# US 8,465,285 B2 · Dental fulcrum > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,285 B2 - Document ID: US8465285B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/333,839 - Filed: 2011-12-21 - Published: 2012-06-28 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-23 - Applicants: Zoya Hajirasouliha - Inventors: Zoya Hajirasouliha - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465285B2 ## CPC - A61C 5/90: Oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors (A61C5/82 takes precedence) - A61C 3/00: Dental tools or instruments (implanting tools A61C8/00; tools for fastening artificial teeth A61C13/12; visual inspection devices, e.g. dental mirrors, A61B1/24) - 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 fulcrum composed of soft material, such as foam, containing a slit for the insertion of incisors, and used as a pivot for scaling, or other treating, teeth by an oral hygienist or dentist. The dental fulcrum protects the fingers of an oral hygienist or dentist from calluses, or loss of sensitivity over time, while at the same time providing friction to reduce the risk of injury caused by fingers slipping on wet incisors. The device may be disposable or reusable, depending on the material used. Foam provides the additional benefit of absorbing saliva to further reduce the risk of slippage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental fulcrum for supporting the weight of one or more fingers of a dental professional and a dental instrument used by the dental professional during a dental procedure on a patient, the dental fulcrum comprising: a front side constructed and arranged to face the lips of the patient and a back side constructed and arranged to face the tongue of the patient, said front side and said back side being of the same length and width; a left side and a right side having the same length and width; a top side constructed and arranged to face the occlusal direction and a bottom side constructed and arranged to face the gingival direction; a slit disposed through and creating openings onto said left side and said right side of said dental fulcrum, said slit constructed and arranged to intersect and to open onto said bottom side; said slit being formed for and enabling the insertion of at least one incisor therein; said slit configured to maintain sufficient surface contact with at least one incisor to provide resistance to fore and aft motion of the dental fulcrum during use; wherein said slit and said openings in the left and right sides have smooth, flat and linearly tapered surfaces expanding outwardly in the gingival direction towards said bottom side; wherein said front and back sides have smooth, flat, rectangular surfaces slanted inwardly towards each other; wherein said left and right sides have smooth and flat trapezoidal surfaces and wherein said left and right sides are perpendicular to said top side; wherein said top side has a smooth arcuate surface that is larger than said bottom side whereby, when said slit portion of said dental fulcrum is placed on at least one incisor of the patient, a stable surface is provided for supporting the weight of one or more fingers of the dental professional and the dental instrument used by the dental professional. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fulcrum as defined in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is composed of a resilient material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fulcrum as defined in claim 1, wherein said slit has fore and aft side surfaces and wherein said side surfaces of said slit are planar and divergent with respect to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fulcrum as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration of said slit is such that when force is applied to said top side, said slit applies a corresponding greater force to the associated incisors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fulcrum as defined in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is composed of a material selected from a group including foam, plastic, aluminum, wax, gum, rubber and any other material with sufficient density to withstand cold sterilizers and high temperatures and pressures of an autoclave. ### Claim 6 A dental fulcrum sufficient to support the weight of one or more fingers of a dental professional and a dental instrument, the fulcrum comprising: a front side adapted to face the lips of a patient and a back side adapted to face the tongue of a patient; said front side and said back side being of the same length and width; a left side and right side having the same length and width; a top side adapted to face the occlusal direction and a bottom side adapted to face the gingival direction; a slit, disposed through said left and said right sides of the fulcrum, intersecting and opening to said bottom side and creating openings on said left and said right sides, said slit being long enough and wide enough for the insertion of at least one incisor; wherein the fulcrum is composed of a soft material; wherein said slit and said openings in the left and right sides have smooth, flat and linearly tapered surfaces, expanding outwardly in the gingival direction towards said bottom side; wherein said front and back sides have smooth, flat, rectangular surfaces slanted inwardly towards each other; wherein said left and right sides have smooth and flat trapezoidal surfaces and wherein said left and right sides are perpendicular to said top side; wherein said top side has a smooth arcuate surface that is larger than said bottom side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dental fulcrum as defined in claim 6, wherein said soft material is foam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The dental fulcrum as defined in claim 6, wherein said soft material is selected from a group including wax, gum, rubber, foam or other material with sufficient density to withstand cold sterilizers and high temperatures and pressures of an autoclave. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The dental fulcrum as defined in claim 6, wherein the fulcrum is adapted to be placed over at least one incisor of a patient and configured to resist fore and aft motion of the fulcrum, thereby providing a stable platform for one or more of a dental professional's fingers and dental instrument, and thus protecting the dental professional and the patient from possible accidental injury. ### Claim 10 A method for supporting the weight of one or more fingers of a dental professional and a dental instrument used by the dental professional during a dental procedure on a patient, said dental fulcrum comprising the steps of: providing a dental fulcrum for supporting the weight of one or more fingers of a dental professional and a dental instrument used by the dental professional during a dental procedure on a patient, said fulcrum comprising: a front side constructed and arranged to face the lips of the patient and a back side constructed and arranged to face the tongue of the patient, said front side and said back side being of the same length and width; a left side and a right side having the same length and width; a top side constructed and arranged to face the occlusal direction and a bottom side constructed and arranged to face the gingival direction; a slit disposed through and opening onto said left side and said right side of said dental fulcrum, said slit constructed and arranged to intersect and to open onto said bottom side; said slit being formed for and enabling the insertion of at least one incisor therein; said slit configured to maintain sufficient contact surface with at least one incisor to provide resistance to fore and aft motion of the dental fulcrum during use; placing said fulcrum on at least one incisor of a dental patient by inserting the at least one incisor into the slit; resting at least one finger of the dental professional on said fulcrum; performing a dental procedure; and removing said dental fulcrum from said at least one incisor; whereby, a more precise dental procedure can be performed and the risk of an accident can be reduced. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said fulcrum is composed of a resilient material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said top side is arcuate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said slit has fore and aft side surfaces and wherein said side surfaces of said slit are planar and divergent with respect to each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said front and back sides are planar and divergent with respect to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the configuration of said slit is such that when a force is applied to said top side, said slit applies a corresponding greater force to the associated incisors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said fulcrum is composed of a material selected from a group including foam, plastic, aluminum, wax, gum, rubber and any other material with sufficient density to withstand cold sterilizers and high temperatures and pressures of an autoclave.