Apparatus and methods for treating root canals of teeth

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for endodontic treatment of teeth provide effective cleaning of organic material (such as pulp and diseased tissue) from the root canal system. In an embodiment, a compressor system generates high pressure liquid (e.g., water) that flows through an orifice to produce a high-velocity collimated jet of liquid. The high-velocity jet is directed toward a surface of a tooth, for example, an exposed dentinal surface, and impingement of the jet onto the surface generates an acoustic wave that propagates throughout the tooth. The acoustic wave effectively detaches organic material from dentinal surfaces and tubules. The detached organic material is flushed from the root canal system by the liquid jet and/or by additional irrigation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing organic material from a root canal of a tooth, comprising a liquid jet assembly having a liquid pressurization portion which pressurizes a liquid and a liquid beam forming portion in fluid communication with the pressurization portion, said beam forming portion comprising an orifice that receives the pressurized liquid, said orifice sized and shaped to convert the pressurized liquid into a high velocity collimated beam that produces an acoustic wave upon impact with a surface of the tooth, the energy of said wave causing organic material within the canal to be detached from the surrounding dentinal surface along a length of the canal extending at least to an apical portion of the tooth.