Method of simultaneously cleaning and whitening teeth

• US 9,101,438 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oraceutical LLC
• Original Assignee: Oraceutical LLC
• Inventors: Montgomery, R. Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Hao D
• Application Number:
  US13/656,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20130164710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,025 Days
• Field of Search: 433/215, 433/216, 433/217.1, 424 49- 58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/00 Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses instruments acting like a sandblast machine A61C3/025; tooth polishing discs or holders therefor A61C3/06; devices for cleaning between the teeth A61C15/00; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/005 Devices for dental prophylaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/06 Implements for therapeutic treatment radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/06 Tooth grinding or polishing discs; Holders therefor prophylactic cups A61C17/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/88 Two- or multipart kits
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/22 Peroxides; Oxygen; Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8152 Homopolymers or copolymers of esters, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid esters; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8164 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 a carboxyl radical, and containing at least one other carboxyl radical in the molecule, or of salts, anhydrides, esters, amides, imides or nitriles thereof; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers, e.g. poly (methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• 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

Compositions and methods for whitening the teeth of a patient or subject are described for performing a dental prophylaxis or cleaning procedure during which at least one tooth whitening composition is applied to the surface of a stained tooth, said compositions and methods resulting in a tooth color change that is noticeable to the patient or subject immediately following the procedure. The novel procedure allows for a high degree of tooth whitening to be safely achieved in a short period of time while under the control of a dentist, dental hygienist, or other dental professional, and which at least partially coincides with the performance of a dental prophylaxis or cleaning procedure in order to save significant clinical operatory chair time compared to cleaning and whitening procedures that are performed in non-overlapping time frames or appointments.

Claims

1. A method for performing an improved dental prophylaxis procedure incorporating tooth whitening, the method comprising:

applying an oxidizing agent to one or more teeth in an oral cavity to be cleaned and scaled during a dental prophylaxis;

thereafter applying a sealant composition to the one or more teeth with the oxidizing agent in place, wherein the sealant composition will resist moisture contamination of the oxidizing agent;

performing a dental prophylaxis by cleaning and scaling teeth in the oral cavity, including the one or more teeth having the oxidizing agent and sealant composition in place, in proximity to at least one of a gum line, gingival margin, and crevicular space while avoiding excessive disruption of the sealant composition; and

removing the sealant composition by polishing teeth in the oral cavity after performing the dental prophylaxis step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a liquid conditioning composition including a fluid carrier and at least one tooth conditioner for removing acquired pellicle from teeth surfaces prior to applying the oxidizing agent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid conditioning composition is separate from the oxidizing agent and the at least one tooth conditioner is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, EDTA, phytic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1′

-diphosphonic acid, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fluid carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, diethyl ether, methoxypropane, dimethyl isosorbide, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition includes a fluid carrier and at least one water resistant polymer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fluid carrier has an evaporation rate equal to or greater than an evaporation rate of water.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one water resistant polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylate polymers, methacrylate polymers, modified cellulosic polymers, silicone polymers, urethane polymers, polyamide polymers, vinyl polymers, vinyl pyrrolidone polymers, maleic anhydride or itaconic acid polymers, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition is curable and is applied to the one or more teeth in an uncured state and the method further comprises curing the sealant composition before performing the dental prophylaxis step.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying energy from an external source to the one or more teeth after applying the oxidizing agent.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic, light, sound, ultrasound, mechanical, vibration, electrical, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the oxidizing agent transmits light and the method comprises a further step of exposing the one or more teeth with the oxidizing agent in place to light energy before applying the sealant composition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sealant composition is curable by exposure to light energy.