Flexible sculpting tool for dental units

A cutting tool, comprising:

• a substantially cylindrically-shaped housing having a first end and a second end, the first end including a hollowed region;
• a substantially cylindrically-shaped bushing having a first face and second face and including a flexible material, the bushing being sized such that the first face and at least a portion of the bushing are secured inside the hollowed region of the housing, the bushing including a bore extending through the first face, the second face, and an axis of the bushing;
• and
• a cutting tool including a cutting edge, a stop, and a shaft between the cutting edge and the stop, a diameter of the stop being larger than a diameter of the bore for allowing the stop to enter the second face of the bushing, frictionally pass through the bushing and exit the first face of the bushing, a diameter of the shaft being smaller than the diameter of the stop and larger than the diameter of the bore such that the bushing frictionally engages the shaft, a length of the shaft being longer than a thickness of the bushing, and a flexibility of the cutting tool being a function of an amount of the shaft extending from the second face of the bushing.

A method of sculpting a dental unit using a flexible cutting tool, the method including:

• adjusting a flexibility of a cutting edge located at one end of the flexible cutting tool;
• grasping a handle located at a second end of the flexible cutting tool;
• applying a cutting edge of the cutting tool to the dental unit;
• sculpting the dental unit, harsh movements transmitted from a user to the handle being moderated by the flexibility of the cutting tool whereby a full force of the harsh movement is not transmitted to the dental unit.