Dental wedge
OwnerDavid J. Clarkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The dental wedge has an elongated body extending from an outer end to an opposite inner end. The body includes a longitudinal intermediate wall, a longitudinal first side wall connected to the intermediate wall, and a longitudinal second side wall connected to the intermediate wall. The first side wall and the second side wall each flare away from the intermediate wall such that a first distal end of the first side wall and a second distal end of the second side wall are spaced apart creating an inverted generally V-shaped transverse section for the body. The body has a top surface and a bottom surface formed by the intermediate wall, the first side wall and the second side wall. The intermediate wall includes a region of increased flexibility compared to each of the first side wall and the second side wall.
Claims18
A dental wedge comprising:
- a longitudinal body including a first longitudinal side wall and a second longitudinal side wall, the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall being spaced apart creating an inverted generally V-shaped transverse section for the longitudinal body;
- and
- a throughhole directed vertically through the dental wedge at an intersection between the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall and at a first end of the longitudinal body opposite a second end of the longitudinal body;
- wherein the first end is a first longitudinal end and the second end is a second longitudinal end;
- and
- wherein the throughhole is not positioned at a longitudinal center of the longitudinal body, the longitudinal center being between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end.
A dental wedge comprising:
- a longitudinal body including a first longitudinal side wall and a second longitudinal side wall, the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall being spaced apart creating an inverted generally V-shaped transverse section for the longitudinal body, the first longitudinal side wall includes a first protruding region that defines a first local maxima when the dental wedge is viewed in a top view, the second longitudinal side wall includes a second protruding region that defines a second local maxima when the dental wedge is viewed in the top view;
- and
- a throughhole directed vertically through the dental wedge at an intersection between the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall, the throughhole being at an intersection between the first local maxima and the second local maxima, wherein the throughhole is not positioned at a longitudinal center of the longitudinal body, the longitudinal center being between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end;
- wherein when the dental wedge is inserted between adjacent teeth and the dental wedge contacts one or both of the adjacent teeth, the first protruding region and the second protruding region collapse towards each other at the throughhole while being advanced between the adjacent teeth;
- and
- wherein when the first protruding region and the second protruding region are collapsed and further advanced past a smallest space between the adjacent teeth, the first protruding region and the second protruding region expand at the throughhole.
A dental wedge comprising:
- a longitudinal body including a first longitudinal side wall and a second longitudinal side wall, the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall being spaced apart creating an inverted generally V-shaped transverse section for the longitudinal body, the longitudinal body including a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section;
- and
- a grasping section coupled to the longitudinal body;
- a throughhole directed vertically through the longitudinal body of the dental wedge at an intersection between the first longitudinal side wall and the second longitudinal side wall;
- wherein the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section are positioned on opposing sides of the throughhole, the first longitudinal section including a distal tip;
- and
- wherein the second longitudinal section is longer than the first longitudinal section;
- and
- wherein the throughhole is not positioned at a longitudinal center of the longitudinal body, the longitudinal center being between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.