Unitary preassembled disposable intra-oral rubber dam device

A unitary preassembled intra-oral disposable rubber dam device comprising an annular, resilient frame member and a flexible, elastic membrane, said annular frame member having a predetermined configuration and a memoury characteristic such that when pressure applied to distort said frame member is relaxed said frame member returns to substantially said predetermined configuration, the perimeter of said flexible, elastic membrane being coiled about said frame member and secured thereto such that said membrane is held taut by said frame member.

A unitary preassembled intra-oral disposable rubber dam device comprising an annular, resilient frame member and a flexible, elastic membrane, said annular frame member having a predetermined configuartion and a memory characteristic such that when pressure applied to distort said frame member is relaxed said frame member returns to substantially said predetermined configuration, the perimeter of said membrane being secured to said frame member such that said membrane is held taut by said frame member, and annular band portion of said flexible, elastic membrane adjacent said frame member having a cross-sectional thickness greater than the thickness of the remaining portion of said membrane within said annular band portion to prevent tearing of said membrane during its insertion around occluded or sharp-edged teeth.

An intra-oral disposable rubber dam device according to claim 11 wherein the thickness of said annular band portion is between 0.010 and 0.200 inch, the thickness of said remaning portion of said membrane is between 0.005 and 0.100 inch, and the width of said annular band portion is between 0.125 and 1.000 inch.

A unitary preassembled intra-oral disposable rubber dam device comprising an annular, resilient frame member and a flexible, elastic membrane, said annular frame member having a predetermined configuration and a memory characteristic such that when pressure applied to distort said frame member is relaxed said frame member returns to substantially said predetermined configuration, the perimeter of said membrane being secured to said frame member such that said membrane is held taut by said frame member, said membrane being formed with a plurality of generally radially extending ribs therein arranged in an annular pattern adjacent said frame member, each adjacent pair of ribs coinciding with the location of a patient's tooth such that, upon pressing said membrane over a tooth to cause said tooth to project through an aperture in said membrane between said pair of ribs, insertion of said membrane between occluded teeth and around wide-parted teeth is facilitated.

A unitary preassembled intra-oral disposable rubber dam device comprising an annular, resilient frame member;

• a flexible, elastic membrane, said annular frame member having a predetermined configuration and a memory characteristic such that when pressure applied to distort said frame member is relaxed said frame member returns to substantially said predetermined configuration, said membrane being secured to said frame member such that the portion of said membrane within said annular frame member is held taut by said frame member;
• and a narrow annular membrane projecting about said annular frame member, whereby when said dam device is placed in a patient's oral cavity said annular membrane prevents excretions from the parotid glands from flowing into the work area in the oral cavity and prevents chemicals used in treatment from splashing against the gums and inner surfaces of the cheeks of the patient.