Dental paste dispensing device and method of use

Abstract

A dental paste dispensing device having a modified dispensing end for atraumatic contact with soft tissue is disclosed. The dispensing device includes a needle having a dispensing end with a terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end includes an atraumatic modification. The modification comprises one of a non-metal coating on an outer surface of the dispensing end, a plastic tip member over the dispensing end, or a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental paste dispensing device, comprising:
 a metal needle having an attachment end adapted to be attached to a capsule containing the dental paste and a dispensing end with a terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end includes a modification for atraumatic contact with the soft tissue, where the modification comprises one of a non-metal coating on an outer surface of the dispensing end, a plastic tip member over the dispensing end, or a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the modification is the non-metal coating of a rubbery material. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the modification is the plastic tip member comprising a first inner channel engaged over the dispensing end and a second inner channel of larger size than an inner diameter of the dispensing end, where the second inner channel has a flattened oval shape in a static position and a rounded shape in a dynamic position. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein the plastic tip member further includes a pair of opposed sidewall bumps adjacent and protruding outwardly from the second inner channel for displacing gingiva during delivery of the dental paste. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the modification is the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge, where the decrease is non-linear to form a rounded terminal edge. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the modification is the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge, where the decrease is linear to form an inwardly slanted terminal edge. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a capsule for containing the dental paste, wherein the attachment end of the metal needle is attached to the capsule for receiving the dental paste into the metal needle. 
 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing device of  claim 7  wherein the attachment end of the needle is permanently attached to the capsule. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing device of  claim 7  wherein the attachment end of the needle is removably attached to the capsule. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an applicator body including a piston and a trigger mechanism for advancing the piston; and   a carrier attached at a first end to the applicator body and having a channel therein in which the capsule is positioned for engagement proximate the first end with the piston and having the metal needle extending from a second end distal of the first end for dispensing the dental paste from the capsule through the needle to the dispensing end.   
     
     
         11 . A dental paste dispensing device for dispensing a dental composition into a gingival sulcus, the device comprising: a needle having a dispensing end with a terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient mouth containing gingival tissue, wherein the dispensing end has a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface for laterally displacing the gingival tissue atramatically to permit the dental paste to be dispensed into the givigival sulcus. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge is non-linear to form a rounded terminal edge. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the decreasing diameter at the terminal edge is linear to form an inwardly slanted terminal edge. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an applicator body including a piston and a trigger mechanism for advancing the piston; and   a carrier attached at a first end to the applicator body and having a channel therein for receiving a capsule containing the dental composition, the channel positioned for engagement proximate the first end with the piston and having the needle extending from a second end of the applicator body distal of the first end for dispensing the dental paste from the capsule through the needle to the dispensing end.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing device of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a capsule for containing the dental paste coupled to the needle, and a piston for engagement with the capsule for advancing the dental paste into the metal needle toward the dispensing end. 
 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device of  claim 15  wherein the needle is fixedly attached to the capsule. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing device of  claim 16  wherein the needle and the capsule are made of different materials. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing device of  claim 16  wherein the needle and the capsule are made of the same material. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing device of  claim 15  wherein the dispensing end is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the capsule. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing device of  claim 15  wherein the capsule is made of a plastic material and the needle is made of metal and is removably coupled to the capsule.