Dental Pliers

This invention relates generally to improved pliers for facilitating the handling of dental prostheses and in particular to pliers for facilitating the insertion and removal of dental crowns. Heretofore, pliers-like devices designed for handling dental prostheses such as crowns and the like have generally been less than completely satisfactory for several reasons. One problem particularly troublesome to dentists is the failure of such pliers to provide sufficient sensitivity for permitting soft hand impressions formed from compounds, rubber, wax or silicone to be removed and inserted without causing damage to the impression. Similarly the lack of sensitivity in such pliers does not permit same to be used in handling easily-breakable dental crowns and/or dental bridgework. Also, such pliers for removing dental prostheses are not adjustable to different tooth sizes. Finally, such dental pliers are unable to impart a sufficient force in the direction of the long axis of the tooth for removing the crown or bridge work without the possiblity of causing damage to the prostheses or to the teeth surrounding same. Accordingly, a dental pliers capable of removing and inserting dental crowns and the like and that eliminates the above-noted problems is needed.

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, curved pliers for removing dental crowns and the like having removable resilient cushions and fulcral projections are provided. The pliers include two arms pivotably joined in generally scissors-like fashion or in nut-cracker-like fashion. The clamping jaw of each arm includes a receptacle into which the resilient cushions are respectively inserted. Each arm, in the scissors-like embodiment includes an extending projection disposed proximate to the pivotal joint to serve as a fulcrum in the removal of dental prostheses by the clamping ends of the arms. Intermediate the handle end of the arms and the fulcral projections, the arms are stepped to define an offset for improving handling of the dental prostheses by the pliers. Also, the arms are curved in a plane essentially perpendicular to the direction in which said crown or bridge-work is to be removed, this curvature providing for placement of the fulcral projections directly over or below the center of the dental ridge on the maxillary or mandibular jaws. As will be evident, two sets of such pliers are needed, said pliers being curved in opposing directions. The nut-cracker-like pliers have a fulcral projection at the pivot and clamping jaws between the pivot and the handle ends. While the nut-cracker-like pliers may be provided in two sets with opposite curvatures, generally, it has been found that a single set suffices, said nut-cracker-like pliers preferably being used for the anterior portions of the jaws and the scissors-like pliers being used for the posterior portions of the jaws.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved dental pliers for removing dental prostheses without damaging same.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide dental pliers capable of utilizing a fulcrum effect to flatten the arc of removal of the prostheses.

A further object of the invention is to provide dental pliers with scissoring arms which are curved so that fulcral projections on said arms may be positioned in registry with the dental ridge of the maxillary or mandibular jaws respectively.

Still another object of this invention is to provide dental pliers that have a removable cushioned insert for use with teeth in various sizes and shapes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide curved pliers of nut-cracker-like construction for removal of prostheses from anterior teeth.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of curved dental pliers in accordance with an embodiment of the instant invention in combination with a fulcral block adapted for holding a flat blade and supporting the fulcral projections of the pliers;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pliers of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 taken in the direction of the arrow 6--6;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of a clamping receptacle and cushioned insert therefor of the dental pliers depicted in FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 9 is a view in partial section along the array of teeth in a mandibular jaw;

FIG. 10 illustrates the direction in which a prosthesis is moved relative to the length of a tooth, said prosthesis being removed by pliers within the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a clamping receptacle containing a cushioned insert;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cushioned insert for said clamping receptacle; and

FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 1, curved pliers in a scissors-like construction, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, for removing dental crowns and the like are depicted. The pliers 10 comprise two curved arms 11a and 11b pivotably joined at pivot 12 to define a scissors-like implement, the arms rotating about axis 12c in pivot 12 (FIG. 4). It should be noted that said curved arms 11a and 11b lie essentially in a single plane, defining said plane. Each of the arms 11a and 11b has a handle portion 20 terminating in finger rings 15. The arms also have clamping ends 18a and 18b respectively, each clamping end having a clamping receptacle 17 disposed thereat. Each clamping receptacle is adapted for holding a cushioned insert which preferably is serrated.

The portion of the pliers from the clamping ends 18a and 18b to the fulcral projections 22 is designated as the clamping portion of the pliers and the portion of the pliers from each fulcral projection to the finger rings is designated as the handle portion. Preferably, the fulcral projections are close to the pivot 12 in order to provide as much leverage as possible in removing a dental prosthesis. The clamping portion 18 for clamping ends 18a and 18b to fulcral projections 22 is curved as aforenoted; handle portions 20 are disposed relative to clamping portion 18 so as to lie away from the cheek of a patient when the pliers are in use, and, except for a step portion 19, preferably being straight. The preferred direction of the handles is such that, when the handles are together, the common line defined by same passes immediately above fulcral projections 22 and handle ends 18a and 18b. This line is given the reference numeral 16 in FIG. 2, and, as can be seen, said line 16 bisects the angle between handles 20 and passes between fulcral projections 22 and clamping ends 18a and 18b. The advantage of this construction is that when a downward or upward pressure is applied to either of the embodiments disclosed herein, there is no tendency for the pliers to rotate around this line; consequently, a single fulcral projection 22 can serve for precise and effective use of the pliers.

The curvature of the clamping portion 18 of the pliers should approximate that of the array of teeth in a jaw, the dental ridge in a jaw being indicated by dashed line 13 of FIG. 2. This curvature varies over the length of the dental ridge and also varies between patients. The radius of this curvature is about 1 inch, and this is a preferred radius of curvature for clamping end 18 of the pliers of the present invention. Also, it is desirable that a step 19 be provided for maintaining clearance between the handle portions 20 of the pliers and the teeth during operation of the pliers. Preferably, step portion 19 is at right-angles to handle portion 20.

FIGS. 1 through 4 show a fulcral block for use in combination with pliers 10 where a tooth is missing at the location where fulcral projections 22 are to be positioned. In such a case, the fulcral block consisting of a fulcral mount and a fulcral frame are positioned over a gum 14 with the mount 21a making direct contact with the gum 14. A frame 21b is mounted by means of a swivel 21c on the mount 21a. The frame 21b is adapted for holding a flat blade 21d therein. The blade is held by the operator of the pliers and serves to stabilize the fulcral block. In addition, if the operator should inadvertently rotate the pliers around the clamping ends, thereby carrying the fulcral projections 22 away from the fulcral block 21, then the blade will serve to support the pliers by means of the fulcral projections 22. It should be noted that the fulcral block 21 is used only when a tooth is missing at the region where the fulcral projections are to be brought to bear. The fulcral block serves to insure that rotation of the pliers during the step of removal of a prosthesis will occur around an axis which is at the level of the biting surface of the remaining teeth. Where a tooth is present at the region in which the fulcral projections are to be brought to bear, then the fulcral block is not used, and, instead, a flat blade such as a tongue depressor, is placed directly on the tooth. The way in which the fulcral block 21 is used for bearing upon a gum 14 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively taken along broken lines 3--3 of FIG. 2 and 4--4 of FIG. 2. Attention is called to the fact that location of ends 22a of fulcral projections 22 at the level of the biting surface 25a of a prosthesis 25 results in extraction of the prosthesis in the direction indicated by the arrow 25b along the length of the prosthesis. Consequently, possible damage to the gum is avoided.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-7 in which the pliers are in a nut-cracker-like configuration. In this second embodiment the fulcral projections may also be disposed proximate the pivot. However, it is preferred that the pivot include a fulcral projection as part thereof, this construction being shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pivot itself being indicated by the reference numeral 12a and the fulcral projection by the reference numeral 22b.

This second embodiment is particularly useful for removal of prostheses in the anterior portion of the mouth. While the pliers of the first embodiment can be used for removal of a prosthesis from the anterior portion of the mouth, this first embodiment is not so convenient as the pliers of the second embodiment. The pliers of the first embodiment would lie inconveniently close to the cheek when used on a prosthesis near the anterior portion of the jaw.

The curvature of the pliers in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is such that they are more conveniently used for the right mandibular jaw and the left maxillary jaw. Accordingly, where curved dental pliers in accordance with the present invention are to be used in connection with prostheses in the left mandibular jaw and the right maxillary jaw, the pliers should be curved in the opposite direction to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly, with respect to the pliers of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, pliers with the opposite curvature may also be employed. However, I have found that while two pairs of pliers of opposite curvature are preferably made available for use in connection with the posterior part of the jaws, a single pair of pliers of either curvature will serve for the anterior teeth. The pliers of the second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can clamp on a prosthesis wherever it is located in the anterior portion of the jaw and will remove the prosthesis in the lengthwise direction thereof as shown in FIG. 7, pivoting around the end of fulcral projection 22b.

In use of pliers of either embodiment, the pliers are closed over a crown or the like dental prosthesis so that one of the cushioned inserts 26 is pressed against the buccal (facial) surface of the dental crown and the other cushioned inert 26 is pressed against the lingual (palatal) surface of the dental crown. A tongue depressor blade 38 (FIG. 10) or similar broad flat object may be placed beneath the fulcral projections 22 to assist in removal of the prosthesis. As aforenoted, the fulcral projections 22 are positioned to orient the arc of removal so that the tangent to the arc is substantially co-linear at the removal position with the lengthwise extent of the tooth. As illustrated in FIG. 10, arc x' is formed by use of end 22a of the fulcral projections as the fulcral point. The tangent to the arc is indicated by arrow 5. If the pliers of the instant invention were formed without the fulcral projections 22, the position about which the pliers rotates during removal of a prosthesis would be indefinite and the pliers could shift during the course of a removal, thereby decreasing the ease and delicacy with which a prosthesis can be removed, thereby increasing the likelihood of damage to the dental crown or the like and to the teeth surrounding same during removal of said prosthesis.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 11-13, clamping receptacle 17 is formed with an opening 24 for receiving cushion insert 26 having ridges 35 and 36 thereon. Clamping receptacle 17 is substantially rectangular and forms a five-walled chamber. The side and bottom walls of the clamping receptacle have openings 30 and 31 therein for receiving ridges 35 and 36 for the cushioned insert 26 and designed to releasably secure the cushioned inserts 26 in the receptacle. Ridges 35 and 36 eliminate any wobble when the cushioned inserts are inserted in the clamping receptacle and also aid in releasably securing the cushioned inserts in the clamping receptacles. The clamping receptacles 17 further include a lip 42 for adding a firmer support to the lower portion of the cushioned inserts 26 at the gingival region of a tooth. The portion of the cushioned inserts 26 that contacts the prosthesis has a series of flexible serrations 37 forming a protective surface to be placed against the crown or other prosthesis thus providing a firm gripping by the clamping receptacles when the dental prosthesis is to be removed.

The cushioned inserts 26 can be made of varying widths to fit narrow anterior teeth or wider posterior teeth. It is noted however that the rearward portion of the cushioned inserts 26 that fit into the clamping receptacle remain constant in size. This feature further adds to the versatility of the pliers constructed in accordance with the instant invention since two pairs of pliers of opposite curvatures, with a variety of inserts, will serve for removing prostheses made for teeth of different sizes and shapes where the teeth are in the posterior part of the mouth, and a single pair of pliers will serve for removal of prostheses made for teeth of different sizes and shapes where the teeth are in the anterior portion of the mouth. The cushioned inserts 26 are easily inserted or removed from the clamping receptacles by finger pressure and hence readily permit sterilization and replacement. Although rubber is a preferred material for forming the cushioned inserts, they can be formed of any resilient material that is flexible, pliable and soft and non-absorbant.

The preferred material for the construction of the pliers is surgical stainless steel. This allows the pliers to be sterilized with the use of an autoclave. The cushioned inserts are generally cold sterilized. However certain plastics are also autoclavable for a reasonable number of times before they lose their pliability.

A preferred embodiment of the instant invention formed from surgical stainless steel provides arms having a total length of about 14 cm. The distance from the fulcral projection to the clamping receptacles measured along the arc of the clamping portion was 4.5 cm. In the scissors-like embodiment, the distance from the fulcral projections to the pivot was about 1.5 cm. The length of the fulcral projection is preferably about 10 mm. However, it is noted that the dimensions contained herein are by way of example only, and that such dimensions may vary in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.