Applicator for applying a bleaching agent to teeth and method therefor

A tray assembly used in the formation of a tray for applying a bleaching agent to the teeth of a user, said tray assembly comprising:

• a) a somewhat arch-shaped outer wall generally conforming to the shape of the teeth in the arch of the user's mouth;
• b) an inner wall connected to said outer wall and also being of an arch shape and generally conforming to the shape of the teeth in the arch of the user;
• c) a removable insert located in said tray assembly and having an upstanding insert wall positioned between an interior surface of the said outer wall and an exterior surface of said inner wall;
• d) means releasably retaining said insert with the insert wall in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said outer wall to thereby form a reservoir existing between the interior surface of the outer wall and an exterior surface of said insert wall;
• and
• e) said tray assembly including the outer and inner walls and the insert being formed of a material which is capable of being effectively conformable to the shape and contour of the user's teeth in an arch and upon removing the insert said reservoir is formed in the frontal portion thereof between the inner surface of the outer wall and the outer surface of the user's teeth to receive a bleaching agent so that when the insert is removed the reservoir thereby allows the front surface of the teeth to be held in contact with the bleaching agent.

A method of making a tray for use in the application of a bleaching agent to the teeth of a user on a home-use basis, said method comprising:

• a) heating a tray formed of a selected material so that the material forming the tray becomes somewhat pliable and bendable, and which tray is comprised of a front wall and a back wall connected together in the shape of an arch to conform to the arch shape of the user's teeth;
• b) simultaneously with the heating of said tray, heating an insert located in said tray in a position spaced apart from an interior surface of said front wall and similarly causing the insert to become moldable, said insert being formed of a moldable material so as to become bendable and pliable when heated;
• c) inserting said tray on the teeth of a user in the user's mouth and allowing the tray to become effectively molded to conform to the shape and contour of the user's teeth;
• d) removing the tray from its position in the user's mouth and allowing the tray to cool to thereby form a mold effectively conforming to the overall shape and contour of the user's mouth and with a reservoir existing between the exterior face of the teeth in a smiling zone and the interior surface of the outer wall of the tray.

A method of bleaching the teeth in a user's mouth with a bleaching tray on a home-use basis, said method comprising:

• a) locating an insert in a tray having a trough forming a recess therein to fit around and receive the teeth in the arch of a user's mouth and causing the insert to be located in front of the front surface of the user's teeth;
• b) causing the tray and the insert to effectively conform to the shape and contour of the user's teeth while in the mouth of the user;
• c) removing the insert in the tray to form a reservoir which exists between the exterior surface of the teeth and the interior surface of the outer wall of the tray;
• d) introducing a bleaching agent into the reservoir of the tray;
• and
• e) placing the tray back on the teeth of the user in the arch in the user's mouth and allowing the bleaching agent to bleach the teeth of the user.