Embodiments of teeth and gum treatment employing ultrasonic transducers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Embodiments of teeth and gum treatment employing ultrasonic transducers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

A piezoelectric device comprising: (a) a handpiece for holding by a user; (b) a cutting insert for said handpiece; (c) an ultrasound transducer disposed within the handpiece, the ultrasound transducer capable of providing first and second ultrasound frequency vibrations to the cutting insert in response to an electrical signal; and (d) a switch allowing the user to control the electrical signal and thereby provide either said first or second ultrasound frequency vibrations to the cutting insert.
The device is useful in a method of placing an implant into an implant site comprising cutting overlying gingival tissue at a first ultrasound frequency capable of cutting soft tissue, then switching to a second ultrasound frequency capable of cutting the underlying jawbone.

A piezoelectric device comprising: (a) a handpiece for holding by a user; (b) a cutting insert for said handpiece; (c) an ultrasound transducer disposed within the handpiece, the ultrasound transducer capable of providing first and second ultrasound frequency vibrations to the cutting insert in response to an electrical signal; and (d) a switch allowing the user to control the electrical signal and thereby provide either said first or second ultrasound frequency vibrations to the cutting insert.
The device is useful in a method of placing an implant into an implant site comprising cutting overlying gingival tissue at a first ultrasound frequency capable of cutting soft tissue, then switching to a second ultrasound frequency capable of cutting the underlying jawbone.

A method for preserving the alveolar ridge using partial extraction therapy. The method comprises de-coronating the tooth to leave a tooth root, de-coring a coronal portion of the tooth root to leave a tooth ring, severing an apical root portion of the tooth root from the tooth ring and removing the apical root portion. The tooth ring provides a ring of natural material that reinforces the coronal part of the tooth socket in the gum and reduces or obviates alveolar resorption.

An electrical discharge irrigation device includes a power source to produce power of a first voltage, a circuit coupled to the power source to convert the power of the first voltage to power of a second voltage where the second voltage is higher than the first voltage, a trigger to activate the circuit, an igniter coupled to the circuit to produce a spike, an electrical charge storage component coupled to the igniter the electrical charge storage component becoming conductive and storing an electrical charge after receiving the spike, and an output tip. The output tip includes an electrode and insulating material as an outer layer.

An electrical discharge irrigation device includes a power source to produce power of a first voltage, a circuit coupled to the power source to convert the power of the first voltage to power of a second voltage where the second voltage is higher than the first voltage, a trigger to activate the circuit, an igniter coupled to the circuit to produce a spike, an electrical charge storage component coupled to the igniter the electrical charge storage component becoming conductive and storing an electrical charge after receiving the spike, and an output tip. The output tip includes an electrode and insulating material as an outer layer.

A vibration-transmitting medical tool-coupling device includes a first coupling element and a second coupling element, wherein one of the two coupling elements is designed as a coupling protrusion insertible into a coupling recess on the other coupling element, wherein the coupling protrusion and the coupling recess each have a first section having a thread with at least one thread flight for releasable connection of the two coupling elements and one second section which is designed so that the two coupling elements can be positioned relative to one another and are displaceable along the shared longitudinal axis before the two coupling elements can be connected releasably to one another by the thread. A guide ring which extends around the coupling protrusion is provided on one end of the thread which is arranged on the coupling protrusion and the at least one thread flight of the thread ends at this guide ring.

A device for removing a file fragment lodged within a root canal of a tooth may include: a flexible shaft configured for insertion into the root canal; a plurality of prongs extending from the distal end of the flexible shaft; a concentric shaft slidable upon the flexible shaft and configured to contact and move the prongs into contact with the file fragment; and a device to create and deliver vibrations at an intensity configured to cause local melting of the plurality of prongs in contact with the fragment, for welding of each of the prongs to the fragment. Counter-rotation of the shaft and fragment may cause it to be dislodged from the canal. Prior to using the device, the root canal may generally be enlarged using a drill, and an umbrella drill is used to form an opening around the coronal end of the fragment to expose a portion thereof.

A method for performing an inferior lift in a sinus includes preparing an initial opening in a bone including a marrow section and a hard sinus floor, the initial opening being drilled through the marrow section to a depth just prior to reaching the hard floor of the sinus. A portion of the hard sinus floor is removed using a sonic drilling device. Subsequently any remaining doughnut shaped hard floor of the sinus is removed using a second tip on the sonic drilling device that has an active portion that is substantially limited to 360 degrees about the circumference of the forward direction of the tip but without any forward cutting surface, the second tip configured to remove bone only in the lateral direction of the second tip without substantial cutting contact with the marrow section of the bone clearing a widened opening in the hard sinus floor of the bone.