Accelerated method and instrumentation for whitening teeth

• US 20020155071A1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gerald Mclaughlin
• Original Assignee: Gerald Mclaughlin
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/119,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20020155071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/53
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0003 containing only one dose of substance, e.g. single-use toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/19 containing inorganic ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/22 Peroxides; Oxygen; Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses

Abstract

A composition for whitening teeth, using a bleaching compound and a catalytic activator, where the catalytic activator catalyzes the reaction of a significant portion of the bleaching compound within a short period of time. A method for whitening teeth by providing a bleaching compound, providing a catalytic agent, and combining the bleaching agent with the catalytic agent so that a reaction of a significant portion of the bleaching agent occurs in a short period of time is also disclosed. A device for whitening teeth, consisting of a toothbrush where at least one of the bristles contains a catalytic activator is also provided. The handle of this device has a reservoir for a bleaching compound and a means for dispensing the bleaching compound. Another device for whitening teeth, consisting of a toothbrush with a catalytic activator capable of catalyzing the reaction of a bleaching compound applied to the head of the device, is further provided.

Claims

1. A composition for whitening teeth, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a bleaching compound and a catalytic activator, wherein said catalytic activator is selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum salt, palladium, a palladium salt, and a cobalt-containing compound and is capable of catalyzing the reaction of said bleaching compound within about ten minutes of contacting said catalytic activator with said bleaching compound.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide.

5. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an abrasive agent.

6. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an agent for administering fluoride.

7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a gel forming agent.

8. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a palliative ingredient for periodontal tissues.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein said palliative agent is selected from the group consisting of aloe, eugenol, and vitamin E.

10. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an ingredient to decrease tooth sensitivity.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein said ingredient to decrease tooth sensitivity is potassium nitrate.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

14. The composition of claim 12, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

15. The composition of claim 12, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the catalytic agent catalyzes the reaction of a significant portion of the bleaching agent within about ten minutes of contacting the teeth.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the contact with the teeth occurs for at least three minutes.

12. A composition for whitening teeth, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a bleaching compound and a catalytic activator, wherein said catalytic activator comprises cobalt gluconate.

16. A method for whitening teeth, comprising

applying to the teeth a composition that is prepared by combining a bleaching compound with a catalytic agent, wherein the catalytic agent comprises cobalt gluconate.

22. A method for whitening teeth, comprising

applying to the teeth a whitening composition that includes a bleaching compound;

and

accelerating the whitening action of the whitening composition by mixing a catalytic agent with the bleaching compound, wherein the catalytic agent is selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum salt, palladium, a palladium salt, silver, a silver salt, and a cobalt-containing compound.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide and the cobalt-containing compound comprises cobalt gluconate.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide and the cobalt-containing compound comprises cobalt gluconate.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the catalyzing of the reaction of the bleaching compound results in the evolution of a gas.

26. A method for whitening teeth, comprising

applying to the teeth a whitening composition that includes a bleaching compound;

and

catalyzing the reaction of the bleaching compound by mixing a catalytic agent with the bleaching compound, wherein the catalytic agent is selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum salt, palladium, a palladium salt, silver, a silver salt, and a cobalt-containing compound.

31. A method for whitening teeth, comprising

providing a first container that contains a bleaching compound;

providing a second container that contains a catalytic agent selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum salt, palladium, a palladium salt, silver, a silver salt, and a cobalt-containing compound; and

mixing the bleaching compound and the catalytic agent immediately prior to applying the resulting mixture to teeth.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the concentration of said bleaching compound is from about 3 to 40% by weight of the composition.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said bleaching compound is selected from the group consisting of carbamide peroxide, carbamyl peroxide, sodium percarbonate, perhydrol urea, and hydrogen peroxide.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said bleaching compound comprises hydrogen peroxide and the cobalt-containing compound comprises cobalt gluconate.

35. A device for whitening teeth, comprising a compartmentalized container, wherein one compartment contains a therapeutically effective amount of a bleaching compound, and the other compartment contains a catalytic agent, wherein said catalytic agent is selected from the group consisting of platinum, a platinum salt, palladium, a palladium salt, silver, a silver salt, and a cobalt-containing compound.