Patent · US Expired

Interdental wedge

US5743738A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
6References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 1996
Grant dateApr 28, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61C19/003
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The interdental wedge for the use during the insertion of approximal fillings of light curing synthetic material comprises the combination of a sole portion having disposed thereon an insert of a light conducting synthetic material and a light conducting element, such as a light reflector, to conduct the light necessary for curing and coming from the front surface of the wedge on the filling. The sole portion consists of a material which is compressible and requires strongly increasing forces for further compression; thus, the wedge can snugly fit to the approximal contour of the tooth to be treated and exert sufficiently high separation forces. Preferably, the material of the sole portion is wood whose fibers are preferably aligned in lengthwise direction of the wedge, and/or a synthetic material having included therein compressible filler particles. Thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers are preferred synthetic materials. Such a wedge combines the advantages of wood or a synthetic material having similar compression characteristics for a good adhesion of the wedge and sufficient separating forces, with the advantages of a wedge made of a light conducting synthetic material, …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.