Patent ID: 8062030

Claim:
A dental apparatus comprising: an elongated barrel portion defining a longitudinal dimension; a hook appendage on a distal end segment of the barrel portion, the hook appendage including a transverse segment extending transversely away from the barrel portion in a first transverse direction relative to the longitudinal dimension, the transverse segment of the hook appendage having a first end coupled to the barrel portion and a second end, the second end being coupled to a leg portion extending in the longitudinal dimension toward a proximal end segment of the barrel portion such that the hook appendage and distal end segment of the barrel portion form a generally U-shaped structure, both the distal and proximal end segments of the barrel portion defining straight structures without bends or appendages other than the hook appendage and a lever appendage; and the lever appendage being on the proximal end segment of the barrel portion, the lever appendage being the only structure on the proximal end segment of the barrel portion and consisting of a transverse segment extending transversely away from the barrel portion in a second transverse direction relative to the longitudinal dimension, the second transverse direction being generally opposite the first transverse direction, the transverse segment of the lever appendage having a first end coupled to the barrel portion and a second end, the second end being coupled to a leg portion extending in the longitudinal dimension away from the proximal end segment of the barrel portion such that the lever appendage and proximal end segment of the barrel portion form a generally L-shaped structure and such that no U-shaped structure is formed by the lever appendage, or the lever appendage in combination with the barrel portion, or otherwise formed on the proximal end segment of the barrel portion, the dental apparatus being useful for removing dental appliances from a patient's teeth or tooth, wherein both appendages of the apparatus are thin, flat, non-tapered so as to engage fully in between the appliance and the teeth of the patient.