DE20013818U1 - Dental handheld device - Google Patents

Description

Dental handheld device

The present invention relates to a handheld dental device for cleaning and self-monitoring for a patient to observe the results of his dental care efforts.

The conventional devices used in dentistry are tailored purely to professional practice needs. These devices are usually made of stainless steel and have tips and traumatizing working ends. One such periodontal probe is described in DE-U-90 12 869, for example. Other dental probes for professional measurement and examination of the depth of periodontal pockets by a dentist are described in DE-A-37 14 739, DE-A-41 19 311 or DE-U-86 24 483, for example. However, the devices described in these documents all have the disadvantage that they cannot be used by patients themselves for self-diagnosis and cleaning, as they pose a risk of injury or damage to the dental area, particularly for the patient.

EP-B-O 318 553 describes a dental probe that can be used by a patient for self-diagnosis of periodontal diseases and/or gingivitis by inserting the probe in the connection area between a tooth and the gum. The probe has an elongated element with a distal end made of plastic with a tip arranged on it. The distal end is flexible and contains a couple of essentially cylindrical and differently conical sections. This dental probe has the particular disadvantage that, due to its geometric design, it can only be used to a limited extent in a patient's mouth and only for self-diagnosis. This dental probe also does not offer a patient the possibility of specifically cleaning the dental area and in particular the interdental spaces to prevent periodontosis.

DE-A-197 31 935 relates to a one-piece dental probe made of a light-condensing, fluorescent plastic and has a handle, a distal area and a measuring needle for measuring and examining blind pockets in the gums. The measuring needle is provided with a visible measuring graduation for measuring the depth of the blind pockets. The tip of the measuring needle can be hemispherical, with an annular, protruding edge or an annular, protruding rim being provided around the needle in order to probe the presence and position of tartar in the blind pocket.

DE-A-196 43 241 relates to a care stick with an elongated handle body, at each of whose two free ends a care body in the form of a brush head, a cotton pad, a toothpick or a dental floss holder is arranged. At least one of the care bodies has a brush head with bristles attached along a wire, with a protruding free end of the wire being enclosed by a drop-shaped polymer coating.

US-A-5 178 537 relates to a dental hand-held device with a handle section and a device that can be attached thereto for checking the depth of periodontal pockets. The device essentially has a cylindrical connecting section, an intermediate section that is angled in the distal direction and a further intermediate section that is

extends substantially parallel to the cylindrical connecting portion, and a pointed portion with a scale adjoining thereto at an angle of approximately 69°.

US-A-4 280 518 relates to a device for cleaning teeth. The device has a substantially elongated shape and has a dental floss holder with dental floss at one of its ends. A brush-like element is provided at the opposite end.

The present invention is based on the object of providing an improved dental medical hand-held device, in particular for self-treatment of a patient. This object is achieved with the features of the patent claims.

The invention is based on the basic idea of designing a dental medical handheld device with a first end that is doubly angled in the area of a tip for diagnosing the depth of periodontal pockets and a second end for accommodating various cleaning devices for teeth and/or interdental spaces. In particular, it is preferred to design at least the two working ends of the handheld device according to the invention from plastic, such as polycarbonate, and to provide the two working ends with macro- and/or microscopic curves. In addition, it is advantageous to provide the two working ends with deeply roughened surfaces for antimicrobial cleaning. To diagnose the depth of periodontal pockets, the first working end preferably has a scale and/or color grading. The second working end preferably carries a rudder-shaped cleaning element as a cleaning device, for example with a thickness of between 0.01 and 0.05 mm and a length of 2.2 to 2.8 cm. This allows interdental spaces to be cleaned in a particularly advantageous manner. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a tooth side holder, a plaque stick, another measuring probe or an interdental brush holder or an interdental brush at the second working end. The dental medical hand-held device according to the invention is preferably a multifunctional device that is suitable for accommodating various cleaning or diagnostic devices, in particular by means of a quick-release device.

The hand-held dental device according to the invention has the particular advantage over known devices that it is atraumatic due to the choice of material, i.e. its hardness and surface quality. Due to the easily produced microscopic and macroscopic curves, there is a low risk of auto-lesion for the patient. In addition, the hand-held device according to the invention is flexible, which means that no disproportionate forces can occur during cleaning by a patient that could cause damage to the dental area. In addition, when using plastics on the working ends, such as polycarbonate, it is possible to design the surfaces in such a way that there is roughness in the microscopic, macroscopic or ultrastructural area, which enables a certain degree of fine cleaning in addition to the rough cleaning, so that plaque and bacteria get stuck during a cleaning process and the hand-held device according to the invention thus has an antimicrobial effect. In addition, the hand-held dental device according to the invention is easy to sterilize and lightweight, so that it is easy to handle. The scaling or color coding provided at the working ends allows an inexperienced user to easily carry out a self-diagnosis and thus verify the result of his dental care efforts. In addition, a significant advantage of the hand-held dental device according to the invention is that it can be designed as a multifunctional device, whereby various diagnostic and cleaning devices can be attached to the respective ends of the device. This makes it possible to provide a complete dental care and diagnostic system that has a large number of cleaning and diagnostic devices.

The dental medical handheld device according to the invention is described below using a preferred embodiment as an example with reference to the drawings. They show:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the inventive

dental handheld device;

Figure 2 is an enlargement of the part designated by Il in Figure 1.

Detail of a first work end;

Figure 3 is an enlargement of the section marked III in Figure 1

a second end of work;

Figure 4

an enlargement of the section of a connecting device for connecting the two working ends, designated IV in Figure 1;

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

a second embodiment of a working end attachable to the dental hand-held device according to the invention;

a third embodiment of a working end attachable to the dental hand-held device according to the invention;

an intermediate element for mounting between the two working ends of the dental medical hand-held device according to the invention; and

Figures 8-10

Application examples of the dental handheld device according to the invention.

The dental medical hand-held device 2 according to the invention shown in Figure 1 essentially has a first working end 4 and a second working end 6, which is preferably opposite the first working end. The first working end 4 is shown enlarged in Figure 2. An embodiment of the second working end 6 is shown enlarged in Figure 3. The two working ends 4 and 6 are each connected to a handle section 8 and 10 respectively. The two working ends 4 and 6 are preferably formed in one piece with the handle sections 8 and 10. The two handle sections 8 and 10 can be connected to one another by means of a connecting device 12. A schematic representation of an embodiment of the connecting device 12 is shown enlarged in Figure 4.

The dental medical hand-held device 2 according to the invention preferably has at least working ends 4 and 6 made of plastic, but can also be made entirely of plastic. Polycarbonate is particularly preferred as the plastic. This makes it possible to achieve good atraumaticity, flexibility, antimicrobial effect, sterilizability, hygiene and easy handling.

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The first working end 4 is, as shown in Fig. 1, connected to its handle section 8 via a curved connecting element 14 located therebetween. This connecting element 14 is preferably bent slightly upwards in a region 16 extending away from the handle section 8 and then bent downwards, for example by an angle γ, by means of a further bend or kink 18. The angle γ is preferably between 80° and 150° and particularly preferably between 90° and 135°. Following this, the actual first working end 4 is provided with a double bend 20 or 22 in the region of a tip 26. The double-angled shape of the first working end 4 enables a small lever arm so that a patient cannot injure themselves and allows the user to clean awkwardly angled niches. The angles α and β The angles of the first and second bends 20 and 22 are preferably between 15° and 25°, more preferably between 20° and 30°, and most preferably around 25°. The sum of the angles α and β is preferably around 50°, whereby the angles α and β can be the same or different. With this shape of the first working end 4 or the tip 26, particularly advantageous "shovel effects", "lever effects" and curvature congruences can be achieved. The "shovel effect" (Fig. 9) means that loose particles can be removed in a similar way to a shovel. The "curvature congruence" (Fig. 10) is advantageously present with respect to the tooth root and is then used for effective and problem-free cleaning and measuring of the depths of the tooth pockets.

The first working end 4 preferably has a scale and/or color graduation 24 with which the depth of the periodontal pocket can be easily checked. The scale 24 is divided, for example, into a healthy area, a transition area and a diseased area. For this purpose, the scale 24 has, for example, a first graduation line approximately 2 mm away from a tip 26, a second graduation line approximately 3 mm away from this and a third graduation line approximately 4 mm away from this. If the first working end 4 can be inserted into a patient's periodontal pocket up to the first graduation line, this area is healthy. If the device can be inserted up to the second graduation line, this area is in a transitional stage between healthy and diseased. If the first working end 4 can be inserted into the periodontal pocket up to the third graduation line or beyond, periodontal pocket treatment is necessary. To make the immersion depth easier to recognize, the individual sections or graduations of the scale 24 can be colored, as shown in Figure 2 by the symbols used in the three areas.

The second working end 6 can be connected by means of the connecting device 12 via the handle section 10 to the handle section 8, which carries the first working end 4. A possible embodiment of the second working end 6, which has a cleaning device for cleaning teeth and/or interdental spaces, is shown enlarged in Figure 3. This cleaning device is designed in the form of a rudder blade-shaped section 28, which is narrower than the handle element 10. The rudder blade-shaped section 28 preferably has a thickness between 0.01 and 0.05 mm, so that it is well suited for cleaning interdental spaces. The length of the rudder blade 28 is preferably in the range between 2.2 and 2.8 cm, preferably around 2.5 cm. The exact dimensions of the rudder blade 28 depend on the tooth proportions of a user and on the flexibility of the material. The surface of the rudder blade-shaped section 28 is preferably roughened in a similar way to that of the first working end 4. It is also preferred to provide a scale and/or color gradation 30 on the second working end 6 in order to be able to diagnose, for example, tooth pocket depths with the second working end 6. The scale gradation or coloring of the scale 30 is preferably identical to that of the first working end.

The connecting device 12 shown schematically in Figure 1 is shown in more detail in Figure 4. In this embodiment, the connecting device 12 has a plug connection 32 for connecting the first handle section 8 to the second handle section 10. For this purpose, a recess 34 is provided in the first handle element 8, into which a projection 36 formed on the second handle element 10 engages. The two handle elements 8 and 10 can thus be connected to one another by simply inserting the projection 36 into the recess 34. To separate them, the two handle elements are pulled apart in the axial direction. It is preferred to provide the ends 38 and 40 of the first and second handle elements 8 and 10 located on the connecting device 12 with a beveled surface 42 and 44 respectively, so that the two connected handle elements 8 and 10 are pushed axially away from one another by rotation relative to one another. The connecting device used for the dental medical hand-held device 2 according to the invention can, in addition to the one described above, also include any other quick connection option, such as bayonet locks, threaded connections or snap connections.

In addition to the first embodiment of the cleaning device for the second working end 6 of the dental hand-held device 2 according to the invention described above with reference to Figure 3, other cleaning devices, as described below, can also be connected to the first handle element 8. For example, a cleaning device designed as a dental floss holder 46 can be formed on the second working end 6, as shown in Figure 5. This dental floss holder 46 essentially has a shaft 48 connected to the second handle element 10 or formed integrally therewith and a fork section having two fingers 50 and 52. In the two fingers 50 and 52, a through opening 54 and 56 is provided at their front end sections for passing the dental floss 58 through. The ends of the dental floss 58 are clamped to the shaft 48 of the dental floss holder 46 by means of a clamping device 60 (e.g. a clamping ring) so that the dental floss 58 is sufficiently tensioned in the area between the openings 54 and 56. The dental floss holder 46 can be provided both in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the dental medical hand-held device 2 according to the invention and at an angle thereto.

A further embodiment of the cleaning device of the second working end 6 of the dental hand-held device 2 according to the invention is shown in Figure 6. This cleaning device is an interdental brush holder 62 or an interdental brush 64. The holder 62 can be connected to the second handle element 10, for example, by means of a connecting sleeve 66. The interdental brush 64 can be mounted to the holder 62, preferably by means of a quick-release device 68, so that the brush 64 can be easily replaced and cleaned if necessary.

In addition, a diameter-reduced extension section (not shown) can be coupled to the second working end 6 of the dental hand-held device 2 according to the invention as a cleaning device. This extension section has a micro-roughening as a plaque filter for interdental spaces and is therefore referred to as a plaque stick. To check the depth of the pockets in the teeth, a scale and/or color grading can also be provided, similar to that described above with reference to Figure 3. Furthermore, a substantially conical measuring probe with a scale and/or color grading can be provided at the second working end 6. For this measuring probe, a scale of, for example, 12 mm with

a 1 mm graduation is preferred. At a distance of 3 mm from the tip of the measuring probe, a color marking can be provided to identify dangerous tooth pocket depths.

The ends of the dental medical hand-held device 2 according to the invention are preferably rounded so that injuries are avoided. In addition, the working ends 4 and 6 in particular or the entire hand-held device 2 are designed to be flexible so that only a predetermined, defined force can be applied with the device. The surfaces of the working ends 4 and 6 are preferably roughened so that coarse and fine cleaning can be carried out with the device according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows an intermediate element 70 that can be inserted between the connecting device 12 and with which the dental medical handheld device 2 according to the invention can be combined in order to be able to provide, for example, additional bends or extensions between the two handle elements 8 and 10. For this purpose, the intermediate element 70 has connecting elements 72 and 74 that are compatible with the connecting device 12 and can be quickly connected to the connecting devices formed on the respective handle elements 8 and 10.

Claims (23)

1. Dental medical hand-held device ( 2 ) with a first working end ( 4 ) which is doubly angled in the region of a tip ( 26 ) for diagnosing the depths of periodontal pockets and a second working end ( 6 ) with a cleaning device ( 28 ; 46 ; 62 ) for cleaning teeth and/or interdental spaces. 2. Hand tool according to claim 1, wherein at least the first and/or second working end ( 4 , 6 ) are formed from plastic. 3. Hand-held device according to claim 2, wherein the plastic is made of polycarbonate. 4. Hand tool according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two working ends ( 4 , 6 ) have macro- and/or microscopic curves. 5. Hand tool according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the two working ends ( 4 , 6 ) are flexible. 6. Hand tool according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the two working ends ( 4 , 6 ) have deeply roughened surfaces for antimicrobial cleaning. 7. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least the first working end ( 4 ) has a scale and/or color gradation ( 24 ) at an end section ( 22 ) for diagnosing the depth of the periodontal pockets. 8. Hand-held device according to claim 7, wherein the scaling and/or color graduation ( 24 ) measured from a tip ( 26 ) of the first working end ( 4 ) has a first graduation up to 2 mm, a second graduation up to 3 mm and a third graduation up to 4 mm. 9. Hand tool according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the double bend has a first angle α between 15° and 35°, preferably between 20° and 30° and particularly preferably of about 25°, and a second angle β between 15° and 35°, preferably between 20° and 30° and particularly preferably of about 25°. 10. Hand-held device according to claim 9, wherein the sum of the angles α and β is approximately 50°. 11. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning device provided at the second working end ( 6 ) is essentially oar-blade-shaped ( 28 ) and has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.05 mm and a length of 2.2 to 2.8 cm. 12. Hand-held device according to claim 11, wherein the rudder-blade-shaped cleaning device ( 28 ) has a scale and/or color gradation ( 30 ) for measuring and diagnostic purposes. 13. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning device provided at the second working end ( 6 ) is a dental floss holder ( 46 ). 14. Hand-held device according to claim 13, wherein the dental floss holder ( 46 ) has a fork-shaped end portion ( 50 ) in the space between which dental floss ( 58 ) can be stretched. 15. Hand-held device according to claim 14, wherein the dental floss ( 48 ) can be guided through an opening ( 54 , 56 ) of each fork finger ( 50 , 52 ) and can be clamped with a clamping device ( 60 ) provided on a shaft ( 48 ) of the dental floss holder ( 46 ). 16. Hand-held device according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the dental floss holder ( 46 ) is arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hand-held device ( 2 ). 17. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning device provided at the second working end ( 6 ) is a plaque stick with plaque filter for interdental spaces and has a scale and/or color gradation. 18. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning device provided at the second working end ( 6 ) has a measuring probe with scaling and/or color gradation arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hand-held device ( 2 ) and tapering substantially towards the end. 19. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning device provided at the second working end ( 6 ) comprises an interdental brush holder ( 62 ) or an interdental brush ( 64 ). 20. Hand-held device according to claim 19, wherein the interdental brush holder ( 62 ) holds the brush ( 64 ) by means of a clamping device ( 68 ). 21. Hand-held device according to one of claims 1 to 20, which is designed as a multifunctional device for assembling various combinations of first and second working ends ( 4 , 6 ). 22. Hand tool according to claim 21, wherein a quick connection device ( 12 ) is provided for mounting the working ends ( 4 , 6 ). 23. Hand tool according to claim 20 or 21, wherein at least one intermediate element ( 70 ) can be inserted between the working ends ( 4 , 6 ).