Dental Mask

The invention relates to the field of dentistry, and more particularly to a dental mask which retracts the cheeks to open the oral cavity for access during dental procedures, and which protects the patient's facial area during dental work.

In the past, cheek retraction devices have been known for use in photography. For example, in orthodontics the cheek retractor is inserted to photograph the teeth before and after orthodontic work. One dental photographic mask is manufactured by Hager & Werken GmbH of Duisburg, Germany, and sold under the name Spandex. This device includes a plastic flexible mouth piece which has a curved cheek retractor that flexes and collapses to fit into the mouth. When the collapsed device is let go it retracts. During retraction the cheeks are retracted exposing the teeth and oral cavity for photography. Protective devices commonly referred to as a rubber dam have been used in dental work. The rubber dam consists of a sheet of latex material. A hole is punctured in the latex material and the latex is fitted over one or more teeth. A metal clamp is used to slide the latex material over the tooth or teeth. The outside of the latex sheet is carried by a wire frame to which latex is attached by prongs. The metal frame is loose and laid upon the patient's face while the latex serves as a working envelope for access to the area of the patient's oral cavity where work is to be performed. The latex acts like a barrier and prevents materials from going down the patient's throat. Napkins have also been used to cover a facial area of the patients. Numerous types of devices have been proposed for holding the napkins like elastic head bands, for example.

No method or device has been proposed which is entirely satisfactory for retracting the cheeks of the patient for access to the oral cavity and to cover the surrounding facial area during dental work in an effective manner. There are many procedures performed under dental work which cause contaminants to be sprayed upon the patient's face. For example, a popular teeth cleaning process includes spraying baking soda against the teeth to blast the stains and polish the teeth. This causes contaminant particles including baking soda and water to spray in the air around the patient's face and be deposited on the patient's face. If the face becomes too dirty, the face must be cleaned. Often facial make-up must be replaced. In the case of patient's with contact lenses, it is recommended that the eyes be closed during this procedure so that the soda dust and other particulate matter does not enter the eyes. Sonic scaler devices are also utilized in dental work which vibrate at sonic frequencies and spray water. These devices also cause water spray and loose particulate matter from the teeth to become sprayed in the air and deposited on the patient's face. Numerous other procedures in dental work using instruments vibrating or operating at high speeds cause foreign or contaminant matter to be sprayed into the air adjacent the patient's face and deposited.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a dental mask for protecting a patient's face against airborne particulate and contaminant matter during dental work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for retracting the cheeks and for covering the facial area surrounding the oral cavity of a dental patient during dental work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which retracts the cheeks, covers the surrounding facial area of a dental patient, and aids in the retention of particulate and contaminant matter resulting from the dental procedure within the more open oral cavity while protecting the facial area against any airborne particulate or contaminant matter.

The above objectives are accomplished according to the invention by providing a dental mask device adapted for insertion in the oral cavity of a dental patient and for supporting a protective sheet covering a surrounding facial area of the patient while retracting the patient's cheeks. The device consists of a mask frame having a pair of movable cheek retractors for retracting the left cheek and right cheek of the dental patient. There is lateral support carried by the sides of the mask frame for attaching and supporting opposing sides of the protective sheet to cover the facial area of the patient in a generally taut condition. An upper support supports an upper side of the protective sheet in a taut condition; and lower support supports a lower side of the protective sheet in a generally taut condition. Attachment barbs are carried by each support means for attaching the protective sheet to the mask frame. The upper support includes vertically inclined support arms for supporting the protective sheet at an inclined position relative to the patient's facial area when the dental mask is fitted inside the patient's oral cavity. With the mask held in this manner, airborne contaminants and particles are deflected from the area of the patient's eyes while the patient's nose is left unobstructed for breathing.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to he accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dental patient with a dental mask according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a dental patient wearing a dental mask in accordance with the invention undergoing dental hygiene with an air polish instrument;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a dental mask constructed according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dental mask of FIG. 3 flexed in a collapsed position for insertion into an oral cavity;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a protective latex sheet for a dental mask in accordance with the invention.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a dental mask device, designated generally as A, constructed in accordance with the present invention which includes a mask frame B made from a suitable resilient plastic and a protective sheet C carried by frame B. Dental mask frame B includes a flexible frame 10 which includes a left cheek retractor 12 and a right cheek retractor 14, as viewed relative to the patient. Frame 10 may be made from any suitable resilient plastic material.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, left cheek retractor 12 includes a cheek receiving flange opening 13 defined by a front flange 12a and flange 12b. Right cheek retractor 14 includes a cheek receiving flange opening 15 defined by a front flange 14a and a rear flange 14b. Dental mask frame 10 is flexible and includes a pincerlike bridge 20 which connects left and right cheek retractors 12 and 14. By pinching the arms of bridge 20, left and right cheek retractors collapse and come together so that the same may be fitted within the oral cavity 22 of the patient's teeth. When the arms of the bridge are released, the left and right cheek retractors move away from each other retracting the left and right cheeks of the patient leaving the oral cavity open for dental work. The frame and cheek retractors may be in a number of suitable forms and are illustrated in the form of the Spandex photography mask described in the background.

Referring now in more detail to the invention, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a protective sheet C in the form of a rectangular sheet 24 of suitable sanitary material such as latex. Support means for attaching latex sheet 24 to mask frame B is illustrated in the form of a plurality of support arms 26, 28, 30, and 32, and bridge arm 20. Each arm includes a plurality of plastic barbs 34 which may engage and penetrate latex sheet 24 including a plurality of plastic barbs 34 on the end of bridge 20. The support arms are located around mask frame 10 so that latex sheet 24 is maintained in a stretched out generally rectangular configuration effectively covering and protecting the facial area of patient P surrounding the oral cavity 22. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, latex sheet 24 includes a central opening 36 which is also fitted inside the flange openings 13 and 15 and retained by cheek retractors 12 and 14. The central opening 36 of latex sheet 24 contracts and expands as the cheek retractors flex and reflex.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2 and 5, upper support arms 26 and 28 are carried at free ends 10a and 10b of frame 10 and are inclined outwardly at an angle "a" of about 60 degrees with respect to the frame. The latex flexes with the frame as the free ends converge like in FIG. 4. In this configuration, latex sheet C is held away from the nose 38 of the patient so that the nose is unobstructed for proper breathing. It is also important to note that at this angle or other proper inclination, support arms 26 and 28 provide a means for holding latex sheeting at such an angle that contaminant particles and other airborne matter caused by polishing instrument 40 are deflected effectively from the eye area 42 of the patient during dental work, as can best be seen in FIG. 2.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.