DE10029174A1 - Tooth cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tooth cleaning device which comprises: a delivery-suction device for a cleaning fluid that is configured in such a manner that it alternately ejects the liquid and removes the same by suction; a line (12), which is connected with one end to the outlet of the delivery-suction device, and; an end-piece (13) for placing against the teeth (34), which is connected to the other end of the line (12).

Description

The invention relates to a tooth cleaning device.

Periodontitis and caries are among the most common dental diseases that if they are not treated, lead to tooth loss. Your causes are mouth-specific germs that are used to ferment dental plaque (also known as plaque leads), which is formed in the case of poor or incorrect oral hygiene.

Prophylaxis must be an individual measure by the patient as well as pro carried out professionally by the dentist. Both methods complement and can effectively prevent periodontitis and tooth decay. Prophylactic measures include manual or mechanical cleaning of the teeth, among others Fluoridation and medicinal douches. In the area of individual prophylaxis xe, that is the measures carried out by the patient at home manually or mechanically operated toothbrushes in connection with toothpaste Lich. Oral irrigators are also widespread. Rinsing solutions with me drug effect used. To clean the interdental spaces In addition to dental floss, interdental brushes are also used.

The disadvantage of manual or mechanical toothbrushes is that the cleaning effect is insufficient if not used properly. except this often leads to tooth damage in the form of so-called cervical erosion NEN.

Oral irrigators have the disadvantage that their fluid jet has lesions in the area which can cause periodontal disease, causing existing periodontal disease can be strengthened. The transport of bacteria into it is also known periodontal tissue due to incorrectly directed or too strong Liquid jet. Oral irrigators can remove loose food particles, but not however plaque.

The disadvantage of dental floss is that it is very tedious to use. In addition be there is a risk that the gums will be injured. Furthermore, with tooth silk only convex, but not concave surface areas of the teeth cleaned  become. With interdental brushes, concave surface areas can also be used be cleaned, but their application is also tedious and with a high Ver risk of injury to the gums. Their high price is also a disadvantage.

Another disadvantage of the known tooth cleaning devices is that that secretions and food ingredients are incomplete from the gum pockets be removed.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tooth cleaning device which can be easily used by the patient himself, neither gums still damaged or injured teeth and a better cleaning effect also in the Interdental spaces and gum pockets, including plaque removal tet.

This problem is solved by a tooth cleaning device, with:

• - A pressure-suction device for a cleaning liquid, the so out is that it alternately ejects the liquid through its outlet and sucks;
• - A line that has one end to the outlet of the pressure-suction Facility is connected; and
• - An end piece for attachment to the teeth, which at the other end of the Line is connected.

The cleaning liquid is, as with the known oral irrigators, the simplest If tap water is used, other liquids or gels can also be used the medicinal effects, such as chlorhexidine and flu solutions, and / or have a cleaning effect, such as toothpaste. to Application the end piece is attached to the tooth or teeth to be cleaned, where it can overlap the gums. Thus, between the inside of the Endpiece and the surface of teeth and gums defines a space in which is the cleaning liquid and be in the following as a washroom is drawn. In operation, the pressure-suction device creates in this wash cabinet alternately an overpressure and a negative pressure. Because of this constant pressure fluctuations, the cleaning fluid in this wash cabinet flows over the surfaces of teeth and gums. It also gets into the  Gum pockets and the interdental spaces, so that even on these difficult Accessible and sensitive areas are cleaned well. The constantly changing flow direction of the cleaning liquid causes on the one hand that harmful contents can be washed out well from the gum pockets, and on the other hand that the cleaning liquid in intimate but gentle con tact is brought with the sensitive tissue.

The end piece has a recess into which the other end of the line can open det.

Further features and designs of the invention are in the subclaims described.

It can be provided that the pressure-suction device has a suction balloon has.

This is a very simple embodiment that can be operated by hand. For use, the patient takes the suction balloon in one hand and carries it with him the other hand the end piece to the teeth. By alternating together press and release the suction balloon he can then set the desired pressure generate fluctuations in the wash cabinet.

It can be provided that the pressure-suction device has a cylinder on which sen one end of the output is formed, and a piston running therein having.

This embodiment is more complex, but offers the advantage that it can not only be operated by hand, but also good for operation with Hil fe of an engine is suitable. Can advantageously for the pressure-suction device a conventional disposable syringe, which also includes cylinders and pistons, ver be used, which is already filled with the cleaning liquid and thus ready is sold. By using the disposable after each cleaning process thrown away and a fresh disposable for the next cleaning process excellent hygiene can be achieved.  

In this embodiment it can be provided that the pressure-suction Device has a relay, the armature is attached to the piston.

The relay can in the simplest case via a switch, such as one A button must be connected to the electrical power supply. By alternating The patient can switch the electrical current on and off alternately generate desired pressure fluctuations in the end piece. But it can also be one Control device can be provided, which switches the relay on and off periodically. With such a control device, the various parameters of the pressure fluctuation can be changed, such as play the pulse frequency of the pressure fluctuation, the pulse duration and pulse amplitude of the Pressure and suction pulse and the pulse shape, i.e. the time course of the pressure.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the pressure-suction device has an E Has electric motor, the rotor attached to the piston via a push rod is.

With this embodiment, a sinusoidal curve of the pressure can be easily created generate fluctuation. A control device can also be provided here for example, the pulse frequency of the pressure via the speed of the electric motor to change fluctuation.

In the two previously described embodiments of a motor-driven Pressure-suction device can be provided that the cylinder and the piston, which belong to the disposable syringe mentioned, interchangeable with connected to the engine. For example, a housing can be provided in which the motor is arranged and which has a receiving compartment in which the Zy linder the disposable syringe can be used, the plunger being detachable with the drive element of the motor, for example the armature of the relay or the push rod of the electric motor.

It can be provided that the pressure-suction device is a pump and a 3/2-way valve, which is designed such that in the first switching position the pressure side of the pump and in the second switch position the suction side of the pump pe is connected to the output.  

With the help of the pump and the valve, therefore, not only the desired pressure can be achieved fluctuation are generated, but also the cleaning liquid through the Tooth cleaning device are circulated. This means cleaning liquid in the one switching position from the pressure side of the pump through the Ven til the exit and continues through the line to the end piece and in the other Ren switching position from the end piece through the line to the output and on through the valve flows back to the suction side of the pump. This is in the printing phase always fresh cleaning liquid is pumped from the pump into the end piece where in contrast, the dirty cleaning liquid from the pump in the suction phase aspirated from the end piece. For cleaning the dirty cleaning liquid speed can then be in the line between the valve and the suction side of the pump a replaceable hygiene filter can be provided.

It is then preferred that the pressure side and the suction side each have a hyd memory are connected.

The hydraulic accumulators serve to store reserve quantities of cleaning liquid take and compensate for pressure fluctuations when switching the valve.

It can be provided that:

• - The line has two separate flow channels;
• The pressure-suction device has two pumps and a 4/2-way valve, which is designed such that in the first shaft position the pressure side of the first pump is connected to the first channel and both the suction side the second pump and the second channel are blocked, and in the two The switching position is the suction side of the second pump with the second channel is connected and both the pressure side of the first pump and the first Channel are blocked;
• - The suction side of the first pump is connected to a hydraulic accumulator; and
• - A drain line is connected to the pressure side of the second pump.

With this embodiment too, in addition to the pressure fluctuation Flow of cleaning fluid from the first pump through the first flow channel into the end piece and out of this through the second Flow channel to the second pump. Fresh cleaning fluid is placed in the hydraulic accumulator  filled, and the dirty cleaning liquid then comes out of the Ab flow line and can be directed into a sink. It is preferred provided that the two flow channels at different points in the End piece.

It can be provided that the end piece has the shape of a suction cup. On such end piece can be particularly well attached to flat surfaces, such as for example through the front and back of the teeth and gums be formed. To facilitate the handling of such an end piece can it be attached to one end of a pipe, the other end over a flexible hose is connected to the pressure-suction device. The pipe is preferably angled at the end with the end piece so that the patient the end piece also be on the inside of the upper and lower incisors quem can sit without having to open your mouth too far.

It can be provided that the end piece is a groove which is shaped in such a way that, when put over teeth to be cleaned, a space between their inner surface and the teeth that is formed up to the other end of the Line is enough.

With such an end piece, the front and the back can simultaneously of the teeth including the interdental spaces are cleaned, since the teeth in the Protrude into the gutter. The channel can be so long that it has all the teeth in the un takes the upper or upper jaw. It can be customized for a patient the training of his dentition. However, it is also possible to Large series to produce a range of different sizes and shapes that the patient chooses the channel that suits him.

Then it is preferred that the groove in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the jaw, in where the teeth to be cleaned are bent.

It is preferably provided that the end piece has a sealing lip on its edge has.  

The sealing lip serves to flush the interior of the end piece against the Au seal the outside area, i.e. the oral cavity, even if the mouth pact is open and the soft mucous membranes of the tongue, lips and Do not rest cheeks on teeth, gums and the outside of the end piece can.

In the following, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the attached Drawings described in more detail.

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a tooth-cleaning device with a pressure-suction device in a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of a pressure suction device in egg ner second embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of a pressure suction device in a third embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a plan shank of a dental cleaning device having a suction-pressure means in a fourth embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of a tooth cleaning device with a pressure suction device in a fifth embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a cross section through an end piece in a first embodiment, which is attached to a tooth to be cleaned;

Fig. 7 is an overall perspective view of an end piece in a second embodiment; and

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the end piece of Fig. 7, which is placed over the lower dental arch.

In FIG. 1, a dental cleaning device is shown leadership shape in a particularly simple corner. It has a suction balloon 10 , such as that used by doctors for rinsing the external auditory canals. At one point it runs into a pointed spout 11 with an opening onto which one end of a hose 12 is pushed. At the other end of the hose 12 , an end piece 13 is provided for attachment to the teeth. According to FIG. 1 of this end piece 13 is simply formed by the fact that the hose end is widened cm a diameter of about 1. However, the desired cleaning effect of the teeth can also be achieved when the hose end is not widened and the end piece 13 accordingly has the normal diameter of the hose 12 .

This cleaning device according to FIG. 1 is used as follows: First, the suction balloon 10 is filled with the desired cleaning liquid, the normal tap water, a medicinal rinsing solution which contains, for example, chlorhexidine, fluorine or chamomile extracts, or a liquid, a gel or a Can be a paste with a cleaning effect, the body as an abrasive and polishing agent, such as calcium phosphates, calcium diphosphate, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, precipitated silicas, etc., as is already known from conventional tooth gels and toothpastes. For filling, the patient can first pull the hose 12 off the suction balloon 10 , then press the suction balloon 10 and dip it into the cleaning liquid with the pointed spout 11 , release the suction balloon 10 so that it takes its original shape again and the cleaning liquid in the process sucks through its spout 11 , and, when the desired amount of a cleaning liquid is in the suction balloon 10 , take its spout 11 out of the cleaning liquid and push the hose 12 back onto the spout 11 .

The filling can of course also take place without first pulling off the hose 12 through the end piece 13 and the hose 12 .

With his free other hand he leads the end piece 13 or the free hose de into the mouth and places it on the tooth surface to be cleaned. He presses the suction balloon 10 together until the cleaning liquid is pressed through the hose 12 and emerges at the end piece 13 . Then he can generate the desired pressure fluctuations in the wash cabinet by alternately squeezing and releasing the suction balloon 10, which is limited by the inside of the end piece 13 and the tooth surface on which the end piece 13 is set.

Due to the pressure fluctuations, the cleaning liquid is moved back and forth in the wash cabinet over the tooth surface to be cleaned, and if the end piece 13 is also partially placed on the gums, then the cleaning liquid also penetrates into the gum pockets.

When the oral cavity is closed, the rinsing room is sufficiently sealed against the rest of the oral cavity by the mucous membranes of the tongue, lips and cheeks. Therefore, the end piece 13 can also be placed on two adjacent teeth at the same time, so that the tooth gap or interdental space between these two teeth also belongs to the rinsing area, since the mucous membrane rests on the tooth surface opposite the end piece 13 and thus seals the rinsing area. The cleaning fluid therefore penetrates this interdental space and also cleans the hard-to-access tooth surfaces there.

In this first embodiment, the suction balloon 10 thus represents a pressure-suction device which is designed such that it alternately ejects and sucks the cleaning liquid through its outlet, that is to say the spout 11 .

In Fig. 2, a tooth cleaning device is shown in a second embodiment, which in contrast to the first embodiment of FIG. 1 is not operated manually, but is motor-driven.

In the second embodiment, the pressure-suction device has a cylinder 14 , a piston 15 running therein and a relay 16 . At the left end of the cylinder 14 , an outlet is formed, to which the hose 12 is connected to the end piece 13 . The relay 16 has an armature 17 and two coils 18 , 19 . The armature 17 is fastened to the piston 15 , while the cylinder 14 is fastened to the left coil 18 .

For operation, the two coils 18 , 19 are alternately excited. Since the armature 17 is pulled into the respectively excited coil 18 or 19, it moves alternately to the left and right, taking the piston 15 with it. The piston 15 driven back and forth in the cylinder 14 in this way thus generates a pressure fluctuation in the cleaning liquid at the outlet, which pressure fluctuation is transmitted via the hose 12 to the end piece 13 .

To control the pressure-suction device, a switch (not shown) can be connected to the relay 16 , which in one switching position connects the left coil 18 and in the other switching position the right coil 19 instead to the power supply. By alternately actuating this switch, the patient can consequently generate the desired pressure fluctuations in the end piece 13. However, a control device (not shown) can also be provided, which automatically controls the relay 16 as desired, without the patient constantly having to actuate the switch , Such a control device can, for example, be constructed in such a way that the time course of the pressure fluctuation can be influenced as desired.

FIG. 3 shows a tooth cleaning device in a third embodiment, which is very similar to the second embodiment of FIG. 2. Differences be only with regard to the drive of the piston 15 , which in this third embodiment comprises an electric motor 20 , the rotor 21 of which is connected to the piston 15 via a push rod 22 . The push rod 22 is rotatably supported at one end on the rotor 21 and at the other end on the piston 15 and converts the rotary movement of the rotor 21 into a reciprocating movement, so that the piston 15 as in the second embodiment is moved alternately to the left and right in the cylinder 14 .

Even in the pressure-suction device of the third embodiment, the pulse frequency of the pressure fluctuation can be controlled in a simple manner in that the electric motor 20 is connected to the power supply via a potentiometer (not shown). With the potentiometer, the speed of the rotor 21 and thus the pulse frequency can be set as desired. Here too, as in the second embodiment, a control device can be provided for controlling the temporal pressure curve.

In FIG. 4 is a tooth-cleaning device is shown in a fourth embodiment. In this fourth embodiment, the pressure-suction device has a pump 23 , a 3/2-way valve 24 and two hydraulic accumulators 25 , 26 . The three connections to the 3/2-way valve 24 are referred to below with the lowercase letters a, b and c. The pump 23 is connected with its suction side to the connection a and with its pressure side to the connection b. The pressure side is also connected to the first hydraulic accumulator 25 , while the suction side is connected to the second hydraulic accumulator 26 . The connection c represents the output of the pressure-suction device and is connected to the end piece 13 via the hose 12 .

In the first of the two switching positions of the 3/2-way valve 24 , the connection a is blocked and the connection b is connected to the connection c, so that in this first switching position the pressure side of the pump 23 is connected to the outlet and consequently via the hose 12 is connected to the end piece 13 . In the second switch position, port b is blocked and port a is connected to port c. Therefore, the suction side of the pump 23 is connected to the outlet and the end piece 13 in this second switching position. By alternately switching the 3/2-way valve 24 , the desired pressure fluctuation can now be generated, as will be explained in more detail below.

Switching can be done simply with a changeover switch (not shown) or can be effected automatically with a control device (not shown), such as be has already been described above in connection with the second embodiment.

At the beginning, with the pump 23 switched off, the hydraulic accumulator 25 on the pressure side is emptied and the hydraulic accumulator 26 on the suction side is filled with fresh cleaning liquid. Then the pump 23 is switched on and the 3/2-way valve 24 is initially held in the first switching position until the pump 23 sucks in the cleaning liquid from the hydraulic accumulator 26 and up to the connection b, through the valve 24 to the connection c and has further conveyed through the hose 12 to the end piece 13 . Next, the 3/2-way valve 24 is switched to the second switching position, so that the pump 23 moves the cleaning liquid from the end piece 13 through the hose 12 to the connection c and on through the valve 24 and the connection a back to the suction side and finally in the hydraulic accumulator 25 promotes. This suction phase is ended by the 3/2-way valve 24 being switched back to the first switching position, so that the pump 23 sucks the cleaning fluid out of the hydraulic accumulator again and expels it through the connection c. In the printing phase, consequently, fresh cleaning liquid is gradually conveyed into the end piece 13 by the pump 23 , whereas in the suction phase the soiled cleaning liquid is gradually sucked out of the end piece 13 by the pump 23 .

In FIG. 5 is a tooth-cleaning device is shown in a fifth embodiment. In this fifth embodiment, the pressure-suction device has two pumps 27 , 28 and a 4/2-way valve 29 . The four connections of this valve are referred to below with the lowercase letters d, e, f and g. In the first of the two switching positions of the 4/2-way valve 29 , the connections d and g are blocked and the connection e is connected to the connection f. In the second switch position, port d is connected to port g and ports e and f are blocked. The first pump 27 is connected with its suction side to a hydraulic accumulator 30 and with its pressure side to the connection e. The second pump 28 is connected with its suction side to the connection d and with its pressure side to a drain line 31 .

The two connections f and g represent the outlet of the pressure-suction device, and the line connecting the outlet to the end piece 13 here has two separate flow channels, which are formed here by two hoses 32 , 33 . The first hose 32 is connected to the connection f and the second hose 33 is connected to the connection g. Both hoses 32 , 33 mün at the other end side by side in the end piece 13th

For operation, the patient first fills the hydraulic accumulator 30 with fresh cleaning liquid. Then he places the drain line 31 in his wash basin, which collects the dirty cleaning liquid that later flows out of the drain line 31 . Then the first pump 27 is switched on and the 4/2-way valve 29 is held in its first switching position until the first pump 27 sucks the cleaning liquid from the hydraulic accumulator 30 and for connection e, through the valve 29 for connection f and has further conveyed through the first hose 32 to the end piece 13 . Next, the second pump 28 is turned on and then the first suction phase is initiated by switching the 4/2-way valve 29 to its second switching position. Consequently, the second pump 28 sucks the cleaning liquid from the end piece 13 through the second hose 33 and the two connections g and d and conveys them through the drain line 31 into the wash basin.

The next pressure phase is initiated in that the 4/2-way valve 29 is switched back to its first switching position, so that fresh cleaning liquid is conveyed from the hydraulic accumulator 30 into the end piece 13 .

As mentioned above in connection with the second and fourth versions described form, switching here can also be done simply with a change sel switch (not shown) or automatically with a control device (not shown).

In FIG. 6, an end piece is shown in a first embodiment 13 which is attached to a tooth to be cleaned 34 and the adjacent gums 35th This end piece 13 has the shape of a suction cup, into which one end of a bent tube 36 opens. The other end of the tube 36 is inserted into the hose 12 , which leads to the pressure-suction device (not shown).

Such a suction cup-shaped end piece 13 can be made simply by the fact that the corresponding end of the tube 36 is widened. The tube 36 then preferably consists of glass or another plastically deformable material, such as thermoplastic.

In Fig. 6 it can be clearly seen that between the concave inside of the end piece 13 and the surface of the tooth 34 and the gum 35 of the above-mentioned rinsing space 37 is defined, which via the hose 12 with the pressure-suction Device (not shown) is connected and the cleaning liquid takes on.

In order to be able to abdich th the rinsing chamber 37 well against the outside even when the mouth is open, the edge of the end piece 13 , which bears against the tooth 34 and the tooth 35, is provided with a flexible sealing lip 38 .

In Figs. 7 and 8, an end piece is shown in a second embodiment. In this second embodiment, the end piece is a groove 39 which is slipped over the teeth to be cleaned. The groove 39 is so wide and so deep that its inner surface 40 is at a distance from the surfaces of the teeth and the flesh to be cleaned. The groove 39 lies only with its edge against teeth and gums, so that a coherent space is formed between the inner surface 40 and the surface to be cleaned, which forms the rinsing space 37 .

In this second embodiment, the edge of the channel 39 is provided with a sealing lip 38 . If the groove 39 is so long that it covers several teeth at the same time, then it can be bent according to the course of the toothed strip. The groove 39 can also be designed such that it can accommodate all teeth of a toothed strip at the same time. In this case, it is preferably made individually for the patient.

The end piece can also be a groove for the lower rack and in one piece include a second groove for the upper rack.  

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Saugballon

11

grommet

12

tube

13

tail

14

cylinder

15

piston

16

relay

17

anchor

18

left coil

19

right coil

20

electric motor

21

rotor

22

pushrod

23

pump

24

3/2-way valve

25

first hydraulic accumulator

26

second hydraulic accumulator

27

first pump

28

second pump

29

4/2-way valve

30

hydraulic accumulator

31

drain line

32

first hose

33

second hose

34

tooth to be cleaned

35

gums

36

pipe

37

Wash cabinet

38

sealing lip

39

gutter

40

Inner surface of the gutter

39

Claims (12)

1. Tooth cleaning device, with:
a pressure-suction device ( 10 ; 14 , 15 ; 23 , 24 ; 27 , 28 , 29 ) for a cleaning liquid, which is designed such that it alternately ejects and sucks the liquid through its outlet ( 11 );
a line ( 12 ; 32 , 33 ) connected at one end to the outlet of the pressure-suction device; and
an end piece ( 13 ; 39 ) for attachment to the teeth ( 34 ), which is connected to the other end of the line ( 12 ; 32 , 33 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-suction device has a suction balloon ( 11 ). 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-suction device has a cylinder ( 14 ), at one end of which the outlet is formed, and a piston ( 15 ) running therein. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure-suction device has a relay ( 16 ), the armature ( 17 ) of which is attached to the piston ( 15 ). 5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure-suction device has an electric motor ( 20 ), the rotor ( 21 ) via a push rod ( 22 ) is attached to the piston ( 15 ). 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-suction device has a pump ( 23 ) and a 3/2-way valve ( 24 ) which is designed such that in the first switching position the pressure side of the pump ( 23rd ) and in the second switching position the suction side of the pump ( 23 ) is connected to the output. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pressure side and the suction side are each connected to a hydraulic accumulator ( 25 , 26 ).

• -

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:
the line has two separate flow channels ( 32 , 33 );
the pressure-suction device has two pumps ( 27 , 28 ) and a 4/2-way valve ( 29 ) which is designed in such a way that in the first switching position the pressure side of the first pump ( 27 ) with the first channel ( 32 ) is connected and both the suction side of the second pump ( 28 ) and the second channel ( 33 ) are blocked, and in the second switching position the suction side of the second pump ( 28 ) is connected to the second channel ( 33 ) and both the pressure side the first pump ( 27 ) and the first channel ( 32 ) are blocked;
the suction side of the first pump ( 27 ) is connected to a hydraulic accumulator ( 30 ); and
on the pressure side of the second pump ( 28 ) a drain line ( 31 ) is connected. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece ( 13 ) has the shape of a suction cup. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece is a groove ( 39 ) which is shaped such that when it is put over teeth ( 34 ) to be cleaned, a space ( 37 ) between its inner surface ( 40 ) and the teeth ( 34 ) is formed, which extends to the other end of the line ( 12 ; 32 , 33 ). 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the groove ( 39 ) is bent in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the jaw in which the teeth to be cleaned are seated. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece ( 13 ; 39 ) has a sealing lip ( 38 ) at its edge.