Stable tooth whitening gels containing high percentages of hydrogen peroxide
OwnerThomas C. Chadwick, Heather L. Huntinventors
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Abstract
An aqueous gel useful for bleaching teeth comprising: (i) water; (ii) polyacrylic acid thickening agent; (iii) hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent; and (iv) aminocarboxylic acid/salt stabilizing agent. Preferably the polyacrylic acid is an easy to disperse carbomer and the gels contain high concentrations (20 to 40% by weight) of hydrogen peroxide. The gels exhibit room temperature stability, both with respect to gel stability and hydrogen peroxide decomposition, sufficient to eliminate the need for constant refrigeration. A method for using the gels to bleach teeth is also disclosed.
Claims3
A method for bleaching teeth comprising the following steps:
- (a) protecting the soft tissue surrounding the teeth with a covering;
- (b) applying an aqueous dental bleaching gel to the teeth that comprises:
- (i) water;
- (ii) a polyacrylic acid thickening agent;
- (iii) at least one bleaching agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and compounds that release hydrogen peroxide in water;
- and
- (iv) a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of EDTA, CDTA, and a salt thereof,
- wherein said bleaching agent is present in an amount ranging from about 20% to about 50% by weight, and wherein said polyacrylic acid thickening agent and said stabilizing agent are added in a weight ration within the range of about 3.3:1 to about 3.5:1 that maintains said aqueous gel in a suitable gel form for 4 to 12 weeks oat room temperature in a syringe plunger without self-expelling;
- and
- (c) removing the dental bleaching gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.