Teething ring
First Claim
1. A dental device comprising:
- a liquid-permeable shell having a shape suitable for chewing or teething; and
a core inside said shell carrying a beneficial agent, said core being adapted to release said agent gradually.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dental device has a U-shaped carrier with at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth. The carrier has recessed insets in the channel. Discrete inserts carrying a beneficial agent can fit into the insets and release the agent gradually. When the device is used in a primarily therapeutic application, the inserts may be installed into all or less than all of the insets to form various insert patterns. Thus, different oral regions can be affected by different insert patterns. When the device is used as an athletic mouthguard, temporary blanks may be initially fitted in the insets, while a portion of the mouthguard is softened before an arch of teeth is pressed into the channel to make a custom impression. The inserts that are later installed in the insets possess different physical properties than the carrier and may be positioned and shaped to mechanically buffer teeth of the arch from mechanical shocks as well as release beneficial agents. The inserts may be replaced or refreshed to maintain the beneficial agent, which may be xylitol, remineralizing agents, moisturizing agents, desensitizing agents, flavoring agents, breath fresheners, chemical and biological indicators, nutraceuticals, antibiotics, probiotics, other medications and chemotherapeutics, or other agents.
47 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A dental device comprising:
-
a liquid-permeable shell having a shape suitable for chewing or teething; and a core inside said shell carrying a beneficial agent, said core being adapted to release said agent gradually. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A dental teething device comprising:
-
a shell having first and second opposing non-concave surfaces defining an interior region, wherein at least one of the surfaces includes a plurality of orifices configured to permit passage of an agent therethrough; a core disposed within the interior region of the shell; and an agent carried by the core adapted to be diffused through the orifices in the shell. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of soothing gums of a human, the method comprising:
-
providing a dental device comprising a shell having first and second surfaces and a plurality of orifices in at least one of said surfaces, wherein the surfaces are non-concave and the orifices are configured to permit passage of an agent therethrough, a core disposed within the shell, and an agent carried by the core adapted to be diffused through the orifices in the shell; chewing on the device to deform the core, thereby causing the agent to diffuse through the orifices in the shell. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification