Patent ID: 7581949

Claim:
A dental instrument for debonding an orthodontic bracket from a surface of a tooth, comprising: a first plier portion comprising a first handle and a first jaw for engaging an orthodontic bracket; a second plier portion comprising a second handle and a second jaw for engaging the orthodontic bracket; said first and second plier portions coupled for pivotal movement relative to one another; and a lever arm comprising a first end and a second end, said first end proximate said first jaw of said first plier portion, said first end including a tooth contacting member; said lever arm pivotally movable relative to at least one of said first plier portion or said second plier portion; said tooth contacting member positioned on said first end of said lever arm and extending across said first jaw and transverse to a plane defined by said first plier portion such that said tooth contacting member is moved between said first jaw and the tooth surface and in a direction toward said second jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are engaged with the orthodontic bracket and said second end of said lever arm is pivotally manipulated in a direction toward said second handle; wherein at least a part of at least one of said first plier portion or said second plier portion has greater flexibility than said lever arm and said lever arm moves said tooth contacting member relative to said first jaw after said first jaw and said second jaw are engaged with the orthodontic bracket and said first handle, said second handle, and said lever arm are pivotally manipulated in directions toward one another.