Apparatus For And Method Of Applying Decay Retardant Compositions To Teeth

Abstract

Disclosed is a pliable support member which is substantially U-shaped so that it may be fit over a row of human teeth. One side of the support member is for carrying decay retardant compositions and may have a non-noxious adhesive coating thereon. The support member with its adhesive coating provides a vehicle for carrying and applying decay retardant compositions to teeth. The apparatus comprised of the support member and adhesive coating may be electrically conductive so that electromotive force may be used for enhancing ion transfer from an ionizable decay retardant composition to teeth being treated.

Description

The present invention relates to dental treatment and more particularly to an apparatus and method for applying decay retardant compositions to teeth.

Decay retardant compositions, such as fluoride concentrations, are applied to teeth surfaces for the purpose of reducing dental caries. The fluoride ions in the fluoride concentrations combine with the hydroxyapatite structure of the tooth to form a more dense tooth structure, thereby to reduce the ability of the decay mechanism to occur. In order for an application of a fluoride concentration to be most effective, the fluoride ions should be first moistened at the time of application, thereby the ion transfer is at its peak. Concentrations of fluoride ions which have been premoistened or which are in solution have shown a marked decline in ion action in cases where the fluoride ions were not used at the time of moistening or being placed in solution.

To properly protect teeth, decay retardants should be applied to the teeth, particularly children's teeth, several times each year. At the present time, parents must take their children to dentists to get this treatment. Unfortunately, trips to the dentist are not always convenient and cost time and money.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for applying decay retardant compositions to the teeth which apparatus is prepared for home use, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be preformed for fitting over a row of human teeth to be treated.

It is, further, an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for applying decay retardant compositions to teeth which is characterized by employing a pliable support member as a vehicle for carrying and applying a decay retardant to the surface of teeth.

It is, additionally, an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus which is suitable for applying active fluoride ions to the surfaces of teeth.

It is, also, an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus which employs a pliable support member as a vehicle for carrying and applying a decay retardant-dry gum composition to teeth which carries the decay retardant-gum composition in a dry state, permits the moisturization of the medicated side of the support member at the moment of its application to the surfaces of the teeth and is applied to the teeth by digital application.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for applying decay retardant compositions to teeth which is characterized by employing a pliable, electrically conductive support member which may have an electrically conductive adhesive coating on one side thereof for carrying and applying an ionizable decay retardant to the surface of teeth so that an electromotive force may be utilized for enhancing ion transfer from the decay retardant to teeth being treated.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide as an article of manufacture a medicated pliable support member having an adhesive side carrying a decay retardant-dry gum composition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel method for applying decay retardant compositions to teeth which is characterized by utilizing an adhesive surface as a vehicle for the application of decay retardant compositions to teeth.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a pliable support member, such as a piece of metal foil, appropriately cut so as to fold around a row of teeth. One side of the support member has a non-noxious adhesive substance thereon to provide a tacky surface. In order to apply a decay retardant to the surface of teeth, a dry decay retardant composition may be sprinkled on the adhesive surface of the support member. The pliable support member is then folded around a row of teeth with the medicated or impregnated adhesive side of the support member pressed against the front and back surfaces of the teeth being treated. Moistening the adhesive side of the support member prior to application enhances the ion transfer of the decay retardant and causes the support member to adhere more firmly on the teeth. Thus, there is provided a novel method and apparatus for applying decay retardants to teeth in which a pliable support member is used as the vehicle for the decay retardant application. Further, a medicated support member for treating teeth may be inexpensively and easily constructed by applying a dry gum-decay retardant composition to an adhesive side of a pliable support member, and the support member may be manufactured in a performed state for fitting over a row of teeth.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a flat, substantially U-shaped, pliable support member which comprises an apparatus for applying decay retardant compositions to teeth in accordance with the present invention, with the shape of a typical row of human teeth indicated by dashed lines superimposed on the support member;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a tooth and illustrates how the pliable support member of FIG. 1 may be applied to the tooth;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the tooth of FIG. 2 with the support member of FIG. 1 applied thereto for treating the tooth in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the U-shaped support member of FIG. 1 preformed for application to a row of human teeth.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a flat, pliable support member 1. The support member 1 is preferably made of tin foil but may be made of other suitable pliable materials. For example, the support member 1 may be made of other pliable metal foils; plastic, manmade or natural films; woven or nonwoven fabrics; perforated, porous or reinforced films; films lined with metallic conductors; and the like. The support member 1 is formed in substantially a U-shape so that it may be fitted over and applied against a row of teeth. The dashed line 2 shown in FIG. 1 indicates the shape of a typical row of human teeth and the support member 1 is appropriately cut so that it may be bent along its center and fit over the typical row of teeth indicated by the dashed line 2.

The upward facing side of the support member 1 has a non-noxious coating of adhesive 3 thereon while the downward facing side of the support member 1 is preferably not coated. The adhesive coating 3 may be applied to the support member 1 by spraying a rubber bonding agent which is non-noxious thereon, thereby a sticky or tacky surface is provided against which a decay retardant and an adhesive powder may be applied in combination. It is noted that in some situations it may be desirable to entirely omit the specially applied coating of adhesive 3 and apply the decay retardant-adhesive powder combination directly on the surface of the support member 1. In other situations, where it is desirable that the means used for applying the decay retardant be electrically conductive, the support member is made of an electrically conductive material and an electrically conductive adhesive coating 3 may be applied thereon. The decay retardant used is preferably sodium fluoride, but stannous fluoride, ureases, strontium chloride, zinc chloride, a tooth actuating material such as buffered or acidulated phosphofluoride sodium monofluorphosphate and other ionizable substances may be substituted for sodium fluoride. Further, any metallic ion conductive to decay retardation may be employed.

The adhesive powder which is mixed in a substantially homogeneous manner with the decay retardant may be a gum karaya although any suitable dry gum or dry denture adhesive could be used. The composition of gum karaya and sodium fluoride is preferably composed of 10 percent sodium fluoride powder and 90percent gum karaya. Other suitable proportions of decay retardant and dry gum could be employed, however. Also, a flavoring agent may be added to improve the taste of the fluoride-gum composition. The decay retardant composition is applied to the adhesive coating 3 on the support member 1 by dusting or sprinkling the composition on the tacky surface provided thereby. The decay retardant composition could be applied to the adhesive surface 3 just prior to application of the support member 1 to teeth or could be placed on the adhesive surface 3 at the time of manufacturing the exemplary apparatus. In the latter manner, the support member 1 would be sold in a finished state ready for immediate application to teeth. When sold in a finished state, the support member 1 may be preformed, as shown in FIG. 4, being bent along its center with its inside and outside edges extending in the same direction so as to form a support structure adapted to fit over a row of teeth.

FIG. 2 shows a tooth 4 in a patient's gum 5 with the support member 1 bent and being fit over the tooth 4. The adhesive surface 3 of the support member 1 is being bent inwardly against the front and back surfaces of the tooth 4. The adhesive surface 3 is the medicated side of the support member 1 since it is impregnated with the decay retardant composition.

FIG. 3 shows the impregnated surface 3 of the support member 1 pressed into contact with the surfaces of the tooth 4. In order to insure that the ionizable material on the surface 3 is in close contact with the surfaces of the tooth 4 the adhesive surface 3 may be moistened prior to application to the tooth 4. The moistening of the surface 3 insures close contact between the support member 1 and the tooth 4, and also enhances the ionization of the decay retardant composition applied to the adhesive coating 3. The adhesive coating 3 and decay retardant compositions are designed so that the support member 1 remains against or adheres to the teeth surfaces for a predetermined period of time. During this time, the decay retardant thoroughly bathes the moistened tooth surfaces, and ions, such as fluoride ions, combine with the hydroxyapatite structure for each tooth and in this manner reduce the ability of the decay mechanism to occur.

It is noted that suitable filler material which is neutral in the ionization process of the decay retardant may be added to the decay retardant-adhesive mixture to give this mixture a greater water absorptive character. Thereby a thick dry mixture is formed which when dry restricts ion activity of the decay retardant and which when activated by moisture, such as saliva, forms a mucinous or gelatinous material. The mucinous material formed is quite adherent to the surfaces of teeth and evenly distributes itself around teeth being treated so that all teeth surfaces are given an ion bath by the decay retardant.

In treatment of teeth in accordance with the present invention, it may be desirable to first bathe the teeth with an etch or tooth surface actuating material, such as acidulated or buffered phosphofluoride, to obtain maximum decay prevention. The acidulated or buffered phosphofluoride may be applied to the teeth by means of a support member 1. This application may be followed sequentially by the application of a support member 1 carrying a decay retardant, such as stannous fluoride or sodium monofluorphosphate.

Thus, there has been provided an apparatus comprising a pliable support member for applying a decay retardant composition to the surfaces of teeth. The pliable support member may have an adhesive coating thereon. The decay retardant composition may be applied to the adhesive coating either at the time of manufacturing the apparatus or just prior to applying the apparatus to teeth. The pliable support member used provides a vehicle for carrying and applying the decay retardant composition in this method of treating teeth with a decay retardant. Further, the support member and adhesive combination may be electrically conductive so that an electromotive force may be utilized for enhancing ion transfer from the decay retardant to the teeth surfaces being treated.

Claims

We claim:

1. An article of manufacture for applying a decay-retardant composition to the upper or lower teeth, comprising: a pliable support member of U-shape having a teeth-contacting surface adapted to be manipulated into firm and contacting relation to the upper or lower teeth of a user, said surface having a covering layer of non-noxious adhesive of tacky consistency deposited thereon, and a dry decay-retardant composition distributed over and adhering to the tacky material; said decay-retardant composition being selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, ureases, strontium chloride, zinc chloride and buffered or acidulated phosphofluoride sodium monofluorphosphate; and said decay-retardant composition being combined with a dry gum or dry denture adhesive before distribution over the tacky material, thereby restricting ion activity until moistening by saliva while in contacting relation with the teeth.

2. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said article formed by said support member and said adhesive coating is electrically conductive so that an electro-motive force may be applied to said article to enhance ion transfer from a decay retardant composition into teeth being treated.

3. An article of manufacture for applying a decay-retardant composition to the upper or lower teeth, comprising: a pliable, electrically-conductive support member of U-shape having a teeth-contacting surface adapted to be manipulated into firm and contacting relation to the upper or lower teeth of a user, said surface having a covering layer of non-noxious adhesive of tacky consistency deposited thereon, and a dry decay-retardant ionizable composition distributed over and adhering to the tacky material; said decay-retardant composition being selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, ureases, strontium chloride, zinc chloride and buffered or acidulated phosphofluoride sodium monofluorphosphate; and said ionizable composition when wetted by saliva applying an electromotive force to the adhesive surface in contact with teeth surfaces being treated whereby to enhance ion transfer from the decay retardant composition to the teeth surfaces.

4. The invention recited in claim 3, wherein said ionizable material has metallic ions therein which are effective to retard tooth decay.

5. The invention recited in claim 3, wherein the decay retardant composition consists of 90 percent gum karaya mixed with 10 percent sodium fluoride.

6. The invention recited in claim 3, wherein the decay retardant composition consists of a decay retardant mixed in a filler material, said filler material being moisture absorbing so as to form a mucinous material when moistened which is readily adherent to teeth surfaces.

7. The method of applying a decay-retardant composition to the upper or lower teeth which comprises: manipulating a teeth-contacting surface of a pliable support member of U-shape into firm contacting relation to the upper or lower teeth of a user; said contacting surface having a covering layer of non-noxious adhesive of tacky consistency deposited thereon, and a dry decay-retardant composition distributed over and adhering to the tacky material; said decay-retardant composition being selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, ureases, strontium chloride, zinc chloride and buffered or acidulated phosphofluoride sodium monofluorphosphate and combined with a dry gum or dry denture adhesive when distributed over the tacky material; and wetting the decay-retardant composition while deposited on the adhesive surface just prior to manipulating the contacting surface into contact with the surfaces of the teeth to be treated whereby the surfaces of said teeth are bathed by the decay retardant.

8. The method recited in claim 7, wherein: the decay retardant composition is ionizable and is applied to an electrically conductive adhesive surface; and including the step of: applying an electromotive force to the adhesive surface in contact with teeth surfaces being treated whereby to enhance ion transfer from the decay retardant composition to the teeth surfaces.