FR2862864A1 - Instrument for cleaning between teeth and applying a therapeutic product comprises container with thin tubular nozzle having cleaning and applicator sections - Google Patents

Abstract

Instrument (1) for cleaning between teeth and applying a therapeutic product consists of a re-fillable or disposable semi-rigid plastic container (10) of a therapeutic product attached to a thin tubular nozzle (20) with connecting (22), cleaning (23) and applicator (24) sections. The cleaning section can have surface bristles, rings or cones, and the applicator section has 6 to 8 perforations.

Description

INSTRUMENT FOR CLEANING INTERPROXIMAL DENTAL SURFACES AND THE

DEATH OF A THERAPEUTIC AGENT

  TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is in the field of oral hygiene.

  More specifically, it relates to an instrument designed to allow an adult person to clean the inter-dental surfaces, the gingival groove and / or the underlying periodontal pockets while io can subsequently deposit a therapeutic agent, allowing to treat mechanically and chemotherapeutic pathological problems located at the inter-proximal surfaces of the teeth.

  The pathological problems in question include dentinal hypersensitivity, initial carious lesions and inflammatory periodontal problems, but are not exclusively limited thereto.

  TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that the interdental dental surfaces are very difficult to clean, particularly for people suffering from periodontal diseases or having undergone periodontal surgeries, because it is difficult for everyone and even more so for the persons in question. above mentioned to effectively reach these sites with conventional instruments, such as manual or electric toothbrushes. Indeed, the bristles of the brushes can not penetrate from the vestibular or lingual surfaces under the inter-proximal points of contact, with the consequence that these surfaces under the points of contact are not perfectly cleaned.

  When the force and position of the inter-dental contact points are adequate and the anatomical configuration of the subgingival spaces is healthy (ie without bone loss and / or without periodontal pockets), it is possible use instruments such as flossing, oral hydrotherapy instruments, inter-dental stimulators or toothpicks to clean these inter-proximal spaces.

  However, in the presence of periodontal pockets or gingival retraction, the subgingival spaces can not be cleaned properly with the instruments mentioned above because they can not penetrate the depth of the periodontal pockets or by lack of rigidity (in the flossing) or because of the anatomical configuration, which does not allow the user to reach the bottom of the periodontal pockets even at the initial stage, or to reach the neck of the teeth under the marginal ridge of the tooth. gum.

  The most effective instruments currently used to solve the difficulties described above are toothpicks or interdental brushes such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,691,404 (TARRSON et al.) Issued September 8, 1987.

  These instruments are currently recommended for adults with large inter-dental spaces caused by gingival recessions, bone loss, periodontal history or periodontal surgery. These spaces can hold food debris and plaque can build up on adjacent dental surfaces.

  These known instruments are also used by people who show the first signs of gingival inflammation or periodontitis as well as those who have just undergone surgical procedures to maintain good oral hygiene and the health of the mucous tissues that come to be treated.

  However, as mentioned above, it is difficult to adequately clean the interdental surfaces with the instruments specified above. Since dental plaque can adhere to the tooth surface in less than 24 hours, a large number of dental pathologies such as dental caries, root caries and dentinal hypersensitivity can develop and are frequently observed on the tooth surface. these sites. Indeed, interdental surfaces are preferred sites for the development of such dental caries since it is difficult to regularly maintain adequate oral hygiene.

  The initial stage of development of carious lesions is histopathologically characterized by sites of demineralization which, without treatment such as, for example, the topical application of fluorine in situ, can turn into carious cavities. This initial step is reversible (remineralization process), but provided that it receives appropriate treatment in situ (as mentioned above).

  Root decay occurs more frequently in the presence of gingival recession due to a periodontal problem or malocclusion attributed to the presence of premature occlusal contacts. Under these conditions, the enamel-cemental junction is no longer protected by the gingival crest and the exposed cement more porous than the enamel is much more susceptible to the development of a root caries.

  Dentin hypersensitivity is another unpleasant pathological phenomenon observed in dentinal and cemental tissues. This phenomenon is frequently observed after periodontal surgery. In such a case, the dental tissues become suddenly exposed since they are no longer protected by the mucocingival tissues.

  In order to overcome all the disadvantages just mentioned, several instruments have been developed to treat these pathologies that occur at the level of interproximal dental surfaces, subgingival spaces and periodontal pockets. Generally, these instruments comprise a handle to which is connected a nozzle covered with a material for cleaning dental surfaces. The handle is designed to act as a reservoir in which a therapeutic agent (also called drug) is stored which is intended to be deposited on the dental surfaces and or periodontal pockets.

  U.S. Patent No. 4,863,380 (CREED) issued September 5, 1989 is representative of this type of instrument. It describes an instrument comprising a narrow tube that connects a reservoir to a rubber tip.

  This tip has perforations on its sides that allow the application of a therapeutic agent between the teeth in a periodontal pocket or near the gum. The therapeutic agent is brought from the reservoir and applied by pressing on the walls of the latter. In order to prevent the oral fluid from being sucked into the mouthpiece by releasing the pressure, this patent recommends the use of a valve.

  US Patent No. 5,283,924 (KAMINSKI et al.) Issued Feb. 4, 1994 discloses an instrument comprising a protuberance covered with a compressible foam made of a porous polymeric material, for purposes of oral hygiene. This patent mentions that the foam may be impregnated with a therapeutic agent in the form of a coating, a solution, a paste or a gel capable of acting as an antimicrobial agent or on the dental surface .

  U.S. Patent No. 5,829,976 (GREEN) issued February 8, 1998 discloses a disposable dental applicator made of a fibrous material that can be impregnated with a therapeutic agent using a cannula. This applicator is designed to simultaneously perform a massage of the inter-proximal surfaces and the deposition of the therapeutic agent on a pathological site.

  All these known instruments are interesting. However, they are designed to apply the therapeutic agent to the pathological sites using their cleaning parts, ie their rubber tips, their foam-covered protuberances or their disposable ends. This results in a permanent risk of seeing the therapeutic agent that has just been deposited at a selected location, be eliminated by the part of the instrument that was used for its application, since this part is cleanser.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for cleaning interproximal dental surfaces and the deposition of a therapeutic agent, which instrument can be used during the same period to clean the interdental dental surfaces. - Proximal, the gingival groove and periodontal pockets while allowing to deposit a therapeutic agent without risk of seeing part or all of the therapeutic agent removed at the time of cleaning and especially the removal of the instrument.

  More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide an instrument for cleaning inter-proximal dental surfaces and the simultaneous deposition of a therapeutic agent, characterized in that it comprises: a reservoir for storing and allowing the application of a therapeutic agent for treating pathological problems affecting the inter-proximal dental surfaces, the gingival sulcus and the periodontal pockets; in addition, this reservoir serves as a handle and comprises an end provided with an outlet orifice; and a needle-shaped tip comprising an inner conduit in which the therapeutic agent is circulating.

  This tip comprises an attachment section connected to the end of the tank where the outlet is located, so that the inner conduit of the nozzle is in direct communication with the reservoir.

  The tip also includes a cleaning section having an external scraping surface shaped and dimensioned to be insertable between the teeth to clean the inter-proximal tooth surfaces, the gingival sulcus and the periodontal pockets, this cleaning section having no perforation opening in the internal conduit.

  The tip further includes an application section extending the cleaning section in a direction opposite to the attachment section. This section is the part of the instrument that allows the therapeutic agent stored in the reservoir to be deposited in the interdental spaces or in the paradontical pockets after the cleaning has been done with the cleaning section of the instrument. To do this, the application section has a relatively smooth outer surface and having several perforations allowing the therapeutic agent supplied from the reservoir through the inner conduit of the tip, to be applied to said interdental proximal surfaces, Gingival sulcus and periodontal pockets after the cleaning of dental surfaces has been completed.

  The invention therefore lies essentially in the fact that the so-called application section of the nozzle is separated from the cleaning section and is located opposite the tank acting as a handle. This allows the user to apply the therapeutic agent to the sites that have been cleaned while reducing the risk of this agent being removed by the cleaning section when the instrument is removed from between the teeth. In other words, the instrument according to the invention allows the therapeutic agent to be applied after cleaning the interdental surfaces, gingival sulcus and / or underlying periodontal pockets to be treated while allowing said agent to remain in position. place for an extended period of time.

  As previously indicated, the instrument according to the invention is particularly effective in bringing a therapeutic agent to specific sites such as dental surfaces which present initial carious lesions, demineralization tasks, areas of dentinal hypersensitivity, gingival inflammation or periodontal pockets. This instrument is in fact very suitable for adults with gingival retractions, large inter-dental spaces or the onset of periodontal disease or after periodontal surgery.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an instrument for cleaning the inter-proximal dental surfaces and deposition of a therapeutic agent according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the cleaning section and the application section are positioned in the extension of the tank; FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the same instrument but whose cleaning and application sections are in an inclined position with respect to the reservoir; FIG. 3 is a side view of an instrument for cleaning the inter-proximal dental surfaces and the deposition of a therapeutic agent according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the reservoir is provided with a pump activatable with a finger to bring the therapeutic agent to the tip; and Figures 4-9 are side views of the various structures that can be used in the instrument of this invention.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In the following description, the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same structural elements.

  In all the preferred embodiments illustrated, the instrument (1) for cleaning inter-proximal interdental surfaces and subsequently depositing in situ a therapeutic agent according to the invention comprises a reservoir (10) for storing and allowing the application of a therapeutic agent for the purpose of treating pathological problems that may develop on inter-proximal dental surfaces, subgingival space and periodontal pockets.

  It also comprises a needle-shaped tip (20) comprising an inner conduit (21) in which the therapeutic agent is circulating. The tip includes three successive sections including an attachment section (22), a cleaning section (23), and an application section (24) for applying the therapeutic agent.

  The reservoir (10) is designed to serve as a handle for the instrument at the same time. It comprises an outlet orifice (15) at one of its ends, the latter having a shape adapted to allow attachment of the attachment section (22) so that the conduit inside the nozzle is direct communication with the reservoir (10) so that the therapeutic agent can flow freely from the reservoir to the tip.

  The reservoir As mentioned above, the reservoir (10) is used to store and allow the application of the therapeutic agent. It is also designed to be used as the handle of the instrument.

  It may consist of a tube made of a thermoplastic material, which may have a length of 3.5 to 5.5 cm and a width of 0.5-0.8 cm. Preferably, its dimension is chosen so as to allow the application of the therapeutic agent stored therein in the interdental spaces of the permanent dentition of an adult person, for a period of at least one month (30 to 32 applications).

  In the first preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reservoir (10) is made of a sufficiently rigid plastic material so that the reservoir can be used as a handle and sufficiently flexible to allow the agent Therapeutic out of the tank and enter the conduit of the tip when pressed on its side walls.

  In the second preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the reservoir (10) is made of a rigid material and comprises in its structure a mini pump (11) activatable with a finger to pump the therapeutic agent out of the reservoir to the conduit of the tip of the instrument.

  Preferably, the reservoir is in the form of a disposable cartridge. However, it could be designed so that it can be re-filled using appropriate means to allow other uses.

  The orifice (15) at the end of the reservoir (10) is preferably shaped like a collar with a diameter of about 0.5 mm on which can be connected to the end of the attachment section (22) of the tip (20) by screwing or interlocking. This allows the tip (10) to be replaced as many times as necessary. The neck of the reservoir (10) can be oriented in the axis of the reservoir (10) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 or be inclined axially at the end of the top of the reservoir (10) as illustrated on FIG. Figure 3, depending on the needs and requirements of the user.

  The reservoir must of course have a sufficient volume to store enough therapeutic agent to be applied to all inter-dental and subgingival spaces of dental arches of the user.

  During manufacture of the instrument (1), the reservoir (10) is preferably sealed after filling with the therapeutic agent. This closure can be carried out using a cap whose size is adjusted to allow excellent preservation of the therapeutic agent in the tank, whether it is in liquid form or in the form of varnish or gel . The top of the cap may also be provided with a rigid tip to facilitate puncturing of a sealing membrane that may be applied to the neck opening prior to installing the cap.

  As previously mentioned, the material used for the manufacture of the tank (10) must have the following characteristics: - be rigid or flexible; and be chemically compatible with the therapeutic agent stored in the reservoir.

  The tip As mentioned previously, the tip (20) comprises three successive sections which together can have a length of 1.5 to 2.5 cm.

  The first of these sections, called the attachment section (20), has a free end provided with a connector (25) adapted to be detachably attached to the collar (15) at the end of the reservoir (10). ). This removability of the tip allows the user to be able to change this part of the instrument after a certain time (such as a month). This same removability can be obtained by screwing or interlocking according to the designs of the collar (15) of the reservoir (10) and the connector of the attachment section (22).

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the attachment section (22) is preferably made of a deformable semi-rigid material. Such a material makes it possible to fold the fastening section (22) in order to be able to adjust the position of this part of the end piece and allow angulation with respect to the reservoir (10) of the two other sections of this endpiece, designed for cleaning (23) and applying the therapeutic agent (24).

  The duct extending inside the nozzle along the attachment section and the two subsequent sections preferably has a diameter of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The conduit is then sufficient to allow the passage of the therapeutic agent of the reservoir throughout the mouthpiece.

  The second portion of the tip called "cleaning section (23) extends from the end of the attachment section (22) in a direction opposite to the reservoir (10) and has external side walls (30) which allow cleaning of interdental dental surfaces.

  To be effective, this cleaning section (23) must be of sufficient length, diameter, and strength to allow it to penetrate the inter-dental space and clean the inter-proximal dental surfaces, gingival crevice, and pockets. periodontal. For example, this section can be 1 to 1.5 cm long.

  The side walls of the cleaning section (30) may be in the form of tufts of fine pile as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. These bristles may be made of the same plastic material as the rest of the tip or be made with another type of material. In the latter case, the bristles can be inserted into the body of the side wall of the cleaning section, manually or mechanically, using a Carlson-type machine. he

  Preferably, this cleaning section is made of polypropylene, ABS or TPX and the bristles are nylon 6.12 with a length of 1.5 mm and a diameter of 180 microns.

  According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 9, the external lateral walls of the cleaning section (30) may be in the form of a series of rings forming a corrugated surface (see FIG. 9) or in the form of several cones adjacent (see Figures 5, 6, and 7), the axis of each cone being perpendicular to the side surface of the cleaning section and its thickness may vary.

  Preferably, the rings or small cones which create the cleaning surface are separated from each other by a gap of 0.5 to 1 mm.

  The cleaning section may also have a conical shape and be made of a thermoplastic material as shown in FIG. 8 where a cone tapering from the attachment section of the mouthpiece to the section d is shown. application over a length of 1 to 1.5 cm.

  The third section called application section (24) is in the extension of the cleaning section (23) opposite the attachment section (22). This section has a plurality of perforations (26) that allow the therapeutic agent supplied from the reservoir (10) through the conduit of the tip (24) to its end to be applied to the interdental proximal surfaces. , the subgingival groove and periodontal pockets after cleaning has been completed. This structure given to the instrument and the manner in which this instrument can be used makes it possible to maintain the therapeutic agent in situ for an extended period of time without the risk of having it removed by the cleaning section.

  The application section (24) can be straight or slightly curved as shown in FIG. 8. It preferably comprises 6 to 8 holes (26) with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 mm in order to allow the application therapeutic agent regardless of its consistency, liquid, gelatinous, creamy or in the form of varnish.

  As indicated above, the tip (21) can be cast integrally within a mold, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 9. In this case the material plastic is preferably PVC, TPE or Santoprene-type rubber.

  According to a variant of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, the body of the endpiece including the fastening, cleaning and application sections can be cast in one piece with, for example, a type of material PP, ABS or TPX. The side walls of cleaning can then be manufactured using a different material but compatible with the previous ones. Thus, for example, the bristles may be made of PP, ABS, TPX or Santoprene ™ material.

  As can be understood, the invention as described above has the advantage over other existing instruments of allowing the application of therapeutic agent at its application section (24) at the end. after cleaning, allowing the therapeutic agent to be left in situ after removing the cleaning section (23) from the interdental space.

  In order to respect this very important objective in the use of the instrument (1), it is desirable to manipulate it according to the following steps: - in a first step after inserting the instrument into the inter-dental space, the Inter-proximal teeth surfaces, subgingival spaces, and existing periodontal pockets are cleaned by lateral brushing along the tooth surfaces using the sidewalls of the instrument cleaning section; in a second step immediately following the first, while keeping the instrument in the inter-dental space, the therapeutic agent is applied in situ via the application section at the end of the mouthpiece while withdrawing gradually this last of the inter-dental space. This procedure avoids removing the therapeutic agent by removing the tip.

  Of course, various modifications could be made to the preferred embodiments which have just been described without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

  1. An instrument (1) for cleaning the inter-proximal dental surfaces and the simultaneous deposition of a therapeutic agent, characterized in that it comprises: a reservoir (10) for storing and allowing the application of a therapeutic agent for treating pathological problems affecting the inter-proximal dental surfaces, the gingival sulcus and the periodontal pockets, this reservoir (10) serving in addition to a handle and comprising an end provided with an outlet (15); anda needle-shaped tip (20) comprising an inner conduit (21) into which the therapeutic agent can be fed, said tip (20) comprising: - an attachment section (22) connected to the the end of the reservoir (10) where the outlet orifice (15) is located, such that the inner conduit (21) of the nozzle (20) is in direct communication with the reservoir (10); a cleaning section (23) having an external scraping surface shaped and dimensioned to be insertable between the teeth to clean the inter-proximal dental surfaces, the gingival sulcus and the periodontal pockets, this cleaning section (23). ) having no perforation opening in the inner conduit (21); andan application section (24) extending the cleaning section (23) in a direction opposite to the attachment section, said application section having a relatively smooth outer surface and having a plurality of perforations (26) allowing the therapeutic agent supplied from the reservoir (10) through the inner conduit (21) of the tip (20) to be applied to said inter-proximal dental surfaces, the gingival sulcus and the periodontal pockets after the cleaning of dental surfaces has been completed.   2. The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the reservoir (10) is made of a semi-rigid plastic material for bringing the therapeutic agent into the tip (20) for application by simple pressing the tank (10).   3. The instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the reservoir (10) contains a pump (11) for bringing the therapeutic agent into the tip (20) for application.   4. The instrument according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reservoir (10) is designed to be refilled if necessary.   5. The instrument according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reservoir (10) is in the form of a disposable cartridge.   The instrument of any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the attachment section (22) is adapted to be releasably nested at the end of the reservoir (10).   The instrument of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the attachment section (22) is adapted to be detachably screwed to the end of the reservoir (10).   8. The instrument according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the attachment section (22) is made of a semi-rigid material foldable in several positions to thereby adjust the orientation of the cleaning section. (23) and the application section (24) with respect to the reservoir (10).   9. The instrument according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the external scraping surface of the cleaning section (23) has a length and hardness sufficient to clean the inter-proximal dental surfaces, the sub-gingival space and periodontal pockets.   10. The instrument of claim 9, characterized in that the external scraping surface is made of bristles.   The instrument of claim 9, characterized in that the external scraping surface is comprised of a plurality of adjacent rings creating a corrugated surface.   The instrument of claim 9, characterized in that the outer scraping surface is comprised of a plurality of cones having axes perpendicular to the surface in question.   The instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that the external scraping surface has the shape of a cone tapering from the attachment section (22) to the application section (24). ) of the therapeutic agent.   14. The instrument according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the application section (24) comprises 6 to 8 perforations (26).