WO2020164793A1

WO2020164793A1 - Tooth-polishing device for polishing dental surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2020164793A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/000039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian LEISINGER; Detlef Dießlin; Gerhard PÖTSC; Hannes Hauser; Jürgen Butz
Original assignee: Interbros Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-02-13
Filing date: 2020-02-10
Publication date: 2020-08-20
Also published as: DE102019001028A1

Abstract

A tooth-polishing device for polishing dental surfaces comprises a support part and a polishing element supported on the support part. According to the invention, the polishing element consists of a plastic foam and carries cleaning particles that are arranged on the outer surface of the polishing element and/or are integrated and embedded in the polishing element.

Description

Tooth polishing device for polishing tooth surfaces

The invention relates to a tooth polishing device for polishing tooth surfaces, with a carrier part and a polishing body which is held on the carrier part.

A tooth polishing device of the type mentioned, as shown for example in EP 1 384 418 B1, comprises a carrier part which can be attached to a dental contra-angle or an electric toothbrush. A polishing body in the form of a brush head, which comprises a bristle carrier and a multiplicity of bristles attached to it, is held on a carrier part. To polish tooth surfaces, the user applies a polishing paste, which contains cleaning particles, to the tooth surface and / or to the polishing body. By moving the polishing body over the tooth surface, it is cleaned and polished.

The disadvantage of this procedure is that the polishing paste is distributed in the oral cavity, which is uncomfortable for the patient. In addition, it is necessary after a short time

CONFIRMATION COPY always applying new polishing paste, which is time-consuming and increases the duration of the treatment.

In addition, the area covered by the bristles is relatively small, so that cleaning the tooth surface takes a long time.

The invention has for its object to provide a tooth polishing device of the type mentioned, with which a quick and thorough cleaning of the tooth surfaces can be achieved.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a tooth polishing device with the features of claim 1. It is provided that the polishing body consists of a foam made of plastic and carries cleaning particles which are arranged on the outer surface of the polishing body and / or are integrated or embedded in the polishing body.

According to the invention, the basic idea is to provide the cleaning particles already on and / or in the polishing body so that an additional polishing paste can be dispensed with. This saves the user or dentist considerable costs and prevents polishing paste from getting into the patient's mouth. In addition, the tooth surface can be polished more quickly because it is no longer necessary to apply or replace used polishing paste.

With the tooth polishing device according to the invention it is possible to clean the tooth surfaces without using a polishing paste. The cleaning can preferably be se take place without the addition of water, but it is also possible, please include to soak the polishing body with water, which can absorb water because it is made of foam.

Due to the configuration of the polishing body made of foam, it can adapt well to the tooth surface to be cleaned even with low contact pressure, which increases the cleaning effect.

Since the cleaning particles are arranged on the outer surface of the polishing body and / or embedded in the polishing body, it is ensured that the cleaning particles come into contact with the tooth surface to be cleaned and reliably clean them over a long period of use.

The carrier part, which preferably carries the polishing body at its front end, can, for example, be connected to a drive device at its opposite rear end so that it is driven in rotation. The drive device can, for example, be a dental contra-angle or an electric toothbrush.

The carrier part is preferably made of a dimensionally stable plastic, for example polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), RAb, PA6.6 or PA 6.12 (all with or without glass fiber reinforcement). It can also be bio-based plastics, for example polylactides (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), bio-based polyethylene (Bio-PE), bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (Bio-PET), bio-based polyamide (Bio-PA) ), bio-based polybutylene terephthalate (bio- PBT) act that are biodegradable and can all be designed with or without glass fiber reinforcement. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the carrier part consists of metal and in particular a light metal.

The polishing body is connected on one side to the carrier part. Preferably, on the side facing away from the carrier part, a polishing surface is provided which can have different configurations. In one possible embodiment, it is provided that the polishing surface is formed by a flat circular surface, which preferably runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and thus to the axis of rotation of the carrier part. Instead of a flat configuration, the polishing surface can also be structured spatially. For example, the polishing surface can have a concave shape or a convex shape or also be conical ausal tet, the tip of the cone facing the carrier part abge. The polishing surface is preferably designed to be rotationally symmetrical.

The polishing body can be provided with the cleaning particles on its entire surface and in particular at least on its entire polishing surface. Alternatively, it is possible to only partially provide the polishing body with the cleaning particles on its surface and in particular only partially with the cleaning particles on its polishing surface.

In one possible embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cleaning particles are applied as a coating to the polishing body at least in sections. It can be provided that the cleaning particles are held positively and / or non-positively and in the polishing ^¬ body.

The cleaning particles can be held on the polishing body by means of an adhesive. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cleaning particles are first heated and then applied to the polishing body under pressure. The cleaning particles penetrate the polishing body, partially melt the plastic material of the polishing body and are securely held on or in the polishing body. In this way, the cleaning particles are anchored on the surface of the polishing body and also in the pores of the polishing body. As a result, the cleaning performance of the tooth polishing device continues over a long period of use.

In a possible embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the cleaning particles are at least partially and in particular completely made up of diamond particles and / or aluminum oxide particles and / or pumice stone particles

and / or silicon carbide particles are formed. When using diamond particles, these should have a grain size of 8 pm to 50 pm and in particular from 15 pm to 25 pm. If aluminum oxide particles are used, these should have a grain size of 10 μm to 200 μm and in particular of 50 μm to 100 μm. When using pumice stone particles, these should have a grain size of 50 pm to 300 pm and in particular from 100 pm to 250 pm.

The polishing body preferably consists of a flexible, open-cell foam material, for example PUR foam with a compressive strength in the range of

0.02N / mm ² to 0.22N / mm ² (measured at 10% deformation) and in particular in the range from 0.03N / mm ² to 0.12N / m ² . Alternatively, an ester foam can also be used.

A larger foam body is preferably produced from which the polishing body is cut out and in particular punched out. Alternatively, it is possible for a material that can be processed by injection molding, for example a foamable thermoplastic elastomer, to be sprayed directly onto the carrier part to form the polishing body.

If the polishing body is prefabricated, it is connected to the carrier part in a subsequent process step. It can be provided that the polishing body is held on the carrier part in an exchangeable manner. This can be done for example by screwing or locking or by clamping.

Preferably, however, the polishing body is inextricably connected to the carrier part, for example by gluing it to the carrier part and / or welding it to the carrier part. In this way, a non-destructive separation of the construction parts is no longer possible and there is a safe power transmission from the carrier part to the polishing element guaranteed.

It is preferably provided in the tooth polishing device that a recess is formed in the polishing body and in particular on its polishing surface, into which a polishing material can be inserted. In this way, the user can use polishing materials in pasty or bound form, for example as a dissolving ball or cylinder, in the recess. When using the tooth polishing device, the polishing device arranged in the recess is material released by pressure and / or by the moisture of the saliva or by a liquid in the polishing body.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that a recess is formed on the side of the polishing body facing the carrier part, into which the carrier part engages. In this way, the carrier part is sunk into the polishing body in sections, so that the polishing body engages around that end portion of the carrier part which faces the polishing body. This has the advantage that the tooth surface to be treated is better protected from contact with the carrier part.

The carrier part can be driven in rotation. In order to reliably transmit the rotary motion to the polishing body, the carrier part can in a further development of the invention at least egg NEN projection and in particular several projections aufwei sen with which it engages in the polishing body. The projections can be, for example, protruding pins, ribs or webs.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the polishing body on the carrier part, in particular if the polishing body is exchangeably held on the carrier part, at least one centering pin can be provided on the carrier part, which engages in an assigned centering recess of the polishing body. In this way, correct positioning of the polishing body relative to the carrier part can be achieved in a simple manner.

In the following, the dimensions of the body in particular will be explained. The polishing body has perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a diameter a, which is in the range from 5.5mm to 8.5mm and preferably from 6.5mm to 7.5mm. An axial thickness b of the polishing body in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the carrier part is in the range from 1.5 mm to 5 mm and preferably from 2 mm to 4 mm.

As has been explained, the recess can be provided on the side of the polishing body facing the carrier part, which recess has a diameter d perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the range from 4mm to 7mm and preferably in the range from 5mm to 6mm.

The carrier part can dip into the recess with the front end of its connec tion section, which has an axial depth c which is in the range from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm and preferably in the range from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

The recess in the polishing body can have a diameter e in the range from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm and preferably in the range from 1.8 mm to 2.7 mm.

Further features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an inventive

Tooth polishing device,

Fig. 2 shows a further development of the tooth polishing device according to Figure 1 in an exploded perspective view, 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the end of the carrier part facing the polishing body,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the on a

Drive device attached Zahnpoliervor direction and

Fig. 5 shows several alternative configurations of the carrier part.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a Zahnpoliervor device 10 for polishing tooth surfaces. The Zahnpo liervorrichtung 10 has a rod-shaped support part 11, which has a central shaft section 14, at the rear, according to Figure 1 right end, a coupling section 16 is arranged, by means of which the support part 11 with a drive device, such as an electric toothbrush or with a dental corner piece can be coupled.

At its front, left-hand end according to FIG. 1, the carrier part 11 has a conically widening connection section 12 which has a front connection surface 12a.

A polishing body 13 made of an open-pore foam is connected to the carrier part 11 by its rear end facing the carrier part 11. For this purpose, the polishing body 13 has a recess 15 on its side facing the carrier part 11, into which the carrier part 11 with the front end of the connecting section 12 is inserted. The carrier part 11 is firmly fixed in the recess 15 of the polishing body 13 by gluing or welding. hold. Due to the recess 15, the polishing body 13 engages around the front end region of the connecting section 12 of the carrier part 11.

In the polishing body 13 cleaning particles 17 are incorporated, which are arranged both on the outer surface of the polishing body 13 and in particular in the surface area of the polishing body 13 embedded therein.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the polishing body has the shape of a circular disk or a straight circular cylinder, i. its front polishing surface 24 facing away from the carrier part 11 is flat and extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L of the carrier part 11.

FIG. 2 shows a further development of the polishing body 13, this having a central recess 18 in the form of a through hole. The recess 18 serves on the one hand to receive a centering bolt 22 formed on the connecting section 12 of the carrier part 11 in order to ensure a predetermined relative position between the carrier part 11 and the polishing body 13 when the polishing body 13 is mounted on the carrier part 11.

In addition, the recess 18 serves to accommodate a polishing material 19, which can be inserted into the recess 18 from the front side of the polishing body 13 facing away from the carrier part 11, as indicated by the arrow S in FIG. The polishing material 19 can be introduced as a paste or as a preform, for example as a cylindrical Presskör. In connection with FIG. 1 it was explained that the carrier part 11 is glued or welded to the polishing body 13 on the connecting surface 12a of its connecting section 12. Alternatively, it is also possible for the polishing body 13 to be interchangeably connected to the connecting section 12, for example by means of a screw connection, latching or clamping. In order to reliably transfer the rotary movement of the carrier part 11 to the polishing body 13, axially protruding projections 20, 21 can be provided on the connecting surface 12a of the connecting section 12, as shown in FIG. Before jumps 20 each have the shape of an axially stretching pin, while the projections 21 are designed as in particular special radially extending ribs.

FIG. 4 shows the tooth polishing device 10 in a position mounted on a drive device 23. At the drive device 23 it can be a dental elbow or an electric toothbrush han.

According to Figure 1, the front polishing surface 24 of the polishing body 13 is shown as a flat circular surface. Figure 5 shows some variations, in embodiment 5 (a) the polishing surface 24 as being forward, i. configured in the direction facing away from the carrier part 11 convex surface.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 (b), the polishing surface is designed as a concave surface.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 (c), the polishing surface 24 has a shape that tapers towards the front, similar to a pyramid. In all examples, the polishing body 13 should be designed to be rotationally symmetrical.

In the following, the dimensions in particular of the polishing body 13 will be explained with reference to FIG. The Po lierkörper 13 has a diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, which is in the range from 5.5mm to 8.5mm and preferably from 6.5mm to 7.5mm. An axial thickness b of the polishing body 13 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the Trä gteils 11 is in the range from 1.5mm to 5mm and preferably from 3mm to 4mm.

As has been explained, on the side of the polishing body 13 facing the support part 11, the recess 15 is provided, which has a diameter d perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L in the range from 4mm to 7mm and preferably in the range from 5mm to 6mm.

The carrier part 11 dips with the front end of its connecting portion 12 in the recess 15 which has an axial depth c which is in the range from 0.3mm to 0.7mm and preferably in the range from 0.4mm to 0.6mm.

The recess 18 in the polishing body 13 (see FIG. 2) can have a diameter e in the range from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm and preferably in the range from 1.8 mm to 2.7 mm.

Claims

Pat tan sayings

1. Tooth polishing device (10) for polishing tooth upper surfaces, with a carrier part (11) and a Polierkör by (13) which is held on the carrier part (11), characterized in that the polishing body (13) made of a plastic foam consists and cleaning particles (17) which are arranged on the outer surface of the polishing body (13) and / or are integrated in the polishing body (13).

2. Tooth polishing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cleaning particles (17) are applied as a coating on the polishing body (13) at least from sections.

3. Tooth polishing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning particles (17) are held positively and / or non-positively in the polishing body (13).

4. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cleaning particles (17) are at least partially formed by diamond particles and / or aluminum oxide particles and / or by pumice stone particles and / or by silicon carbide particles.

5. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the polishing body (13) consists of an open-cell foam.

6. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the polishing body (13) is held on the carrier part (11) in an exchangeable manner.

7. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a recess (18) is formed in the polishing body (13), into which a Po liermaterial (19) can be inserted.

8. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that on the side of the polishing body (13) facing the carrier part (11) a recess (15) is formed into which the carrier part (11) engages.

9. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrier part (11) has at least one projection (20, 21) with which it engages in the polishing body (13).

10. Tooth polishing device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the carrier part (11) can be coupled to a drive device (23).