Patent Publication Number: US-2012045734-A1

Title: Dental Wedge Device With Guiding Wire

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a dental tool, more particularly to a dental wedge for pushing the matrix band tight against the tooth structure, more particularly to a dental wedge comprising a guiding wire or string adapted to allow a dentist to pull the wedge in place. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When a patient has a tooth cavity/caries, a dentist uses dental hand piece and dental burs to remove all of the decayed tooth structure from the tooth. After removing caries, this tooth will have a cavity. The dentist will then place a dental matrix band around this cavity and fill it with dental filling materials. In addition to the matrix band, the dentist will use a dental wedge to push the bottom of the matrix band, which is right next to patient&#39;s gum/gingival tissue, tight against the tooth structure. This wedge will ensure that the dental materials will not leak or push outside of cavity margins. Generally, such wedges are pushed blindly between the teeth. Many times, the tip of the pointed wedge is jammed into the patient&#39;s gum, which causes trauma and often causes bleeding. In some cases pieces of the wedges break off in the patient&#39;s gum, leading to swelling and/or infection. 
     The present invention features a novel dental wedge device with a guiding wire (or string) extending from each side of the wedge. The guiding wire (or string) is adapted to allow the dentist to pull the wedge in place (e.g., in between teeth) rather than blindly push the wedge. After a procedure is complete, the dentist can easily remove the wedge using the guiding wire. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dental wedge device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the dental wedge device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the dental wedge device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross sectional view of the dental wedge device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use view of the dental wedge device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dental wedge device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a plurality of back cross sectional views of the dental wedge device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top cross sectional view of the dental wedge device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1-8 , the present invention features a novel dental wedge device  100  with a guiding wire (or string) extending from each side of the wedge component. The guiding wire (or string) is adapted to allow the dentist to pull the wedge component of the wedge device  100  in place (e.g., in between teeth) rather than blindly push the wedge. After a procedure is complete, the dentist can easily remove the wedge component using the guiding wire (or string). Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believe that the wedge device  100  of the present invention can help prevent trauma and gum bleedings. 
     The wedge device  100  of the present invention features a wedge component  110  adapted to be wedged between teeth. The wedge component  150  has a first end  111  and a second end  112 , the first end  111  being generally pointed. Shapes, and variations of wedges are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the size (e.g., width) of wedges generally increases from its pointed end to its opposite end. In some embodiments, the first end has a smaller cross section area as compared to the second end. The wedge component  110  may be constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is a generally triangular wedge (e.g., see  FIG. 1 ), for example the second end  112  of the wedge component  110  is generally triangular (e.g., as viewed from the back). The triangular wedge has a generally pointed first end  111 , a generally triangularly shaped second end  112 , a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top edge (e.g., see  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is a generally rectangular (e.g., square) wedge (e.g., see  FIG. 6 ), for example the second end of the wedge component  110  is generally rectangular (e.g., as viewed from the back). The rectangular wedge has a generally pointed first end  111 , a generally rectangularly shaped second end  112 , a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top surface (e.g., see  FIG. 1 ). The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned configurations and shapes. 
       FIG. 4  shows a sagittal cross section of the wedge component  110 . In some embodiments, the sagittal cross section of the wedge component  110  is generally triangular. In some embodiments, the transverse cross section of the wedge component  110  (e.g., as viewed from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 ) is generally triangular.  FIG. 7  shows examples of transverse cross sections of the wedge component  110  (e.g., as viewed from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 ). In some embodiments, the transverse cross section of the wedge component  110  (e.g., as viewed from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 ) is generally rectangular (e.g., square). In some embodiments, the transverse cross section of the wedge component  110  (e.g., as viewed from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 ) is generally circular.  FIG. 8  shows a top cross sectional view (e.g., coronal cross section) of the wedge component  110 . In some embodiments, the coronal cross section of the wedge component  110  (e.g., as viewed from the top of the wedge component  110 ) is generally triangular. 
     The wedge component  110  may be constructed from a variety of materials and in a variety of sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is constructed from a material comprising rubber (e.g., a rubber composite), plastic, wood, the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is constructed from a material comprising a biodegradable material. 
     In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is between about ¼ inch and ½ inch in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is between about ½ inch and ⅝ inch in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is between about ⅝ inch and ¾ inch in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is between about ¾ inch and 1 inch in length as measured from the first end  111  to the second end  112 . In some embodiments, the wedge component  110  is between about ⅝ inch and 1 inch in length. The wedge component  110  is not limited to the aforementioned dimensions. 
     The wedge device  100  of the present invention further comprises a guiding wire  150  having a first end  151  and a second end  152 . The first end  151  of the guiding wire extends from the first end  111  of the wedge component  110  and the second end  152  of the guiding wire  150  extends from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 . In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  traverses the wedge component  110  (e.g., spans the inside of the wedge component  110  as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and in some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  comprises a first half wire extending from the first end  111  of the wedge component  110  and a second half wire extending from the second end  112  of the wedge component  110 . 
     The guiding wire  150  may be constructed from a variety of materials and in a variety of sizes. For example, the guiding wire  150  is not limited to a wire-like material (e.g., stainless steel) but may be constructed from a string material (e.g., cotton, nylon, e.g., nylon monofilament, etc.). The guiding wire  150  is generally flexible. In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is between about 3 to 4 inches in length (e.g., 3.5 inches) as measured from the first end  151  to the second end  152 . In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is between about 4 to 5 inches in length as measured from the first end  151  to the second end  152 . In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is between about 5 to 6 inches in length as measured from the first end  151  to the second end  152 . In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is between about 6 to 10 inches in length as measured from the first end  151  to the second end  152 . In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is between about 3 to 5 inches in length. In some embodiments, the guiding wire  150  is more than about 10 inches in length. The guiding wire  150  is not limited to the aforementioned dimensions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, one or more knots  152  (e.g., bulges) are disposed along the guiding wire  150 , for example along the portion of the guiding wire  150 , that traverses the wedge component  110 . The knots  152  (e.g., bulges) may help provide strength and support to the guiding wire  150 , for example helping to prevent the guiding wire  150  from sliding out of the wedge component  110 . 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the guiding wire is about 5 inches in length includes a guiding wire that is between 4.5 and 5.5 inches in length. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.