Sustained-release matrices for dental application

• US 5,723,132 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Philbrook, Carl M., Tseng, Mingchih M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US08/467,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 15/104.94, 15/160, 15/167.1, 15/109.93, 132/162, 132/163, 132/313, 132/319, 132/401, 424/486, 424/487
• US Class Current: 424/401
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/00 Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water driven brush bodies A46B13/00; massage apparatus with liquid delivery A61H7/002, A61H2201/105; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by liquid carrying members in general, e.g. by pads B05C1/00, B05D1/28
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/001 with means indicating the remaining useful life of brush
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/43 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/43 Guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8135 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an acyloxy radical of a saturated carboxylic acid, of carbonic acid or of a haloformic acid; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers, e.g. vinyl esters (polyvinylacetate)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/86 Polyethers
• 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 sustained-release matrix for dental application includes either an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support resin.

Claims

1. A method of providing an indication of wear in an oral brush, comprising

brushing teeth with an oral brush comprising a body including a handle and head, a brush portion connected to said head, and a wear-indicator composite, attached to said body, comprising a water-insoluble support resin, a water-soluble polymer, and a colorant,

wherein during said brushing the wear-indicator composite contacts water, said water-soluble polymer dissolving in said water resulting in the release of said colorant from said composite.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said water-soluble polymer comprises polyethylene oxide.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said composite further comprises an anti-microbial agent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl alcohol.

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said support resin comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises chlorihexidene.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said brush portion comprises tufts of bristles.

4. A method of providing an indication of wear in an oral brush, comprising

brushing teeth with an oral brush comprising a handle and head, a brush portion connected to said head, and a wear-indicator composite, separate from said brush portion, attached to said body, comprising a blend of a water-insoluble resin and a colorant,

wherein during said brushing the wear-indicator composite contacts water, resulting in the release of said colorant from said composite.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said wear-indicator composite comprises a template between 0.5 mm and 4 mm thick and said template is inserted into said mouth wherein said oral brush is inserted into said mouth during brushing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said template further comprises a water-soluble substance.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said water-insoluble resin comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said water-soluble substance comprises polyethylene oxide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said water-insoluble resin comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.