Dental tool and guidance devices
The present invention is directed to a system of devices and a method for preparing a tooth to receive a restoration. The system includes a dental instrument for removal of portions of a tooth in the mouth of a patent and an overlay for guiding the dental instrument during the step of tooth removal. The overlay is designed for temporary installation into the mouth of the patient to guide the dental instrument to remove tooth material. The overlay has one or more sets of guide walls, with a predetermined configuration capable of contacting one or more guide projections of the dental instrument, and a receptacle capable of receiving and attaching to the dental instrument.
1 . A system of dental devices for use with treatment of a tooth, the system comprising:
a housing including a main body and a connecting portion extending from the main body,
a dental instrument covered partially by the housing;
a plate extending from the connecting portion of the housing; and
an overlay device comprising:
(i) a tooth contacting surface; and
(ii) a cutting guide having a first slot defined by a first wall, a second slot located between the first wall and a second wall of the cutting guide, and an end wall extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the second slot extends through the end wall and is configured to receive the plate, wherein the connecting portion of the housing is configured to slide within the first slot of the cutting guide while the main body is located outside the cutting guide and as the plate slidably moves within the second slot of the cutting guide, wherein a width of the plate in a first plane is greater than a width of the first slot in a second plane parallel to the first plane;
a width of the main body of the housing in a third plane parallel to the second plane is greater than the width of the first slot in the second plane; and the connecting portion has a length substantially equal to a thickness of the first slot; and
wherein the dental instrument is movable within the housing, such that movement of the housing and movement of the dental instrument within the overlay device is limited with respect to the tooth contacting surface.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tooth contacting surface includes one or more sides for contacting portions of one or more teeth in a mouth of a patient to secure the overlay device with respect to a tooth.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dental instrument further comprises a hand grip and a tooth treatment assembly having a tooth treatment element configured for removing a portion of a tooth structure from a working tooth.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the tooth treatment element is disposed in an aperture that extends through the plate.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the tooth treatment element is a dental bur.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first slot is configured to limit a lateral movement of the connecting portion.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first slot is adjacent to the second slot.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second slot is defined by one or more parallel surfaces of the first wall and the second wall of the cutting guide.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls of the cutting guide are parallel to each other.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second slot is further defined by an interior edge surface of the end wall extending between an outer surface and an interior surface of the end wall.