Method and apparatus for use in endodontic treatment
OwnerPaul Geller, Steven Berkowitzinventors
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for use in endodontic treatment include providing a one-way valve in the root canal system of a tooth undergoing endodontic therapy by which pressure which may build-up in the root canal system due to the production of purulence or gases from necrosing and/or infected tissue is vented from the root canal system and by which unobstructed drainage of the tooth is permitted, while at the same time food debris and foreign matter are prevented from entering and/or becoming packed within the root canal system thereby eliminating the possibility of the canal system becoming plugged and/or reducing introduction of bacteria into the root canal system. A method is disclosed for fitting a tooth with a one-way valve in a simple yet stable manner.
Claims12
Apparatus for use in endodontic treatment of a tooth with an unobstructed root canal system including a pulp chamber from which the pulp has been removed and at least one root canal, comprising:
- one-way valve means adapted to be situated in a region of the pulp chamber of the root canal system of the tooth for venting pressure built-up in the root canal system and tooth drainage and at the same time for preventing substantial introduction of food debris and other foreign matter into the root canal system;
- and
- means for holding said one-way valve means in the region of the pulp chamber of the tooth root canal system.
Apparatus for use in endodontic treatment of a tooth with an unobstructed root canal system including a pulp chamber from which the pulp has been removed and at least one root canal, comprising:
- a housing including a blank formed of composite resin situated within the pulp chamber of the tooth root canal system having a circumferential surface adhering to a circumferential surface region of the pulp chamber and a passage extending through said blank having two ends, one of said passage ends opening into said pulp chamber and the other of said passage ends opening outside of said pulp chamber;
- and
- one-way valve means situated in said passage of said housing for venting pressure build-up in the root canal system and for allowing drainage from the root canal system and at the same time for substantially preventing introduction of food debris and other foreign matter into the root canal system.
A method for use in endodontic treatment of a tooth with an unobstructed root canal system including a pulp chamber from which the pulp has been removed and at least one root canal, comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing means for holding one-way valve means in the region of the pulp chamber of the tooth root canal system;
- and
- (B) providing one-way valve means held by said holding means, said one-way valve means permitting venting of pressure build-up in the root canal system and tooth drainage and preventing substantial introduction of food debris and other foreign matter into the root canal system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.