Patent ID: 11890156
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 16:
17. A dental matrix comprising:
a strip that is pre-curved to define a radius of curvature of the strip, the strip comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface,
wherein the strip is configured to interface with at least a portion of a radius of curvature of a tooth when the strip is placed on the tooth,
wherein the strip is structured to be retained on the tooth without the use of any attachment elements extending from or contacting a facial, lingual, mesial, or distal surface of the strip when the matrix is placed on the tooth, and
wherein at least one of:
the radius of curvature of the strip is smaller than the radius of curvature of the tooth prior to the strip being interfaced with the tooth, and when the strip is placed on the tooth, tension is generated in the strip from the radius of curvature of the strip being smaller than the radius of curvature of the tooth to retain the strip on the tooth; or
the first end of the strip is curved inwardly toward the first surface defining a first end radius and the second end of the strip is curved inwardly toward the first surface defining a second end radius, the first end radius and the second end radius being smaller than the radius of curvature of the matrix, and the first end of the strip that is curved inwardly and the second end of the strip is curved inwardly are configured to generate tension to retain the matrix on the tooth when the matrix is placed on the tooth.