Improvements in and relating to Forceps for Inserting Dental Wedges, and in and to Dental Wedges for use therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
J
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Forceps for Inserting Dental
Wedges, and in and to Dental Wedges for use therewith.
1, GEORGE JANES DAVISON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at No. 629, East Main Street, in the City of Richmond, County of Henrico and
State of Virginia, one of the United States of America, Dentist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention relates to forceps employed by dentists for inserting and adjusting
dental wedges between the teeth for the purpose of separating two adjacent teeth in
order to gain space to facilitate plugging and other operations, and also to a wedge
especially designed for use therewith.
It has been customary heretofore to insert the wedges for such purposes from the
outside and adjust it therein either by means of a mallet or by placing one jaw of a
pair of forceps behind the teeth and pressing upon the head of the wedge with the
other jaw, each of which operations not only has a tendency to force the teeth
inward and close the arch at the front, but also leaves the bulk of the wedge in the
way of the free manipulation of the plugging or other instrument to be used, and is
also attended with considerable pain to the patient. The object of my invention is
to overcome these objections as far as possible by providing a pair of forceps, and
wedge adapted to be used therewith, by which the wedge after being partially
inserted from the inside can be forced outward. This I accomplish by providing a
pair of forceps of the general class known as separating forceps, one jaw of which
is bifurcated and provided at its ends with elastic cushions for pressing against the
front of the teeth each side of the wedge, while the other jaw is provided with
means for engaging the wedge. By this means the wedge, after being partially
inserted from the inside, can be forced outward between the teeth until the necessary
space is obtained, the point only of the wedge protruding from the front of the
teeth, and the space to be obtained being at all times unobstructed from view. I
have found that by the use of my device, the separation of teeth is accomplished
with less pain to the patient, and the arch of the teeth is opened more effectually
than where the wedge is forced through from the front.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have illustrated in the
accompanying drawing two forms thereof which I have used with practical success,
and will now proceed to describe the same.
:-
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved forceps with the jaws open,
showing a wedge attached thereto.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same showing its manner of operation.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the wedge engaging jaw, showing the manner of
securing the wire hook therein.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent enlarged views of the different forms of wedges
adapted to be used with my improved forceps.
Figure 7 is a modification of my improved forceps.
The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.
My preferred construction of forceps is of the general kind known as separating
forceps and consists of two members, A, B, pivoted together at the point, c, a
suitable spring, C, being interposed between the handle ends of the members, A, B,
for the purpose of closing the jaws. The jaw, A', is provided at its end with two
prongs, a, a, which extend outward longitudinally for a short distance, then down-
ward at about right angle to the body portion of the jaw, A', the ends of said

page_text: prongs being of somewhat larger diameter than the portion, a, as shown at a¹, and
provided each with a central cavity in which is inserted a rubber or other elastic
cushion, a, a, adapted to bear against the teeth, when the forceps are in use.
The end of the jaw, B', is turned downward at b, substantially at right angle to
the jaw, B, and adapted to pass between the prongs, a, a, substantially in line
therewith when the jaws, A¹, B, are closed. At the end of the turned down
portion, b, is a small wire hook, d, having an upwardly extending shank, d', which
passes through a forwardly projecting lug, b, on said end b, and thence through an
opening, b, in the vertical portion where its end is turned down to secure the same
therein. The wedge which I prefer to employ in connection with my improved
forceps, consists of a thin strip of metal, e, gradually decreasing in width from its
ends towards the centre and having at one end a small aperture, e', and at its
opposite end a socket or tubular portion, e³, on one side only, in which tubular
portion is inserted a wooden wedge, e³, tapering toward the opposite or eyelet end.
In Figure 5 I have shown the wedge, e, composed entirely of metal provided with
slightly corrugated tapering edges, and at its small end with an eye or opening, e¹.
If found desirable the jaw, B₁, of the forceps may be provided with an eyelet
instead of the hook, d, in which case the small end of the wedge would be provided
with a slot or hook, as shown in Figure 6.
The operation of my improved forceps and wedge is as follows:-
The
The wedge is inserted from the inside between the teeth to be separated, until
the eyelet, e, in the end thereof protrudes from the front of the teeth.
forceps are held so as to place the elastic cushions, a' against the front of the teeth
to be separated, and the hook, d, inserted in the eye, e', of the wedge. By com-
pressing the handles the wedge is gently pulled through between the teeth until
a sufficient opening is obtained, when the forceps are removed, leaving only the
small end of the wedge protruding. It will thus be seen that the forceps are wholly
without the mouth during the operation of adjusting the wedge.
In Figure 7 I have shown a modification of my invention as applied to a pair of
scissor forceps, in which, A', B', are the clamping jaws. The jaw, A¹ is provided
with two downturned cushioned bearing feet, a, similar to those shown in Figure 1,
adapted to bear against the front of two adjacent teeth, and the end of the jaw, B',
is upturned at 6, or toward the presser feet, a², a², and its end is provided with a
slight cavity adapted to engage the head of the wedge within the mouth to prevent
the wedge from slipping from the jaw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In forceps for adjusting dental wedges, the combination with a jaw adapted
to engage the wedge to be adjusted, and a second jaw having two cushioned
presser feet adapted to press upon the front of the teeth on opposite sides of the
wedge, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A dental wedge made substantially as described, in combination with wedge
adjusting forceps having one jaw bifurcated to form two presser feet and the
other jaw curved to pass between the prongs of the opposite jaw and provided
with means for engaging said wedge, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. The combination with a dental wedge having an eye in its small end, of
forceps for adjusting the same, said forceps provided with a downwardly curved
pronged lower jaw, the prongs of which are parallel to each other and provided
with elastic cushions at their ends, and a downwardly curved upper jaw adapted
to pass between the prongs of the lower jaw and provided with a detachable
hook for engaging the eye of said wedge, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. A dental wedge consisting of a strip of sheet metal having a tubular portion

page_text: formed on one side thereof at one end to form a socket, and an eye at the other
end, and a wooden wedge inserted in said socket, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1890.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.