Prophy angle and adapter with guard

Abstract

A dental tool comprises a guard having a concave inner surface at one end and an adapter. The adapter comprising a nose, a monolithic ball portion having an integral neck, and a ball receiver comprising a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, where the concave inner surface of the ball receiver engages a convex outer surface of the monolithic ball portion, the concave inner surface of the guard engages the convex outer surface of the ball receiver, and an opposite end of the guard rests upon the nose.

1 . A dental tool comprising:
 a guard having a concave inner surface at one end; and,   an adapter comprising a nose, a monolithic ball portion having an integral neck, and a ball receiver comprising a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, wherein   the concave inner surface of the ball receiver engages a convex outer surface of the monolithic ball portion,   the concave inner surface of the guard engages the convex outer surface of the ball receiver, and   an opposite end of the guard rests upon the nose.   
     
     
         2 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a dental prophy angle received by the adapter. 
     
     
         3 . The dental tool of  claim 2 , wherein the dental prophy angle comprises:
 a housing; and,   a rotor disposed within a distal end of the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the concave inner surface of the guard includes a plurality of inwardly-extending ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein the greatest outer diameter of the guard is at the end of the guard positioned closest to the ball receiver.