System and process for managing dental burs

Abstract

A system and method for managing dental burs includes a carrier that is customized to hold a selection of burs that a particular dentist prefers for a given procedure. Accordingly, each dentist will have a separately identifiable carrier for such procedures as amalgam and composite fillings, veneer, crown and bridge preparation, post and core procedures, endodontics, emergency treatments and other procedures, such as those that are attendant to removable prosthodontics. In addition, the carrier includes indicators for advising the dentist as to how many times each bur in the carrier has been used. By tracking use on a bur by bur basis, premature disposal of used burs as well as the incidence of bur changes in the midst of procedures will be minimized while helping to prevent the negative consequences of overusing burs (i.e. intra-oral separation, excessive heat generation). The system also includes a used bur sterilization container, which mates with the carrier but can be separated from the carrier and placed in an autoclave for sterilization. This permits burs from the carrier to be kept separate from other burs during the sterilization process, which simplifies sorting and restocking, as well as permitting tracking of individual bur use. The system ensures hands-free sterilization, which further helps to prevent accidental exposure to the contaminated burs by the dental staff. This system also enables efficient inventory control of all burs purchased by the a practice by sorting them into easy to access restock and replace containers in each dental operatory.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of managing dental burs, comprising steps of: 
 (a) using a dental bur;    (b) storing the used dental bur; and    (c) providing an indication to a dental professional that is specific to the stored used dental bur that is indicative of the extent to which the stored dental bur has been used.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of sterilizing the dental bur prior to step (c).  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises placing the used dental bur in a storage carrier that is configured to store all burs that may be necessary for a particular procedure.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the storage carrier is further configured to store a collection of dental burs that is in conformance with the preferences of an individual dentist.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises placing the used dental bur in a storage carrier that is configured to store a collection of dental burs that is in conformance with the preferences of an individual dentist.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (c) is performed by providing a visual indication of the number of times that the stored used dental bur has been used.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising a step of manually setting the visual indication at some point after step (a).  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of storing a new dental bur that is of the same type as the stored used dental bur in a common storage carrier as the used dental bur.  
     
     
         9 . A method of managing dental burs, comprising steps of: 
 (a) providing a dental bur carrier that has been configured according to the preferences of a particular dental professional;    (b) removing a dental bur from the dental bur carrier;    (c) using the dental bur;    (d) returning the used bur to the carrier; and    (e) providing an indication on the carrier that is specific to the used dental bur that is indicative of the extent to which the used dental bur has been used.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step, performed after step (c), of sterilizing the used dental bur.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said step of sterilizing comprises steps of placing the used dental bur into an autoclavable container that is identifiable as being specific to the carrier.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the autoclavable container is constructed and arranged to be releasably secured to the carrier, and wherein the step of sterilizing further comprises detaching the autoclavable container from the carrier.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the autoclavable container is constructed and arranged to allow for hands-free sterilization processing of contaminated dental burs after completion of the dental procedure.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the carrier has identification means thereon for permitting recognition of a specific bur, and wherein step (d) comprises using the identification means to identify the bur and placing the bur in a predetermined location in the carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein step (a) comprises steps of collecting information on the preferences of a particular dental professional, and customizing the carrier for those preferences.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of collecting information comprises transmitting the preferences electronically.  
     
     
         17 . A method of customizing a set of dental burs in accommodation with the preferences of an individual dental professional, comprising steps of: 
 (a) recording information on the dental professional's preferences for a particular procedure;    (b) sending the information to a configuring facility; and    (c) configuring a dental bur carrier that is in conformance with the recorded preferences.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) is performed by recording the preferences on a printed form.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) is performed by recording the preferences electronically.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step (a) is further performed by recording the preferences via a modem connection.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step (b) is performed by transmitting the preferences via a modem connection.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (c) is performed at a manufacturing facility.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (c) is performed at a dental practice.  
     
     
         24 . A system for storing a plurality of dental burs, comprising: 
 a carrier having a plurality of sockets defined therein, each of said sockets being constructed and arranged to receive one end of a dental bur; and    indicator means for providing an indication to a dental professional that is specific to the extent to which at least one dental bur that is positioned in at least one of said sockets has been used.    
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said indicator means comprises a plurality of indicators, each of said indicators being specific to one stored dental bur.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said indicator means comprises means for visually indicating the number of times a particular dental bur has been used.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein said indicator means comprises a manually adjustable numeric readout.  
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein said indicator means comprises an electronic numeric readout and means for automatically adjusting the readout after a bur has been removed and replaced.  
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said carrier has a first plurality of sockets that are designated for receiving used dental burs, and a second plurality of sockets for receiving new dental burs, whereby a new dental bur will be available if it is deemed advisable to use a new bur in favor of a used bur.  
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 24 , further comprising template means on said carrier to aid in the proper identification of individual burs and proper placement of the burs in the respective sockets.  
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 30 , wherein said template means is customized to be in accommodation to the preferences of a specific dental professional.  
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 24 , further comprising an autoclavable used bur container for receiving used burs during sterilization, said used bur container being identifiable as corresponding to a specific carrier.  
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 24 , further comprising an autoclavable college plier that is configured to permit sterile removal of burs from the carrier without contaminating burs that are not used during a specific procedure, said burs having indicia provided thereon that is indicative as being identifiable to a specific carrier.  
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 32 , further comprising means for releasably attaching said used bur container to said carrier.  
     
     
         35 . A system for managing disposable dental burs in accommodation to the preferences of individual dental professional(s), comprising: 
 a carrier having a plurality of sockets defined therein, each of said sockets being constructed and arranged to receive one end of a dental bur;    template means on said carrier to aid in the proper identification of individual burs and proper placement of the burs in the respective sockets; and    indicia on said carrier that is indicative of specific dental professional(s) and procedure(s) for which the system is configured.    
     
     
         36 . A system according to  claim 35 , wherein said indicia comprises a color-coding.  
     
     
         37 . A system according to  claim 35 , wherein said indicia comprises a number coding.  
     
     
         38 . A system according to  claim 35 , further comprising an autoclavable used bur container for receiving used burs during sterilization, said used bur container being identifiable as corresponding to a specific carrier.  
     
     
         39 . A system according to  claim 36 , further comprising means for releasably attaching said used bur container to said carrier.  
     
     
         40 . A system according to  claim 38 , wherein said used bur container has indicia thereon that identifies said used bur container as corresponding to a specific carrier.  
     
     
         41 . A system according to  claim 35 , wherein said template means is removably mountable to said carrier.