Method and apparatus for preventing tooth decay
AssigneeNocari, LLC
InventorsColette Cozean, Lynn Powell, Samir Nammour
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for preventing tooth decay by initially treating the tooth surface with a laser with a coherent or noncoherent light source. This process makes the tooth more resistant to acid and more able to bond fluoride, thus requiring a lower concentration of fluoride. The method allows for a deeper penetration of the tooth then previously accomplished with other methods.
Claims41
A composition for preventing tooth decay in a tooth treated with electromagnetic radiation, said composition comprising fluoride at a concentration of less than 45 ppm fluoride to (0.01%) to 0.002 ppm fluoride.
A method of treating a living tooth in a mammal's mouth, the tooth having localized sites containing concentrations of water or organic material beneath and in proximity to the surface of the tooth, said method comprising:
- irradiating the surface of said tooth with light, having a wavelength in the range of between from about 400 nm to about 810 n, and an energy density sufficient to vaporize water and organic material without damaging the pulp of the tooth, wherein said treatment heats the localized sites to a temperature of no more than about 250° C.
The method of claim 15 wherein the effective concentration of fluoride is less than or equal to 200 ppm of stannous fluoride (0.08%) or 1000 ppm of sodium fluoride (0.275%).
A method of treating a living tooth in a mammal's mouth, the tooth having localized sites containing concentrations of water beneath and in proximity to the surface of the tooth, said method comprising,
- contacting the tooth with fluoride and leaving the fluoride on the tooth for at least one minute;
- and
- irradiating said tooth with light having a wavelength in the range of between about 400 nm to about 810 nm, and an energy and an energy density sufficient to vaporize water up to 50 microns below the surface of the tooth without damaging the pulp of the tooth, wherein said treatment causes the fluoride to bind to the localized sites.
A home treatment kit for the treatment of a tooth comprising:
- a fluoride mixture for application to the tooth, a light source which produces wavelengths in the range of between about 400 nm to about 750 nm adapted to illuminate the fluoride mixture, and at least one of a fluoride mouthwash, and a fluoride patch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.