Device for cleaning dental implant posts

Claim 1

A device for cleaning dental implant posts, said cleaning device comprising: handle means for manually grasping said device; and brushing means secured to one end portion of said handle means, said brushing means including: i) a flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means connected to said one end of said handle means and having a generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration defining a receiving space therein for receiving an implant post to be cleaned and resiliently surrounding a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post, said brush member means having first and second free ends at the ends of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration which are in opposing and in at least partially facing relation to each other so as to define a gap between said first and second free ends for insertion of an implant post to be cleaned through said gap between said free ends and into said receiving space; and ii) a plurality of bristles secured to said brush member means, said bristles at least being directed inwardly and downwardly of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said inwardly directed bristles extending into said receiving space for engaging an implant post received in said receiving space over substantially the complete extent of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to simultaneously brush a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post; and said downwardly directed bristles engaging gum tissue adjacent the implant post for keratinizing the outer layer of the engaged tissue; said flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means with said plurality of bristles secured thereto being dimensioned so as to be receivable between adjacent teeth at least at the gingival area, and being arranged to brush a dental implant post supporting a tooth at the lingual surface of said post, at the buccal surface of said post, and at the gingival margin adjacent said post, said brush member means and said bristles together engaging around said received post over said major portion of the periphery of said post; said brush member means being resiliently deflectable or spreadable apart when passed between teeth and over a post to engage over said major portion of the received post.

Claim 2

A device for cleaning dental implant posts, said cleaning device comprising: handle means for manually grasping said device; and brushing means secured to one end portion of said handle means, said brushing means including: i) a flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means connected to said one end of said handle means and having a generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration defining a receiving space therein for receiving an implant post to be cleaned and resiliently surrounding a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post, said brush member means having first and second free ends at the ends of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration which are in opposing and in at least partially facing relation to each other so as to define a gap between said first and second free ends for insertion of an implant post to be cleaned through said gap between said free ends and into said receiving space; and ii) a plurality of bristles secured to said brush member means, said bristles at least being directed inwardly and downwardly of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said inwardly directed bristles extending into said receiving space for engaging an implant post received in said receiving space over substantially the complete extent of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to simultaneously brush a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post; and said downwardly directed bristles engaging gum tissue adjacent the implant post for keratinizing the outer layer of the engaged tissue; said flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means with said plurality of bristles secured thereto being dimensioned so as to be receivable between adjacent teeth at least at the gingival area, and being arranged to brush a dental implant post supporting a tooth at the lingual surface of said post, at the buccal surface of said post, and at the gingival margin adjacent said post, said brush member means and said bristles together engaging around said received post over said major portion of the periphery of said post; said brush member means being resiliently deflectable or spreadable apart when passed between teeth and over a post to engage over said major portion of the received post.

Claim 15

A method for making a device for cleaning dental implant posts, said cleaning device comprising: handle means for manually grasping said device; and brushing means secured to one end portion of said handle means, said brushing means including: i) a flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member connected to said one end of said handle means and having a generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration defining a receiving space therein for receiving an implant post to be cleaned and resiliently surrounding a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post, said brush member having first and second free ends at the ends of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration which are in opposing and in at least partially facing relation to each other so as to define a gap between said first and second free ends for insertion of an implant post to be cleaned through said gap between said free ends and into said receiving space; and ii) a plurality of bristles secured to said brush member, said bristles at least being directed inwardly of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to extend into said receiving space for engaging an implant post received in said receiving space over substantially the complete extent of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to simultaneously brush a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post; the method comprising: forming an elongated brush having a twisted wire support member having bristles connected thereto at a brush end thereof, and being free of bristles at another end, said end being free of bristles comprising a handle portion; and bending said brush end generally in a U-shaped or semicircular shape to form said generally semicircular or U-shaped brush configuration; said flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means with said plurality of bristles secured thereto being dimensioned so as to be received between adjacent teeth at least at the gingival area, and being arranged and formed to brush a dental implant post supporting a tooth at the lingual surface of said post, at the buccal surface of said post, both opposite side portions of said post, and at the gingival margin adjacent said post, said brush member means and said bristles together engaging around said received post over said major portion of the periphery of said post; said brush member means being resiliently deflectable or spreadable apart when passed between teeth and over a post to engage over said major portion of the received post.

Claim 16

A method for making a device for cleaning dental implant posts, said cleaning device comprising: handle means for manually grasping said device; and brushing means secured to one end portion of said handle means, said brushing means including: i) a flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member connected to said one end of said handle means and having a generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration, said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration defining a receiving space therein for receiving an implant post to be cleaned and resiliently surrounding a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post, said brush member having first and second free ends at the ends of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration which are in opposing and in at least partially facing relation to each other so as to define a gap between said first and second free ends for insertion of an implant post to be cleaned through said gap between said free ends and into said receiving space; and ii) a plurality of bristles secured to said brush member, said bristles at least being directed inwardly of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to extend into said receiving space for engaging an implant post received in said receiving space over substantially the complete extent of said generally semicircular or U-shaped configuration so as to simultaneously brush a major portion of the periphery of the received implant post; the method comprising: forming an elongated brush having a twisted wire support member having bristles connected thereto at a brush end thereof, and being free of bristles at another end, said end being free of bristles comprising a handle portion; and bending said brush end generally in a U-shaped or semicircular shape to form said generally semicircular or U-shaped brush configuration; said flexible, resilient, spring-like brush member means with said plurality of bristles secured thereto being dimensioned so as to be received between adjacent teeth at least at the gingival area, and being arranged and formed to brush a dental implant post supporting a tooth at the lingual surface of said post, at the buccal surface of said post, both opposite side portions of said post, and at the gingival margin adjacent said post, said brush member means and said bristles together engaging around said received post over said major portion of the periphery of said post; said brush member means being resiliently deflectable or spreadable apart when passed between teeth and over a post to engage over said major portion of the received post.