Patent ID: 8529258

Claim:
A dental implement comprising: a biasing ring having a substantially hoop-like configuration terminating at two opposing ends which are spaced apart from each other a distance; and a pair of opposing tines extending inwardly from each of the two ends of the biasing ring toward each other, the at least one tine including a front face having opposing sides, a front surface support configured to receive the front face, a top end and a bottom end, the front face is defined by two inwardly inclined surfaces positioned on the front surface support which start at the opposing sides and incline inwardly toward each other and toward the opposing tine to form a peak region that is spaced apart from the opposing sides and extends substantially vertically at least partially between the top end and the bottom end of the front face, wherein the peak region of at least one of the tines, comprises a first material and the inclined surfaces comprise a second material positioned on the front surface support, the first material being harder than the second material, wherein the second material is deformable upon biasing thereof against a tooth by the biasing ring, and wherein the front surface support upon which the front face is positioned is harder than the second material which forms the inclined surfaces of the front face, wherein the peak region of the at least one opposing tine is structurally configured for positioning proximate a interproximal space between adjacent teeth on opposing sides thereof so as to contact against opposing teeth proximate the interproximal space to separate the same, and the inclined surfaces of the at least one opposing are forced against adjacent teeth on either side of a interproximal space.