Patent ID: 9629692
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: A61C

Claim:
1. A device for retaining a matrix band about at least a portion of a periphery of a tooth to be treated, the device comprising: a first lug to fit on a first side of a proximal contact between the tooth to be treated and an adjacent tooth, a second lug to fit on a second, opposite side of said proximal contact between the tooth to be treated and the adjacent tooth, a resilient body member connecting between said first lug and said second lug, said body member holding said first and second lugs such that said first and second lugs must be separated to fit over said first and second sides of the proximal contact, wherein the body member applies a restorative or clamping force biasing said first and second lugs together against said first and second opposed sides of said proximal contact, and each of the first and second lugs pivotally coupled to the resilient body member to allow the resilient body member to rotate relative to the first and second lugs about an axis substantially transverse to a tooth to be treated enabling the resilient body member to rotate between the mesial and distal sides of the tooth being treated while providing the clamping force biasing the first and second lugs together, wherein the first lug comprises a first socket for rotatably receiving a first associated inwardly extending end of the body member and second lug comprise a second socket for rotatably receiving a second associated inwardly extending end of the body member, wherein the first inwardly extending end of the body member and an inner periphery of the first lug socket comprise a corresponding formations for enabling a releasable engagement between the first body end and the first lug and wherein the second inwardly extending end of the body member and an inner periphery of the second lug socket comprise a corresponding formation-for enabling a releasable engagement between the second body end and the second lug, wherein the first inwardly extending end of the body member comprises a first annular detent about an outer periphery of the first inwardly extending end of the body member and the first lug comprises a corresponding first annular rib formed about an inner periphery of the first lug socket for engaging the associated first annular detent and wherein the second inwardly extending end of the body member comprises a second annular detent about an outer periphery of the second inwardly extending end of the body member and the second lug comprises a corresponding second annular rib formed about an inner periphery of the second lug socket for engaging the associated second annular detent.