US5018967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental fluoride applicator and method for using same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-08-15
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Granted: 1991-05-28
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Expires: 2010-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient. The apparatus includes a dental tray, which is sized and shaped to fit between the upper and lower sets of the patient's teeth. The dental tray is preferably a unitary block of a disposable, deformable material, having a top surface and a bottom surface into which simultaneous dental impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth are to be made. The side wall of the dental tray includes a groove, which extends around the perimeter of the dental tray. The apparatus further includes an evacuation tube. The evacuation tube has a first end which is adapted to communicate with a source of suction, such as a saliva ejector. The remainder of the evacuation tube has a plurality of apertures which serve as entry ports through which displaced fluoride solution, saliva and other debris are aspirated. The first end of the evacuation tube is disposed near the front of the dental tray, and the remainder of the tube is frictionally mounted within the groove of the dental tray. In use, the apparatus is inserted into the mouth of the patient, and impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth are made in the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. An appropriate amount of fluoride solution is painted onto the impressions, the evacuation tube is connected to a saliva ejector, and the apparatus is reinserted into the patient's mouth.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Schwalbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/06; A61C19/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for use in applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising: a) a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of a dental impression therein; and b) an evacuation tube, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being mounted along the periphery of said dental tray.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for use in applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising: a) a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of a dental impression therein; and b) an evacuation tube, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being mounted along the periphery of said dental tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dental tray has a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface and wherein said side wall has a peripherally-extending groove into which said remainder of said evacuation tube is frictionally mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said dental tray is a unitary block of disposable, deformable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said dental tray is made of expanded cellular polystyrene.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising: a) a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of an impression therein, said dental tray further having a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface, said side wall having a peripherally-extending groove; and b) a frame mounted against said side wall, said frame having an evacuation tube formed therein, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being disposed within said groove of said dental tray.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising: a) a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of an impression therein, said dental tray further having a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface, said side wall having a peripherally-extending groove; and b) a frame mounted against said side wall, said frame having an evacuation tube formed therein, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being disposed within said groove of said dental tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a first liner detachably mounted on said top surface and a second liner detachably mounted on said bottom surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising the steps of: a) inserting into the mouth of the patient an apparatus comprising a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of a dental impression therein, and further comprising an evacuation tube, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being mounted along the periphery of said dental tray; b) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth of the patient are simultaneously formed in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; c) then, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient; d) then, applying an appropriate amount of fluoride solution to the impressions in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; e) connecting said first end of said evacuation tube to a source of suction; f) reinserting said apparatus into the mouth of the patient, positioning said apparatus so that the impressions are aligned with the teeth of the patient; g) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that the teeth fill the impressions and become completely immersed in the fluoride solution; and h) then, after waiting an effective amount of time, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising the steps of: a) inserting into the mouth of the patient an apparatus comprising a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of a dental impression therein, and further comprising an evacuation tube, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being mounted along the periphery of said dental tray; b) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth of the patient are simultaneously formed in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; c) then, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient; d) then, applying an appropriate amount of fluoride solution to the impressions in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; e) connecting said first end of said evacuation tube to a source of suction; f) reinserting said apparatus into the mouth of the patient, positioning said apparatus so that the impressions are aligned with the teeth of the patient; g) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that the teeth fill the impressions and become completely immersed in the fluoride solution; and h) then, after waiting an effective amount of time, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said dental tray has a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface and wherein said side wall has a peripherally-extending groove into which said remainder of said evacuation tube is frictionally mounted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said dental tray is a unitary block of disposable, deformable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said dental tray is made of expanded cellular polystyrene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of connecting said first end of said evacuation tube to a source of suction precedes said step of reinserting said apparatus into the mouth of the patient.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
308 words
A method of applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising the steps of: a) inserting into the mouth of the patient an apparatus comprising a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of an impression therein, said dental tray further having a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface, said side wall having a peripherally-extending groove, and said apparatus further comprising a frame mounted against said side wall, said frame having an evacuation tube formed therein, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being disposed within said groove of said dental tray; b) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth of the patient are simultaneously formed in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; c) then, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient; d) then, applying an appropriate amount of fluoride solution to the impressions in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; e) connecting said first end of said evacuation tube to a source of suction; f) reinserting said apparatus into the mouth of the patient, positioning said apparatus so that the impressions are aligned with the teeth of the patient; g) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that the teeth fill the impressions and become completely immersed in the fluoride solution; and h) then, after waiting an effective amount of time, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
308 words
A method of applying fluoride to the teeth of a patient, comprising the steps of: a) inserting into the mouth of the patient an apparatus comprising a dental tray, said dental tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface being made of deformable material suitable for the making of an impression therein, said dental tray further having a side wall which extends from said top surface to said bottom surface, said side wall having a peripherally-extending groove, and said apparatus further comprising a frame mounted against said side wall, said frame having an evacuation tube formed therein, said evacuation tube having a first end adapted for communication with a source of suction, the remainder of said evacuation tube having a plurality of apertures spaced along the length thereof for aspirating materials therethrough, said remainder of said evacuation tube being disposed within said groove of said dental tray; b) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that impressions of the upper and lower sets of teeth of the patient are simultaneously formed in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; c) then, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient; d) then, applying an appropriate amount of fluoride solution to the impressions in said top surface and said bottom surface of said dental tray; e) connecting said first end of said evacuation tube to a source of suction; f) reinserting said apparatus into the mouth of the patient, positioning said apparatus so that the impressions are aligned with the teeth of the patient; g) then, closing the mouth of the patient so that the teeth fill the impressions and become completely immersed in the fluoride solution; and h) then, after waiting an effective amount of time, removing said apparatus from the mouth of the patient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said apparatus further comprises a first liner detachably mounted on said top surface and a second liner detachably mounted on said bottom surface, said method further comprising before applying the fluoride solution to the tray and after removing the apparatus from the mouth of the patient, the step of removing said first and second liners from said top and bottom surfaces, respectively.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-27 | 1994-11-26 | 1995-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-27 | 1998-11-26 | 1999-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-27 | 2002-11-26 | 2003-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |