Dental evacuation mirror

Abstract

The present invention is a dental evacuation tool for being placed in fluid communication with a dental vacuum. The tool comprises a suction head and an elongated tubular handle. The suction head includes a mirror surface, first and second upward-facing intake orifices adjacent the mirror surface, and an exit fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with the first and second upward-facing intake orifices. The elongated tubular handle includes a first end adapted to be in fluid communication with the vacuum and a second end in fluid communication with the exit fluid pathway. The first and second upward-facing intake orifices are positioned generally opposite each other about the mirror surface, are generally centered about a line that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and open in generally the same direction faced by the mirror.

1 . A dental evacuation tool for being placed in fluid communication with a dental vacuum, the tool comprising: 
 a suction head including a mirror surface, a first intake orifice adjacent the edge of the mirror surface and having a center point, a second intake orifice adjacent the edge of the mirror surface and having a center point, and an exit fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with the first and second intake orifices; and    an elongated tubular handle including a first end adapted to be in fluid communication with the vacuum and a second end in fluid communication with the exit fluid pathway,    wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 45 to approximately 135 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway,    wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 45 to approximately 135 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway,    wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately one to approximately 90 degrees away from each side of their respective center points,    wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 45 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 5 to approximately 60 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 5 to approximately 30 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 80 to approximately 100 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 10 to approximately 15 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 5 to approximately 60 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 5 to approximately 30 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 10 to approximately 15 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 25 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the center point of the first intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a first direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the center point of the second intake orifice is radially offset by approximately 90 degrees in a second direction about the edge of the mirror surface from the center of the exit fluid pathway, wherein the first and second intake orifices radially extend by approximately 5 to approximately 30 degrees away from each side of their respective center points, wherein the first and second intake orifices open in a direction that is approximately zero to approximately 10 degrees from being normal to the mirror surface.  
   
   
       9 . A method of using a dental evacuation mirror comprising a suction head including a mirror surface, a backside opposite the mirror surface, and an intake orifice adjacent to the mirror surface, the method comprising: 
 placing the suction head in a first position within the mouth of a person, wherein the first position is between a cheek and a buccal surface of a tooth, and wherein the mirror surface is adjacent to the buccal surface and the backside abuts against and retracts the cheek; and    while maintaining the suction head in the first position, evacuating fluids and/or debris through the intake orifice without suctioning the cheek.