METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INCREASING BONE DENSITY IN THE MOUTH

• US 20130273490A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Orthodontics and Education Association, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bryce A. Way
• Inventors: Phan, Christopher U., Gelman Keiles, Dana Leigh, Johnson, Richard, WAY, Bryce A., Abatelli, Phillip, Mirzaaghaeian, Amin Hadi
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/008 using vibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2864 by ultrasonic or acoustic vibrations

Abstract

A dental device includes a mouthpiece configured to sit against occlusal surfaces of a patient'"'"'s teeth and a motor connected to the mouthpiece. The motor is configured to vibrate the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 and 120 Hz and an acceleration between 0.03 G and 0.06 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces.

Claims

1. A dental device comprising:

a mouthpiece configured to sit against occlusal surfaces of a patient'"'"'s teeth, the mouthpiece including a plurality of raised dimples thereon, each raised dimple spaced apart so as to approximately align with the center of some or all of the occlusal surfaces; and

a motor connected to the mouthpiece, the motor configured to vibrate the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 Hz and 130 Hz and an acceleration between 0.035 G and 0.100 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces.

2. The dental device of claim 1, wherein each raised dimple can be sized so as to place pressure on less than 50% of each tooth.

3. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the frequency is between 100 Hz and 120 Hz.

4. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the acceleration is between 0.05 G and 0.06 G.

5. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to oscillate between frequencies and accelerations.

6. The dental device of claim 5, wherein the motor is configured to oscillate between four specific settings, wherein the four specific settings are 60 hz at 0.035 G, 60 hz at 0.06 G, 120 hz at 0.035 G, and 120 hz at 0.06 G.

7. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is customized to fit the patient'"'"'s teeth.

8. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece includes a biteplate configured to sit against occlusal surfaces of a patient'"'"'s teeth and an extension configured to connect to a base, and wherein the motor is a counterweighted motor that is substantially in-line with a longitudinal axis of the extension.

9. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the motor is a pancake motor.

10. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a U-shape so as to extend over all of a patient'"'"'s teeth.

11. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to extend only over a patient'"'"'s social six teeth.

12. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to extend only over a patient'"'"'s molars.

13. The dental device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the vibration proximate to the occlusal surfaces of the patient'"'"'s teeth.

14. The dental device of claim 13, further comprising a controller configured to adjust the motor settings based upon the detected vibration.

15. A method of growing bone, the method comprising:

placing a mouthpiece having a plurality of raised dimples thereon over occlusal surfaces of a patient'"'"'s teeth such that each of the raised dimples approximately align with the center of an occlusal surface;

vibrating the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 Hz and 130 Hz and an acceleration between 0.035 G and 0.10 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces; and

repeating the placing and vibrating steps for less than 5 minutes per day for less than 180 days to achieve periodontal ligament growth around the teeth.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the frequency is between 100 Hz and 120 Hz.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the acceleration is between 0.05 G and 0.06 G.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein repeating the placing and vibrating steps for less than 5 minutes per day comprises repeating the placing and vibrating steps for less than 2 minutes per day.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein repeating the placing and vibrating steps for less than 180 days comprises repeating the placing and vibrating steps for less than 120 days.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising placing a retainer over the occlusal surfaces of the teeth between repetitions.