EMB
Every tooth has two anatomical parts: the crown and the root. The crown is the part of the tooth that is normally visible in the mouth (above the gumline), while the root of a tooth is the unseen part embedded in the jawbone (below the gumline). The gumline is a smooth surface cavity that separates the gum from the exposed parts of the tooth.
The Problem
Usually, dentists extract the tooth along with its root(s), yet sometimes the root tips may fracture during the extraction process. Additionally, when the tooth is damaged through accident or decay, the root fragments may be retained within the jawbone and gums, causing problems such as mouth infections and pain. On the one hand, the prevalence of retained root fragments is reported to be 11-37%; on the other hand, between 10-20% of extractions become “surgical” even though initially it has seemed possible to remove the retained root fragments without encountering any complications.
Our Solution
We recommend a practical and effective dental instrument to remove broken teeth roots and prevent operative and postoperative complications. Expandable Micro-Motor Bur (EMB) is a functional dental instrument used to remove broken teeth roots that cannot be extracted by routine methods. The device consists of a micro-motor, spacers, needles, bur base, a round bur that drills halfway through the root canal, expands to make a spherical cavity around itself, and acts as an efficient extraction-aiding anchor. The utilization of EMB would introduce a new technique in removing broken teeth roots by which surgical trauma and post-extraction disorders are minimized. Using EMB would also minimize the amount of invasion to the surrounding tissues, removing the need for intense pressure that the practitioner usually applies.
https://www.proquest.com/docview/2513322347/210AE9F6AA334905PQ/1
Details regarding the application method of EMB to remove a broken tooth root are schematically presented stepwise in Figure 1.
This procedure is done in 5 steps:
- Pre-operative: This step depicts a broken root stuck in its socket before the operation.
- Drilling: Using a micro-motor, a round bur drills approximately halfway through a root canal, similar to a conventional bur while spacers are on.
- Screwing: spinning stops, the micro-motor is detached from EMB; round bur is unscrewed from the bur base; spacers are loosened or removed (depending on the expansion degree required); round bur is placed back into the canal; bur base is mounted on micro-motor, with the help of a needle holder; round bur and bur base are screwed back. Round bur carves its periphery area, making a spherical cavity around itself. This step would take only a short while.
- Expansion: after the spinning stops, the micro-motor is detached while EMB remains in place. As the split round bur expands in the root canal, it acts as an efficient extraction-aiding anchor.
- Anchoring: The firm anchor eases the extraction of the broken root with the help of a needle holder.
- Extraction: the dentist extracts the root without complications.
RCD
Our Root Curve Detector (RCD) is a piece of a dental instrument designed to solve the issue of accurately determining the curvature and direction of the root canal.
Using RCD, the curvature of a root canal can be determined by taking X-Ray images while this tool is placed inside the canal, and therefore, a buccal or lingual curvature can be detected based on the changes in the RCD’s degrees.
RCD helps dentists to observe a forward or backward curvature that was not visible in X-ray images before due to the verticality of the radiographic images.
The Problem
A root canal treatment is a common dental procedure that treats the pulp of a tooth. The success of this operation depends on several factors, including, but not limited to, identifying and assessing the DL (Disto-Lingual) curvature of a root. Radiographic examinations are often used for this purpose; however, this method presents some major limitations:
- Creating a ‘shadowgraph’ produces only two-dimensional images in the process of compressing three-dimensional anatomical images.
- It is necessary to have a mesial and/or distal parallax view to get additional information that otherwise would be inaccessible due to the verticality of the radiographic images.
- Heightening the risk of an inaccurate diagnosis of the DL curvature of the roots because of their unique anatomical shape and X-ray imagining limitations.
Our Solution
Our product, “Root Curve Detector” or RCD, is a piece of a dental instrument designed to solve the issue of accurately determining the curvature and direction of the root canal. Our cost-effective solution is used together with the radiographic images to increase the precision of endodontic operation.
RCD is a calibrated product made from Nickel-Titanium that has a shape similar to endo files or spreaders. It has cross-sectional grooves that are created at equal intervals of 0.1 mm in a range of 6 mm starting from the beginning of its tip. Using RCD, the curvature of a root canal can be determined when taking X-Ray images by placing this tool inside the canal. A buccal or lingual curvature can be detected based on the changes in the RCD’s degrees.
https://www.medicalandresearch.com/journals/view_article/914