DE102015000878A1 - Apparatus for cleaning teeth by bombarding droplets - Google Patents

Abstract

Dental cleanings are faulty if, with the use of a cleaning technique, it is insufficient to remove dental plaque and / or if lesions and defects are induced. Likewise, interdental spaces and if necessary gum pockets must be freed of dirt. This causes oral diseases and significant costs. To a complete tooth cleaning include brushing with a toothbrush and interdental brush, the use of dental floss and a mouthwash for oral hygiene The device according to the invention has many head designed at different angles outlet openings from which shoot during the cleaning process droplets and thus interdental spaces, tooth surfaces and by the different directions of flight also gum pockets rid of dirt. By using liquids with small particles even stubborn plaque is removed.

Description

Technical area

The device is a hygiene product, which is used for domestic dental care. It is suitable for both mobile and stationary use.

State of the art

Toothbrushes undoubtedly have advantages in roughing tooth surfaces. Intermediate spaces are cleaned with interdental brushes and soiling that gets just below the gums is removed with the floss. The care of the oral cavity is finally accomplished with the use of an oral irrigator.

However, no device is known that removes all types of pollution mentioned here.

Modern electric toothbrushes offer many features for thorough cleaning. With automatic feedback on contact pressure and ultrasound, the tooth surfaces should not only be cleaned thoroughly, but also gently. For the interdental spaces and for the periodontal pockets, however, other devices must be endeavored.

In dental surgeries, prophylactic powder-air blasting equipment is used, which, in either abrasive or non-abrasive mode, gently removes fissures from the sealing of discoloration, deposits, old sealants and enamel caries. Another field of application is the periodontal therapy for the gentle removal of plaque and biofilm. However, these devices with their many adjustment options may only be operated by qualified personnel and are not suitable for private use. They are similar in function to the sandblasters available in hardware stores.

Occurring contamination between gums and teeth are at best eliminated using the dental floss. Other devices for this application are unknown.

In a bi-annual prophylactic treatment, the dentist examines whether, despite thorough and regular care, there are still irritations of the gums or other maladies. However, the professional cleaning of teeth can hardly be implemented on their own.

Although the advantages of the combined cleaning tools are well known, there is a lack of willingness in many parts of the population to meticulously perform the separate cleaning operations. Instead, many people, whether due to time constraints or convenience reasons, often consider omitting two devices in the fast teeth cleaning process during the day, or even abandoning them altogether. Also, the constant carrying of small tools is a logistical challenge: floss goes out, interdental brushes break off quickly and must be replaced or oral showers need to be procured again.

With several brushing operations a day with improper handling, such as excessive contact pressure, the gums can be irritated or even damaged.

The oral hygiene centers and oral showers available on the market offer teeth cleaning, massage and bacterial control. For this, the outgoing water jet is infinitely adjustable and optionally shaped as a mono-jet, rotary jet or pulsating water jet. Similarly, microbubbles or microdroplets ([Phillips 14 Airfloss]) are added to the water jet. In order to remove stubborn plaque, oral irrigators with various applications of a jet of water are difficult to remove. For this purpose, either a mechanical roughing movement is required or a similar process to the sandblasting solves the plaque.

[ WO002005070324A2 ] describes a portable oral irrigator with a liquid container in the handle and supply system. It also has a large number of nozzles at the upper end which emit liquid jets with the help of piezo elements. However, the nozzles are not configured at different angles. There is also a lack of a chamber system, in conjunction with the piezo technology to accelerate the droplets to very high exit velocities. Also, it is not mentioned that for the removal of dental plaque, a dragging effect, for example by the addition of particles, is needed.

[ WO002008001303A1 ] describes an oral irrigator with reservoir in the handle and supply system. Also in this application we only normal pump pressure generated in the supply system, which is not sufficient for a grinding effect to remove plaque. There is also a lack of information on viscosity differences in liquids and on a possible particle density in order to control the effect of abrasive effect.

Technical problems or disadvantages

Common oral showers and electric toothbrushes can only meet requirements of a part of tooth cleaning. So users of duty For full oral hygiene, they lack a marketable mobile system, which can be used regardless of time and place.

task

The device is intended to allow the user to thoroughly and gently clean the tooth surfaces, interdental spaces and periodontal pockets by means of electrical assistance. Through the use of a suitable liquid, the gums should be supported during regeneration and the enamel remineralised.

Technical solution

The device shoots tiny droplets on the jaw from several launchers. It accelerates the droplets to high speeds. In order to ensure a thorough tooth cleaning, it has not only an outlet opening but similar to the arrangements in an ink jet printer head, a plurality of nozzles ( 1 ).

The launchers are small openings on the head of the device ( 3 ). Under such a nozzle is a small space, which is bounded by a piezoelectric crystal. The piezocrystal separates the compression chamber from the supply system, which supplies liquid to all launcher devices.

When the piezocrystal is energized, the small space under the nozzle suddenly compresses and the liquid shoots out of the nozzle. This hits the jaw and sweeps away dirt particles.

The cleaning power can be adjusted via the viscosity of the liquid. The liquid should have the typical benefits similar to the range of mouthwashes available today.

The nozzles are applied at slightly different angles on the surface of the tooth-cleaning device ( 2 ) and thus cause contamination of droplets are hit under different impact angles. The massive bombardment from several directions makes it easier to remove dirt. Since an orthogonal angle of incidence is considered to be particularly effective for differently supported attack surfaces, the droplets are fired at variable exit angles ( 2 ). Likewise, droplets get just below the gum and also clean this area.

In order to be able to position the nozzles directly in front of the rows of teeth, they are located at the front end of the device. In the grip ( 1 ) a reservoir is installed, which can be filled with liquid of different viscosity or particle density. The user should be able to choose between different liquids and thus set a cleaning effect "gentle" to "abrasive". The incorporation of particles, consisting for example of salts, a slightly abrasive cleaning effect can be produced, which is absolutely necessary for the removal of the plaque. Also, different particle sizes of the particles can control the said effect even finer.

In the handle of the device are located next to the reservoirs for the liquid ( 4 ), which constantly supply the supply system with liquid, also battery / battery and electronic circuits for controlling the piezoelectric crystals. Alternatively, the reservoir can be divided to store liquids of different consistency or particle density. By manually switching between the tanks or by using a mixing valve, the user achieves the desired cleaning effect as needed.

The replacement of the entire reservoir leads to the choice of desired cleaning modes that offer a wider range of applications for the user depending on the intended effect and the existing materials of the dentures. In this way, the quick cleaning process during the day can be gently designed and the evening cleaning on the other side very thoroughly. Choices may be: particle density, particulate matter, fluid and viscosity.

embodiments

In a mobile version, great care is taken to save weight, so that the device does not burden the device.

The stationary version for home dental care can therefore be equipped with larger containers and a stronger energy unit.

Achieved benefits

With the elimination of the mechanical components in the cleaning of teeth and the adaptation of the liquid to an optimal cleaning effect, the invention allows the user to apply the full range of care measures for oral hygiene.

The associated time saving favors the necessary cleaning processes during the day.

An excessive irritation of the gums and an injury of the enamel are not to be feared with the device even with repeated use by the correct dosage of the liquids.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 002005070324 A2 [0011]
• WO 002008001303 A1 [0012]

Claims (7)

Apparatus for cleaning teeth by bombarding droplets, wherein at the head of the device are small openings that serve as a launcher for small droplets and the launch is accomplished by piezocrystals serve as walls of the chambers, which via a supply system with the liquid containers in the handle of the Device are connected and when creating a voltage on the piezoelectric crystal by expanding the piezoelectric crystal separate the chamber from the supply system and the space under the outlet port explosively compress, whereby a droplet from the opening at high speed emerges with the aim of contamination on and between the teeth and plaque remove and rinse the user's periodontal pockets. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein on the viscosity of the liquid used from the storage containers in the handle of the device, the cleaning power can be adjusted. Device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein in the handle of the device different reservoirs, consisting of liquids of different viscosity and particle densities, are connected to each other via a manual mixing valve, whereby an individual cleaning force can be adjusted for tooth cleaning, resulting in different degrees of abrasive action for the purpose of removing the plaque. A device according to claims 1-3, wherein the nozzles are applied at slightly different angles on the surface of the tooth-cleaning device and thereby cause contamination of droplets to be struck at different angles of impact, thus allowing droplets to get under the gums and thereby also clean this area , Device according to claims 1-4, wherein the reservoir can be replaced as a whole in order to achieve over selection of particle density and viscosity of the liquids optimal cleaning effect and to refill them if necessary. Device according to claims 1-5, wherein in the handle next to the reservoirs for liquids with different viscosity and particle density and an energy storage and electronic circuits for controlling the piezoelectric crystals are. A device according to claims 1-6, wherein a reservoir may include liquid of the nature of a mouthwash and particles of different grain size and material properties to optimally adjust the degree of detergency.

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