# US 5,704,379 A · Disposable flossing and debrider device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,379 A - Document ID: US5704379A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/466,905 - Filed: 1995-06-06 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-06-06 - Inventors: Richard T. Krynicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704379A ## CPC - A61C 15/046: {Flossing tools} - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract A dental hygiene device for removing plaque from the surface of teeth, both above and below and gumline. The disposable flossing device has an angled molded frame designed with a flossing end and a debrider end. The flossing end holds a tensioned strand of dental floss for cleaning around all teeth and specifically the molars. The debrider end utilizes a narrow debrider implement for the sub-gingival tracing around the teeth. The debrider implement optionally includes debriding grooves to assist in the tracing process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disposable dental hygiene device for flossing and tracing around teeth, comprising: (a) a linear frame having a flossing end, a debrider end, and a linear base edge extending between said debrider end and said floss end; (b) a control pad extending from the linear frame in a co-planer manner; (c) a debrider implement formed at the debrider end of said frame; (d) a flossing head formed at the flossing end of said frame; (e) an inner periphery of said flossing head and said control pad forming a flossing arch; and (f) floss extending from an outer edge of said control pad to an outer edge of said flossing head across said flossing arch, a first acute angle of 28-32 degrees is formed at the intersection of the base edge extended and the floss line extended, a second acute angle is formed at the intersection of the floss and the inner periphery of said flossing head, said second acute angle is greater than the first acute angle, said second acute angle creating a brake with the inner periphery of said flossing head to prevent direct impingement of said floss onto the gums during insertion of said floss between teeth, said floss and said debrider implement manipulated around teeth through the fingertip control of said control pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 1, wherein the debrider implement further comprises an upper and a lower edge and an end point, said upper and lower edge each having debriding grooves extending along each edge to the end point of the debrider implement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame and control pad are made of biodegradable material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 3, wherein the biodegradable material is plastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 1, wherein the floss is woven nylon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 5, wherein the floss contains an anti-microbial. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 5, wherein the floss contains fluoride. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 1, wherein a second brake is created by a third acute angle formed at the intersection of an inner periphery of said control pad and said floss. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flossing head extends downward from said base edge creating a fourth acute angle, said fourth acute angle resulting in a shorter distance between said flossing head and said control pad. ### Claim 10 A disposable dental hygiene device for flossing and tracing around teeth, comprising: (a) a linear frame having a base edge, a flossing end, and a debrider end; (b) a control pad extending from the linear frame in a co-planer manner; (c) a debrider implement formed at the debrider end of said frame, said debrider implement having an upper and a lower edge and an end point, said upper and lower edge each having debriding grooves extending along each edge to the end point of said tracing implement; (d) a flossing head formed at the flossing end of said frame; (e) an inner periphery of said flossing head and said control pad forming a flossing arch; and (f) floss extending from an outer edge of said control pad to an outer edge of said flossing head across said flossing arch, a first acute angle of 28-32 degrees is formed at the intersection of the base edge extended and the floss line extended, a second acute angle is formed at the intersection of the floss and the inner periphery of said flossing head, said second acute angle is greater than the first acute angle, said second acute angle creating a brake with the inner periphery of said flossing head to prevent direct impingement of said floss onto the gums during insertion of said floss between teeth, said floss and said debrider implement manipulated around teeth through the fingertip control of said control pad. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein said frame and control pad are made of biodegradable material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein the floss is woven nylon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein the floss contains an anti-microbial. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein the floss contains fluoride. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein a second brake is created by a third acute angle formed at the intersection of an inner periphery of said control pad and said floss. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 10, wherein said flossing head extends downward from said base edge creating a fourth acute angle, said fourth acute angle resulting in a shorter distance between said flossing head and said control pad. ### Claim 17 A disposable dental hygiene device for flossing and tracing around teeth, comprising: (a) a linear frame having a flossing end, a debrider end, and a linear base edge extending between said debrider end and said floss end; (b) a control pad extending from the linear frame in a co-planer manner; (c) a debrider implement formed at the debrider end of said frame, the debrider implement having an upper and a lower edge and an end point, said upper and lower edge each having debriding grooves extending along each edge to the end point of the debrider implement; (d) a flossing head formed at the flossing end of said frame; (e) an inner periphery of said flossing head and said control pad forming a flossing arch; and (f) floss extending from an outer edge of said control pad to an outer edge of said flossing head across said flossing arch, a first acute angle is formed at the intersection of the base edge extended and the floss line extended, a second acute angle is formed at the intersection of the floss and the inner periphery of said flossing head, said second acute angle is greater than the first acute angle, said second acute angle creating a brake with the inner periphery of said flossing head to prevent direct impingement of said floss onto the gums during insertion of said floss between teeth, said floss and said debrider implement manipulated around teeth through the fingertip control of said control pad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 17, wherein said frame and control pad are made of biodegradable material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 17, wherein a second brake is created by a third acute angle formed at the intersection of an inner periphery of said control pad and said floss. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A disposable dental hygiene device as recited in claim 17, wherein said flossing head extends downward from said base edge creating a fourth acute angle, said fourth acute angle resulting in a shorter distance between said flossing head and said control pad.