WO2010138986A1

WO2010138986A1 - Dental dam

Info

Publication number: WO2010138986A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000687
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Ho
Original assignee: Christopher Ho
Priority date: 2009-06-01
Filing date: 2009-06-01
Publication date: 2010-12-09

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental dam (10) including a web (20) adapted in use to be installed inside a mouth cavity (22) of a patient. The mouth cavity (22) includes a palate (24), a throat (26), a tongue and a floor (28). The web (20) has a first portion (30), a third portion (32), and a second portion (34) joining the first and third portions (30 and 32). The first portion (30) is adapted to abut at least part of the palate (24). The second portion (34) is adapted to substantially seal an throat entrance (36). The third portion (32) is adapted to abut at least part of the floor (28) of the mouth cavity (22).

Description

DENTAL DAM

Technical Field

This invention relates to a dental dam. More particularly, the invention relates to a dental dam for use in dental procedures, oral surgery and implantology.

Background of the Invention

It is known to apply a dental dam as a barrier to the entry of foreign materials to the throat or oro-pharynx during dental procedures, oral surgery and implantology. The primary purpose of using such a dam is to provide an optimum working environment for dentists while protecting patients during operative procedures. Existing dental dams available in the marketplace however take different forms and shapes. They have the shortcoming of only covering a selected part of the mouth cavity where an operative procedure takes place.

Also, conventional dental dams are designed to engage at least one tooth inside the mouth cavity of a patient so that they can be secured in place. However, patients who require implant related operations quite often are toothless.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dental dam which may minimise the possibility of patients aspirating or swallowing debris, and/or may enable recovery of small instruments or articles such as thin files or screws, crowns and bridgework, or implant componentry dropped during dental procedures, and/or may be installed into the mouth cavity of a toothless patient.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a dental dam including a web adapted in use to be installed inside a mouth cavity of a patient, the mouth cavity having a palate, a throat entrance, a tongue and a floor; the web having a first portion, a third portion, and a second portion joining the first and third portions; wherein in use the first portion is adapted to abut at least part of the palate, the second portion is adapted to substantially seal the throat entrance, and the third portion is adapted to abut at least part of the floor of the mouth cavity.

The dental dam of the present invention may be made of any suitable resilient material. The resiliency of the material may cause the first portion to thrust upon the palate while the third portion presses on the floor of the mouth cavity thereby keeping the dental dam in place. The dental dam of the present invention therefore may be installed into the mouth cavity of the patient with or without teeth. The patient in the present invention may be a human or another creature. The other creature may be an animal.

Preferably, the second portion has upper and lower parts. The upper part may include a groove running across its surface. It is preferred that the lower portion includes a curved surface substantially conforming to a curvature of a bottom row of teeth of an average patient.

Alternatively, the upper part may form a receding return adjoining the first portion on one side and the lower part on an opposing side. In this embodiment, the web is substantially V-shaped. The lower part is preferred to be adapted to encase at least a portion of the tongue. The lower part is adapted to suppress the tongue so as to enable a person operating on the patient to have enhanced access to the mouth cavity and visibility. Furthermore, the moisture within the mouth cavity is minimised with the tongue being at least partially encased by the lower part.

In a preferred embodiment, the V-shaped web has an angle defined by the first portion and the lower part of the second portion. The angle may vary depending on the resiliency of the upper part. The upper part may be made of any suitable material having a high resiliency so as to maximise or maintain the angle thereby keeping the mouth of the patient widely open.

Preferably, the lower part of the second portion includes a plurality of nodules or studs. Alternatively, there may be corrugations extending in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the groove in the upper part of the second portion. This is to allow sufficient handling while placing and removing the dental dam.

The first portion may be of any suitable length depending on the depth of the mouth cavity of the patient. The first portion preferably includes a first curved rim adapted to abut an internal surface of the palate close to a top row of teeth or gums therefor. The rim is preferred to include a gap dividing it into two halves. The gap is intended to allow air flow for respiration.

The third portion may be substantially a mirror image of the first portion. In a similar way, the third portion may include a second curved rim adapted to abut an internal surface of the floor close to the bottom row of teeth (or gums therefor) and floor of the mouth cavity of the patient.

The second portion preferably has a wing on both of opposing lateral sides. The wings may have upper and lower flippers which are configured to assist with sealing of the oro-pharynx in the vicinity of the throat. Conveniently, the wing may include a projecting portion adapted to facilitate retrieval of the dental dam from the mouth cavity.

In this embodiment, a reinforcing means is provided along a region where the first and third portions join. Preferably, the reinforcing means is a thickened ridge located on an internal surface of the dental dam.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The invention will now be described in connection with non-limiting embodiments in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a dental dam in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after installation into the mouth cavity of a patient;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front and top of the dental dam of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a front view of the dental dam of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the dental dam of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top view of the dental dam of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the dental dam of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view from the top and rear of the dental dam of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is a perspective view from the top and front of a dental dam in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view from the bottom and rear of the dental dam of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a front view of the dental dam of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view from top of a dental dam in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view from bottom of the dental dam of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a bottom view of the dental dam of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of the dental dam of Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a front view of the dental dam of Figure 11 ; and

Figure 16 is a top view of the dental dam of Figure 11.

Best Method of Carrying Out the Invention

It is to be appreciated that the views in the various figures are not drawn to the same scale. Although a patient 11 in the following exemplary embodiments is a human, it is intended that the patient of the present invention includes other creatures such as animals. Referring to Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment, a dental dam 10 includes a web 20 which in use is installed inside a mouth cavity 22 of a patient. The mouth cavity 22 has a palate 24, a throat 26, a tongue (not shown) and a floor 28.

Turning to Figures 2 to 7, the web 20 has a first portion 30, a third portion 32, and a second portion 34 joining the first and third portions 30 and 32. As best appreciated with reference to Figure 1, in use, the first portion 30 abuts part of the palate 24 while the second portion 34 substantially seals an entrance 36 to the throat 26 and the third portion 32 abuts part of the floor 28 of the mouth cavity 22.

The second portion 34 includes a curved surface 38 substantially conforming to a curvature of a row of teeth 40 or 42 of an average patient. The third portion 34 has upper and lower parts 44 and 46. The upper part 44 includes a groove 48 running horizontally across its surface. The groove 48 is provided so that the curved surface 38 of the dental dam 10 does not obstruct a dentist when performing dental procedures on the patient's upper row of teeth 40, for instance.

The lower part 46 of the second portion 34 includes an array of nodules or studs 50. (only some of which are labelled). The first portion 30 includes a first curved rim 52 which abuts an internal surface of the palate close to the upper row of teeth 40 or gums therefor. The rim 52 includes a gap 54 which divides the rim 52 into two halves. The gap 54 is intended to allow air flow such that the patient 11 being treated or operated on can breathe.

The third portion 32 is substantially a mirror image of the first portion 30. The third portion 32 includes a second curved rim 56 which abuts an internal surface of the floor close the bottom row of teeth 42 (or gums therefor) and floor 28 of the mouth cavity 22 of the patient 11.

The second portion 34 has a wing 58, 60 on each of opposing lateral sides. Each of the wings 58, 60 has upper and lower flippers 62 and 64. The flippers 62 and 64 are configured such that each of the wings 58 and 60 has a concave surface 66 facilitating gripping of the dental dam 10 for retrieval thereof from the mouth cavity 22.

As best shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7, a reinforcing means in the form of a thickened ridge 68 is provided along a region where the first and second portions 30 and 34 join. The thickened ridge 68 is located on an internal surface 72 of the dental dam 10.

The patient's mouth has to be opened for installation of the dental dam. The dental dam 10 is then inserted into the mouth cavity 22. The dental dam 10 is supposed to snugly sit just behind the top and bottom rows of teeth (or just behind where the rows of teeth are meant to be if the patient has no teeth). Once the dental dam 10 is put in place, the first and third portions 30 and 32 abut the palate 24 and floor 28 of the mouth cavity 22, respectively.

Referring to Figures 8 to 10, an alternative embodiment of the dental dam 100 of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the dental dam 100 includes nodules in the form of corrugations 520 extending in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the groove 480 in the upper part 440 of the third portion 340.

Also, the dental dam 100 in this embodiment has wings 600 and 620. Each of the wings 600 and 620 includes a projecting portion 740 for facilitating retrieval of the dental dam 10 from the mouth cavity 22. The projecting portion 740 includes a folded section 760 associated with upper and lower flippers 620 and 640 forming an integral part of each of the wings 600 and 620.

Turning now to Figures 11 to 16, a further embodiment of the dental dam 10' is shown. For ease of reference, like componentry of dental dam 10' as compared to the dental dam 10 have been designated with an additional '".

In this embodiment, the upper part 44' takes the form of a receding return 45' adjoining the first portion 30' on one side and the lower part 46' on an opposing side. The shape of the dental dam 10' is substantially V-shaped with the receding return 45' providing a relatively large coverage of the tongue. It can be observed from particularly Figures 12 and 13 that the lower part 46' is designed such that when in use it suppresses the tongue of a patient. The front of the lower part 46' bulges outward so as to conform to the shape of, and accommodate, the tongue. Suppression (or sometimes understood as 5 retraction) of the tongue enables a person operating on the patient to have enhanced access to the mouth cavity and visibility. Since the tongue possesses plenty of salivary glands, the moisture within the mouth cavity is significantly minimised with a substantive portion of the tongue being encased by the lower part 46'.

It can also be observed that the curved rim 52' of the dental dam 10' is more triangular io in shape. This configuration facilitates a firm engagement between the first portion 30 and the palate 24 when the dental dam 10' is put in place with the mouth cavity 22.

The V-shaped web 20' in this embodiment has an angle A (as best shown in Figure 13) defined by the first portion 30' and the lower part 46' of the second portion 34'. The angle A may vary depending upon the resiliency of the upper part 44' (ie. the return 15 45'). The return 45' may form an integral part of the web 20' or be connected to the first portion 30' and lower part 46' respectively. The return 45' may be made of any suitable material with a high level of resiliency so as to maximise or maintain the angle A thereby forcing and keeping the mouth of the patient widely open.

Now that several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described 20 in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the dental dam may offer at least the following advantages:

(i) it is easy to install and use;

(ii) no teeth are required for installing and securing the dental dam in place within the mouth cavity; and

25 (iii) a person operating on a patient may have improved visibility and access to the mouth cavity. It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the first portion 30' may be customised with different lengths to suit mouth cavities of different depths.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention has industrial applicability in that it provides a dental dam which is capable of being installed into the mouth cavity of a patient without teeth and providing enhanced access to the mouth cavity and visibility.

Claims

1. A dental dam including a web adapted in use to be installed inside a mouth cavity of a patient, the mouth cavity having a palate, a throat entrance, a tongue and a floor; the web having a first portion, a third portion, and a second portion joining the first and third portions; wherein in use the first portion is adapted to abut at least part of the palate, the second portion is adapted to substantially seal the throat entrance, and the third portion is adapted to abut at least part of the floor of the mouth cavity.

2. The dental dam of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is adapted to thrust upon the palate while the third portion presses on the floor of the mouth cavity thereby keeping the dental dam in place.

3. The dental dam of either claim 1 or 2, which is capable of being installed into the mouth cavity of the patient with or without teeth.

4. The dental dam of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion has upper and lower parts.

5. The dental dam of claim 4, wherein the upper part includes a groove running horizontally across its surface.

6. The dental dam of either claim 4 or 5, wherein the lower part includes a curved surface substantially conforming to a curvature of a bottom row of teeth of an average patient.

7. The dental dam of claim 4, wherein the upper part takes the form of a receding return adjoining the first portion on one side and the lower part on an opposing side.

8. The dental dam of either claim 4 or 7, wherein the lower part is adapted to encase at least a portion of the tongue.

9. The dental dam of any one of claims 4, 7 and 8, wherein the lower part is adapted to suppress the tongue.

10. The dental dam of any one of claims 4 and 7 to 9, wherein the web is V-shaped having an angle defined by the first portion and the lower part of the second portion.

11. The dental dam of claim 10, wherein the upper part is made of a resilient material rendering the angle variable.

12. The dental dam of any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the lower part of the second portion includes a plurality of nodules.

13. The dental dam of any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the second portion includes an array of studs.

14. The dental dam of any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the second portion includes corrugations extending in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the groove in the upper part of the second portion.

15. The dental dam of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion includes a first curved rim adapted to abut an internal surface of the palate close to a top row of teeth or gums therefor.

16. The dental dam of claim 15, wherein the rim includes a gap for allowing air flow for respiration.

17. The dental dam of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third portion includes a second curved rim adapted to abut an internal surface of the floor close to the bottom row of teeth, or gums therefor, and floor of the mouth cavity of the patient.

18. The dental dam of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion has a wing on each of its opposing lateral sides.

19. The dental dam of claim 18, wherein each wing has upper and lower flippers configured to assist with sealing of the oro-pharynx in the vicinity of the throat.

20. The dental dam of either claim 18 or 19, wherein each wing includes a projecting portion adapted to facilitate retrieval of the dental dam from the mouth cavity.

21. The dental dam of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a reinforcing means is provided along a region where the first and third portions join.

22. The dental dam of claim 21 , wherein the reinforcing means is a thickened ridge located on an internal surface of the dental dam.

23. A dental dam substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.