Dental instrument with a flexible tip end and method of manufacture
Dental instruments, assemblies, and components for a dental instrument are described with a two-piece tip that includes a flexible tip end and a stiff shank. Various methods of assembly are described for securing the flexible tip end to the shank including utilizing a slot in the shank and one or more pins inserted through the tip and shank, a securing material, and forming the shank with a distal portion coupled to a portion of the flexible tip end.
1. A dental instrument comprising:
a handle;
a tip attached to the handle, the tip including:
a shank including a distal portion extending along a longitudinal axis, the distal portion having an end surface and a slot having an opening along the end surface and extending rearwardly therein along the longitudinal axis;
a tip end having a rear portion disposed within the slot and a forward portion extending forwardly away from the distal portion of the shank along the longitudinal axis thereof; and
a material disposed within the slot between the rear portion of the tip end and the distal portion of the shank to secure the tip end to the shank;
wherein the distal portion includes opposed tapering side surfaces extending to the end surface thereof.
2. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a filler metal to secure the tip end to the shank with a brazing process.
3. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an adhesive.
4. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tip end comprises a foil.
5. The dental instrument of claim 4 , wherein the foil has superelastic flexibility at room temperature.
6. The dental instrument of claim 4 , wherein the foil comprises a Nickel Titanium foil.
7. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tip end comprises a spatula.
8. The dental instrument of claim 7 , wherein the forward portion of the tip end has a curved configuration and the rear portion has a rectangular configuration.
9. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a steel shank.
10. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the material provides the only securing mechanism to secure the tip end to the shank.
11. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends entirely through the shank in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis forming longitudinal openings along an exterior thereof.
12. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end surface extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the shank.
13. The dental instrument of claim 12 , wherein the end surface has a rectangular configuration.
14. The dental instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a cylindrical body, the tapering side surfaces having a parabolic configuration.