Dissolvable pulp chamber spacer

Abstract

A pulp chamber dental spacer constructed of cold water soluble material, which may include portions of polyvinyl alcohol, to protect the pupal floor of a pulp chamber from a drilled hole following a root canal treatment or procedure. The spacer may be spherical or cubical in shape and that protects the pupal floor by providing a solid “space” for a practitioner to feel the end of a temporary filing such that the drill does not descend to and possibly damage the sensitive pupal floor. The dissolvable material preferably is non-linting, thereby providing for complete removal and preventing the “wicking” of contaminated salivary fluids and causing coronal damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solid intra-tooth spacer configured to be larger than a hole in a de-pulped tooth and to be deformable for placement through said hole in said de-pulped tooth through which it is positioned, said spacer being composed of material dissolvable in cold water. 
     
     
         2 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a non-linting material. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a polymer composed of about 70-80% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol polymers. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material includes one or more of 5-10% cyanoethylated polyvinyl alcohol polymers, 1-20% acetalized polyvinyl alcohol polymers, 1% urethanized polyvinyl alcohol polymers, 50:50 polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone dipolymers. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a single-piece of material and is spherical in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer of  claim 1 , in combination with a tooth filing material. 
     
     
         7 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a single-piece of material and is cubical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said material further includes one or more of a medicament. 
     
     
         9 . The spacer of  claim 3 , wherein said material further includes one or more of a medicament. 
     
     
         10 . The spacer of  claim 4 , wherein said material further includes one or more of a medicament.