Dental Separator Device

Abstract

A dental separator device includes an elastic body having a first end and a second end. A first surface engager is connected to the first end of the body. The first surface engager includes a first distal section and a first mesial section and a notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section. The first distal section and the first mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. A second surface engager is connected to the second end of the body. The second surface engager includes a second distal section and a second mesial section, and a notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section. The second distal section and the second mesial section each include a pair of spaced apart hands. The hands are for engaging teeth and/or for creating adaptation pressure on a dental matrix stabilizer and/or dental matrix.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separator device for separating teeth and/or for creating adaptation pressure on an interproximal dental matrix stabilizer and/or a dental matrix, the separator device comprising:
 an elastic body having a first end and an opposed second end spaced from the first end;   a first surface engager connected to the first end of the body, the first surface engager including a first distal section and a first mesial section, the first surface engager including a notch or material weakness between the first distal section and the first mesial section, the first distal section including a first portion, a second portion, and a notch or material weakness between the first portion and the second portion; and   a second surface engager connected to the second end of the body, the second surface engager including a second distal section and a second mesial section, the second surface engager including a notch or material weakness between the second distal section and the second mesial section.   
     
     
         2 . The separator device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first distal section of the first surface engager includes a notch between the first portion and the second portion, and 
 the notch between the first portion and the second portion opens toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         3 . The separator device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first mesial section includes a third portion, a fourth portion, and a notch or material weakness between the third portion and the fourth portion. 
 
     
     
         4 . The separator device of  claim 3  wherein:
 the second distal section includes a fifth portion, a sixth portion, and a notch or material weakness between the fifth portion and the sixth portion. 
 
     
     
         5 . The separator device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second distal section of the second surface engager includes a notch between the fifth portion and the sixth portion, and 
 the notch between the fifth portion and the sixth portion opens toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         6 . The separator device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the second mesial section includes a seventh portion, an eighth portion, and a notch or material weakness between the seventh portion and the eighth portion. 
 
     
     
         7 . The separator device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the body has three reference axes defined in relation to the body, a first reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a front to rear reference line of the body, a second reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a side to side reference line of the body, and a third reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a top to bottom reference line of the body, and 
 the notch or material weakness between the first distal section and the first mesial section and the notch or material weakness between the first portion and the second portion allows motion of the first portion and the second portion in all three axes. 
 
     
     
         8 . The separator device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the notch between the first portion and the second portion faces toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         9 . The separator device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the body has three reference axes defined in relation to the body, a first reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a front to rear reference line of the body, a second reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a side to side reference line of the body, and a third reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a top to bottom reference line of the body, and 
 the notch or material weakness between the first distal section and the first mesial section and the notch or material weakness between the third portion and the fourth portion allows motion of the third portion and the fourth portion in all three axes. 
 
     
     
         10 . The separator device of  claim 9  wherein:
 the notch between the third portion and the fourth portion faces toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         11 . The separator device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the body has three reference axes defined in relation to the body, a first reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a front to rear reference line of the body, a second reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a side to side reference line of the body, and a third reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a top to bottom reference line of the body, and 
 the notch or material weakness between the second distal section and the second mesial section and the notch or material weakness between the fifth portion and the sixth portion allows motion of the fifth portion and the sixth portion in all three axes. 
 
     
     
         12 . The separator device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the notch between the fifth portion and the sixth portion faces toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         13 . The separator device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the body has three reference axes defined in relation to the body, a first reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a front to rear reference line of the body, a second reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a side to side reference line of the body, and a third reference axis of the three reference axes defined by a top to bottom reference line of the body, and 
 the notch or material weakness between the second distal section and the second mesial section and the notch or material weakness between the seventh portion and the eighth portion allows motion of the seventh portion and the eighth portion in all three axes. 
 
     
     
         14 . The separator device of  claim 13  wherein:
 the notch between the seventh portion and the eighth portion faces toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         15 . The separator device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first surface engager includes a notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section, and 
 the notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section opens toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         16 . The separator device of  claim 15  wherein:
 the second surface engager includes a notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section, and 
 the notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section opens toward gingival when the separator device is positioned to separate the teeth. 
 
     
     
         17 . The separator device of  claim 16  wherein:
 the notch between the first distal section and the first mesial section extends from a first side of the first surface engager to an opposite second side of the first surface engager, and 
 the notch between the second distal section and the second mesial section extends from a first side of the second surface engager to an opposite second side of the second surface engager. 
 
     
     
         18 . The separator device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second elastic body having a first end and an opposed second end spaced from the first end of the second elastic body, 
 wherein the first surface engager is connected to the first end of the second elastic body, and 
 wherein the second surface engager is connected to the second end of the second elastic body. 
 
     
     
         19 . The separator device of  claim 18  wherein:
 the first surface engager comprises a first overmold of resin over the elastic body and the second elastic body, and 
 the second surface engager comprises a second overmold of resin over the elastic body and the second elastic body. 
 
     
     
         20 . The separator device of  claim 18  wherein:
 the elastic body is arcuate, and 
 the second elastic body is arcuate, and 
 the elastic body and the second elastic body are concentric.