentalbürste,
• 11: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer wieder herausgezogenen erfindungsgemäßen Interdentalbürste und einer beginnenden Blutung,
• 12: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit sichtbarer Blutung
• 13: den Zahnzwischenraum der 5 mit einer eingeführten zylindrischen Interdentalbürste mit passenden Borsten zum Reinigen und
• 14: eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit einer Orientierungs-Markierung der Schlaufe.

It shows:

• 1 : a side view of an interdental brush according to the invention,
• 2 : A detailed view of the bristle-free area of the interdental brush of the 1 with length information,
• 3 : A detailed view of the bristle-free area of the interdental brush of the 1 with diameter information,
• 4 : A detailed view of the bristle-free area of the interdental brush of the 1 with marked outer contour,
• 5 : a schematic representation of a tooth gap,
• 6 : the interdental space of the 5 with an inserted cylindrical interdental brush with too short bristles,
• 7 : the interdental space of the 5 with an inserted cylindrical interdental brush with matching bristles,
• 8th : the interdental space of the 5 with an inserted cylindrical interdental brush with too long bristles,
• 9 : the interdental space of the 5 and an interdental brush according to the invention,
• 10 : the interdental space of the 5 with an inserted interdental brush according to the invention,
• 11 : the interdental space of the 5 with a withdrawn interdental brush according to the invention and an incipient bleeding,
• 12 : the interdental space of the 5 with visible bleeding
• 13 : the interdental space of the 5 with an inserted cylindrical interdental brush with matching bristles for cleaning and
• 14 : an interdental brush according to the invention with an orientation marking of the loop.

The 1 shows an overall designated by 1 interdental brush according to the invention. The interdental brush has a handle 2 and a brush head 3 on.

The shape of the handle 2 plays no essential role for the invention, why they are in 1 to 13 only approach or not shown.

In principle, the handle 2 have any shape that allows a good manual handling. In particular, have essentially cylindrical rods with hexagonal or octagonal cross-section proven. These are almost round and comfortable to grip and by the edges easier against twisting securable.

The brush head 3 is in the example coaxial with the handle 2 arranged. The brush head 3 but can also be arranged angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle, whereby the application is facilitated at the molars.

The brush head 3 has a wire element 4 on, on the one hand at the handle 2 is attached and on the other hand, a free end 5 has.

In the example, the wire element 4 Made of metal wire, which consists of two strands 6 is formed, which are twisted together. The bristles 7 are inside the twisted strands 6 held. At the free end 5 of the wire element 4 are in a bristle-free section 8th no bristles 7 arranged.

The two strands 6 are at the free end 5 connected to each other where they have a bristle-free loop 9 form. The two strands 6 are preferably formed in one piece, wherein first the loop 9 in the middle of a wire is formed by bending, to subsequently the two strands 6 with the bristles 7 to twist together.

The bristle length takes to the free end 5 of the wire element 4 steadily off. The free bristle ends 12 thus form a free end 5 of the wire element 4 towards tapered, conical or conical outer contour 10 ,

The 2 illustrates a mental extension of the outer contour 10 to the wire element 4 So, up to the geometric peak 11 of the cone. As you can see, the bristle-free section stands out 8th in the axial direction over this peak 11 out. This geometric condition is important to the invention.

In 3 it can be seen that the bristle-free loop 9 a maximum outer diameter There which is larger than an outer diameter ds the twisted strands 6 in the area of the bristles 7 , The shortest bristles have a diameter db , which is about the diameter There the loop 9 equivalent. The wire diameter dd in the example is about 0.25 mm.

The 4 shows that the axial length lb of the bristle-free section 8th is longer than the length lw a complete turn of twisted strands 6 around each other. Also the axial length ls the loop 9 in the example is greater than the length lw a turn.

The total length lb of the bristle-free section 8th depends directly on the opening angle A of the outer contour 10 the bristles 7 since the condition that the bristle-free section 8th over the top 11 the outer contour 10 stands out, must be fulfilled. In the example this total length is lb for example, at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm.

In 5 is a schematic cross section through a narrow interdental space 13 between two adjacent teeth 14 shown. In the drawing is only the back tooth 14 because the front, not shown tooth the interdental space 13 would obscure. The two teeth touch each other in an indicated contact point 15 , The illustrated interdental space 13 is therefore by definition a close interdental space. In the middle of the Cols 16 is an inflammation 17 indicated.

To diagnose this inflammation, an interdental brush is inserted into the interdental space between the gum and the junction.

In 6 is an interdental brush 18 shown with cylindrical outer contour according to the prior art, the bristles 7 but too short. The bristles 7 bend against the papillae 19 and the contact point 15 to handle 2 but do not reach the inflammation 17 in the middle of the col 16 , With this brush 18 no bleeding is provoked.

The opposite case is in 7 shown. The bristles 7 this cylindrical interdental brush 18 according to the prior art are much too long, so that when retracting the interdental brush 18 no folding over of the bristles 7 takes place and thus also no bleeding is provoked.

The inflammation can not be diagnosed with these two interdental brushes.

The bristles 7 the in 8th shown cylindrical interdental brush 18 according to the state of the art possess the correct length. The slightly bent bristle tips 12 reach the inflammation 17 in the middle of the col 16 Well. When retracting the interdental brush occurs here, the folding effect and it is provoked bleeding.

The diagnosis of this inflammation with cylindrical interdental brushes 18 The prior art therefore requires the testing of several such interdental brushes 18 , starting suitably with a small brush diameter, which is then gradually increased.

With an interdental brush according to the invention 1 makes the diagnosis of inflammation much easier. The 9 shows an interdental brush according to the invention 1 with conical outer contour and a loop 9 at the bristle-free section 8th as well as the interdental space 13 the 5 ,

This interdental brush 1 will now be in the narrow interdental space 13 between gums 20 and contact point 15 introduced. Through the loop 9 at the free end 5 lets go the interdental brush 1 especially easy to introduce, until the resistance, the gradually increasing bristles 7 at the introductory 21 of the interdental space 13 generate, become too big.

As in 10 can be seen, but always reach some of the bristles 7 the inflamed area 17 of the Cols 16 , Will the interdental brush 1 withdrawn, provoke the folding due to the spring effect bristles 7 the right length a bleeding 22 , This bleeding is in 11 indicated. The example shows the inflammation 17 at the lowest point of the Cols 16 why the bleeding 22 only visible from the outside, if the Col 16 with blood 22 is filled and the blood 22 over the papilla 19 breaks, as in 12 indicated.

For treatment and prevention, the interdental space 13 with a diagnosed inflammation regularly with an interdental brush 18 cleaned with cylindrical outer contour. The diameter of the interdental brush 18 results from the previously determined size of the interdental space.

The loop 9 at the free end of the brush head 3 serves as an insertion aid around the interdental brush 1 easier in narrow interdental spaces 13 introduce. As in 14 is indicated, the handle points 2 therefore marks 23 on which the spatial orientation of the loop 9 Show. This mark 23 consists in the example of several points at the handle 2 attached or printed. Are the marks 23 in a line 24 parallel to the line 25 a row of teeth 26 , is the loop 9 exactly perpendicular to the row of teeth 26 aligned and therefore in the correct orientation for insertion into a tooth space 13 , The mark 23 may also have a haptic component, so that the orientation can also be felt or felt.

An interdental brush 1 with a handle 2 and a brush head 3 , wherein the brush head 3 a wire element 4 that is different from the handle 2 to a free end 5 extends and on the bristles 7 are attached to the free end 5 of the wire element 4 at least in a section have a decreasing length and wherein at the free end 5 of the wire element 4 a bristle-free section 8th is trained.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Interdental brush

2

handle

3

brush head

4

wire element

5

free end of the wire element

6

strands

7

bristles

8th

bristle-free section

9

loop

10

outer contour

11

Tip of the outer contour

12

free bristle end

13

Interdental

14

tooth

15

contact point

16

Col

17

inflammation

18

Interdental brush according to the prior art

19

papilla

20

gums

21

introductory

22

blood

23

mark

24

Line between markers

25

Line of a row of teeth

26

teeth

There

Diameter of the loop 9

ds

Diameter of the twisted strands 6

db

Diameter of the shortest bristles

dd

Diameter of a strand 6

lb

Length of the bristle-free section 8th

ls

Length of the loop 9

lw

Length of a turn

α

Opening angle of the outer contour 10

Claims (7)

Interdental brush (1) for diagnosing diseases in the interdental space, comprising a handle (2) and a wire element (4) extending from the handle (2) to a free end (5), the bristles (7) ) to the at least in a portion have a decreasing length, wherein at the free end (5) of the wire member (4) a bristle-free portion (8) is formed, and wherein the bristle-free portion (8) in axial direction over a geometric tip (11) from a mental extension of an outer contour (10) of the bristles (7) protrudes, characterized in that the wire element (4) has two mutually twisted strands (6) that the twisted strands (6) form a bristle-free loop (9) in the bristle-free section (8), that the bristle-free loop (9) serves as an insertion aid and is aligned relative to the handle (2), and that a marking (23) is present on the handle (2) , which identifies the spatial plane in which the loop (9) is aligned. Interdental brush after Claim 1 , characterized in that the twisted strands (6) hold the bristles (7) between them and at the free end (5) of the wire element (4) are interconnected. Interdental brush after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the bristle-free portion (8) extends around each other at least over a length (Lw) of a complete turn of the twisted strands (6). Interdental brush after one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the bristle-free portion (8) at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm long. Interdental brush after one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the bristles (7) define with their free bristle ends (12) a tapered to the free end (5), preferably conical outer contour (10). Interdental brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle-free loop (9) has a maximum outer diameter (Da) which is greater than an outer diameter (Ds) of the twisted strands (6) in the region of the bristles (7). Interdental brush set, with at least two interdental brushes (1) after one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the bristle-free loop (9) at the free end (5) of the wire element (4) of each of the at least two interdental brushes (1) has a uniform orientation with respect to the associated handle (2).

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