Dental compositions
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMatthew C. Trom, Joel D. Oxman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Dental compositions containing adjuvants are provided that have the capability of undergoing an increase in viscosity in response to an increase in temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions also have the ability to reverse their viscosity in response to a decrease in temperature.
Claims17
A method of applying a dental composition in the oral environment using a dental composition comprising about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight of a thermally responsive viscosity modifier and an adjuvant, wherein the composition is in a low viscosity state at a pre-treatment temperature and a highly viscous state at a treatment temperature that is higher than the pre-treatment temperature, comprising:
- applying the composition through an orifice onto a surface, wherein the composition is at the pretreatment temperature and in the low viscosity state prior to being applied onto the surface,
- allowing the composition to warm to the treatment temperature and increase in viscosity to the highly viscous state wherein the viscosity of the composition at the treatment temperature is at least about 10 times the viscosity of the composition at the pre-treatment temperature, and
- allowing the composition to remain on the surface.
A method of applying a dental composition in the oral environment using a dental composition comprising about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight of a thermally responsive viscosity modifier and an adjuvant selected from the group consisting of fluoride, anti-microbial agents, anti-fungal agents, and cariostatic agents, wherein the composition is in a low viscosity state at a pre-treatment temperature and a highly viscous state at a treatment temperarure that is higher than the pre-treatment temperature, comprising:
- applying the composition through an orifice onto a surface, wherein the composition is at the pretreatment temperature and in the low viscosity state prior to being applied onto the surface,
- allowing the composition to warm to the treatment temperature and increase in viscosity to the highly viscous state wherein the viscosity of the composition at the treatment temperature is at least about 10 times the viscosity of the composition at the pre-treatment temperature, and
- allowing the composition to remain on the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.