Tooth whitening appliance having membrane covered applicator
OwnerEugene C. Wagnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tooth whitening appliance includes an applicator having a soft moldable core covered by a plastic film membrane. The contours of buccal surfaces of target teeth to be whitened are impressed into the applicator by applying lateral pressure. A layer of tooth whitening preparation is deposited on the impressions formed in the applicator and the applicator is repositioned against the buccal tooth surfaces for the administration of the tooth whitening preparation. The applicator core is soft and moldable preferably at or below body temperature. The membranes support the applicator in reduced thickness impression areas. The applicator core may be optionally preloaded with tooth whitening preparation.
Claims19
A tooth whitening appliance comprising an applicator and a carrier, the applicator being positioned on the carrier, the applicator having a core, the core comprising a formative wax capable of receiving a dental impression, the wax being soft and moldable at or below body temperature, the applicator having a buccal face and a lingual face, at least one of the faces being overlaid with a plastic film membrane, the carrier comprising a panel and a transverse ledge extending from the panel, the ledge having a free distal edge, the panel and the ledge defining a substantially “L” shaped transverse cross section throughout the carrier.
A method of whitening teeth utilizing a tooth whitening preparation, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an appliance having a carrier with a substantially “L” shaped transverse cross section and an applicator having a core with rheological characteristics suitable for implementation as a dental impression material,
- b) adhering a plastic film membrane over at least one face of the applicator,
- c) obtaining in the one face of the applicator impressions of buccal surfaces of selected target teeth by inserting the carrier and the applicator in an oral cavity and applying lateral pressure against the carrier to force the applicator against the buccal surfaces of the selected target teeth,
- d) removing the carrier and applicator from the oral cavity after the impressions have been taken,
- e) separating the carrier from the applicator, and
- f) administering the preparation to the buccal surfaces by covering the buccal surfaces with the applicator and with a layer of preparation positioned between the buccal surfaces and the impressions formed in the one face of applicator.
A method of whitening teeth utilizing a tooth whitening preparation, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an appliance having a carrier with a substantially “L” shaped transverse cross section throughout and an applicator having a core with theological characteristics suitable for implementation as a dental impression material,
- b) adhering a plastic film membrane over at least one face of the applicator,
- c) obtaining in the applicator impressions of buccal surfaces of selected target teeth by inserting the applicator in an oral cavity and applying lateral pressure against the carrier to force the applicator against the buccal surfaces of the selected target teeth,
- d) positioning a layer of preparation between the buccal surfaces and the impressions formed in the applicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.