Method for cleaning the oral cavity
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning an oral cavity, said method comprising:
- a. positioning within said oral cavity a device suitable for detecting and removing plaque from a surface of at least one tooth of said oral cavity, said device comprising a source for emitting light,b. substantially simultaneously cleaning and irradiating said surface of at least one tooth in said oral cavity, said at least one tooth having applied thereto a fluorescent agent capable of binding to plaque on said at least one tooth, with said light of a wavelength effective to provide a fluorescent emission when contacted with said fluorescent agent on said at least one tooth,c. collecting at least a portion of said fluorescent emission over a predetermined first time period,d. determining an average plaque value (APV) based on said fluorescent emission collected over said predetermined first time period,e. comparing said APV to a predetermined plaque value (PPV),f. continuing to substantially simultaneously clean and irradiate said at least one tooth for a predetermined second time period,wherein reflected light resulting from contact of said light with said surface is collected essentially simultaneously with said fluorescent emission and said average plague value is a compensated average plague value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for cleaning an oral cavity by positioning a device suitable for detecting and removing plaque from a surface within the oral cavity having applied thereto a fluorescent agent capable of binding to plaque on the surface, substantially simultaneously cleaning and irradiating the surface with a light of a wavelength effective to provide a fluorescent emission when contacted with the fluorescent agent, collecting at least a portion of the fluorescent emission over a predetermined first time period (PTP1), determining an average plaque value (APV) based on the fluorescent emission collected over the PTP1, comparing the APV to a predetermined plaque value (PPV), and continuing to substantially simultaneously clean and irradiate the surface within the oral cavity for a predetermined second time period (PTP2).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning an oral cavity, said method comprising:
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a. positioning within said oral cavity a device suitable for detecting and removing plaque from a surface of at least one tooth of said oral cavity, said device comprising a source for emitting light, b. substantially simultaneously cleaning and irradiating said surface of at least one tooth in said oral cavity, said at least one tooth having applied thereto a fluorescent agent capable of binding to plaque on said at least one tooth, with said light of a wavelength effective to provide a fluorescent emission when contacted with said fluorescent agent on said at least one tooth, c. collecting at least a portion of said fluorescent emission over a predetermined first time period, d. determining an average plaque value (APV) based on said fluorescent emission collected over said predetermined first time period, e. comparing said APV to a predetermined plaque value (PPV), f. continuing to substantially simultaneously clean and irradiate said at least one tooth for a predetermined second time period, wherein reflected light resulting from contact of said light with said surface is collected essentially simultaneously with said fluorescent emission and said average plague value is a compensated average plague value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification