An apex locator system constructed to enable visualization of an apex location at a vicinity of the mouth of a patient and more specifically on a lip clip, hand file and/or file clip of the apex locator system.

Provided is a lateral branch detection probe whereby the condition of a lateral branch can be detected merely by inserting the lateral branch detection probe to an apex. A lateral branch detection probe detects, after insertion thereof into a root canal of a tooth, the presence/absence of a lateral branch and the position of the lateral branch in the root canal axis direction, the lateral branch detection probe being provided with a plurality of measurement electrodes extending to different positions in the root canal axis direction at predetermined intervals. The measurement electrodes constitute a measurement terminal group in which each measurement electrode is covered with an insulator except for one end portion, and another end portion thereof is connectable to a detection-purpose power supply on a detection device side.

A dental instrument is designed to help facilitate the procedure of root canal therapy and can reduce the inaccuracies that are accompanied with using traditional methods of attaching an electronic apex location (EAL) to an endodontic hand file. The endodontic hand file can include an exposed window in the handle of the file that holds an extension of the main body of the file. The clasp from the EAL can attach to this exposed metal in the window of the handle. This new location for attaching the EAL to the hand file can provide an accurate measurement while removing variables such as file movement in the canal, stopper thickness, clearance from the opposing tooth. The endodontic hand file with its exposed window provides a safe, reliable and accurate way of using an EAL to measure the root canal length.

A dental instrument is designed to help facilitate the procedure of root canal therapy and can reduce the inaccuracies that are accompanied with using traditional methods of attaching an electronic apex location (EAL) to an endodontic hand file. The endodontic hand file can include an exposed window in the handle of the file that holds an extension of the main body of the file. The clasp from the EAL can attach to this exposed metal in the window of the handle. This new location for attaching the EAL to the hand file can provide an accurate measurement while removing variables such as file movement in the canal, stopper thickness, clearance from the opposing tooth. The endodontic hand file with its exposed window provides a safe, reliable and accurate way of using an EAL to measure the root canal length.

A handpiece having a root canal length measurement function according to an exemplary embodiment may include: an angle having a portion made of a diffusion material for diffusing LED light from the LED light source, the portion including one side provided with a root canal treatment file for removing dental pulp inside the root canal and for expanding the root canal; a lip hook provided such that same can be cradled on the subject's lips; a body portion electrically connected to the file through a first terminal connector, into which a first terminal provided on the other side of the angle is to be inserted, and electrically connected to the lip hook through a second terminal connector, into which a second terminal of the lip hook is to be inserted; and an LED light source for emitting LED light from one end of the body portion.

An intraoral optical probe is provided that includes a distal elongate optical waveguide for interrogating dental tissue. In some example embodiments, the elongate optical waveguide has dimensions suitable for the insertion of the waveguide into an exposed root canal. According to various example embodiments, the elongate optical waveguide, when inserted into an internal region of a tooth, can direct incident optical radiation from the intraoral optical probe directly onto an inner surface, such as an internal surface of a root canal, such that status of the root canal can be interrogated directly. The intraoral optical probe may be employed to provide intraoperative feedback regarding internal dental tissue, such as interoperative feedback pertaining to the interior of the root canal during an endodontic procedure, location of secondary or lateral root canals, location of the apex or tip of the root canal system and or detection of the pulp chamber roof or floor.

A dental treatment apparatus includes: a handpiece including a head that holds a cutting tool; a drive unit capable of performing forward rotation driving for rotating the cutting tool held at the head in a cutting direction, and reverse rotation driving for rotating the cutting tool held at the head in a non-cutting direction; an operation receiving unit that receives an operation of an operator; and a controller that controls the drive unit that drives the cutting tool, according to the operation received by the operation receiving unit. Only when a prescribed condition is satisfied, the controller sets the operation received by the operation receiving unit as an operation to drive the cutting tool by reverse rotation driving, or as an operation to drive the cutting tool by twist driving by which the forward rotation driving and the reverse rotation driving are alternately performed.

The present invention provides a root canal length measuring device including: a measuring module configured to include a file hook electrically connected to an endodontic file, and a lip hook to be connected to a lip or a gum; a control module configured to measure the value of impedance which varies as the file moves from the surface of a tooth toward the apex of the root of the tooth, and provide an image signal or a sound signal representing information on the position of the apex of the root and information on the length of the apex of the root; and a communication module configured to receive the image signal or the sound signal from the control module, and wirelessly transmit the received signal to a smart device in real time.

A device for measuring the length of a root canal of a subject is provided. The device includes a flexible sheath slidable over a dental handpiece head. The sheath includes electrically conducting wires for connecting to an apex locator. Also provided is a device for measuring root canal length that includes an endodontic file having a metallic element at the file end far from the end inserted into a root canal. The modified file provides a region in the metallic element for electronic attachment to an apex locator such that the rubber stopper may be moved along the entire file surface without interference.

A method for collecting usage data of an endodontic instrument. The method includes the following steps: acquiring data relating to the shape of a root canal to be treated; at regular intervals, acquiring data relating to the working depth of the instrument in the root canal; at regular intervals, acquiring data relating to the stress undergone by the instrument during work; and producing a database linking each data item acquired.