Interproximal toothbrush and method of use thereof

• US 5,609,170 A
• Filed: 10/27/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward S. Roth
• Original Assignee: Edward S. Roth
• Inventors: Roth, Edward S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US08/549,254
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 132/321, 132/322, 132/329, 132/200, 433/80, 433/215, 433/216, 15/167.1
• US Class Current: 132/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/00 Devices for cleaning between the teeth

Abstract

An interproximal toothbrush and method for cleaning, irrigating and medicating a sub-gingival region with the same are disclosed. The interproximal toothbrush has outer and inner V-shaped portions having outer and inner working surfaces which form intersections at the distal ends from the spines, and bristles extending from the intersections which clean the deeper portions of the sub-gingival region between the teeth and gum. At least one aperture may be provided in at least one of the working surfaces such that irrigation fluid or a medicating, antibacterial or other cleaning agent may be dispensed from the aperture and be guided by the bristles to the sub-gingival region.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a sub-gingival region comprising:

inserting an interproximal toothbrush into a periodontal interproximal region, said interproximal toothbrush having outer and inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material, where said outer V-shaped working portion has outer working surfaces intersecting to establish an outer spine, said inner V-shaped working portion having inner working surfaces intersecting to establish an inner spine, where said outer and inner working surfaces form intersections at the distal ends of said working surfaces from said spines and where bristles extend from said intersections; and

contacting the periodontal area between the marginal gingiva and the teeth below the gum line with said bristles.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said contacting occurs with shorter length bristles followed by bristles of gradually longer length.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said inserting an interproximal toothbrush is facilitated by holding finger grasp areas of a handle at the rear portion of said interproximal toothbrush.

4. A method of cleaning a sub-gingival region comprising:

inserting a guidance arc of an interproximal toothbrush having a pitched shape into a periodontal interproximal region, said interproximal toothbrush having outer and inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material, where said outer V-shaped working portion has outer working surfaces intersecting to establish an outer spine, said inner V-shaped working portion having inner working surfaces intersecting to establish an inner spine, where said outer and inner working surfaces form intersections at the distal ends of said working surfaces from said spines and where bristles extend from said intersections after said guidance arc starting with shorter bristles followed by gradually longer bristles; and

contacting the periodontal area between the marginal gingiva and the teeth below the gum line with said bristles.

5. A method of cleaning and irrigating a sub-gingival region comprising:

adding irrigation fluid to a hollow space between outer and inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material of an interproximal toothbrush, where said outer V-shaped working portion has working surfaces intersecting to establish an outer spine, said inner V-shaped working portion having inner working surfaces intersecting to establish an inner spine, where said outer and inner working surfaces form intersections at the distal ends of said working surfaces from said spines, such that said hollow space is provided between said outer V-shaped working portion and said inner V-shaped working portion and bristles extend from said intersections;

inserting said interproximal toothbrush into a periodontal interproximal region;

contacting the periodontal area between the marginal gingiva and the teeth below the gum line with said bristles; and

dispensing irrigation fluid from at least one aperture in at least one of said working surfaces to said sub-gingival region.

6. A method of cleaning and medicating a sub-gingival region comprising:

adding medicating, antibacterial or other cleaning agent to a hollow space between outer and inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material of an interproximal toothbrush, where said outer V-shaped working portion has working surfaces intersecting to establish an outer spine, and said inner V-shaped working portion having inner working surfaces intersecting to establish an inner spine, where said outer and inner working surfaces form intersections at the distal ends of said working surfaces from said spines such that said hollow space is provided between said outer V-shaped working portion and said inner V-shaped working portion and where bristles extend from said intersections;

guiding said interproximal toothbrush into a periodontal interproximal region;

contacting the periodontal area between the marginal gingiva and the teeth below the gum line with said bristles; and

dispensing said medicating, antibacterial or other cleaning agent from at least one aperture in at least one of said working surfaces to said sub-gingival region.

7. An interproximal toothbrush for cleaning and irrigating a periodontal interproximal region comprising:

(a) outer V-shaped working portions of flexible material which intersect to establish an outer spine;

(b) inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material which intersect to establish an inner spine;

(c) intersections formed by the meeting of the distal ends of said outer and inner working surfaces from said spines;

(d) bristles extending from said intersections,

(e) at least one aperture in at least one of said working surfaces,

where said outer and inner working portions and said intersections thereof are disposed so as to form a hollow space therebetween capable of holding irrigation fluid therein.

8. An interproximal toothbrush for cleaning and medicating a periodontal interproximal region comprising:

(a) outer V-shaped working portions of flexible material which intersect to establish an outer spine;

(b) inner V-shaped working portions of flexible material which intersect to establish an inner spine;

(c) intersections formed by the meeting of the distal ends of said outer and inner working surfaces from said spines;

(d) bristles extending from said intersections,

(e) at least one aperture in at least one of said working surfaces,

where said outer and inner working portions and said intersections thereof are disposed such as to form a hollow space therebetween capable of holding medicating, antibacterial or other cleaning agent therein.