Dental separator and matrix stabilizing device

A dental separator for forcing adjacent teeth of a dental arch apart from one other for use with a spreading instrument, said dental separator comprising:

• a spring yoke having first and second ends;
• first and second opposing tines adapted for wedging between and against interdental surfaces of the adjacent teeth and forcing the teeth apart, each said first and second tine connected to said first and second end of said yoke and extending downwardly therefrom, respectively, said spring yoke being formed to bias said first and said second opposing tines toward each other along a closure path to generate a force vector substantially perpendicular to said closure path and force the adjacent teeth apart, and
• first and second instrument engagement structures adapted for cooperation with the spreading instrument to separate said tines for placement between adjacent teeth, respectively, each said first and second instrument engagement structures being located proximal said first and second opposing tines, respectively,
• further comprising first and second engagement flanges located proximate said first and second tines, respectively;
• and
• first and second aperttures extending through said first and second engagement flanges, respectively,
• wherein said first and second apertures form said first and second engagement structures, repectively.

A dental separator for forcing adjacent teeth of a dental arch apart from one other for use with spreading forceps having first and second teats, said dental separator comprising:

• a resilient material having an elliptical, rectangular, triangular or circular cross section;
• a spring yoke formed of said resilient material having first and second ends, each said fist and second end extending within a yoke plane;
• first and second opposing tines adapted for wedging between and against interdental surfaces of the adjacent teeth and forcing the adjacent teeth apart each said first and second tine extending from said first and second ends of said yoke, repectively, at an angle from said yoke plane, whereby said spring yoke biases said first and second tines toward each other along a closure path;
• and
• first and second structures adapted for engaging first and second teats of the spreading forceps, respectively, each said first and second receptacle located proximal said first and second opposing tines, respectively, and within said yoke plane.