JP3783039B2 - Natural tooth brush - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
The present invention relates to brushing in the dental field, and in particular, for natural teeth that exhibit a color removal function suitable for acquired coloring of natural teeth (teeth) by in vitro derived tobacco, coffee, tea, green tea, etc. About the brush.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Of the hard surface of the human body, the coloring of the tooth surface is particularly noticeable, and there are many patients who care about this in daily life or in dental practice. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the tooth consists of enamel 1, dentin 2, and dental pulp 3, and the surface of enamel 1 is basically a number that runs radially from the enamel dentinal boundary toward the surface. It consists of millions of columnar enamel trabeculae 4, which are formed by the appearance of the Tomes process of enamel blasts. However, the enamel blasts, the origin of the trabeculae, are doomed to disappear after tooth eruption due to wear, etc. The enamel surface 6, that is, the tooth surface 6, has recesses and holes with an average outer diameter of 1 micrometer. Innumerable 5 are formed.
[0003]
Teeth color changes include deposits on the tooth surface, coloration on the tooth surface or coloration in the hard tissue of the tooth, and color change in a narrow sense due to changes in the color tone of the tooth. These causes can be broadly divided into two. The former is derived from ex vivo, that is, acquired by exogenous factors such as pigments contained in cigarettes, coffee, black tea and green tea, while the latter is derived from in vivo, ie, pulpal necrosis, congenital anomalies or fetuses. It is an endogenous factor caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline taken by the mother during the pregnancy period. Among these changes in teeth color, what patients are concerned about on a daily basis is mainly the deposits and coloring on the tooth surface caused by extrinsic factors. It is clear from the different types of dentifrices.
[0004]
Conventionally, for acquired coloration due to extrinsic factors on the tooth surface, brushing with a paste containing toothpaste and a toothbrush, or paste containing a toothpaste at a dental clinic and a rubber cup or Robinson A brushing using a dental contra-angle with a brush, and an air blasting device (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-276292) that sprays abrasive powder with water at the same time can provide a temporary color removal effect.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Many patients who visit dental clinics or university hospitals for dental treatment are concerned about the coloring of the tooth surface, which cannot be removed by conventional brushing. An object of the present invention is to provide a brush that anyone can easily remove such coloring of the tooth surface.
[0006]
As mentioned above, there are innumerable recesses with an average size of 1 micrometer on the surface of the teeth, and pigments are deposited in these recesses. In contrast to this coloration, the conventional method can obtain a uniform color removal effect, but the size of the toothbrush tip and dentifrice particles is larger than this recess, so the color that has entered the same part should be removed. Is extremely difficult, and it takes a long time of brushing to try to remove this coloring forcefully. As a result, the brush tip and dentifrice may damage the tooth surface or Even if the coloring could be removed by this method, there was a problem that the tooth was shaved to the same level as the bottom of the recess with the dentifrice or toothbrush tip. An object of the present invention is to provide a brush that can remove an object deposited in countless minute recesses on the tooth surface without scraping the surface.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention solves the above problems, and a brush member for natural teeth having a brush member that removes dirt by bringing it into contact with the surface portion of the natural tooth and a support member to which the brush member is attached. The brush member is fixed to the support member. together comprise a melamine foam, the thickness of the melamine foam bubble and construction wall that isolates the air bubbles and the average 0.5 micrometers or less, the intruded dirt this configuration wall fine recesses of a natural tooth surface portion mechanically It is intended to provide a brush for natural teeth characterized by having a function of scraping.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0009]
FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a side view of a disposable hand toothbrush. This toothbrush is composed of a brush part 9, a support part 10 for supporting the brush, and a grip part 11 held by the user. It is composed of a resin body and a brush member formed of a resin foam fixed to the brush portion 9 with an adhesive. This foam is a melamine foam formed by using melamine with a cross-linking agent such as phenol or urea, and its structure is shown in Fig. 4. This melamine foam has a partition wall between the bubbles 7, that is, the thickness 8 of the foam-constituting wall is sufficiently smaller than the fine recesses (5 in FIG. 3) on the tooth surface, and is on average 0.5 micrometers or less, preferably on average 0.2 Formed below micrometer. When the user holds the gripping part 11 and puts water into the brush member and brushes it against the surface of the tooth, the thin foam wall of the foam enters the minute hole of the tooth, and the coloring or deposit in the recess is machined. Scrap out. In addition, this foam is soft and will not damage your teeth. In addition, this foam is disposable because it wears away with each use. Fragments caused by foam wear are expelled by gargle after use. Furthermore, it is possible to add fragrances to this foam.
[0010]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which shows a disposable toothbrush for replacement of an electric toothbrush.
The toothbrush is composed of a resin-molded main body 15 and a brush member 13 composed of the melamine foam described in the first embodiment. The main body 15 is formed with an attaching / detaching portion 16 that fits and attaches to a driving portion 17 held by a user incorporating an electric motor, and an attaching portion 14 that fixes the brush member 13. A plurality of step portions are formed on the attachment portion 14, and the foam is bonded and fixed with an adhesive while being inserted into the foam 13. By making the attachment part 14 of the foam 13 larger than the diameter of the handle extending from the attachment / detachment part 16, it becomes possible to ensure adhesion to the foam 13. In addition, this foam is soft and will not damage your teeth. Furthermore, since this foam is worn and reduced each time it is used, the brush member 13 and the attaching portion 14 for fixing the brush member 13 are removed from the attaching / detaching portion 16 and replaced. Fragments caused by foam wear are expelled by gargle after use. Furthermore, it is possible to add fragrances to this foam.
[0011]
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and shows a replacement disposable toothbrush attached to a dental contra-angle.
The toothbrush comprises a plastic bar 19 made of plastic and a brush member 18 made of melamine foam as described in the first embodiment. A plurality of steps are formed on the plastic bar 19, and the plastic bar 19 is adhesively fixed to the foam with an adhesive while being inserted into the foam 18. By making the stepped portion larger than the diameter of the bar 19, it becomes possible to ensure adhesion with the foam 18. The dental contra-angle main bodies 20 to 22 are composed of a head part 20 for mounting brushes 18 and 19, a grip part 21 held by an operator incorporating a motor, and an attachment / detachment part 22 for connection with a motor cord part. The brush portions 18 and 19 are fitted and fixed to the head portion 20 of the contra-angle body in the same manner as the round bar and the fisher bar. Since this foam 18 is worn and reduced with each use, the brush portions 18 and 19 are removed from the head portion and replaced for each patient, which is hygienic. Fragments are generated because the foam is worn out, but during the operation, it is aspirated to use a dental vacuum, and is exhaled by gargleing after surgery. Furthermore, it is possible to add fragrances to this foam.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The experimental results of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0013]
As the target teeth in this experiment, extracted mandibular anterior teeth or molars with exogenous coloring were used.
[0014]
In this experiment, the electric toothbrush shown in Fig. 6 was used. This electric toothbrush includes a resin-molded main body 15 and a brush member 13 made of melamine foam as described in the first embodiment. The main body 15 is formed with an attaching / detaching portion 16 that fits and attaches to a driving portion 17 held by a user incorporating an electric motor, and an attaching portion 14 that fixes the brush member 13. A plurality of step portions are formed on the attachment portion 14, and the foam is bonded and fixed with an adhesive while being inserted into the foam 13.
[0015]
As the brush member, a resinous foam in which the melamine foam described above was formed into a block of 1.3 cm × 1.3 cm × 3.0 cm was used .
[0016]
Insert the tip of the support part into a cylindrical hole with a diameter of 0.6 cm and a height of 2.5 cm provided at the center of the resin foam as a brush member so that the resin foam does not rotate or come out during brushing. The support and the resinous foam adhered to each other. In order to strengthen the adhesion, the tip of the support was made as shown in 14, and the surface area where the adhesive was in contact with the tip of the support was increased.
[0017]
The coloring removal effect of the target tooth using this natural tooth brush was examined. The brushing pressure is 40-50g for the colored part of the extracted lip (mandibular incisor) on the labial side, and the brushing pressure is 40, 50g, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 seconds and over 60 seconds ( Brushing was performed for about 2 minutes after 60 seconds), and the color removal effect at each time was photographed and observed using a stereomicroscope at three magnifications: weak expansion, moderate, and strong expansion.
[0018]
In order to investigate the damage to the tooth surface due to the use of resinous foam, the surface image of the tooth after brushing was photographed and observed at high magnification using a stereomicroscope.
[0019]
Color removal of target teeth using a natural tooth brush (Figure 8)
Brushing the extracted mandibular anterior teeth with coloring on the lip side with an electric toothbrush equipped with a resin foam, the coloring was removed in 15 seconds, and the removal effect increased with time. Coloring was almost completely removed by brushing for a total of 180 seconds. However, there was a large uneven surface in the substantial defect portion, and it was difficult to sufficiently remove the coloring (FIG. 8-21). The resinous foam after use had a slightly brownish brown color, and it was confirmed that the resinous foam was small like an eraser.
[0020]
Effect of resin foam on tooth surface After brushing with resin foam, the surface of the tooth was observed with a stereomicroscope. It was unclear whether it was originally attached or made by using melamine foam. During the experiment, horizontal polishing was performed, and this may have resulted, so vertical polishing was performed in the same manner, but no vertical scratches were observed.
[0021]
About quantification of color removal effect by resinous foam In order to clarify the color removal effect, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 seconds and more than 60 seconds of each of the magnified photographs in Fig. 8 are used as tracing paper. The data was traced, captured by an image scanner, digitized by using image analysis software (NIH image), and then graphed using a cricket graph.
Fig. 9 is a graph showing the color removal effect (mandibular anterior teeth) of resin foam. The coloring of the tooth surface at 0 seconds was 91.6%, whereas at 15 seconds it was 29.4%, 27.0% at 30 seconds, 20.9% at 45 seconds, 9.5% at 60 seconds, 0.4% at 180 seconds It became. The coloring was considerably removed in 15 seconds, and the removal effect increased with time. Coloring was almost completely removed by brushing for a total of 180 seconds (Fig. 9).
[0022]
Comparison of coloring removal effect between brushing using dentifrice paste and brushing using resinous foam Brushing and melamine using paste containing dentifrice on the buccal surface of the extracted tooth (mandibular molar) We investigated the difference in color removal effect from brushing using foam.
First, the brush part of the electric toothbrush was fitted with a conventional brush, and a reddish-sized paste containing a toothpaste was placed on the bristles. As in the previous experiment, the brushing pressure was 40-50 g, and brushing was performed for 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 seconds and 60 seconds or longer (about 2 minutes after 60 seconds). The color removal effect at each time was observed using a stereomicroscope and photographed at three different magnifications: weak, moderate, and strong.
Next, the support part (including the brush part) of the electric toothbrush is replaced with one equipped with a resinous foam, and brushing is performed on the same tooth and the same part as those used in the previous experiment for 60 seconds or more (about 3 seconds). The removal effect was observed using a stereomicroscope and photographed at three magnifications: weak, moderate, and strong. In this case, the paste containing the dentifrice was not used but only water was included.
[0023]
Comparison of coloring removal effect between brushing with dentifrice paste and brushing with melamine foam (Figure 10)
When a brush containing toothpaste was placed on an electric toothbrush with a conventional brush and brushing was performed on the extracted lower molars with coloring on the cheek side, there was almost no change until 30 seconds, but 45 seconds. The color was slightly removed at, and there was little change after that. Subsequently, the brush part of the electric toothbrush was replaced with a resin foam and brushing was performed for 3 minutes. However, although it was not completely removed, a significant color removal effect was observed (Fig. 11). .
[0024]
In order to clarify the color removal effect by the electric toothbrush using the paste containing the dentifrice and the color removal effect by the resin foam for the extracted mandibular molar, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 seconds and more than 60 seconds of each magnified photo is traced on tracing paper, captured by an image scanner, digitized by using image analysis software (NIH image), and cricket graph ).
The graphs show the color removal effect (mandibular molar) with an electric toothbrush using a paste containing dentifrice and the color removal effect with a resinous foam. The coloring of the tooth surface at 0 seconds was 64.5%, but at 15 seconds and 30 seconds, it decreased slightly to 56.5% and 57.3%, respectively. It was 42.0% in 45 seconds, 40.5% in 60 seconds, and 32% (about 1/2) in 180 seconds. However, after that, brushing with resin foam reduced the coloration to 11.1% (about 1/3) after a total of 180 seconds of brushing (Fig. 12).
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the brush of the present invention, dirt can be effectively removed without damaging the surface of teeth or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Fig. 1] Cross-sectional view of teeth showing running of enamel trabeculae [Fig. 2] Schematic diagram of teeth showing structure of enamel trabeculae [Fig. 3] Cross-sectional view of enamel showing recesses on enamel surface [Fig. 4] FIG. 5 is a side view of a natural tooth brush showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a natural tooth brush according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a dental contra-angle equipped with a natural tooth brush according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an external view of a tooth after brushing by an electric toothbrush equipped with a resinous foam (weak extension) (extracted mandibular anterior teeth)
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the color removal effect (strengthening) (extracted mandibular anterior teeth) with resinous foam. FIG. 10 is an external view after brushing with an electric toothbrush using a paste containing dentifrice (extracting) (extracting). Mandibular molar)
FIG. 11: Appearance after brushing with an electric toothbrush equipped with a resin foam (weakening) (extracted mandibular molar)
FIG. 12 is a graph showing the color removal effect (strengthening) (extracted mandibular molar) by the resinous foam.
1 Enamel
2 Dentin
3 dental pulp
4 Enamel trabeculae
5 Holes on enamel surface
6 Enamel surface
7 bubbles
8 Bubble spacing wall thickness
9 Brush part
10 Support part
11 Grip part
12 Brush member (resin foam)
13 Brush part (resin foam)
14 Tip of support
15 Brush body
16 Removable part
17 Grip part
18 Brush part (foam)
19 Plastic bar
20 Head
21 Support section
22 Removable part
23 Real defect part

Claims (3)

A brush member in contact with the natural tooth surface portion to remove the dirt, in brushes for natural teeth and a support member for mounting the brush member, as well as composed of melamine foam which is fixed the brush member to the support member, the melamine characterized in that the thickness of the structure wall that isolates the air bubbles and foam cells on average 0.5 micrometers or less, the composite walls is assumed to have a function of mechanically scraping the intruded dirt into fine recesses of a natural tooth surface portion Natural tooth brush . The brush for natural teeth according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the constituent walls is 0.2 micrometers or less on average. With the support member made of resin, claims a stepped portion is formed in the mounting portion, the step portion, characterized in that the support member and melamine foam in a state of being fitted in the interior of the melamine foam has been fixed The brush for natural teeth according to 1.

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