摘要 |
A dental abrasion arrangement includes a pressure vessel that has an inlet port (294) and an outlet port (111). A source (100) of pressurized propellant gas is attached to the inlet port and a dental abrasion tool (112) is attached to the outlet port of the pressure vessel. Abrasive powder is ejected from the pressure vessel and to the abrasion tool via a discharge assembly (270) and the outlet port. A feeding and metering auger (216) is mounted within the pressure vessel. The auger is mounted substantially horizontally within the pressure vessel. The auger is driven by a motor (230), so that the abrasive powder within the pressure vessel is fed to thedischarge assembly as the motor causes the auger to rotate. The rotation of the auger, and thus the feed rate of powder to the tool, is preferably adjusted by a controller (110), which controls the rotation of the motor, preferably according to pre-determined profiles that take into account parameters such as the geometry of the auger and the dental tool, as well as variables such as the internal pressure in the pressure vessel. The outer casing (210) of the pressure vessel can be made so small that it can be mounted on a standard dental tray (124), or on a supporting arm of a dental chair.
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