Dental device and method of use

Abstract

A prophy device incorporating a shaft and one or more corrugated members which eliminate the need for plastic gears of the prior art is disclosed. The corrugated members effectively transfer rotational energy from a shaft to an applicator. In another version, a flexible paste chamber contains polish within a housing of the device. A difference between a rotational speed at a front of the paste chamber and rear of the paste chamber causes the flexible chamber to contract on itself thereby automatically forcing polish from the chamber and into a polish applicator. A user dictates the amount of polish dispensed by controlling the rotational speed at the front of the paste chamber by pressing the polish applicator against the teeth of a patient. As the speed differential increases, the amount of polish dispensed increases as well. The design is simple and cost efficient such that the design overcomes many shortcomings of the prior art.

1 . An application device comprising: 
 a housing;    a rotatable shaft having a first end for attachment to a drive means and a second end attached to a corrugated member, said corrugated member further attached to an applicator holding means; and    an applicator to contain an application material, said applicator attached to said applicator holding means.    
   
   
       2 . The application device of  claim 1  wherein the housing contains one or more internal protrusions received by corresponding notches in the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The application device of  claim 1  wherein the applicator is a dental prophy cup for receipt of polishing paste.  
   
   
       4 . The application device of  claim 3  wherein the applicator holding means includes a button for receipt by an opening in the prophy cup.  
   
   
       5 . An application device comprising: 
 a housing;    a first rotatable shaft having a first end for attachment to a drive means and a second end attached to a first corrugated member    a second shaft extending between the first corrugated member and a second corrugated member, said second corrugated member further attached to an applicator holding means; and    an applicator to contain an application material, said applicator attached to said applicator holding means.    
   
   
       6 . The application device of  claim 5  wherein the housing contains one or more internal protrusions received by corresponding notches in the first and second shafts.  
   
   
       7 . The application device of  claim 5  wherein the applicator is a dental prophy cup which receives polishing paste.  
   
   
       8 . The application device of  claim 7  wherein the applicator holding means includes a button for insertion into an opening in the prophy cup.  
   
   
       9 . The application device of  claim 5  wherein the first corrugated member extends through an acute bend in the housing.  
   
   
       10 . An application device comprising: 
 a housing;    a rotatable shaft having a first end for attachment to a drive means and a second end attached to a flexible application material chamber;    a first corrugated member attached to a applicator retaining means, said applicator retaining means including a channel therethrough;    an applicator attached to said applicator holding means; and    an application material guide means for providing a path for said application material to exit said application material chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The application device of  claim 10  wherein the application material guide means comprises a disk member having a rod which extends into said application material container, said rod having one or more openings in communication with a channel through said rod and disk member.  
   
   
       12 . The application device of  claim 11  wherein the disk member is attached at a first end to said application material chamber and at a second end to the corrugated member.  
   
   
       13 . The application device of  claim 10  wherein the applicator includes a rotatable one way flap for providing an opening for application material to be forced into the applicator.  
   
   
       14 . The application device of  claim 10  wherein the housing contains two or more protrusions which are received by corresponding notches in the shaft and disk member.  
   
   
       15 . The application device of  claim 10  wherein the application material is polishing paste for teeth.  
   
   
       16 . The application device of  claim 10  wherein the applicator retaining means includes a button for receipt by an opening in the applicator.  
   
   
       17 . An application device comprising: 
 a housing;    a rotatable shaft having a first end for attachment to a drive means and a second end attached to a first corrugated member, said first corrugated member attached to a first disk member, said first disk member attached to a flexible application material container;    a second corrugated member attached to an applicator retaining means, said applicator retaining means including a channel therethrough;    an applicator attached to said applicator holding means; and    an application material guide means for providing a path for said application material to exit said application material container.    
   
   
       18 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the application material guide means comprises a second disk member having a rod which extends into said application material container, said rod having one or more openings in communication with a channel through said rod and second disk member.  
   
   
       19 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the second disk member is attached at a first end to said application material container and at a second end to the corrugated member.  
   
   
       20 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the applicator includes a rotatable one way flap for providing a passageway for application material to be forced into the applicator.  
   
   
       21 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the housing contains three or more protrusions which are received by corresponding notches in the shaft, the first disk member and the second disk member.  
   
   
       22 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the application material is polishing paste for teeth.  
   
   
       23 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the applicator retaining means includes a button for receipt by an opening in the applicator.  
   
   
       24 . The application device of  claim 17  wherein the first corrugated member extends through an acute bend in the housing.  
   
   
       25 . A method of applying a material comprising: 
 rotatably driving a shaft joined to at least one corrugated member, applicator retaining member and applicator, said applicator containing an application material; and    causing the rotating applicator to make contact with an item to receive the application material.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising two corrugated members.  
   
   
       27 . A method of applying a material to an item comprising: 
 rotatably driving a shaft joined to a flexible application material container, corrugated member, applicator retaining member and applicator; and    causing the applicator to make contact with an item to receive the application material thereby creating a difference in rotational speed between a front of the flexible application material container and the rear of the flexible application material container such that the flexible application material container contracts on itself forcing application material to exit therefrom.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the application material exits the application material container through a rod having one or more openings in communication with a channel through said rod.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the applicator is caused to make contact.