Air-driven dental vibratory instrument with a replaceable vibrator module

An air-driven dental vibratory instrument, comprising, an elongated outer casing having a longitudinally extending lodgment defined contiguous to a frontal end of said casing, said casing being split into a main body and a frontal cap said main body and frontal cap opening to the lodgment at mating ends connected with each other at a juncture,

• an air-driven vibrator module having a housing portion having a chamber containing a vibratory element for generating vibration, and a frontal part extending from said housing portion and having threaded coupling means for detachably coupling a vibratory tool, said housing portion being received within the lodgement and removable from the lodgement through an opening at a mating end upon disconnecting said frontal can from the main body at the juncture,
• means for resiliently supporting said module in said casing,
• axial positioning means for locating said vibrator module against said frontal cap,
• means for supplying compressed air to said vibrator module to excite said vibratory element, and,
• anti-rotation means for preventing said vibrator module from rotating relative to said casing when said vibratory tool is screwed to and unscrewed from said vibrator module,
• wherein the axial position of the juncture between said main body and said frontal cap is such that, when said main body and said frontal cap are disconnected from each other for replacement of said vibrator module, at least part of the main housing of said vibrator module is exposed, extending from said main body or frontal cap to which it is attached, to thereby permit an operator to hold said module by fingers in order to remove said module from the lodgement within said main body or frontal cap.