Dental apparatus utilizing fiber optics

TLDR: In this paper, a hand dental mirror is mounted on a head-like substrate with a reflecting surface thereon and a handle means secured to the substrate and connected to the second fiber optics cable.

Abstract: Dental apparatus having a case with a lamp mounted in the case and producing a focused source of light at a predetermined focal point. A socket assembly is mounted in the case in the vicinity of the lamp. The socket assembly has at least first and second openings therein with the first opening being substantially larger than the second opening. A first large fiber optics cable is provided and has one end mounted in the first opening in the socket assembly so that it faces the focused source of light. The other end of the large fiber optics cable is adapted to be positioned to provide general illumination of a predetermined area. A second small fiber optics cable is provided and has one end mounted in the second opening in the socket assembly and also facing the focused source of light. A tool is mounted on the other end of the second cable so that the second cable provides a beam of light to provide localized illumination for use of the tool. The tool can be in the form of a hand dental mirror having a headlike substrate with a reflecting surface thereon and handle means secured to the substrate and connected to the second fiber optics cable. The hand dental mirror includes means for causing substantially all the light passing from the fiber optics cable connected to the handle means to pass from the substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the reflecting surface and from a generally localized area with respect to the substrate.