Methods for making scalloped dental trays for use in treating teeth with sticky dental compositions
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for preparing a scalloped dental tray for use in applying a dental composition to a person'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining an impression of at least a portion of the person'"'"'s teeth and gingival margin;
(b) preparing a stone cast from the impression, the stone cast including a portion representative of the person'"'"'s teeth, a portion representative of the person'"'"'s gingival margin, and a portion representative of the person'"'"'s interdental papilla;
(c) forming the dental tray from the stone cast using a preformed polymer sheet, the dental tray having buccal and lingal sides; and
(d) scalloping the dental tray so that the dental tray is designed to cover the portion of the stone cast representative of the teeth while not overlapping the portion representative of the gingival margin and the portion representative of the interdental papilla.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses high viscosity sustained release dental compositions, such as tooth bleaching or fluoride compositions, for treating tooth surfaces. For maximum results, an improved dental tray having reservoirs for holding the dental composition adjacent the desired tooth surfaces is preferably used in combination with the sustained release dental composition. The sustained release dental compositions include a high carboxypolymethylene concentration which results in very high viscosity. The high level of carboxypolymethylene makes dilution of the dental compositions from saliva difficult and time consuming so that the compositions stay within the tray reservoirs, thereby providing sustained release. The concentrated carboxypolymethylene adds a unique tackiness to the dental composition which helps retain and seal the soft tray material against the patient'"'"'s teeth.
122 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a scalloped dental tray for use in applying a dental composition to a person'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining an impression of at least a portion of the person'"'"'s teeth and gingival margin; (b) preparing a stone cast from the impression, the stone cast including a portion representative of the person'"'"'s teeth, a portion representative of the person'"'"'s gingival margin, and a portion representative of the person'"'"'s interdental papilla; (c) forming the dental tray from the stone cast using a preformed polymer sheet, the dental tray having buccal and lingal sides; and (d) scalloping the dental tray so that the dental tray is designed to cover the portion of the stone cast representative of the teeth while not overlapping the portion representative of the gingival margin and the portion representative of the interdental papilla. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for preparing a scalloped dental tray for use in applying a dental composition to a person'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining an impression of at least a portion of the person'"'"'s teeth and gingival margin; (b) preparing a stone cast from the impression, the stone cast including a portion representative of the person'"'"'s teeth, a portion representative of the person'"'"'s gingival margin, and a portion representative of the person'"'"'s interdental papilla; (c) forming the dental tray from the stone cast using a preformed polymer material; (d) trimming the dental tray so that the dental tray covers the portion of the stone cast representative of the buccal surface of the person'"'"'s teeth up to within about 1/4 mm to about 1/3 mm of the portion of the stone cast representative of the buccal surface of the gingival margin; and (e) scalloping the dental tray so that the dental tray is designed so as not cover the portion of the stone cast representative of the interdental papilla. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for preparing a thin, flexible, scalloped dental tray for use in applying a dental composition to a person'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining an impression of at least a portion of the person'"'"'s teeth and gingival margin; (b) preparing a stone cast from the impression, the stone cast including a portion representative of the person'"'"'s teeth and a portion representative of the person'"'"'s gingival margin; (c) forming the dental tray from the stone cast using a preformed flexible vinyl material; and (d) scalloping the dental tray so that the dental tray is designed to cover the portion of the stone cast representative of the teeth while not overlapping the portion representative of the gingival margin and the portion representative of the interdental papilla. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification