System and method for whitening teeth
First Claim
1. A teeth whitening system, comprising:
- a heating module including a thermally-chargeable heat sink that is chargeable to a desired operating temperature by a heating source and removed from the heating source during a teeth whitening treatment;
a mouthpiece thermally and adjustably connected to said heat sink such that the rate and intensity of heat is controllably transferred from said heat sink to said mouthpiece; and
a heat-activated whitening agent disposed in said mouthpiece such that said agent contacts a user'"'"'s teeth, whereby when heat is transferred from said heat sink to said mouthpiece said agent is activated and whitens the user'"'"'s teeth.
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Abstract
A teeth whitening system including a thermally conductive mouthpiece that carries a teeth whitening agent and that is connected to a thermally-chargeable heat sink. The system controls the flow of thermal energy from the heat sink in order to provide thermal activation of whitening agent. The system may include a catalytically-enhanced teeth whitening device for receiving the whitening agent and promoting enhanced teeth whitening by the whitening agent. The teeth whitening device may be used with or without the application of supplemental heat or light for further augmenting whitening reactions of the whitening agent. The teeth whitening device may include a substrate that may be fabricated from a catalytic agent useful for enhancing tooth whitening by the teeth whitening agent. Alternatively, the substrate may be covered, coated, impregnated or otherwise contacted by a catalytic agent in an amount effective to enhance tooth whitening by the teeth whitening agent.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A teeth whitening system, comprising:
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a heating module including a thermally-chargeable heat sink that is chargeable to a desired operating temperature by a heating source and removed from the heating source during a teeth whitening treatment;
a mouthpiece thermally and adjustably connected to said heat sink such that the rate and intensity of heat is controllably transferred from said heat sink to said mouthpiece; and
a heat-activated whitening agent disposed in said mouthpiece such that said agent contacts a user'"'"'s teeth, whereby when heat is transferred from said heat sink to said mouthpiece said agent is activated and whitens the user'"'"'s teeth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
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providing a heating module including a thermally-chargeable heat sink;
charging the heat sink to a desired operating temperature by a heating source;
removing the heat sink from the heating source;
inserting a mouthpiece that is thermally and adjustably connected to the heat sink into a mouth of a user, wherein the mouthpiece has applied thereto a heat-activated whitening agent; and
adjusting the position of the mouthpiece relative to the heat sink to control the rate and intensity of heat that is transferred from the heat sink to the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A teeth whitening device comprising a substrate fabricated from a catalytic agent that is operable to generate active peroxide species that are useful for whitening teeth when the catalytic agent is contacted by a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent.
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13. A teeth whitening device comprising:
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a substrate;
a catalytic agent in contact with said substrate, said catalytic agent being operable to generate active peroxide species that are useful for whitening teeth when the catalytic agent is contacted by a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
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applying a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent to a teeth whitening device comprising a substrate fabricated from a catalytic agent that is operable to generate active peroxide species that are useful for whitening teeth when the catalytic agent is contacted by the teeth whitening agent; and
placing the teeth whitening device into the mouth of a user. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
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providing a teeth whitening device comprising;
a substrate; and
a catalytic agent in contact with said substrate, said catalytic agent being operable to generate active peroxide species that are useful for whitening teeth when the catalytic agent is contacted by a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent;
applying a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent to the teeth whitening device; and
placing the teeth whitening device into the mouth of a user. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
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providing a teeth whitening device comprising;
a substrate; and
a catalytic agent in contact with said substrate, said catalytic agent being operable to generate active peroxide species that are useful for whitening teeth when the catalytic agent is contacted by a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent;
placing the teeth whitening device into the mouth of a user; and
applying a peroxide-containing teeth whitening agent to the teeth whitening device. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification