Wet foam sandblaster

Abstract

The subject matter of the disclosed invention relates generally to dental cleaning processes and apparatus. A "wet foam sandblasting" system is described below in which a bubble foam laden with abrasive particles is propelled through a small nozzle by gas pressure. The system has very specific applications in the dental industry for 1) general cleaning of teeth such as removal of tobacco, tea and other stains; 2) for selectively abrading away carious enamel, 3) cleaning prosthodontic restorations, 4) abrading various tooth and restorative materials in preparation for bonding, and 5) periodontal pocket cleaning with osteophylic abrasives; 6) cleaning of occlusal pits and fissures for sealing. In addition, the system has numerous applications in cleaning and etching materials in the jewelry, semi-conductor, automotive and other industries. The apparatus for cleaning teeth and other surfaces comprises a canister capable of being sealed and pressurized and receiving a mixture of liquid, abrasive particles and wetting agent, said canister also having a means to receive a stream of pressurized gas, a means to disperse pressurized gas into the mixture of liquid, abrasive particles and wetting agent causing thereby causing a formation of foam and urging the abrasive particles to become entrained into the foam, a means to direct the abrasive laden foam to the surface to be cleaned, and a means to control the flow of abrasive laden foam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.