WO1992006649A1

WO1992006649A1 - Dental implement

Info

Publication number: WO1992006649A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/001852
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Alfred Burns
Original assignee: George Alfred Burns
Priority date: 1990-10-22
Filing date: 1991-10-22
Publication date: 1992-04-30
Also published as: GB9022913D0; AU8856891A

Abstract

A dental implement (1) comprises a handle (2) having two spaced-apart support members (3, 4) formed at one end thereof. The supports members (3, 4) are formed with V-shaped grooves (5, 6) and protrusions (7, 8), and the handle portion is preferably formed with notches (11, 12). In use, a length of dental floss (15) is wound around one protrusion (7), inserted into the grooves (5, 6) wound around the other protrusion (8) and then around the handle (2) in the notches (11, 12). In this way, a length of dental floss is held securely and extends tautly between the support members for insertion between the teeth. The dental floss may be wound around the protrusions and secured in the grooves a number of times so that several thicknesses of dental floss extend between the support members to provide 'heavy duty' cleaning. The end of the handle (2) remote from the support members may be shaped to form a hook (13) and/or a tooth pick with which to scrape plaque and tartar build-up from the teeth.

Description

DENTAL IMPLEMENT

This invention relates to dental implements, and in particular to such an implement for aiding in the use of dental floss for cleaning the gaps between adjacent teeth, and possibly also for cleaning and preventing plaque and tartar build-up on the inner surfaces of teeth.

Dental floss is generally supplied on a reel inside a dispenser, so that a suitable length may be pulled out. This must then be held taut so that it may be inserted into a gap between two adjacent teeth. This is usually achieved by wrapping the ends of a short length around the index fingers of the hands respectively. However, this presents problems when trying to reach teeth at the back of the mouth since the fingers must be inserted into the mouth on either side of the teeth. Also, there may be discomfort caused by dental floss cutting into the fingers when being pushed hard, for example, into a small gap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dental implement for aiding in the use of dental floss by eliminating or at least minimising the awkwardness and problems which normally surround such usage.

According to the present invention, there is pro¬ vided a dental implement comprising a handle and being characterised in that it also includes spaced-apart means for detachably securing a length of dental floss such that the dental floss extends tautly therebetween.

Preferably the securing means are provided on two elongate spaced-apart support members located at or adja¬ cent one end of the handle. The handle is also preferably elongate so that the implement may be introduced into the

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<tιunu xa υ ._tιc mouth . The securing means are preferably located at or adjacent the end of each support member remote from the handle. The securing means may comprise a groove, prefer¬ ably substantially V-shaped in cross-section, formed in each support member, in which the dental floss is retained, and preferably also a protrusion formed on each support member and around which one end of the length of dental floss may be wound.

Additional securing means may be provided, for example, in the form of one or more notches in the handle, which may be used to retain a length of the dental floss wound around the handle.

The end of the handle remote from the support members may comprise a hook-shaped portion terminating in an edge which may be used to scrape inner surfaces of the teeth. Additionally or alternatively, it may be shaped in the form of a tooth pick.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an implement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the implement of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is the view of Fig. 1, with a length of dental floss secured to the implement.

Referring to the Figures, the implement 1 comprises an elongate handle portion 2 and two support members 3, 4 formed at one end thereof. The two support members 3, 4 are spaced apart from each other to form a generally U- shaped recess 16 therebetween. A groove 5, 6, which is preferably V-shaped, js rovi e at. e en of eac support member 3, 4. Protrusions 7, 8 are provided on the side of each support member 3, 4 remote from the recess 16. Each protrusion 7, 8 forms generally V-shaped recesses 9, 10 with the outer side of the support members 3, 4. Also, notches 11, 12 are provided in the handle 2, near the support members 3, 4.

In use of the implement, an end portion of a length of dental floss 15 is wound several times around the re¬ cessed portion 9, 10 of one of the protrusions 7, 8, such as the protrusion 7 as shown in Fig. 3. The dental floss is then inserted into the grooves 5 and 6 and pulled taut, and is then wound around the recessed portion of the other protrusion, for example the protrusion 8. A taut length of dental floss 15 is thus secured extending between the sup¬ port members 3, 4. A further length of the dental floss may be wound around the handle 2 and located in the notches

11, 12, thus providing the rigid tautness necessary for maximum cleaning effect.

Alternatively, several lengths of dental floss may be secured extending between the support members 3, 4, if more than one thickness of dental floss is required to be used. In this case, with one length in position in the grooves 5, 6, and the end wound around, for example, the protrusion 7, the floss is passed around the protrusion 8, and then back into the grooves 5, 6, again around the first protrusion 7, again into the grooves 5, 6, and finally around protrusion 8, before being wound around notches 11,

12, thus providing a triple thickness of dental floss for "heavy duty" cleaning.

The implement may then be inserted into the mouth, with one support member 3 on the inner side of a row of teeth, and the other support member 4 on the outer side, such that the taut length or lengths of flcsc 15 can be inserted into a gap between adjacent teeth. -d -

After using the dental floss, it can be unwound and removed from the implement and discarded. The implement can then be re-used by securing a fresh length or lengths of dental floss in the above-described manner.

The end of the implement remote from the support members may be shaped to form a hook 13 terminating in an edge 14, which can be used to scrape plaque and tartar build-up from the inner surfaces of the teeth. This end of the implement may additionally or alternatively be shaped to form a tooth pick.

The implement may be any suitable shape or size, is preferably made from a relatively hard and strong plastics material, and may be produced by injection-moulding.

Some advantages of the dental implement, in accord¬ ance with the present invention, are as follows:

1. it eliminates or at least minimises the awkwardness and problems which currently surround the use of dental floss, such as:-

(a) the widespread distaste for the finger/saliva operation,

(b) the safety hazard presented by medium or long finger nails,

(c) the struggle to get dental floss into narrow gaps between adjacent teeth, which often leads to painful cut gums, and

(d) the discomfort and pain which results from dental floss being tightly, wrapped around the user's fingers during a cleaning operation;

2. it promotes the increased usage of dental floss, resulting in improved dental hygiene for all age groups;

3. it provides a "Heavy Duty" dental floss cleaning facility for smokers and others who have neglected their teeth; 4. it provides an implement with which the user can control pressures applied during a cleaning operation, thereby resulting in fewer or no cuts; and

5. it can provide a plaque-cleaning facility.

Whilst one embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dental implement comprising a handle (2) and being characterised in that it also includes spaced-apart means (5,6,7,8) for detachably securing a length of dental floss (15) such that the dental floss extends tautly there¬ between.

2. A dental implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means (5,6,7,8) are provided on two elongate spaced-apart support members (3,4) located at or adjacent one end of the handle (2) .

3. A dental implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing means (5,6,7,8) are located at or adjacent the end of each support member (3,4) remote from the handle (2).

4. A dental implement as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the securing means (5,6,7,8) comprise a groove (5,6) formed in each support member (3,4) in which the dental floss (15) is retained.

5. A dental implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein each groove (5,6) is substantially V-shaped in cross- section.

6. A dental implement as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the securing means (5,6,7,8) comprise a protrusion (7,8) formed on each support member (3,4) and around which one end of the length of dental floss may be wound.

7. A dental implement as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein additional securing means (11,12) are provided on the handle (2) .

8. A dental implement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the additional securing means (11,12) comprises one or more notches formed in the handle (2) for retaining a length of dental floss wound around the handle.

9. A dental implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle (2) is shaped at one end remote from the spaced-apart means (5,6,7,8) to form a hook por¬ tion (13).

10. A dental implement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the handle (2) is shaped at one end remote from the spaced-apart means (5,6,7,8) to form a tooth pick.