Apparatus and methods for cleaning teeth and root canals

Abstract

Various systems, method, and compositions for treating a tooth are disclosed herein. For example, an apparatus for treating a tooth is disclosed. The apparatus can include a chamber having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with a treatment region of the tooth when the chamber is coupled to tooth. A fluid motion generator can be coupled to the chamber. The fluid motion generator can be configured to direct fluid across the access port to generate fluid motion in the chamber. In various embodiments, fluid motion (e.g., vortices, swirl, etc.) can be induced at or near treatment regions of the tooth, such as a root canal or carious region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating a tooth, the apparatus comprising:
 a chamber having an access port which places the chamber in fluid communication with a treatment region of the tooth when the chamber is coupled to tooth;   a fluid motion generator coupled to the chamber, the fluid motion generator configured to direct fluid across the access port to generate fluid motion in the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean a root canal of the tooth when the chamber is in fluid communication with the root canal, the root canal having a central axis, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to direct fluid across the access port in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the root canal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean a root canal of the tooth when the chamber is in fluid communication with the root canal, the root canal having a central axis, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to rotate the fluid about an axis transverse to the central axis of the root canal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access port has a diameter that is at least as large as a diameter of an access opening of the tooth. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access port defines a proximal-most plane, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to direct the fluid substantially parallel to the proximal-most plane. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid motion generator is configured such that the momentum of the fluid is in a direction substantially parallel to the proximal-most plane. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to direct fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the access port. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid motion generator is further configured to generate pressure waves through the fluid having energy sufficient to substantially clean the tooth. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid motion generator comprises a liquid jet device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid jet device is configured to substantially clean the tooth using liquid that is substantially free of dissolved gases. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid motion generator is disposed along a wall of the chamber between the wall and the access port. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for treating a tooth, the apparatus comprising:
 a chamber configured to couple to a tooth; and   a fluid motion generator disposed in the chamber and configured to generate a rotational motion of fluid in the chamber,   wherein when the chamber is coupled to the tooth, the fluid motion generator is positioned outside the tooth.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is configured to clean a root canal of the tooth, the root canal having a central axis, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to generate the rotational motion about an axis transverse to the central axis of the root canal. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the chamber comprises an access port configured to provide fluid communication with the tooth, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to direct fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the access port. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the chamber includes an access port such that, when the chamber is coupled to the tooth, the access port is proximate an access opening of the tooth. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the access port has a diameter that is at least as large as a diameter of the access opening. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to pass a stream of the fluid across an access port of the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the access port defines a proximal-most plane, and wherein the fluid motion generator is configured to pass the stream of fluid substantially parallel to the proximal-most plane. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid motion generator is further configured to generate pressure waves through the fluid having energy sufficient to substantially clean the tooth. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid motion generator comprises a liquid jet device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid jet device is configured to substantially clean the tooth using liquid that is substantially free of dissolved gases. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid motion generator is disposed near a wall of the chamber between the wall and an access port of the chamber. 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating a tooth, the method comprising:
 positioning a fluid motion generator near an access opening of the tooth;   activating the fluid motion generator to pass a stream of fluid across the access opening of the tooth; and   generating fluid motion at a treatment region of the tooth.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein generating fluid motion comprises generating fluid motion in a root canal of the tooth. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein positioning the fluid motion generator comprises positioning the fluid motion generator outside the tooth. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the fluid motion generator is disposed in a chamber, and wherein positioning the fluid motion generator comprises coupling the chamber to the tooth. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein activating the fluid motion generator comprises generating rotational motion of the fluid in the chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein activating the fluid motion generator comprises generating the rotational motion about an axis transverse to a central axis of a root canal of the tooth. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the access opening of the tooth is in communication with an access port of the chamber, and wherein activating the fluid motion generator comprises passing the stream of fluid along a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the access port.