Abstract:
A periodontal scaler is provided, comprising an arcuate shank and an arcuate blade. The arcuate blade being designed to conform to the roughly cylindrical surfaces found on the roots of teeth. This conforming feature of the instrument&#39;s blade increases its cleaning efficiency by maximizing contact between the blade&#39;s surface and the root, and guiding the instrument along the root by holding its convex edges within the concave shape of the blade.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/841,079, filed in the USPTO on Jul. 21, 2010 entitled PERIODONTAL SCALER, and this application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/357,375, filed in the USPTO on Jan. 21, 2009 entitled PERIODONTAL SCALER, both applications of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present device is a dental hygiene instrument, referred to hereinafter as a periodontal scaler, designed to facilitate the cleaning of the root surfaces of teeth, particularly those of patients with periodontal disease. This periodontal scaler is designed to be more accurately adapted to the tooth facilitating faster and more effective removal of plaque and calculus from the roots minimizing trauma caused to nearby tissues and fatigue by the user. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gingival tissues of teeth, which can result in pockets and bone loss and even the eventual loss of teeth. This condition is often associated with severely receded gums, which leave the roots of teeth exposed. In order to treat this disease, the surfaces of the roots must be thoroughly cleaned of plaque and calculus. This cleaning typically involves the use of specialized scraping tools, called periodontal scalers, which are designed to be used below the gum line, where the roots exist. 
         [0004]    Many periodontal scalers and similar dental hygiene instruments are currently available on the market, however, the working ends of these tools do not comprise the proper angles required to easily access the affected root surfaces, particularly the curved surfaces of the roots of each molar. Furthermore, current devices do not have blades which conform to the cylindrical shape of the root so as to maximize contact between the blade and the root. 
         [0005]    What is needed is an instrument capable of properly cleaning the roots of teeth, particularly the surfaces that are not easily accessible, including the furcation of the roots of each molar, having one or more working ends with the proper angles required to reach the surfaces of each root and a blade capable of conforming to the cylindrical shape of the root so as to maximize contact between the blade and the root. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an aspect of the present device to provide a periodontal scaler capable of conforming closely to the root of a molar with an arcuate shaped cutting surface capable of removing plaque and calculus from each root. 
         [0007]    The above aspect can be obtained by a periodontal scaler, comprising an elongated handle with a first end and a second end, a first working end connected to the first end of the elongated handle, the working end further comprising an offset shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the offset shaft is connected to the first end of the elongated handle, an arcuate shank having a first end and a second end, and an upper section and a lower section divided by an angle, wherein the first end of the arcuate shank is connected to the second end of the offset shaft, and an arcuate blade having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arcuate blade is connected to the second end of the arcuate shank at an angle roughly perpendicular the lower section of the arcuate shank. 
         [0008]    These, together with other aspects and advantages, which will subsequently become apparent, and reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present device, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a double-ended periodontal scaler, according to an embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end of the periodontal scaler, in a vertical position, displaying an offset shaft, an arcuate shank and an arcuate blade with the point of the cutting blade facing forward, according to an embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise ninety (90) degrees, according to an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2C  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise one hundred eighty (180) degrees, according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2D  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise two hundred seventy (270) degrees, according to an embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean the root surface of a tooth, according to an embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean a root, comprising an enlarged, top, cutaway view of the periodontal scaler&#39;s arcuate blade and an enlarged, top, cutaway view of a root, according to an embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean a root, comprising an enlarged, side view of the end of the periodontal scaler, including its arcuate blade, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
         [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a double-ended periodontal scaler  100 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0021]    The double-ended periodontal scaler  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , can be comprised of an elongated handle  101 . The cross-sectional shape of this handle  101  can be cylindrical, triangular, octagonal or any other shape suitable to sufficiently control the periodontal scaler  100 . The scaler  100  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as having a cylindrical cross-sectional shape with grooves  112  carved into its surface to facilitate gripping. 
         [0022]    The double-ended periodontal scaler  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , can be composed of stainless steel, titanium, plastic, or any other suitable material known to those of average skill in the relevant art, or any combination of such materials. 
         [0023]    The double-ended periodontal scaler  100  can comprise a working end at only one end of the handle  101 , however, the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises a first working end  113  on one end of the handle  101  and a second working end  114  on the other end, which is the minor image of the first working end  113 . This configuration allows the user to clean both sides of a particular root (not pictured). 
         [0024]    Each working end  113  and  114  comprises an offset shaft  102 , which can be connected to one end of the handle  101 . The shaft  102  can taper from its thickest width at the point where it connects to the handle  101  to its thinnest width where it meets the arcuate shank  103 , which itself, is connected to an arcuate blade  104  at its other end. The offset shaft  102  bends outward from the end of the handle  101 . 
         [0025]    These working ends  113  and  114  can be comprised of several parts connected together or formed from a single piece of material such as stainless steel or some other suitable material. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end  210  of the periodontal scaler in a vertical position displaying an offset shaft  202 , an arcuate shank  203  and an arcuate blade  204  with the point of the cutting blade facing forward, according to an embodiment. 
         [0027]    From this viewpoint, the angle of the arcuate shank  203  is readily apparent. In this embodiment the angle of the arcuate shank  203  is approximately one hundred twenty (120) degrees. The purpose of this angle is to position the arcuate blade  204  inward toward the roots allowing the user to clean the root&#39;s surface while holding the instrument in a relatively vertical position. This figure displays the tip of the arcuate blade  204  pointing out toward the front of the page. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end  210  of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise ninety (90) degrees, according to an embodiment. 
         [0029]    This viewpoint displays the offset shaft  202 , according to an embodiment, which functions to allow the tool to move freely around the tooth being cleaned and avoiding the nearby cheek, tongue and viewing mirror (not pictured). This offset shaft  202  can have an angle approximately thirty (30) degrees with relation to the longitudinal axis of the elongated handle (not pictured). 
         [0030]      FIG. 2C  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end  210  of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise one hundred eighty (180) degrees, according to an embodiment. 
         [0031]    As in  FIG. 2A , this viewpoint clearly displays the angle of the arcuate shank  203 , according to an embodiment, which functions to hold the gum (not pictured) away from the tooth being cleaned, allowing the user to view the arcuate blade  204  and the root surface being cleaned. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2D  is an enlarged perspective view of the working end  210  of the periodontal scaler as displayed in  FIG. 2A , which has been rotated counter-clockwise two hundred seventy (270) degrees, according to an embodiment. 
         [0033]    As in  FIG. 2B , this viewpoint clearly displays the offset shaft  202 , but from the opposite angle. This viewpoint also displays the sharpened side of the arcuate blade  204 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean the root surface of a tooth, according to an embodiment. 
         [0035]    This view clearly displays how the arcuate shank  303  allows the instrument, and particularly the arcuate blade  304 , to be utilized below the gum line  306  where it can access the roots  307  of the tooth being cleaned  308 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean a root  407 , comprising an enlarged, top, cutaway view of the periodontal scaler&#39;s arcuate blade  404  and an enlarged, top, cutaway view of a root  407 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0037]    This view shows the purpose of the arcuate blade&#39;s  404  particular shape, which can be made to conform to the roughly cylindrical shape of a typical root  407 . By conforming to the root  407  and being placed at the base of the root  407  and stroking upwards. The surface of the root  407  can be more efficiently cleaned of plaque and calculus with an arcuate blade  404  than it could with a straight blade (not pictured), which does not conform to the shape of the root, and thus can contact the root at only one point at any time. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, this arcuate shape, particularly its concave shape, can be used to guide the arcuate blade  404  onto the root  407  and to keep it there by inhibiting lateral movement as it is moved up and against the root  407  being cleaned. This feature can help to reduce trauma to nearby tissues (not pictured), by reducing the chance that control of the blade  404  will be lost, and by reducing the amount of time required to clean each root  407  by maintaining constant contact with the root. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is an illustrational view of the periodontal scaler being utilized to clean a root  507 , comprising an enlarged, side view of the end of the periodontal scaler, including its arcuate blade  504 , according to an embodiment. 
         [0040]    This view shows the position of the arcuate blade  504  as it interacts with the root  507 . This view clearly displays the angle of the arcuate blade  504  with respect to the arcuate shank  503  and the root  507  being cleaned by the instrument. 
         [0041]    Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.