Ergonomic dental tools

Abstract

A dental tool is disclosed that includes an operational unit, a neck region and a handle region, in which the neck region is S-shaped. The operational unit can further include a tongue retractor, a flap retractor or a combination thereof. A suction mechanism may be added for eliminating fluids. The neck region may further contain a lateral bend, a rotation of the working end or both. The proximal end of the handle region, opposite the operational unit, may further include any useful apparatus, such as a periosteal elevator or periosteal retractor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental tool, comprising:
 an operational unit;   a neck connected to a proximal end of the operational unit; and   a handle connected to a proximal end of the neck;   wherein the neck comprises a first portion connected to the handle and angled downward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle, and a second portion connected to the first portion and the operational unit and angled upward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first portion, a distal end of the second portion downwardly offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle, the second portion angled downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein the neck further comprises a lateral bend to laterally offset the operational unit to the left or to right with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction shaft positioned generally along a longitudinal extent of the operational unit. 
     
     
         4 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein the operational unit is a tongue retractor having a generally L-shaped cross-section and including a planar end that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein the operational unit is a retractor having a top face substantially parallel to a bottom face, the top and bottom faces separated from each other by a lateral sidewall providing a first thickness, a distal end of the retractor having a lateral extent of 2.5 to 10 times the first thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The dental tool of  claim 5 , wherein the first thickness is from 2 mm to 4 mm, and the lateral extent is from 10 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The dental tool of  claim 1 , wherein the operational unit is a substantially flat tongue retractor angled from 10 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle, a distal end of the tongue retractor having a width of from 10 mm to 40 mm, and a length of the tongue retractor being from 10 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A dental tool, comprising:
 a handle;   a neck connected to the handle, the neck comprising:
 a first portion connected to a distal end of the handle and extending distally along a direction parallel to a plane of the handle; 
 a second portion angled downward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first portion, a proximal end of the second portion connected to a distal end of the first portion; and 
 a third portion angled upward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second portion and angled downward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle, a proximal end of the third portion connected to a distal end of the second portion, the distal end of the third portion downwardly offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle; and 
   an operational unit connected to a distal end of the third portion of the neck.   
     
     
         9 . The dental tool of  claim 8 , wherein the neck further comprises a lateral bend to laterally offset the operational unit to the left or to right with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The dental tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a suction shaft positioned generally along longitudinal extents of the dental tool. 
     
     
         11 . The dental tool of  claim 8 , wherein the operational unit is a tongue retractor having a generally L-shaped cross-section and including a planar end that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first portion. 
     
     
         12 . The dental tool of  claim 8 , wherein the operational unit is a retractor having a top face substantially parallel to a bottom face, the top and bottom faces separated from each other by a lateral sidewall providing a first thickness, a distal end of the retractor having a lateral extent of 2.5 to 10 times the first thickness. 
     
     
         13 . The dental tool of  claim 12 , wherein the first thickness is from 2 mm to 4 mm, and the lateral extent is from 10 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The dental tool of  claim 8 , wherein the operational unit is a substantially flat tongue retractor angled from 10 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first portion, a distal end of the tongue retractor having a width of from 10 mm to 40 mm, and a length of the tongue retractor being from 10 mm to 50 mm.