Abstract:
A dental apparatus for retracting the cheeks and lips of a patient and illuminating the oral cavity of a patient is provided. The dental apparatus includes LEDs mounted on the cheek retractors. The apparatus allows a dentist to illuminate the interior of the oral cavity without needing additional equipment that hinders access to the oral cavity.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/151,948, filed Feb. 12, 2009. The entirety of that application is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to dental apparatuses for illuminating the oral cavity of a patient&#39;s mouth. The apparatuses include cheek retractors and light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide substantially uniform illumination during use. 
         [0003]    Illuminating the oral cavity during dental procedures is important for effective treatment. Dentists must be able to see, review, and access the inside of a patient&#39;s mouth clearly during dental examinations, checkups, cleanings, dental procedures, and oral surgery. However, access to the interior of the mouth is difficult, in part because the oral cavity is generally accessed through only one opening, the lips. All equipment must pass through the lips, but the dentist must remain able to see the interior of the mouth. 
         [0004]    Exterior light sources are common. However, the common dental lamp has many drawbacks. The exterior light can be easily blocked by, for example, the dentist&#39;s head or hands, the equipment, or the patient&#39;s teeth, gums, lips, or tongue. All of these body parts can cause shadows that hinder the dentist&#39;s sight. The intensity of the light illumination diminishes as the distance between the light source and the patient increases. Also, external lights can cause discomfort in a patient&#39;s eyes. Finally, some portions of the oral cavity, such as the lingual side of the incisors, cannot be illuminated directly from outside the mouth without significant re-positioning and uncomfortable posture changes on the part of the both the patient and dentist. 
         [0005]    Some devices place a light source between the dentist and the mouth, which removes shadows caused by the dentist. However, these devices can occupy desired space in the oral cavity or block the mouth itself, which can hinder the dentist&#39;s access to the interior of the mouth and/or significantly impair the dentist&#39;s range of motion and ability to effectively perform dental procedures. 
         [0006]    It would be desirable to provide an interior light source for the oral cavity that reduces these problems. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    Disclosed, in various embodiments, are dental apparatuses for retracting the cheeks and lips and illuminating the oral cavity of a patient. The apparatus has a light illumination system which uses light emitting diodes to illuminate the interior of the mouth. The dental apparatuses comprise two retractors, an arm connecting the retractors, and at least one LED. The at least one LED is attached to the dental apparatus such that the interior of a patient&#39;s mouth can be illuminated without an external light source. 
         [0008]    Disclosed in some embodiments is a dental apparatus or system comprising two cheek retractors and a flexible arm that connects the two retractors. At least one of the retractors comprises a U-shaped trough; a ridge extending transversely from the trough and away from the arm; and one or more light-emitting diodes (LED) secured to the ridge. Alternatively, both retractors are as described. 
         [0009]    In further embodiments, there is one LED attached to each retractor. In others, two, three, four, or more LEDs are attached to each retractor. The LEDs can be secured along a centerline of the ridge. 
         [0010]    In specific embodiments, the ridge is offset towards a superior edge of the retractor to cover Stenson&#39;s duct. The ridge of the retractor extends from about 1 to about 1.5 inches in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the ridge extends about 1.25 inches. The U-shaped trough may have a depth of from about 0.25 to about 0.5 inches. The retractor may also have a power cord for powering the at least one LED, the power cord extending from an exterior side of the trough. 
         [0011]    An angle exists between the U-shaped trough and the ridge. That angle is between about 40 and about 80° in several embodiments. That angle can also be between about 50 and about 70°. In some specific embodiments, the angle is about 60°. 
         [0012]    The arm of the apparatus may include one or more mechanisms for securing or holding a hose or tube (e.g. suction or power supply cord), such as a hook. The apparatus may further comprise an external battery and control system that is adapted to independently power the LED on each retractor. 
         [0013]    The LED may alternatively be embedded in the ridge. The resulting ridge may have a smooth inner surface, or a raised inner surface, depending on the depth to which the LED is embedded. The ridge may comprise a substantially transparent material through which the LED transmits light. In embodiments, the substantially transparent material has a transparency of at least 90 percent as measured by ASTM D1003. 
         [0014]    Disclosed in other embodiments is a dental apparatus or system comprising two cheek retractors and a flexible arm that connects the two retractors. At least one retractor comprises a lip-oriented face; an oral cavity-oriented face; and at least one light-emitting diode located on the oral cavity-oriented face. 
         [0015]    The lip-oriented face may include a U-shaped trough and the oral cavity-oriented face may be on a ridge extending transversely from the lip-oriented face and away from the arm. 
         [0016]    Disclosed in still other embodiments is a dental apparatus comprising two cheek retractors; a flexible arm for connecting the two retractors; and an external control system. Each cheek retractor comprises a U-shaped trough, a ridge, at least one light-emitting diode (LED), a joint, and a power cord. The U-shaped trough has two ends and a nadir. The ridge is attached to an interior side of the trough, extends transversely from the trough, and is offset towards a superior side of the trough. The at least one LED is embedded in the ridge on an inner surface. The joint is used to connect the cheek retractor to the arm. The joint has a slot and extends from the nadir away from the two ends of the trough. The power cord extends from the exterior side of the trough and is used to power the at least one LED. The flexible arm has two ends, and each end has a tab that engages the slot on the joint to connect a cheek retractor to the arm. The external control system includes a battery for powering the LEDs on each retractor, and controls for turning the LEDs on and off. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the the power cords of the two cheek retractors are joined together to form a Y connection, integrally connecting the two retractors together. Put another way, the two retractors are integrally joined to each other through their power cords. 
         [0018]    A method for illuminating the oral cavity is also disclosed. The method comprises placing a dental apparatus in a patient&#39;s mouth and turning on at least one LED. The dental apparatus comprises two retractors, an arm connecting the retractors, and at least one LED. Each retractor has a U-shaped trough and a ridge extending transversely from the trough and away from the arm. The at least one LED is attached to the ridge. 
         [0019]    These and other non-limiting characteristics are more particularly described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the disclosure set forth herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front view (i.e. from a patient&#39;s point of view) of an exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear view (i.e. from a dentist&#39;s point of view) of an exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third exemplary dental apparatus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of another exemplary dental apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    A more complete understanding of the apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the apparatuses thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments. 
         [0030]    Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function. 
         [0031]    The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (for example, it includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity). In addition, the value or range endpoints so modified should also be considered as being disclosed. For example, the range “about 2 to about 4” should also be considered as disclosing the range “2 to 4”. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the dental apparatus  10  comprises two cheek expanders or retractors  20 ,  30 . An arm  40  or crossbar is connected to the two retractors, and the retractors  20 ,  30  can be separated from the arm. The arm has two ends  46 ,  48 . The arm is generally made of a flexible material (see  FIG. 3 ) and is biased to separate the two retractors  20 ,  30  and increase the size of the mouth. Put another way, the arm should be able to “spring” between a flexed state and a relaxed state. In the relaxed state, the two ends  46 ,  48  are further apart than in the flexed state. 
         [0033]    The arm  40  may have any shape generally suitable for holding a patient&#39;s mouth open without causing discomfort. The arm  40  includes one or more securing members  42  on either side, which can be used to hold a hose or tube being used for another purpose (e.g. suction or power supply cord). Here, the securing member is depicted as a hook, but other mechanisms, such as grips or clamps, are also contemplated. The arm, in its fully biased, relaxed state, may have a length of about 8.2 inches between the two ends  46 ,  48 . In use, the arm is located so that the arm itself does not block the dentist&#39;s access to the mouth or discomfort the patient, i.e. the arm hangs below the retractors  20 ,  30 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the cheek retractor  100  includes a U-shaped trough  110  that engages the lips and cheek. The U-shaped trough  110  has a first end  310 , a second end  312 , and a curved nadir  314 . The first end  310  and the second end  312  may be considered as defining a proximal side  350  of the trough or the retractor, with the nadir  314  defining a distal side  360  opposite the proximal side. An exterior side  120  of the trough rests on the exterior of the mouth, while the interior side  130  of the trough rests on the interior of the mouth between the cheek and the teeth (i.e. in the vestibule). A trough face  306  forms the U-shape of the trough and physically contacts the patient. 
         [0035]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , a joint  125  connects the retractor  100  with the arm  40 . The joint is located on the exterior side  120  of the trough and on the distal side  360  of the retractor. Here, the joint  125  is depicted as a slot  129  which accepts a tab  44  on the end of the arm  40 . The joint  125  extends laterally away from the ends  310 ,  312  of the trough, or in other words extends laterally from the nadir  314  of the trough  110  away from the ends  310 ,  312 . The trough  110  has a depth  112  of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches on both the exterior side  120  and the interior side  130 . When viewed from the side as in  FIG. 4 , the trough should be symmetrical, or in other words the depth  112  is the same when measured from either the exterior side  120  or the interior side  130 . The retractor  100  is oriented so that the first end  310  and second end  312  are closer to, or proximal to, the center of the arm  40 . 
         [0036]    A ridge  140  extends transversely from the trough  110 . The ridge  140  can be considered as extending in a longitudinal direction away from the arm  40 . The ridge can also be considered as being attached to the interior side  130  and the distal side  360  of the trough  110 , and extending into the mouth. The ridge  140  extends laterally away from the ends  310 ,  312  of the trough as well. An angle θ can be defined relative to the plane  142  of the interior side  130  of the trough from which the ridge extends, and can be considered the angle between the U-shaped trough  110  and the ridge  140 . In embodiments, the angle θ is from about 40° to about 80°, including about 50° to about 70°, or about 60°. The ridge  140  may have a length  144  of from about 1 inch to about 1.5 inches, including about 1.25 inches. The ridge  140  may be wider at its end  146  than at its base  148  connecting to the trough (see  FIG. 4 ). At least one light-emitting diode  160  (LED) is secured to the ridge  140 . If desired, multiple LEDs (i.e. two, three, four, or more) can be secured to the ridge. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , three LEDs are attached to the ridge. The LEDs lie in a groove  150  formed in the ridge. As seen from the back side in  FIG. 4 , holes  152  could be present in the groove where adhesive, such as glue, is used to attach the LEDs to the ridge. However, embodiments are also contemplated where the LED(s) is secured, connected, or otherwise attached to the ridge, without the use of adhesive, and not in a groove (as described further herein). The LEDs can be located on the ridge as appropriate. 
         [0038]    A power cord  162  runs from each retractor  20 ,  30  to an external battery and control system  170  for controlling and powering the LEDs. The external control system  170  has a first end  172  and a second end  174 , and also contains a battery or other power source for powering the LEDs. The first end  172  and second end  174  may be on opposite sides of the external control system. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the power cord for one retractor  20  is plugged into the first end  172 , and the power cord for the other retractor  30  is plugged into the second end  174 . The LED(s) on each retractor can then be independently turned on or off, e.g. by separate switches located on this external control system. As depicted in  FIG. 8 , the power cord for each retractor runs to a “Y” connector  176 . A power cord  178  then runs from the Y connector  176  and connects to one end  172  of the external control system  170 . Here, the LED(s) on the two retractors are turned on and off together. The power cord  162  for each retractor may have a length of from about 12 inches to about 24 inches, and generally is long enough so that the external control system  170  rests on the patient&#39;s chest. Similarly, the power cord  178  for the Y connector may have a length of from about 4 inches to about 12 inches, including about 6 inches. 
         [0039]    Although the retractors  20 ,  30  and arm  40  can be sterilized, it may be desirable that they be disposable as well. In some embodiments, the external battery and control system is separable from the retractors, so that the external system can be reused with new retractors. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that the power cord  162  is an integral part of the retractor, and has a sufficient length to reach the external control system  170 . The electrical connections from the LED to the power cord are sealed in the retractor itself due to the wet conditions of the mouth, the routine use of water during dental procedures, and the attending electrical hazard. The power cord  162  would be plugged into the external battery and control system. The retractors can be disposed of after one or several uses, or can be sterilized for reuse. 
         [0040]    As seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the LEDs  160  receive power through a wire  320  or similar conducting device. The wire  320  runs from the LED on the ridge  140  to the exterior side  120  of the retractor. The power cord  162  runs from the exterior side  120  to the external control system  170  to provide power to the LEDs. The wire  320  can be embedded in the retractor or located along the surface thereof. The power cord  162  emerges from the exterior side  120  of the retractor, but the specific location thereof is generally not important. 
         [0041]    It should be noted that the angle θ between the trough  110  and the ridge  140  allows the ridge to push the cheek away from the teeth as well, enlarging or increasing the size of the oral cavity and keeping the ridge out of the way of the mouth or any equipment used by the dentist. 
         [0042]    Using other terms, the cheek retractor  100  includes a lip-oriented face  200  and an oral cavity-oriented face  210  (See  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 ). A light-emitting diode is located on the oral cavity-oriented face. The lip-oriented face may be a U-shaped trough. The oral cavity-oriented face may be located on a ridge  140  extending transversely from the lip-oriented face and away from the arm  40 . In some embodiments, the angle θ between the lip-oriented face  200  and the oral cavity-oriented face  210  is from about 40° to about 80°. In other embodiments, the angle θ is from about 50° to about 70°. In specific embodiments, the angle θ is about 60°. 
         [0043]    As noted in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the cheek retractor  100  may have a height  212  of about 2.1 inches and a width  216  of about 2 inches. The ridge  140  may extend from the exterior side  120  into the mouth for a lateral distance  214  of about 2 inches. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of a cheek retractor  100  suitable for use in the dental apparatus  10 . In this embodiment, there is no groove  150  on the ridge  140 . Rather, the LEDs  160  are embedded into the ridge  140 . The ridge  140  has a smooth inner surface  300  which is made from a substantially transparent material that allows the LED light to shine through the inner surface  300  and illuminate the oral cavity. In embodiments, the material has a transparency (% T) of at least 90%, as measured by ASTM D1003. Many known materials meet this requirement, such as acrylic, polyester, epoxy, urethane, polycarbonate, and nylon resins. 
         [0045]    In other embodiments shown in  FIG. 7 , the ridge  140  has a raised inner surface  302  instead, with the LEDs  160  still being embedded into the ridge  140 . In both  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the LEDs can be connected to the power cord  162  of  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that the LEDs  160  are placed along a centerline  304  of the ridge  140 . 
         [0046]    Stenson&#39;s duct opens upon the inner surface of the cheek by a small orifice opposite the first or second molar tooth of the upper jaw. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the ridge  140  may be offset towards the superior edge  330  of the retractor  100  or the trough  110 , and away from the inferior edge  340 . Put another way, the ridge is closer to the superior edge  330  than the inferior edge  340 . This offset allows the ridge  140  to cover Stenson&#39;s duct, reducing the amount of saliva actually introduced into the oral cavity or at least redirecting the saliva along the inner surface of the cheek. The distance between the ridge  140  and the superior edge  330  can be considered the superior height  335 , and the distance between the ridge  140  and the inferior edge  330  can be considered the inferior height  345 . The superior height  335  can be about 0.3 inches. The inferior height  345  can be about 0.7 inches. In other embodiments, the ratio of the superior height  335  to the inferior height  345  is from about 0.2 to about 0.8, including about 0.4. It should be noted that both retractors  20 ,  30  have this offset of the ridge towards the upper lip. Thus, the two retractors  20 ,  30  can be considered mirror images of each other, but they are not interchangeable with each other. Put another way, one retractor  20  is considered a left retractor, while the other retractor  30  is considered a right retractor. 
         [0047]    Regarding  FIG. 8 , it is also contemplated that in some embodiments, the two retractors  20 ,  30  are integrally connected to each other through the Y connector  176 . Put another way, the power cords  162  of the two cheek retractors are joined together to form a Y connection. The external control system  170  then needs only one socket into which the Y connector is plugged. Another advantage of these embodiments is that the combination of the retractors, power cords, and Y connector provide directionality to the assembly and it is clear which retractor should be attached to which end of the flexible arm  40 . 
         [0048]    The various parts of the dental apparatus can be made by methods known in the art. For example, molds can be made for the desired shapes of the retractors and arms. Molten polymer is poured into the molds and then cooled into solid form to form the retractor. The retractor is removed from the molds and LEDs are attached to the retractors using fasteners or adhesives such as glue. Alternatively, the LEDs are placed in the mold and the resin is poured into the mold to encase or embed the LEDs. As yet another alternative, a mold is made containing a groove. The LEDs are then placed into the groove, and resin is then poured to fill in the groove and encase or embed the LEDs. Generally, the trough  110  and ridge  140  of the retractor are made from the same material for ease of manufacture. The material used to make the retractor should be a biocompatible and/or medical grade polymeric material. Desirably, the material has low or zero water absorption, i.e. does not absorb water. 
         [0049]    The apparatuses of the present disclosure have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiments be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.