Importance

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Abstract

A plastic, disposable, easy-to-assemble dental angle is provided. The angle includes a one-piece hollow body having a head at its front end which is angled with respect to the body. Both the head and the body have a bore therethrough. The head has an aperture which is centered with respect to the bore of the body to allow insertion of a drive gear through the head of the angle. A driven gear is inserted in the head from above. A snap cap fits within the head over the driven gear to lock both the drive gear and the driven gear in the angle. A sheath on the cap covers the aperture. A latch on the cap is received in the aperture to lock the cap to the head to hold the angle together. An elongated slot in the body permits the body to be force-fit on a dental handpiece. In one embodiment, the length of the angle is shortened so that the thrust load produced during use is carried by a rolling contact in the handpiece to which the angle is secured, rather than by a sliding, friction-producing, contact between the drive gear's shaft and the surfaces of the angle itself.

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First Claim