US 6,183,251 B2 · Scalloped dental trays for use in treating teeth with sticky dental compositions

Abstract

The present invention discloses high viscosity sustained release dental compositions, such as tooth bleaching or fluoride compositions, for treating tooth surfaces. For maximum results, an improved dental tray having reservoirs for holding the dental composition adjacent the desired tooth surfaces is preferably used in combination with the sustained release dental composition. The sustained release dental compositions include a high carboxypolymethylene concentration which results in very high viscosity. The high level of carboxypolymethylene makes dilution of the dental compositions from saliva difficult and time consuming so that the compositions stay within the tray reservoirs, thereby providing sustained release. The concentrated carboxypolymethylene adds a unique tackiness to the dental composition which helps retain and seal the soft tray material against the patient's teeth.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A scalloped dental tray configured to hold therein a quantity of a dental composition for carrying out a desired treatment of a person's teeth, the dental tray comprising:

a periphery that has been scalloped so as to be trimmed in such a way that the dental tray substantially covers the person's teeth while not overlapping the person's gingival margin and interdental papilla when the dental tray is placed over the person's teeth during the desired treatment;
and
a main dental tray portion which extends below said periphery and which is configured to hold therein a desired quantity of the dental composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/259,241Filed 26 Feb 1999 · continuation

Priority

22 Mar 1990

Granted

6 Feb 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61K 8/19
Characterised by the composition: containing inorganic ingredients
A61C 19/063
Implements for therapeutic treatment: medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
A61C 19/066
Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides: bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or…
A61K 6/90
Preparations for dentistry: compositions for taking dental impressions

Family

Application07/497,934Parent of this division · filed 22 Mar 1990

Application07/718,210Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jun 1991

Application07/985,700Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Dec 1992

Application08/099,247Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jul 1993

Application08/378,315Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jan 1995

Application08/722,549Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Sep 1996

Application08/865,910Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 May 1997

Application08/949,887Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Oct 1997

Application08/949,887Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,725,843 AParent of this continuation-in-part

Application08/722,549Parent of this continuation

US 5,770,182 AParent of this continuation

Application07/718,210Parent of this division

US 5,851,512 ARelated patent

US 6,036,943 ARelated patent

US 6,183,251 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Scalloped dental trays for use in treating teeth with sticky dental compositions

Life of this patent

Scalloped dental trays for use in treating teeth with sticky dental compositions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14