Device for sensitivity testing

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for sensitivity testing with heat or cold, with which the sensitivity of a tooth can be examined, wherein the device (1) can be attached to a spray can (2), wherein the device has a first area through which an aerosol emerging from a spray head of the spray can (2) when the spray can (2) is actuated enters the device (1), and wherein the device (1) has a carrier (12) which can be wetted by the aerosol or parts of the aerosol entering the device (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for sensitivity testing with heat or cold, with which the sensitivity of a tooth can be examined.

[0002] In dentistry, sensitivity tests are performed on teeth, for example, to determine whether a tooth is vital or dead (devital). A sensitivity test using heat or cold, for example, is a provocation test used to examine the sensitivity of a tooth. The tooth being examined is suddenly exposed to heat or cold, resulting in a sudden change in the tooth's temperature.

[0003] Teeth have warm and cold receptors with which heat and cold can be perceived. Warm and cold receptors generate a certain, constant number of action potentials (impulses) at constant temperature. The number of impulses per unit of time is called the spontaneous frequency. Cold receptors in a healthy tooth respond to a sudden drop in temperature with a sharp increase in impulses per unit of time, while the impulses per unit of time in warm receptors sharply decrease. The opposite is true for a sudden rise in temperature. The receptors are capable of detecting temperature changes of just a few tenths of a degree. The greater the temperature change, the greater the change in frequency compared to the spontaneous frequency at which the receptors send the impulses. In practice, the teeth to be tested are usually exposed to cold during sensitivity tests.

[0004] In diseased teeth, the receptors' response to cold or heat to which the teeth are exposed is altered. In dead teeth, there is no response, meaning no impulses are sent. In diseased teeth, the response can be either stronger or weaker. The diseased teeth can be more or less sensitive to cold or heat due to a change.

[0005] A change in sensitivity to cold or cold can therefore be an indication of a tooth disease and prompts a dentist to conduct further examinations to make a reliable diagnosis.

[0006] To perform a sensitivity test with cold, a carrier, usually a cotton or foam pellet, a cotton swab or similar, is cooled down significantly using a cold spray. With cold sprays, temperatures of down to -40°C can be reached. The temperature of the sprayed carrier is slightly higher. If it is a pellet, the cooled carrier is then held to the tooth to be examined using forceps. Alternatively, the cooled end of a cotton swab is held to the tooth to be examined. To ensure that the carrier does not touch the patient's lips, tongue or gums on its way to the tooth, a dentist's mirror is used to keep the path clear for the pellet or cotton swab. This means that when performing the sensitivity test, the examiner holds the forceps with the pellet or the cotton swab in one hand and the dentist's mirror in the other.

[0007] To ensure the wearer is sufficiently cold during the sensitivity test, the cold spray must be applied shortly before contact with the tooth. This means that since the examiner holds the forceps with the pellet or the cotton swab in one hand and the mirror in the other, an assistant is required to spray the cold spray onto the wearer. Alternatively, the examiner could first spray the wearer, then put down the spray can and pick up the mirror. However, this takes time, during which the wearer warms up, which can impair the effectiveness and validity of the sensitivity test.

[0008] This is where the present invention comes in.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to propose a device for testing the sensitivity of teeth, with which an examiner, without the support of an assistant, is able to cool the carrier using one hand and then bring it into contact with the tooth to be examined, so that the examiner has the other hand free to guide the mirror.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device which can be attached to a spray can, wherein the device has a first region via which an aerosol emerging from a spray head of the spray can upon actuation of the spray can enters the device, and wherein the device has a carrier which can be wetted by the aerosol entering the device or parts of the aerosol entering the device.

[0011] The cold aerosol, which can reach temperatures as low as -40°C, cools the wetted carrier. The carrier, which is attached to the spray can as part of the device, can be held by the examiner with one of his two hands and moistened with the aerosol while holding the dental mirror in the other. Immediately after moistening, the examiner can then insert the carrier into the mouth by moving the spray can with the first hand and place it against the tooth to be examined.

[0012] Optionally, it is even possible, after wetting the carrier with the hand that operated the spray can, to detach the device according to the invention from the spray can with the first hand, while holding the device and setting the spray can down. The carrier, then held in the first hand, can then be inserted into the oral cavity and placed against the tooth to be examined.

[0013] The device according to the invention preferably comprises an element that forms a channel. A first end of the channel can form the first region through which the aerosol exiting the spray can can enter the device according to the invention. A second end of the channel can form a second region in which the aerosol or portions of the aerosol exit the channel and pass into the carrier.

[0014] The element is arranged between a nozzle of the spray head and the carrier in a device attached to the spray can and directs the aerosol from the spray head to the carrier. This creates a distance between the spray head or can and the carrier, which is placed against the tooth to be examined. This distance is useful, in particular, when teeth deep in the oral cavity are to be examined. Such teeth can then be easily reached without the spray can having to be fully or partially inserted into the oral cavity. Even if the device is detached from the spray can before the carrier comes into contact with the tooth to be examined, the element with the channel simplifies the insertion of the cooled carrier into the mouth and, in particular, contact with teeth deep in the mouth.

[0015] The element forming the channel can be a small tube. The element forming the channel can be made of plastic or metal, preferably stainless steel.

[0016] The carrier may have a fastening structure with which it can be attached to the element forming the channel. The fastening structure may be a hole through which the carrier can be plugged onto the element forming the channel. The carrier may be a foam pellet or a cotton pellet. It is also possible for the carrier to be made of a metal, in particular of metal threads or wires, for example, of stainless steel wool or a stainless steel knit or mesh.

[0017] If the channel-forming element and / or the support are made of metal, especially stainless steel, this has the advantage of being reusable—obviously after sterilization. This may, but does not necessarily, be more resource-efficient than disposable materials, such as plastic tubes or pellets made of cotton or foam.

[0018] Further features and advantages of an embodiment of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 a side view of a device according to the invention Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through the device Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 an arrangement of a device according to the invention from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and a spray can.

[0019] It is not necessary for a device according to the invention to have all of the features described below. It is also possible for a device according to the invention to have only individual features of the exemplary embodiment described below.

[0020] The example of a device 1 according to the invention shown in the figures comprises a tube 11. With a first end 111, the tube 11 can be attached to a nozzle 211 of a spray head 21 of a spray can 2. For this purpose, the tube 11 is placed onto the nozzle 211 with a first end 111.

[0021] A support 12 is attached to a second end 112 of the tube 11. The support 12 can be made of pressed cotton. The support 12 has a hole into which the second end 112 of the tube 11 is inserted.

[0022] If the device 1 is attached to the spray can 2 and the spray can 2 is then activated, the coolant contained in the can 2 penetrates the tube 11 as an aerosol and is directed from there into the carrier 12. The aerosol is distributed throughout the carrier 12 and wets its surface. This cools the carrier 12. The device 1 with the thus cooled carrier 12 is either pulled off the spray can 2 or it remains attached to the spray can 2. In both cases, after the spray has been applied, it can be inserted into the patient's mouth and the examiner can carry out the sensitivity test on one or more teeth while simultaneously holding the dentist's mirror to prevent contact between the cooled carrier 12 and the gums, lips or other surfaces.

Claims

[1] Device (1) for sensitivity testing with heat or cold, with which the sensitivity of a tooth can be examined, characterized by that the device (1) can be fastened to a spray can (2), wherein the device has a first region via which an aerosol emerging from a spray head of the spray can (2) upon actuation of the spray can (2) enters the device (1), and wherein the device (1) has a carrier (12) which is wettable by the aerosol entering the device (1) or parts of the aerosol entering the device (1). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the device (1) has an element (11) which forms a channel. [3] Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that a first end (111) of the channel forms the first area through which the aerosol emerging from the spray can can enter the device (1). [4] Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that a second end (112) of the channel can form a second region in which the aerosol or parts of the aerosol entering the device (1) exits the channel and passes into the carrier (12). [5] Device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the element forming the channel (11) is a tube. [6] Device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by that the element (11) forming the channel consists entirely or partially of plastic or of a metal, preferably of stainless steel. [7] Device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by that the support (12) has a fastening structure with which it is fastened to the element (11) forming the channel. [8] Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized bythat the fastening structure is a hole by means of which the support (12) is plugged onto the element forming the channel. [9] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the carrier (12) is a foam pellet or a cotton pellet or is made of a metal, for example of stainless steel wool or a stainless steel knit or fabric.

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