Dental instrument for measuring a degree of tapering of a side wall of a tooth

A dental instrument configured to be held by an operator to measure a degree of tapering of a tooth, wherein the dental instrument comprises:

• a handle;
• and
• a taper measuring component coupled to a distal end of the handle adapted to measure the degree of tapering of a side wall of the tooth, the taper measuring component comprising:
• a first elongated member extending from the handle;
• a second elongated member;
• a third elongated member;
• and
• a bottom surface formed at a coupling point of the second elongated member and the third elongated member, wherein:
• the second elongated member is configured to be substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the tooth when the bottom surface of the taper measuring component is placed adjacent to the tooth;
• and
• the third elongated member projects radially from the second elongated member at a predefined angle, the third elongated member being shaped and positioned to rest substantially flush along a surface of the side wall of the tooth in response to a degree of tapering of the tooth being substantially similar to the predefined angle.

A method for measuring a degree of tapering of a tooth, comprising:

• providing a dental instrument adapted to measure the degree of tapering of a side wall of the tooth, the dental instrument comprising:
• a handle;
• and
• a taper measuring component comprising:
• a first elongated member;
• a bottom surface formed at a coupling point of a second elongated member and a third elongated member;
• the second elongated member being configured to be substantially vertical when the bottom surface of the taper measuring component is placed adjacent to the tooth;
• and
• the third elongated member projecting radially from the first elongated member at a predefined angle;
• positioning the taper measuring component on a finishing line of a tooth preparation;
• and
• measuring the degree of tapering of the side wall of the tooth based at least in part on whether the third elongated member rests substantially flush along the side wall of the tooth.