Dental appliance care kit

• US 7,458,464 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jesse L. Droesch, Kutsch V. Kim, Robert J. Bowers, Steven R. Folin
• Original Assignee: Jesse L. Droesch, Kutsch V. Kim, Robert J. Bowers, Steven R. Folin
• Inventors: Droesch, Jesse L., Bowers, Robert J., Folin, Steven R., Kutsch, V. Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US11/709,102
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 206/570, 206/571, 206/572, 206/581, 206/368, 206/369, 206/63.5, 206/823
• US Class Current: 206/570
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0091 Container, e.g. bag or box with a collection of various devices
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1073 Denture toothbrush, i.e. used for dentures specifically
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/036 Cleaning devices for dental prostheses removed from the oral cavity

Abstract

This invention comprises a kit of materials necessary for a patient to clean and maintain a dental appliance made of plastic resin. More specifically, the kit contains a special brush, a polishing paste, a gel for use under the appliance when worn, an oral care rinse to use with the appliance, a powdered material that is dissolved in water that becomes a solution that cleans and disinfects the appliance, and a plurality of protective cases.

Claims

1. A plastic dental appliance care kit for the regular cleaning and maintenance of a patient'"'"'s natural teeth and simultaneously maintaining the appearance of a removable acetal dental appliance comprising

a) a mouth rinse for a patient'"'"'s use while wearing the appliance;

b) a gel for the patient to wear inside of the appliance that provides decay protection and prevention to the patient'"'"'s teeth;

c) a polishing gel specifically designed to clean, protect, and maintain the appliance;

d) a brush to be used with said gel that is likewise designed to clean, protect, and maintain the appliance;

e) a powdered material, which when mixed with water dissolves and becomes an effervescent solution to clean and disinfect the dental appliance;

f) a plastic case to safely transport and protect the appliance; and

g) a carrying case to safely transport and protect the appliance and each of the components of the kit.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the appliance is selected from the group consisting of multiple unit temporary bridges, unilateral partial dentures, a removable occlusal overlay, provisional appliances, orthodontic removable appliances, orthodontic retainers, snore guard appliances, occlusal splints, night-guards, dental diet appliances, removable implant appliances and cosmetic appliances.

3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the appliance is a cosmetic dental appliance that is a thin, flexible, resin shell of perfect teeth that snaps over the patient'"'"'s natural dentition.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the oral rinse contains fluoride, xylitol, water, sodium benzoate, a ph adjuster natural flavors, ethanol, Poloxamer 407 and is colorless so that it does not stain the appliance.

5. The kit of claim 1 wherein the gel worn inside the appliance comprises water, a thickening agent, xylitol, fluoride, a pH adjuster, sodium benzoate as a preservative and antimicrobial agent, natural flavors, at least one natural oil, and Poloxamer 407 as a surfactant.

6. The kit of claim 5 wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, Carbopol®

, and silica, the pH adjuster is selected from the group consisting of, calcium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide, the natural oil is glycerin.

7. The kit of claim 4 wherein the ph adjuster is sodium bicarbonate, the thickener is hydroxyethyl cellulose, and the natural oil is glycerin.

8. The kit of claim 1 wherein the polishing gel that cleans, maintains and protects the appliance comprises alcohol, sodium laurel sulfate as a cleanser, hydroxyethyl cellulose as a gelling agent, and silica as a polishing agent.

9. The kit of claim 1 wherein the brush to be used with said gel comprises small, from about 3 mil to about 9 mil in length soft bristles that are made of nylon that clean, protect, and maintain the appliance.

10. The kit of claim 1 wherein the plastic removable dental appliance is made of materials are selected from the group consisting of acetal resin, acrylic resin, nylon, polycarbonate, styrene resin, vinyl resin and other thermoplastic resins used in fabricating removable dental appliances.

11. The kit of claim 1 wherein the powdered cleanser and disinfectant comprises citric acid as a reducing agent, sodium bicarbonate as an oxidizing agent, xylitol as a bactericide, potassium mono persulfate/potassium peroxomonosulfate complex as a bleaching agent, sodium benzoate as an anti-bacterial agent, and sodium lauryl sulfate as cleaning agent, and wintergreen extract as a flavoring agent, said powdered cleanser when dissolved in water becomes an effervescent material, which when mixed with water dissolves and becomes effervescent to clean and disinfect the dental appliance.