Dental Curing Lights and a Seamless, Single Load Cavity Preparation and Filling Technique

Abstract

There are disclosed methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth, and dental matrices, dental wedges, interdental matrix stabilizers, dental separator rings, dental curing light devices, and kits that can be used in the methods for the restoration of a decayed portion of a tooth.

1 . A dental curing light comprising:
 an electrical power supply;   a first light guide in optical communication with at least one light source in electrical communication with the electrical power supply;   a second light guide in optical communication with at least one light source in electrical communication with the electrical power supply,   wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are connected to a housing, and   at least one of the first light guide and the second light guide are movable with respect to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least one of the first light guide and the second light guide is formed from a flexible material which retains shape in a bent condition. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  wherein:
 both the first light guide and the second light guide are formed from a flexible material which retains shape in a bent condition. 
 
     
     
         4 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  wherein:
 both the first light guide and the second light guide are movable with respect to the housing. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third light guide in optical communication with at least one light source in electrical communication with the electrical power supply. 
 
     
     
         6 . The dental curing light of  claim 5  wherein:
 the third light guide directs light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first light guide. 
 
     
     
         7 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  wherein:
 the electrical power supply and the light source are encased in a housing. 
 
     
     
         8 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first light transmitting tip connected to a first distal end of the first light guide; and 
 a second light transmitting tip connected to a second distal end of the second light guide, 
 wherein the first tip and the second tip are angled toward each other. 
 
     
     
         9 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first light transmitting tip connected to a first distal end of the first light guide, 
 a second light transmitting tip connected to a second distal end of the second light guide, 
 wherein the first light guide and the second light guide have a relaxed position in which the first distal tip and the second distal tip are a first distance apart, and 
 the first light guide and the second light guide have an outwardly flexed position in which the first distal tip and the second distal tip are a second distance apart, the second distance being greater than the first distance. 
 
     
     
         10 . The dental curing light of  claim 9  wherein:
 the first distance is about 4 to about 15 millimeters. 
 
     
     
         11 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first light transmitting tip connected to a first distal end of the first light guide, the first tip including a first tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the first distal end of the first light guide; and 
 a second light transmitting tip connected to a second distal end of the second light guide, the second tip including a second tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the second distal end of the second light guide. 
 
     
     
         12 . The dental curing light of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first tip includes a first light transmitting section extending laterally from a base of the first tip section, and 
 the second tip includes a second light transmitting section extending laterally from a base of the second tip section. 
 
     
     
         13 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least one of a first distal end of the first light guide and a second distal end of the second light guide includes an opening in fluid communication with a source of flowing air. 
 
     
     
         14 . The dental curing light of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first light tip having a first base connected to a first distal end of the first light guide, the first light tip including a first hollow tubular opaque body having a first aperture for emitting light, the first body comprising a flexible material which retains shape in a bent condition such that the first hollow body can be bent to emit light in a first selected direction from the first aperture; and 
 a second light tip having a second base connected to a second distal end of the second light guide, the second light tip including a second hollow tubular opaque body having a second aperture for emitting light, the second body comprising a flexible material which retains shape in a bent condition such that the second hollow body can be bent to emit light in a second selected direction from the second aperture. 
 
     
     
         15 . The dental curing light of  claim 14  wherein:
 an outside diameter of the first light tip tapers inward from the first base toward the first aperture. 
 
     
     
         16 . The dental curing light of  claim 14  wherein:
 the first light tip is removably connected to the first distal end of the first distal section of the light guide. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for the restoration of a tooth having a hollow cavity preparation in an interproximal surface of the tooth, the method comprising:
 (a) placing a light-curable restorative material in the cavity preparation;   (b) directing light from the first light guide of the dental curing light of  claim 1  at a buccal portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation; and   (c) simultaneously directing light from the second light guide of the dental curing light of  claim 1  at a lingual portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein:
 step (b) comprises bending the first light guide such that light can be directed at the buccal portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation and thereafter directing light from the first light guide of the dental curing light of  claim 1  at the buccal portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein:
 step (c) comprises bending the second light guide such that light can be directed at the lingual portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation and thereafter directing light from the second light guide of the dental curing light of  claim 1  at the lingual portion of the restorative material in the cavity preparation.