Patent ID: 6441345
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: A61C,H05B

Abstract:
A dental wax spatula apparatus comprising:a spatula body having a heating portion, said heating portion accommodating an electric heating element and a temperature sensor; a wax-shaping spatula portion removably attached to said heating portion, said wax-shaping spatula portion being constructed and arranged to shape a dental wax model for casting a tooth array or a crown for dental prostheses; and a temperature controller for controlling a temperature of said wax-shaping spatula portion by supplying electric power to said electric heating element and by controlling an amount of the electric power supplied to said electric heating element in response to a temperature sensed by said temperature sensor, said temperature controller including (i) a preset temperature selection device for selecting a preset temperature for said wax-shaping spatula portion, and (ii) a temperature-setting device for independently and immediately setting a temperature of said wax-shaping spatula portion that is different from the preset temperature selected by said preset temperature selection device, said temperature-setting device including at least one temperature-setting switch for raising or lowering the temperature of said wax-shaping spatula portion as selected by said preset temperature selection device, with said at least one temperature-setting switch being secured to said spatula body so as to be operable by a fingertip of a hand which is holding said spatula body.