INTRAORAL CAMERA TIP EQUIPPED WITH A GINGIVAL SPACER.

Abstract

The invention relates to an intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor adaptable to existing intraoral cameras on the dental supply market. The intraoral camera tip with a gingival retractor consists of a rigid section and a flexible, breakable section. Its anterior portion has two vertical lips angled outwards, a breakable section injected by overmolding that adapts to the different sizes of intraoral cameras on the dental market, and two rigid lips, one serving as a cheek retractor and the other as a tongue retractor. (See illustration.) FIG. 1

Description

Title of the invention: INTRAORAL CAMERA TIP EQUIPPED WITH A GINGIVAL SPACER.

[0001] The invention relates to an intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor adaptable to existing intraoral cameras on the dental supply market.

[0002] The intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor is composed of a rigid zone and a flexible, breakable zone.

[0003] It has on its anterior part, a flexible and breakable area injected by overmolding which will adapt to the different sizes of intraoral cameras on the dental market.

[0004] The geometry of this intraoral camera tip, equipped with a gingival retractor, presents a conical body, at the end of which appear two vertical lips inclined outwards. These two rigid lips serve as a retractor for the cheek in one case and for the tongue in the other.

[0005] This intraoral camera tip, equipped with a gingival retractor, consists of two parts, the first rigid and the second breakable and flexible, allowing the insertion of several types of intraoral cameras; no two cameras have the same dimensional dimensions as another competing camera; they are all different.

[0006] This intraoral camera tip, equipped with a gingival retractor, can be used as a whole, by integrating directly onto a proprietary intraoral camera, or by using only the anterior part which is breakable and adaptable to all intraoral cameras on the market.

[0007] Once sectioned, the anterior part has a tunnel-shaped opening, flexible enough to adapt to the different existing cameras.

[0008] The rear part of this flexible opening is straight, at the level of the breakable area to have maximum support on the tip of the different intraoral cameras.

[0009] The anterior part of this same flexible opening is beveled forward for easy insertion into the oral cavity.

[0010] This area is the thinnest part of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor, to ensure great flexibility of adaptation to all existing cameras, and to avoid hindering the progression of the camera during digital recording, when patients have a limited mandibular opening.

[0011] Extending from this flexible opening, there are two more rigid lips, with rounded edges, for comfortable use in the oral space.

[0012] These two lips are much thicker, which provides them with the rigidity necessary for the separation of the tongue and cheek, when the camera is prospecting in the oral space.

[0013] These two lips, which act as retractors, create a tunnel-shaped area, protecting the gum and dental arch from intrusions of the tongue and cheeks, in the case of a totally edentulous patient.

[0014] Or protecting the recording of the dental arch of a patient with teeth, without the intrusion of the tongue or cheeks during the recording of the dental arch.

[0015] The geometry of this intraoral camera tip equipped with an adaptable gingival retractor also has a rectangular window within it, allowing digital capture of the gingival areas of the oral cavity.

[0016] Traditionally, the dentist uses an intraoral camera to take digital impressions of a patient's dental arches. The head of the intraoral camera is small, which allows its insertion into the oral cavity and its easy movement throughout the oral cavity.

[0017] But because of its narrowness, the tongue and cheek come to stick to the digital recording area of ​​the camera, which produces digitally polluted images, which change the morphology of the gum recording, producing unusable digital files.

[0018] To overcome this drawback, the dental surgeon must use an external retractor to retract the patient's cheek once for the vestibular recording of the dental arch, and make another pass by retracting the tongue for the lingual recording of this dental arch.

[0019] He must use both hands for this exercise, and depending on the size of the patient's mouth opening, since not all patients have the same morphology, it is sometimes difficult to access the distal areas of the dental arch.

[0020] Consequently, a solution must be provided for this digital impression taking, to facilitate the handling of the intraoral camera, using only one hand, on the one hand, and to guarantee free recording of intraoral elements which interfere with the digitization of the dental space.

[0021] Guidance on the dental arch is facilitated by the two rigid lips which slide on the vestibular and lingual faces of the teeth and gum.

[0022] The rectangular window located inside the gingival retractor does not modify the recording distance of the digital data while allowing the ventilation necessary for defogging the reflective glass which is available on all intraoral cameras.

[0023] Intraoral camera tips are used several times a day in patients' mouths and must be sterilized between each patient.

[0024] Therefore, a solution must be found to the problems related to taking digital fingerprints in order to enable;

[0025] Recording dental areas without the use of bulky gingival retractors, and requiring the help of a second hand.

[0026] The guarantee of a digital recording without any area polluted by the intrusion of the tongue and one of the cheeks.

[0027] The universality of this intraoral camera tip can be adapted to the different cameras on the market.

[0028] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, which are by way of example and not limiting in any way;

[0029] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor, in two separate parts.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the anterior part of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor sectioned by its breakable area.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the anterior part of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor sectioned by its breakable area, seen from above.

[0033] The same numerical references designate the same elements in the various figures.

[0034] As shown in [Fig. 1], the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor 10 is formed of two bodies 20 and 30 joined together by a breakable area 19.

[0035] As shown in [Fig.2], the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor 10, formed of two bodies 20 and 30, can be separated by a cutting disc 18, at its breakable part 19.

[0036] As shown in [Fig.3], the anterior part of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor is provided with a window 11, receiving the body of an intraoral camera, which is introduced into the tunnel 14.

[0037] The contour of this window 11 is the breakable part 19 of this tunnel. The tunnel 14 is produced in flexible material for its adaptation to all cameras on the market; it has an angulation 16, similar to the angulation of the anterior part of intraoral cameras. It also has an anterior stop 17 for the positioning of these cameras.

[0038] In the extension of this tunnel run two rigid spreaders 12, and 13 in an oblique position.

[0039] As shown in [Fig.4], the anterior part of the intraoral camera tip equipped with a gingival retractor also has an opening 15, allowing digital recording by the intraoral camera sensors.

Claims

Demands

1. Intraoral camera tip, enabling the recording of digital data, in the oral space, characterized in that it is equipped with a gingival retractor, and in that said tip has a conical body at the end of which appear two rigid lips, 12 and 13, serving as retractors of the cheek for one of them and of the tongue for the other.

2. Intraoral camera tip according to claim 1 characterized in that an anterior part is provided with a window 1l, receiving the body of an intraoral camera.

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