Method and apparatus for tooth whitening

Abstract

Preconditioning mouth rinse, which pre-treats the teeth to better receive a whitening formula containing a photosensitive compound, and a hand-held consumer light source for tooth whitening, which provides rapid tooth whitening, are disclosed. The light source may use a specific range of visible light and also emit heat sufficient to raise the temperature of the teeth a desired amount at a depth up to about 2 mm in the range of about from 1-5° Celsius over a predetermined period of time. The specified wavelengths of the hand-held consumer operable light will activate the photosensitive substance in the whitening formula. The oxidizing compounds may be transparent to light enabling light energy to activate the oxidizing compounds directly on the tooth surface, or to activate a photosensitizing or photosensitive compound added to produce the desired temperature increase.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of Application No. PCT / US2004 / 010953 to Philp, Jr. et al., filed 20 Apr. 2004, which claims the priority of Application No. PCT / US2003 / 017631 to Brown, Jr. et al., filed 5 Jun. 2003, and this application claims the priority of U.S. patent application No. 60 / 524,861 to Philp, Jr. et al., filed 26 Nov. 2003, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference. [0002] This application relates to applicant's concurrently filed Application No. [applicant's ref. 7273-US], entitled “Method for Whitening Teeth”, filed Dec. 5, 2005, and which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0003] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for achieving rapid tooth whitening, which is usable by a consumer. In particular, the invention relates to a preconditioning mouth rinse, which prepares teeth to receive the whitening formula, a whitening compound, which is directly applied onto teeth and which ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0037] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a tooth whitening system, which is self-regulating and avoids overheating of the user's teeth being whitened, for example.

[0039] It is an object of this invention to provide a tooth whitening system, the action of which is accelerated by light-and-heat energy, which the consumer can use at home, thereby being more cost-effective than in-office teeth whitening regimes.

[0040] It is a further object of this invention to provide a tooth whitening system, which shortens the treatment time to obtain a given level of whitening using at-home paint-on whitening products or bleaching tray regimes.

[0042] It is yet another object of this invention to use a solution or gel with a concentration of peroxide which will reduce or eliminate irritation of the patient's tissues making it better and more comfortable for the patient.

[0045] It is a further object of this invention that the light / heat source of light be controlled so as not to exceed a 5° C. increase in temperature no matter how long the consumer applies the light / heat source to the surfaces of the anterior teeth.

Problems solved by technology

Intrinsic staining is not removable by mechanical methods of tooth cleaning and generally requires the use of chemicals, for example strong oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide which can penetrate into the tooth structure to effect a change in the light absorbtivity of the stain chromogen and / or the solubility of the chromogens.

This approach can cause tooth sensitivity in over 50% of the patients, and it can be uncomfortable for the patients to wear the tooth bleaching trays.

This approach also has the disadvantage of being awkward for patients to wear, and many patients wearing the strips, also experience tooth sensitivity.

Further, the strips have an inherent problem of contacting the teeth only on the facial surfaces and most of the staining occurs in between the teeth in the interproximal areas where in can be difficult to place the strip, having it in contact with the tooth.

In products, which are gels containing glycerin and / or propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol, tooth sensitivity can be experienced, and the gels can easily be removed by the lips and tongue, thereby decreasing their effectiveness.

Owing to the high concentration of oxidizing agents contained in these in-office products, they can be hazardous to the patient if not handled carefully.

These dentist in-office whitening systems are expensive to the patient.

These known systems have drawbacks.

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