Abstract:
A compact, easily transportable dental system to permit root and root tip extractions from human and animal patients including those who are unable to visit an oral surgeon or veterinarian at a traditional office. An extraction bur having a lifting ball is embedded within and stands upwardly from the root or root tip to be extracted. The extraction bur is detachably connected to and rotated into the root/tip by a bur implanting device. A bur ejector is slidable through the bur implanting device to cause the extraction bur to be released therefrom once the bur has been implanted in the patient&#39;s root/tip. A universal fulcrum tray covers the root/tip and surrounds the patient&#39;s adjacent teeth during the extraction process. The upstanding extraction bur and the lifting ball thereof project through one of a pair of slots formed in the universal fulcrum tray. An extracting instrument having a pivot surface rotates over the universal fulcrum tray to apply a lifting force to the lifting ball of the extraction bur to pull the bur upwardly and the root/tip outwardly from its root socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a compact, easily transportable dental system to permit root and root tip extractions from dental patients, including those who are unable to visit a dentist or an oral surgeon at a traditional dental office.  
         [0003]     2. Background Art  
         [0004]     Because of gross decay and/or trauma, individuals are known to occasionally break a tooth. In addition, a dentist may break a crown during an extraction process. In these cases, a remaining root or a root tip may lie at or below the gumline. Some patients have the means and ability to visit an oral surgeon at a conventional medical facility. Other patients may live in a rural or remote geographic area where large scale and complex dental equipment is not readily accessible or practical. Still other patients may be confined to bed and unable to travel to an oral surgeon. Therefore, not all patients in need of an oral surgeon are able to receive prompt attention should the root or root tip be in need of extraction to avoid infection, discomfort or the appearance created as a consequence of a broken tooth.  
         [0005]     Animals, like humans, are also susceptible to broken teeth. In many cases, it is not possible to transport an animal to a veterinarian or a similar healthcare worker to receive oral surgery.  
         [0006]     What is therefore needed is a system including compact, portable dental instruments which can be employed in a traditional dental office environment and which may be transported for use outside the traditional office for treating both human and animal patients who require the extraction of a root or a root tip remaining from a broken tooth.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In general terms, a dental system is disclosed including dental instruments that are compact, easy to transport and ideally suited for treating those patients who are able to visit a traditional dental office and those patients who are unable to travel to an office environment. The dental instruments herein disclosed have particular application for use in a process to extract a root or a root tip that remains in the jawbone of a human or animal patient following a broken tooth.  
         [0008]     The dental instruments disclosed herein include an extraction bur that can be coupled to a latch head from a slow speed latch dental handpiece so as to be rotated and embedded within the root or root tip to be extracted from the mouth of the patient. A set of barb-like screw threads enable the extraction bur to be affixed to the root or root tip. Located above the screw threads is a lifting ball to be captured by an extracting instrument to receive a vertical lifting or pulling force by which the root/tip can be extracted from its root socket. In the case of a curved root tip, the extraction bur may be flexible. A hollow guide sleeve is initially inserted into the root socket to guide the flexible bur towards and into alignment with the root tip to be extracted.  
         [0009]     The extracting instrument to apply the vertical lifting or pulling force to the lifting ball of the extraction bur includes a handle at one end to permit the extraction instrument to be manipulated relative to the bur. Located at the opposite end is an extracting head having a pair of spaced prongs. The pair of prongs have first and second axially aligned sockets formed therebetween and sized to receive and support the lifting ball of the extraction bur. The extracting head is bent so as to have a curved configuration and establish a pivot surface at the bottom thereof around which the head can rotate during the extraction process.  
         [0010]     A universal fulcrum tray includes an occlusal channel that is sized to surround the root or root tip to be extracted. An elastomer pad is bonded inside the occlusal channel to provide a cushion surface to avoid damage to the patient&#39;s teeth adjacent the root or tip to be removed during the extraction process. A swivel handle attached to the occlusal channel allows the fulcrum tray to be handled and positioned relative to the patient&#39;s teeth. Located at opposite ends of the occlusal channel are a pair of slots that are sized to receive therethrough the lifting ball of the extraction bur. Depending upon the alignment of the root or root tip in its root socket, the extraction bur will project upwardly therefrom and through one of the slots in the occlusal channel to enable access to the lifting ball of the bur.  
         [0011]     To accomplish the extraction process, the extraction bur is rotated (by means of the slow speed latch handpiece) into and through a pilot hole formed in the patient&#39;s root or root tip to be extracted. Next, the universal fulcrum is positioned by means of its swivel handle over the root/tip so that the extraction bur and the lifting ball thereof project upwardly from the root/tip and through one of the slots formed in the occlusal channel of the fulcrum tray. The extracting instrument is then moved into sliding engagement with the upstanding extraction bur such that the lifting ball thereof is seated within one of the sockets formed between the prongs of the extracting head of the extracting instrument. The extracting instruments is rotated at its handle to cause the extracting head to rotate at its pivot surface and thereby apply a vertical lifting or pulling force against the lifting ball of the extraction bur. The root/tip affixed to the extraction bur receives a corresponding vertical extraction force by which to urge the root/tip upwardly relative to the patient&#39;s gumline and outwardly of the root socket in the patient&#39;s mouth.  
         [0012]     A manually operated bur implanting device is provided in substitution of the slow speed latch handpiece to apply a rotational force to and thereby affix the extraction bur to the patient&#39;s root or root tip to be extracted so that the bur stands upwardly therefrom. The bur is releasably retained by a set of splines from a collet at one end of the bur implanting device. At the opposite end of the bur implanting device is a hollow handle within which a bur ejector is slidably received. The bur ejector has a bur releasing plunger at one end to which a pushing force is applied to cause the bur ejector to slide through the hollow handle. A plunger rod is located at the opposite end of the bur ejector for engaging the extraction bur and applying an ejection force thereto for causing the bur to be released by the splines of the collet and ejected from the bur implanting device in response to the pushing force applied to the bur releasing plunger thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an extraction bur as a part of a dental system for root and root tip extraction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an extracting instrument as another part of the dental system for root and root tip extraction;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the extracting instrument shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the extracting head of the extracting instrument shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a universal fulcrum tray as still another part of the dental system for root and root tip extraction;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the universal fulcrum tray of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the universal fulcrum tray of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment for a universal fulcrum tray;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 9-12  illustrate the steps by which the extraction bur, extracting instrument, and universal fulcrum tray from the dental system of  FIGS. 1-7  cooperate with one another during an extraction process to remove a root or root tip from a root socket within the jawbone of a dental patient;  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of an extraction bur implanting device including an extraction bur ejector as yet another part of the dental system for root and root tip extraction;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13   a  shows the bur implanting device of  FIG. 13  in the assembled configuration;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show the extraction bur detachably connected to the bur implanting device;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 16-19  show the bur ejector generating an ejection force for ejecting the extraction bur from the bur implanting device;  
         [0026]      FIG. 20  shows a flexible extraction bur having particular application for extracting a curved root tip remnant; and  
         [0027]      FIGS. 21-23  illustrate the steps by which the flexible extraction bur of  FIG. 20  cooperates with the extracting instrument, the universal fulcrum tray, and a hollow, flexible guide sleeve during an extraction process to remove a curved root tip from a root socket within the jawbone of a dental patient. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  of the drawings shows an extraction bur  1  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention which, as will soon be described, is capable of removing a root or a root tip of a broken tooth which lies within the jawbone at or below the patient&#39;s gumline. The extraction bur  1  is adapted to be coupled to a latch head (designated  50  in  FIG. 9 ) of a conventional slow speed latch dental handpiece by which the extraction bur can be rotated and embedded within the root or root tip to be extracted from the mouth of the patient. The extraction bur  1  is preferably manufactured from stainless steel or medical grade steel. However, bur  1  may also be manufactured from spring steel or a nickel/titanium alloy so as to have a flexible characteristic for a purpose to be described when referring to  FIGS. 20-23 .  
         [0029]     Located at one end of the extraction bur  1  is a set of barb-like screw threads  3  which terminate at a pointed tip  5  to bore into the patient&#39;s root or root tip as the bur is rotated at slow speed by the dental handpiece. The screw threads  3  have sharp edges to catch onto the root or root tip to facilitate the extraction process. Located at the opposite end of the extraction bur  1  is a latch head  7  and a slot  8  by which the bur can be releasably coupled to the dental handpiece.  
         [0030]     As an important feature, the extraction bur includes a lifting ball  10  located above the screw threads  3 . For most extraction applications, the distance from the lifting ball  10  to the tip  5  of bur  1  is between 25-35 mm. The ball  10  is sized (with a diameter of about 4 mm) to be captured by an extracting instrument (designated  12  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) so as to receive a vertical lifting or pulling force by which the bur  1  and the root or root tip of the tooth into which the bur has been embedded can be simultaneously uplifted.  
         [0031]     To this end,  FIGS. 2-4  of the drawings illustrate an extracting instrument  12  by which to apply a vertical lifting or pulling force to the lifting ball  10  of the extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1  to cause the bur and the root or root tip to which the bur is attached to be extracted. The extracting instrument  12  includes a handle  14  at which the extracting instrument is grasped and manipulated during the root or root tip extraction process. An extracting bar  16  is surrounded at one end thereof by the handle  14 . Located at the opposite end of the extracting bar  16  is an extracting head  18  having a pair of prongs  19  that are spaced from one another. The extracting bar  16  of the extracting instrument  12  is preferably manufactured from a metallic material such as, for example, aluminum, stainless steel or a titanium alloy.  
         [0032]     As is best shown in  FIG. 2 , the extracting head  18  is bent (e.g., to make an angle of about 135 degrees) so as to have an arcuate configuration whereby a pivot surface  20  is formed at the underside thereof. As will be explained when referring hereinafter to  FIGS. 9-12 , the pivot surface  20  of extracting head  18  enables the extracting instrument  12  to function as a lever arm for applying a vertical extraction force against the root or root tip of the patient&#39;s tooth by way of the extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]     More particularly, the pair of spaced prongs  19  at the extracting head  18  of extracting instrument  12  have first and second axially aligned sockets  22  and  24  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ) formed therebetween. The forward-most socket  22  between the prongs  19  is wider than the rearward-most axially aligned socket  24 . Both sockets  22  and  24  are sized to receive and support therewithin the lifting ball  10  from the extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1 . That is, the extracting head  18  of extracting instrument  12  has an entrance opening  26  (of  FIG. 4 ) through which the extraction bur  1  is positioned so that the lifting ball  10  thereof will be seated within one of the sockets  22  or  24  of extracting head  18 .  
         [0034]     In the case where the extraction bur  1  is relatively long, the lifting ball  10  will usually be seated within the forward-most socket  22  of extracting head  18 . In the case where the extraction bur  1  is relatively short, the lifting ball  10  will usually be seated within the other (i.e., rearward-most) socket  24 . With the lifting ball  10  of extraction bur  1  seated within one of the sockets  22  or  24 , the extracting instrument  12  can be rotated around the pivot surface  20  of extracting head  18  to exert the lifting or pulling force against the lifting ball  10  that is necessary to cause an extraction of the root or the root tip from its root socket below the gumline.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6  of the drawings, a universal fulcrum tray  30  is shown to enable the extracting instrument  12  to be rotated around its pivot surface  20  to generate a sufficient lifting or pulling force against the lifting ball  10  of extraction bur  1  to extract the root or root tip. The universal fulcrum tray  30  is preferably manufactured from stainless steel or a high impact resistant plastic and is sized and shaped to surround a number of the patient&#39;s teeth which lie adjacent the root or root tip to be extracted. In the example of  FIGS. 4-6 , the fulcrum tray  30  is shown having a rounded occlusal channel  32 . However, the fulcrum tray  30  can have other suitable shape so as to comfortably fit over and around the teeth of the patient. To this end, an autoclavable (e.g., silicone) elastomer pad  34  is bonded to the inside of the occlusal channel  32  to provide a cushion surface and thereby avoid damage to the patient&#39;s teeth during the root/tip extraction process.  
         [0036]     A swivel handle  36  is pivotally connected to the occlusal channel  32  of fulcrum tray  30  by means of a rivet, pin or similar fastener. The swivel handle  36  enables the occlusal channel  32  to be handled and positioned relative to the patient&#39;s teeth during the root/tip extraction process. The swivel handle  36  is rotatable so as not to interfere with the cooperation between the extracting instrument  12  (of  FIGS. 2-4 ) and the extraction bur  1  (of  FIG. 1 ) for generating the lifting or pulling force necessary to remove the root or root tip of the patient&#39;s tooth.  
         [0037]     Located at opposite ends of the occlusal channel  32  of fulcrum tray  30  are a pair of elongated slots  40 . The slots must be sufficiently wide to accommodate therethrough the lifting ball  10  of extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1 . In the event that the root or root tip of the tooth to be extracted is aligned within its root socket at an angle, it may be necessary to manipulate the fulcrum tray  30  at the swivel handle  36  so that the extraction bur  1  (of  FIG. 1 ) extends through one of the slots  40  at a corresponding angle.  
         [0038]     Depending upon the alignment and location of the root or root tip surrounded by the occlusal channel  32 , the extraction bur  1  will project upwardly and through one of the slots  40 . The lifting ball  10  of the extraction bur  1  will lie above the occlusal channel  32  so as to be seated within one of the sockets  22  or  24  of the extracting head  18  of the extracting instrument  12  (of  FIGS. 2-4 ). With the extracting head  18  of the extracting instrument  12  lying against the occlusal channel  32 , the handle  14  of instrument  12  is manipulated to cause head  18  to rotate at its pivot surface  20  to apply a lifting or pulling force against the lifting ball  10  of bur  1  in a manner which will be detailed when referring hereinafter to  FIGS. 9-12 .  
         [0039]     An alternate embodiment for the universal fulcrum tray  30  of  FIGS. 5-7  is shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. Where it is necessary to extend the height of the occlusal channel  32  above the patient&#39;s root or root tip to be extracted, the elastomer pad (designated  34  in  FIGS. 5-7 ) is replaced by an auxiliary occlusal channel  32 - 1 . The auxiliary occlusal channel  32 - 1  is sized and shaped to conform to the size and shape of the occlusal channel  32 . Moreover, the auxiliary occlusal channel  32 - 1  is provided with a pair of slots  40 - 1  that are aligned with the slots  40  formed in the occlusal channel  32 .  
         [0040]     The modified universal fulcrum tray  30 - 1  of  FIG. 8  includes the auxiliary occlusal channel  32 - 1  positioned inside and below the occlusal channel  32  to form an interposer for effectively increasing the height of the fulcrum tray  30 - 1  and thereby enabling the extracting head  18  of the extracting instrument  12  to move into engagement with the lifting ball  10  of a tall standing extraction bur  1  that projects upwardly and outwardly through a pair of axially aligned slots  40  and  40 - 1  of the occlusal channels  32  and  32 - 1  of the modified fulcrum tray  30 - 1 .  
         [0041]     The method by which the extraction bur  1  (of  FIG. 1 ), the extracting instrument  12  (of  FIGS. 2-4 ) and the universal fulcrum tray  30  (of  FIGS. 5-7 ) cooperate with one another during the extraction of the root or root tip of the patient&#39;s tooth from a root socket in the jawbone is now described while referring to  FIGS. 9-12  of the drawings. In  FIG. 9 , the extraction bur  1  is shown coupled to a latch head  50  from a conventional compressed air or motor or manually driven slow speed dental handpiece. The handpiece applies a rotational force to the bur  1  by which the sharp screw threads  3  thereof bore into the root/tip  52  to be extracted from the patient&#39;s mouth. It may be preferable to initially drill a pilot hole into the root/tip so that the bur  1  may be more easily installed. Once the extraction bur  1  is affixed to the root/tip so as to stand upwardly therefrom, the latch head  50  of the handpiece is uncoupled from the bur  1 .  
         [0042]     Next, in  FIG. 10 , the universal fulcrum  30  is positioned by its swivel handle  36  around a series of the patient&#39;s teeth within which lies the root or root tip  52  to be extracted. The occlusal channel  32  of fulcrum tray  30  is located above the root/tip  52  such that the elastomer pad  34  rests upon the adjacent teeth. The fulcrum tray  30  is manipulated at swivel handle  36  so that the extraction bur  1  projects upwardly from the root/tip  52  and through one of the slots  40  in the occlusal channel  32 , whereby the lifting ball  10  of bur  1  is accessible above the slot  40 .  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 11 , the extracting instrument  12  is then moved into sliding engagement with the extraction bur  1  that is embedded in and stands upwardly from the root/tip  52 . In particular, the extracting head  18  of extracting instrument  12  slides along the top of the occlusal channel  32  of universal fulcrum tray  30  until the lifting ball  10  of bur  1  is disposed between the prongs  19  of extracting head  18 . Depending upon the height of the lifting ball  10  above the fulcrum tray  30 , ball  10  is seated within one of the sockets (designated  22  and  24  in  FIG. 4 ) that are formed in the extracting head  18  of extracting instrument  12 .  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 12 , the extracting instrument  12  is manipulated (i.e., rotated) at its handle (designated  14  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) to cause the extracting head  18  of instrument  12  to correspondingly rotate at its pivot surface  20  (in the direction of the reference arrows). The rotation of the head  18  is transmitted to the lifting ball  10  of extraction bur  1  as a vertical lifting or pulling force. The lifting or pulling force applied to the lifting ball  10  is transferred as a corresponding vertical extraction force to the root/tip  52  within which the bur  1  is embedded to cause the root/tip  52  to move upwardly relative to the patient&#39;s gumline. Accordingly, the extraction bur  1  will move upwardly through the slot  40  in the occlusal channel  32  until the root/tip  52  is extracted from its root socket. At this time, the extracting instrument  12 , the universal fulcrum tray  30 , and the extraction bur  1  attached to the root/tip  52  are all removed from the patient&#39;s mouth to complete the extraction process.  
         [0045]     The latch head  50  from the slow speed latch handpiece shown in  FIG. 9  can be used to rotate the extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1  into engagement with a root or root tip at any location within the patient&#39;s mouth to be extracted according to the method described while referring to  FIGS. 9-12 .  FIGS. 13 and 13   a  of the drawings show a manually powered anterior bur implanting device  60  which is ideally suited to rotate the bur  1  into an interior root or root tip at the front of the patient&#39;s mouth, especially in cases where a compressed air supply is not available. The bur implanting device  60  includes a collet  62  having a set of flexible splines  64  located at one end thereof. The splines  64  are arranged to collapse around and form a cavity within which to releasably receive the lifting ball  10  of bur  1 .  
         [0046]     With the lifting ball  10  surrounded by the splines  64  of collet  62 , a nut  66  is located in surrounding engagement with the splines. The nut  66  has a set of internal screw threads  68  (best shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) that are rotated into mating engagement with a corresponding set of screw threads  70  that run around the collet  62  behind the splines  64 . As the nut  66  is tightened down against the screw threads  70 , a compressive force is applied against the splines  64  so as to collapse the splines around the lifting ball  10  of the extraction bur  1 , whereby the bur  1  is detachably connected to the anterior bur implanting device  60 . A key  71  is located within a keyway (not shown) through collet  62  to engage the latch head  7  of extraction bur  1  to prevent a rotation of the bur relative to the collet.  
         [0047]     The collet  62  also includes a hollow attachment rod  72  located opposite the set of splines  64 . The attachment rod  72  of collet  62  has a screw threaded port  74  formed therein. The attachment rod  72  is sized to be slidably received within a hollow receiving barrel  76  of a hollow handle  78  of the bur implanting device  60 . The receiving barrel  76  of handle  78  includes a plurality of parallel aligned and longitudinally extending slots  80  by which to provide the barrel  76  with a spring-like characteristic for surrounding and retaining therewithin the attachment rod  72  of collet  62 . To prevent the collet  62  from rotating relative to the handle  78  and inadvertently sliding outwardly of the receiving barrel  76  of handle  78 , an access port  82  is formed through the handle  78  behind the slots  80  thereof. In the assembled configuration of the anterior bur implanting device  60  shown in  FIG. 13   a , the screw threaded port  74  in the attachment rod  72  is axially aligned with the access port  82  formed in handle  78  so that a threaded insert  84  can be inserted therethrough.  
         [0048]     As an important feature,  FIG. 13  also shows a bur ejector  86  to be slidably received through the hollow handle  78  of the bur implanting device  60  by which to eject the bur  1  once the bur has been rotated and implanted within the root or root tip to be extracted. The bur ejector  86  includes an elongated body  88 . A bur releasing plunger  90  extends from one end of the body  88  of bur ejector  86 , and a plunger rod  92  extends from the opposite end. A pair of grooves  94  surround the body  88  of bur ejector  86  so as to receive respective O-rings  96  by which to frictionally engage the inside of the hollow handle  78  of bur implanting device  60  so as to retain the bur ejector  86  therewithin.  
         [0049]      FIG. 16  shows the bur ejector  86  being loaded into the hollow handle  78  of the bur implanting device  60 . In  FIG. 17 , the bur ejector  86  has been pushed through the hollow handle  78  and the hollow receiving barrel  76  thereof until the plunger rod  90  of bur ejector  86  moves through the hollow attachment rod  72  of collet  62  to lie in axial abutting alignment with the latch head  7  of extraction bur  1 . With the bur ejector  86  loaded within and carried by the anterior bur implanting device  60  as shown in  FIG. 17 , a rotational force is manually applied to the handle  78 . The rotational force is transferred to the extraction bur  1  so that the bur is correspondingly rotated and embedded within the root/tip to be extracted. If desirable, a pilot hole may first be made into the root/tip.  
         [0050]     Once the extraction bur  1  is implanted in and standing upwardly from the root/tip, it is necessary to separate the bur  1  from the bur implanting device  60 . To accomplish the foregoing, and referring now to  FIG. 18 , the threaded nut  66  is first unscrewed until the threads  70  of collet  62  are visible. A manual pushing force is then applied to the bur releasing plunger  90  of bur ejector  86  so as to drive the plunger rod  92  against the latch head  7  of extraction bur  1 .  
         [0051]     The bur ejector  86  will move axially through the interior of the bur implanting device  60 , whereby to cause a corresponding axial displacement of the ejection bur  1 .  FIG. 19  of the drawings shows the bur  1  being pushed by the plunger rod  92  of bur ejector  86  so that the lifting ball  10  of bur  1  is released by the splines  64  of collet  62 . Accordingly, the extraction bur  1  will now be ejected from the bur implanting device  60 . At this time, the extracting bar  16  (of  FIGS. 2-4 ) and the universal fulcrum tray  30  (of  FIGS. 5-7 ) can be used in cooperation with the upstanding extraction bur  1  to complete the root/tip extraction process as has been earlier disclosed. A new bit inserted through the nut  66  and into the splines  64  of collet  62  will push the bur ejector  86  back to its loaded and ready position as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0052]     As earlier disclosed, the extraction bur can be manufactured from a material (e.g., spring steel or a nickel/titanium alloy) so as to have a flexible characteristic in order to be particularly advantageous for extracting curved root tips from a root socket in the jawbone of a dental patient.  FIG. 20  of the drawings shows such a flexible extraction bur  100  having a short set of screw threads  103  that terminates at a sharp pointed tip  105  to enable the bur  100  to penetrate the root tip in need of extraction. Like the extraction bur  1  of  FIG. 1 , the flexible extraction bur  100  of  FIG. 20  includes a latch head  107 , a slot  108 , and a lifting ball  110 .  
         [0053]     A tooth (especially a molar) can have a curved root tip which is known to break during a tooth extraction process. Should this root tip be left behind in its root socket, the patient may encounter greater structural damage as a consequence of creating a gingival envelope flap and bone trauma which can occur following the extraction procedure and lead to delayed healing and possible infection. Therefore, it is desirable to remove the remnant root tip promptly so as to avoid post-surgical complications and the need for future implant placement at the extraction site.  
         [0054]     To accomplish the foregoing, and referring to  FIGS. 21-23  of the drawings, a flexible, hollow guide sleeve  112  is sized to fit within the root socket within which a curved root tip  114  remains. The guide sleeve  112  is preferably tapered to match the usual taper of the root socket.  FIG. 21  shows the hollow guide sleeve being inserted into the patient&#39;s root socket above the root tip  114  to be extracted. The sleeve  112  guides the pointed tip  105  of the flexible extraction bur  100  down the root socket and into alignment with the root tip  114 . The anterior bur implanting device  60  of  FIGS. 13 and 13   a  may be used to rotate the screw threads  103  of bur  1  at slow speed into mating engagement with the remaining root tip  114  to be extracted.  
         [0055]      FIG. 22  shows the flexible extraction bur  100  being received through the flexible, hollow guide sleeve  112  and affixed to the root tip  114 . The extracting instrument  12  and the universal fulcrum tray  30  may now be used in combination with the flexible extraction bur  100  in the manner that was previously disclosed while referring to  FIGS. 10-12  to extract the root tip  114 . Briefly, the extracting head  18  of extracting instrument  12  engages the lifting ball  110  of bur  100 . As the pivot surface  20  of extracting instrument  12  rotates over the fulcrum tray  30 , a pulling force is applied from the extracting head  18  to the lifting ball  10  of flexible extraction bur  100 . A corresponding extraction force is applied from bur  100  to the root tip  114 , whereby to remove the root tip from its root socket in the patient&#39;s jawbone.  
         [0056]      FIG. 23  shows the remnant root tip  114  carried by the flexible extraction bur  100  being removed from the root socket along with the guide sleeve  112  at the conclusion of the extraction process.  
         [0057]     The dental system and method herein disclosed for extracting a root or a root tip can be effectively practiced to efficiently treat a patient within a typical dental office or away from an office (e.g., such as in the field or at a geographically remote or rural area). Moreover, the system and method are applicable to treating both human and animal patients. The disclosed system is advantageously lightweight, compact and easy to transport by mobile healthcare workers.