摘要 |
There is provided an apparatus for pressing into place, in the sub-gingival area, packing to separate a tooth and the soft tissue, or sulcus, in preparation for carrying out dental procedures. In a first embodiment, a mechanically driven packing hammer is provided for pressing conventional cord packing into place. The packing hammer comprises a reciprocating drive, a hammer comprising an elongated shank operatively and directly, but removably, connected to the reciprocating drive, and a hammer head rigidly secured to the shank; the hammer head is secured to the shank end distal from the reciprocating drive. The end surface of the hammer head is concave and extends substantially transverse to the axis of the shank. An external guide, rotatably secured to the reciprocating drive at a first end, extends along the length of, and substantially coaxial with and surrounding, the hammer. The external guide means has an opening at the second end, distal from the reciprocating drive so as to permit reciprocal movement of the hammer end surface from a first position inward of the guide to a second position substantially coterminous with the second end of the guide. |