Dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly

Abstract

A dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly for cleaning and polishing teeth is provided. The dental prophylaxis angle is removably attached to the dental handpiece by an interlocking mechanism that includes extension locking tabs, a locking annular member, and an interlocking drive member in the handpiece. The prophy angle is securely snap-fitted onto the handpiece and locked in place so that it has minimal lateral movement. After the prophy angle has been used to treat a patient, it can be removed easily from the handpiece and disposed thereof.

1 . A dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly, comprising:
 a dental prophy angle having a driven gear and a driving gear, and   a handpiece comprising a drive member located toward a forward-facing tubular nose portion of the handpiece,   wherein the driving gear of the dental prophy angle is fitted into the drive member of the handpiece such that upon breakage of the driving gear during usage of the assembly, the broken driving gear is removed from the drive member without disassembling the handpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the driven gear of the prophy angle is angled at 90 degrees with respect to the axis of the driving gear of the prophy angle. 
     
     
         3 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the driven gear of the prophy angle is angled at an angle in a range of from about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees with respect to the axis of the driving gear of the prophy angle. 
     
     
         4 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the axis is angled at an angle of 108 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the driven gear and driving gear of the prophy angle each include beveled gear teeth such that the gear teeth of the driven gear and the gear teeth of the driving gear can intermesh together. 
     
     
         6 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the gear teeth of the driven gear and driving gear are staggered in relation to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a head member of the prophy angle includes a hinged closure. 
     
     
         8 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the hinged closure is secured to the prophy angle by locking detents on the head member that snap into slots in the hinged closure. 
     
     
         9 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the prophy angle includes a handle portion at its distal end, the handle portion having a textured external surface. 
     
     
         10 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a prophylaxis cup is supported by the driven gear of the prophy angle. 
     
     
         11 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a prophylaxis brush cup is supported by the driven gear of the prophy angle. 
     
     
         12 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a nose portion of the dental handpiece includes nesting surfaces such that locking extensions located on a distal end of the prophy angle mate with the nesting surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the prophy angle includes locking recessions and a nose portion of the dental handpiece includes nesting surfaces, wherein the locking recessions and the nesting surfaces are complementary-shaped such that the locking recessions of the prophy angle mate with the nesting surfaces of the dental handpiece. 
     
     
         14 . A dental handpiece, comprising:
 a forward-facing tubular nose portion and a rear-facing handle portion, the nose portion including a central aperture having a drive member therein for removably receiving a drive shaft of a prophy angle and a locking annular member for engaging the prophy angle in place,   wherein the drive member is configured such that it does not forcibly grasp the drive shaft of a prophy angle.   
     
     
         15 . The dental handpiece of  claim 14 , wherein a nose portion of the dental handpiece includes nesting surfaces such that locking extensions located on a distal end of a prophy angle mate with the nesting surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The dental handpiece of  claim 14 , wherein a nose portion of the dental handpiece includes nesting surfaces such that the nesting surfaces mate with locking recessions located at a distal end of a prophy angle. 
     
     
         17 . A method of repairing a dental handpiece and prophy angle assembly, comprising inverting the dental handpiece so that a damaged driving gear of the prophy angle is removed from the dental handpiece.