GB2415138A

GB2415138A - Tooth isolation device

Info

Publication number: GB2415138A
Application number: GB0413538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Khan-Sullman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-17
Filing date: 2004-06-17
Publication date: 2005-12-21
Also published as: GB0413538D0

Abstract

A device suitable for isolating at least one tooth comprises two teeth engaging members 49 which, in use, engage either side of a tooth 20,27,47, and which are coupled to a flexible connecting means 23,26,48. At least one of the engaging members is attached to the connecting means by an elongate member 21,22,24,25,46 that is displaces the soft tissue surrounding the tooth, e.g. the tongue and/or cheek. Preferably both engaging members are mounted to elongate tissue displacement members. The device may have cotton rolls attached and may be provided with a suction device, lighting and/or mirrors. A special instrument may be used to apply the device to a tooth, e.g. rubber dam forceps.

Description

TOOTH ISOLATION DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to dental devices and in particular to means for displacing oral soft tissues.

Backeround Due to the nature of oral soft tissues, the dentist often has to displace or retract the tissues from the field of operation during treatment. This is done so that his view and access to the treatment site are better served, whilst reducing the risk of trauma to the soft tissues by his instruments. In this the dental assistant/nurse often assists him.

There is therefore the need for a device that holds back the oral soft tissues from the field of operation, without direct intervention from the clinician or assistant, to reduce the risk of trauma during the dental procedure, making treatment easier and more comfortable for both the clinician and for the patient.

Technical Information The Tooth Isolation Device serves to enable the oral soft tissues to be held clear of dental instruments and drills without the clinician or nurse having to hold them back during treatment.

The present invention, the Tooth Isolation Device, is an oral soft tissue displacement device comprising first and second tooth engaging elements to engage opposite sides of the tooth (i.e. the buccal and palatal/lingual sides/surfaces of the tooth or teeth), where each tooth engaging element is rigidly connected to a soft tissue displacement member, and where either the tissue displacement member pair and/or the two tooth engaging elements are interconnected via a connection element. The said connection element allows resilient separation of the tooth engaging elements and/or the tissue displacement members to allow placement and removal of the device from the tooth to be operated on or from a tooth adjacent or close to that being operated on.

The connection element is connected directly to the soft-tissue displacement members and not to the tooth engaging elements (except in the case of an embodiment of the device being provided with only one soft tissue displacement member, wherein the connection element may be connected to one of the tooth engaging elements, but not directly to both) . Although one tooth-engaging element may be connected directly to the connection element in some embodiments of the invention, there are no embodiments where both tooth-engaging elements connect directly to the connection element.

I.e. one tooth-engaging element may connect directly to (or via an intermediate component) to the connection element, but the other toothengaging element connects directly to a tissue displacement member, and not to the connection element.

The tooth engaging elements engage with the buccal and palatal/lingual surfaces of the tooth to be operated on or one near to it when applied, or with the tooth cervical margin or neck of the tooth both bucally and palatally/lingually.

The device is preferably made of rigid material whilst allowing a degree of flexion or flexibility in some components of the device, e.g.the connection element and in the tooth engaging elements.

The connection element and the plane in which it exists may be inclined vertically or horizontally in relation to the level/line formed by the occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

The angle between the plane containing the connection element and the plane containing the longitudinal axes of the soft tissue displacement member(s) is at an angle between O and 90 degrees.

The soft tissue displacement members hold the soft tissues away from the operative area, and from the tooth being operated on. The device may be provided in forms with either one or two tissue displacement members. Additionally it can be provided in forms where the two tissue displacement members may be the same or different in length, shape, andlor size from one another.

The soft tissue displacement members, when in paired arrangements, may be curved or straight, rectilinear or non-rectilinear, or comprise a combination of these characteristics. Further, where there is more than one tissue displacement member, the members may be parallel or at divergent from one another, they can also exist at different heights from one another in relation to the level of tooth engagement.

The device is provided with a means by which it can be manipulated, such that it can be handled and applied via an existing style of applicator or instrument (e.g. a rubber dam forceps), or can be handled with its own specially designed applicator.

The soft tissue displacement member(s) may be rod-like, flat, or some other shape, dependent upon the efficacy in use and patient comfort.

The soft tissue displacement members may extend anteriorly and posteriorly of the tooth engaging elements, and/or of the tooth being operated upon. The connection element may be connected to the soft tissue displacement members at any point along their longitudinal lengths.

Advantageously the oral soft tissue displacement member follows an arcuate path (preferably centred in use upon the tooth upon which the device is mounted).

The device may be mounted either upon the tooth being operated upon, or on another nearby tooth, usually in the same arch and on the same side as the tooth being operated upon.

The soft tissue displacement member(s) may be arranged to hold back one, some or even all of the soft tissues of the particular area in which it is placed. For example a soft tissue displacement device for use in the lower jaw may be designed to hold back one or more of the tongue, the cheek, the floor of the mouth and/or some other soft tissue. Displacement of the tissues should not unnecessarily limit movement and comfort of the tissues, displacement and limitation of movement involves primarily one side of the tongue (i.e. that side of the tongue adjacent to the device).

The soft tissue displacement member(s) may comprise one or more components that are either permanently or releasably attached to one or both of the first and second tooth engaging elements. Desirably the device may be designed so that it does not interfere with or limit the use of dental instruments during treatment.

The device may alternatively be attached to an adjacent or nearby tooth. It may also comprise a plurality of displacement members optionally as separate components, or interconnectableto become functionally active.

Where the device is in a form incorporating only one tissue displacement member, that member may be located either bucally or palatally/lingually to the tooth.

None of the tooth engaging elements connect directly to the connection element, but via tissue displacement members or intermediate connecting components.

The device may also incorporate functions of debris trap, mirror surfaces, a mount for a means of illumination/lighting (e.g. fibre-optic equipment) , means for securing cotton wool rolls to the device, and/or be provided with an element to aid in suction and removal of fluids and debris. Preferably it is provided with means by which it can be releasably secured at some point outside of the mouth for safety purposes.

The device may be provided in either a disposable or re-usable form.

Te device may be releasably secured to more than one tooth at the same time, adding to stability and support.

The device may incorporate additional/optional elements that allow added support from the other teeth in the same arch.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of the invention, Figure 2 shows at (A) a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, with 2(B), 2(C) and 2(D) are plan views of the invention shown in 2(A), Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention incorporating only one tissue displacement member, Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the invention when applied to a tooth; Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the invention when applied to a tooth.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of one embodiment of the invention, with a paired set of soft tissue displacement members 1 and 4, interconnected via a connection element 2. Each displacement member bears a tooth engaging means 3, the tooth engaging means of member 1 being co acting with the tooth engaging means of member 4.

Members 1 and 4 each bear a feature 5 in the form of a hole that is used to allow engagement with an applicator or other instrument to facilitate handling and application of the device. Feature 5 also allows for the securing of the device to a point outside of the mouth for the purposes of safety.

Figure 2 shows at (A) a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2(B), 2(C) and 2(D) provide views of the embodiment shown in 2(A) from each of the three mutually orthogonal directions marked X, Y and Z respectively as shown in figure 2(A).

Essentially, 2(B), 2(C) and 2(D) show plan views of the embodiment shown in 2(A).

Figure 3 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in perspective wherein the longitudinal length of the displacement members 6 and 7 and connection element 8 all lie in the same plane, and where members 6 and 7 and connection 8 all share the same cross-sectional shape, with tooth engagement means 9 and 10 being of a type used by existing styles of rubber dam clamp.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the rod-like members 11 and 12 and connection element 13 all shares the same cross- section and all of them exist in the same plane. The dotted line between members 11, 12 and element 13 shows the point at which they are connected.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention wherein the members 14 and 15 exist in the same plane but are not straight or rectilinear.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in which there is only one tissue displacement member 16 incorporated, and where the plane containing the connection element 17 (shown by line AB) extends at an angle and vertically in relation to the plane containing the longitudinal length BC of the member 16. The tooth engaging means 19 is connected to the connection element via an intermediate component 18. This embodiment would be used to displace tissues buccally when placed on a lower right tooth or on an upper left tooth, and would displace tissues palatally or lingually when placed on a upper right tooth or on a lower left tooth respectively.

Figure 7 shows at (A) a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention when applied to a molar tooth 20. Tissue displacement members 21 and 22 exist either side of tooth 20. Figure 7(B) shows the invention in 7(A) when viewed from direction Z. showing that longitudinal axis EF of member 21 is at the same level as the neck of the tooth (cervical margin) and below the level of the occlusal surface (line GH) of tooth 20, and with connection element 23 extending at right angles to line EF.

Figure 8(A) shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention attached to a tooth 27, in which the displacement members 24 and 25 and connection element 26 all exist in the same plane. Figure 8(B) shows the invention shown in 8(A) when viewed from direction Z. wherein the longitudinal length KL of member 25 exists at a level above the plane containing the occlusal surface GH of the tooth, whilst tooth engaging element 28 attaches to the tooth along the gum margin PQ of the tooth 27.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of another twin-member embodiment of the invention wherein the connection element 36 exists behind the last tooth in the line of teeth, and can exist below the level of the teeth occlusal level. As the members 31, 32 are on either side of the teeth, it is possible for the patient to bite together whilst the device is in place, as no part of the device blocks the teeth from being brought together during biting. Tooth engaging elements 33,34 hold the device in position by engaging with tooth 35.

Figure I O(A) shows a perspective view of an example of the device designed to hold back the soft tissues on one side of the tooth only with soft tissue member 43.

Connection element 40 interconnects the tooth engaging elements 42 and 44 via the intermediate component 41 and the displacement member 43 respectively, allowing elements 42,44 to be co acting and to be resiliently separated during manipulation and application, whilst still allowing them to exert a co acting engagement on the tooth to which the device is applied.

Figure lO(B) shows a perspective view of the device shown in Figure lO(A) when applied to a tooth 45. as the connection element 40 overlies most of the tooth 45, and would interfere with access, instrumentation and the dental procedure, it would be appropriate to attach this example of the device to a tooth adjacent to the one to be operated on.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment of the invention with only one rodlike tissue displacement member 46, the device being applied to tooth 47 by engagement with tooth engaging features 49, with connection element 48. this embodiment holds back the soft tissues from one side only via displacement member 46.

Figure 12(A) is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the device in which there is only one tissue displacement member 53. The device has two tooth engaging elements 54,55, which are connected via intermediate components 51,52 respectively where component 52 is connected to the tooth engaging element 55 via the tissue displacement member 53.

Figure 12(B) shows the embodiment of the device shown in Fig 12(A) when it is applied to tooth 56, wherein like parts in l 2(B) are like numbered as those in 12(A).

Again this embodiment would be better attached to an adjacent tooth during the operative procedure, as 50, 51 and 52 would all interfere with access, vision' and ease of procedure if the device were attached to the tooth to be operated on.

Figure l 3 is another embodiment of a single-displacement member device.

Figures 14 show another embodiment of the invention in which the connection element 60 exists below the occlusal levels of the teeth 61, 61 and 63, in the free or inter dental space behind tooth 61.

Where the components of the device may nterefere with satisfactory completion of the operative procedure, it is advisable to position those components away from the field of operation, i.e. apply the device to a nearby or adjacent tooth.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail, e.g. interchanging (where appropriate or desired) different features of each, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims

1) A Tooth Isolation Device comprising two (a pair of) soft tissue displacement members, each member separately mounting a tooth engagement means (the engagement means on one member being co acting with the engagement means mounted on the other member of the device, to allow it to be releasably secured to the tooth to which the device is applied), the tissue displacement members being interconnected via a connection element/component that allows the resilient separation of the tissue displacement members (and their attached tooth engagement means) to facilitate the placement/application and removal from the tooth to be operated on, or one close to it; 2) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tissue displacement members are arranged to allow the device to displace soft tissues from both the buccal (cheek-facing side) and the palatal/lingual (palatal/tongue facing side) sides; 3) A Tooth isolation Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device may be provided in a form with only one soft tissue displacement member, located either to displace tissues bucally or palatally/lingually only, thereby also allowing operative and visual access to the non-member adjacent surface (be it the palatalAingual or buccal surface); 4) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is a rigid structure, but which allows flexion in some components of the device in relation to one another, e.g. the tooth engagement means and/or the connection element; 5) A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plane containing the longitudinal length of the connection element may be different to or the same as the plane containing the longitudinal length of the soft tissue displacement members; 6) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an angle of between O to 180 degrees exists between the connection element- adjacent part of the soft tissue displacement member and the tissue displacement member-adjacent part of the connection element; 7) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cross-section of the displacement member may be circular, ovoid, dumb- bell, square or some other shape; 8) A Tooth isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the soft tissue displacement members may be the same length, and /or the same size, and/or the same shape, and/or the same cross-section, andlor the same dimensions as one another; 9) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the soft tissue displacement members may be of different length, and/or size, and/or shape, and/or cross-section, and/or dimension to one another; lO)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tissue displacement members may be curved/non-rectilinear andlor may be straight/rectilinear; 1 1) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device comprises a combination of the features described in claim 7, 8, 9 and 10; 12)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device isolates only one tooth; 13) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device isolates more than one tooth; 14) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there exist one or more bends along the longitudinal length of one or both of the tissue displacement members; 15)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of one or both of the displacement members exist in more than one plane; 16) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal axes of the tissue displacement members may be parallel to one another; 17) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal axes/lengths of the displacement members are convergent or divergent from in relation to one another; ] 8) A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of the displacement members exists above the occlusal surfaces of the teeth; 19) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of the displacement members exists at the same level as or below the occlusal surfaces of the teeth; 20) A Tooth isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of the displacement members exists above, at the same level as, or below the cervical margins (gum margin) of the teeth; 21) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device does not unnecessarily limit the operative procedure required by the tooth to be operated upon 22) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is provided with features that allow the device to be releasably secured to some point outside of the oral cavity/mouth for the purposes of safety; 23) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may be disposable for single-use, or may be in a re-usable, re sterilisable form; 24) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the components are arranged such that they do not interfere with the operative procedure and do not overlap unnecessarily into the areas of access and instrumentation, e.g. by inclining or positioning the connection element posteriorly to improve accessibility to the site of operation; 25) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may be handled, manipulated, applied and removed with an existing style of applicator or instrument (e.g. a rubber-dam forceps), or can be handled and applied with its own specially designed applicator; 26) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cross-section of the connection element is different from the crosssection of the tissue displacement members; 27) A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device has a connection element that is, at least in part, located between the gum level and the level of the occlusal (biting) surfaces of the teeth, and designed to exist in the inter-dental spaces between or behind teeth (e.g. the space behind wisdom teeth); 28)A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cross- section of the connection element is the same as the cross-section of the tissue displacement members; 29)A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connection element has a thickness that allows the teeth to be brought together into the biting position, or into a position close to biting; 30)A tooth isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tissue displacement members are shaped to allow maximum efficacy and comfort in use; 31)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is provided with a plurality of displacement members; 32)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is provided with a plurality of more than two tooth engagement means; 33)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may be releasably secured to one or more teeth in the same dental arch at the same time, in addition to that tooth being operated on; 34)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may be releasably secured to one or more different teeth in the same dental arch as the tooth being operated on, but not to the toot being operated on; 35)A Tooth isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tooth-engaging means of the device may be similar in style and design to those used on existing styles of rubber dam; 36)A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein components of the device extend anteriorly to the tooth being operated on thereby isolating more than one tooth; 37)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device is provided in forms with differently shaped tooth-engaging means to allow specific application to incisors, canines, premolars or molars; 38)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the components of the device extend posteriorly to the tooth being operated on, thereby isolating more than one tooth; 39)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connection element connects with each tissue displacement member at some point along that member's longitudinal length; 40)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the soft tissue displacement members may displace some or all of the soft tissues in the area of application; 41)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the displacement member(s) do not limit the vertical movement of the tongue; 42)A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device incorporates a means of or attachment for lighting/illumination (e. g. using fibre-optic equipment); 43)A Tooth isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may incorporate a means of or attachment for suction; 44)A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may incorporate mirrored surfaces; 45)A Tooth isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may incorporate a means for attachment for one or more cotton wool rolls; 46) A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein cotton rolls may be incorporated into the tooth-engaging elements and/or the tissue displacement members; 47) A Tooth isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device may incorporate a means of debris collection or trapping; 48) A Tooth Isolation Device that incorporates detachable or integral components that allow the device to include a mouth-prop type function to help keep the mouth open comfortably; 49) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one tissue displacement member of the device exists at a different level horizontally and/or vertically to the level of the second tissue displacement member of the device; 50) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plane containing the longitudinal length of one or both of the tissue displacement members is parallel to or the same as the plane containing the occlusal surface(s) of the tooth being operated on or of the teeth in the same dental arch as the one being operated on; 51) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plane containing the longitudinal length of one or both of the tissue displacement members exists at an angle to the plane containing the occlusal (biting) surfaces of the tooth being operated on and/or the occlusal plane of the dental arch; 52) A Tooth Isolation Device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tooth-engaging elements engage with part or all of the cheek (buccal) and tongue/palate-facing tooth surfaces during device application; 53) A Tooth Isolation device as claimed in any preceding claim where the tooth engaging elements may be flexible and/or inflexible, or may allow gentle or cushioned force application when the device is applied; 54) A Tooth Isolation device substantially as described herein with reference to the embodiments, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.