KR200435828Y1 - A delivery device for a tooth whitener using a strip of material having low flexural stiffness - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for delivering tooth whitening material to a plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the delivery system is a strip of flexible material and teeth whitening having sufficient flexibility to form a curved shape on the plurality of adjacent teeth. Material. The strip of flexible material is adapted to be easily deformable with respect to the tooth surface and along the gap of the tooth without permanent deformation when the delivery system is placed against the tooth. The tooth whitening material is applied to a strip of flexible material so that when the delivery system is placed on the surface of the tooth, the tooth whitening material contacts the tooth surface to provide an active agent on the surface. In addition, the tooth whitening material allows sticking of the flexible material to the strip and the tooth surface, thereby keeping the delivery system in place for a sufficient time, thereby enabling the action of the active agent on the tooth surface. Methods of using the delivery system include precoating a strip of flexible material and applying a tooth whitening material to the strip of flexible material and then applying the delivery system to the tooth surface.

Teeth whitening

Description

Teeth whitening mass transfer device using strip material with low flexural rigidity {A DELIVERY DEVICE FOR A TOOTH WHITENER USING A STRIP OF MATERIAL HAVING LOW FLEXURAL STIFFNESS}

While the invention includes claims that specifically teach and clearly claim the invention, the invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments carried out in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same components. Point to an element.

1 is a perspective view of a strip material with rounded corners and substantially flat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the flat strip of FIG. 1 with a tooth whitening material applied. FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the dividing line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing an embodiment of a flat strip having a thickness less than the thickness of the applied whitening material.

4 shows another embodiment of the present invention showing a shallow pocket in a strip material that functions as a reservoir of additional whitening material coated on the strip.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing adjacent teeth in which the strip material of the present invention is adhered along the tooth by a whitening material between the tooth and the strip material.

FIG. 6 is a tablet of the tooth and adjacent soft tissue taken along the dividing line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the strip material of the present invention adhesively attached along the tooth by a whitening material between the tooth and the strip material. It is a cross section.

7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the strip material of the present invention adhesively attached to both sides of the tooth along adjacent soft tissue and teeth by a whitening material between the tooth and the strip material.

8 is a front sectional view taken along the dividing line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing the strip material of the present invention adhesively attached to both sides of the tooth along the tooth and adjacent soft tissue by a whitening material between the tooth and the strip material; .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing the flat strip coated with the tooth whitening material and release liner of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention taken along section 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing a release liner attached to the strip material by a whitening material on the strip material.

Description of related application

This application is part of a continuing application for serial number 08 / 870,330 filed in June 1997.

The present invention is directed to a system for delivering a tooth whitening material to a plurality of adjacent teeth, and more particularly, for a time sufficient for the active agent provided by the tooth whitening material to whiten the teeth, the whitening material is applied by the saliva in the mouth. It relates to a delivery system that prevents corrosion or interacts with saliva. The delivery system includes strip material and tooth whitening material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disposable delivery system that is inexpensive and unobtrusive. The present invention also relates to a method of delivering a tooth whitening material to a plurality of adjacent teeth.

The most common tool for dental hygiene is a toothbrush. The mechanical action of the toothbrush bristles removes food particles, plaques, etc. Toothbrushes are commonly used with toothpaste. Conventional toothpastes before about 1955 consisted of surfactants and abrasives. Such a product was simply to increase the mechanical action of the sole.

(상표명) 이 소개되었고 칫솔과 불소치약의 조합이 치아 표면에 불소처리물을 전달하는 적합한 수단이라고 입증되었다. 그후에, 치석 제어제와 같은 다른 활성제가 치약에 첨가되어 추가의 치아 위생 효과를 제공하였다. 또한, 소비자들은 치아 교정 및 미백과 같은 치아 치료의 미용적 태양에 관심을 갖게 되었다.In 1955, CREST, a fluoride-containing toothpaste from "The Procter & Gamble Company" in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A brand name has been introduced and the combination of toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste has proven to be a suitable means of delivering fluoride to the tooth surface. Thereafter, other active agents, such as tartar control agents, were added to the toothpaste to provide additional dental hygiene effects. Consumers have also become interested in the cosmetic aspects of dental treatments such as orthodontics and whitening.

If a successful delivery of a chemical product that provides a therapeutic effect for oral treatment is expected to achieve similar results to conventional aesthetic brushing. However, people who think about teeth whitening and who are disappointed with the consequences of whitening toothpaste often rely on expert help to whiten their teeth.

There are two classes of professional tooth whitening programs offered by dentists: in-room bleaching and out-of-room bleaching. Intra-patient treatment consists of several treatments, beginning with the manufacture of a rubber dam that is specifically fitted in the mouth to prevent the bleach, typically hydrogen peroxide, from contacting oral soft tissue. Peroxide bleaches are strong and require the use of dams.

The out-of-office bleaching program differs in that the patient applies bleach to his or her teeth using low-intensity chemicals over a long period of time, usually several weeks a day. In an out-of-office program, dentists usually need to tailor the instrument initially to suit the particular patient. The tool is a device that is manufactured to precisely fit into a patient's teeth and delivers bleach gel to the patient's teeth. It is the patient's responsibility to quantify and apply the bleach to the surface of the tooth using a delivery means and a device that is a container member.

Since the tool is reused, it must be strong enough to withstand repeated manipulation, cleaning, filling, installation and wearing. Such tools are relatively rigid to maintain fit during repeated use. Typically, patients use the equipment during periods of no social contact.

There is an unprofessional program using commercially available products available in pharmacies, available to those interested in whitening their teeth. Commercial products provide tools that include a common tool and a container of bleach gel. The low cost of the program is an obvious advantage. The main disadvantage of such equipment, where the fit size is uniform, is that the voids between the inner wall of the equipment and the teeth are large compared to the professionally fitted equipment. Thus, more bleaching gel is needed to bring the bleaching gel closer to the tooth surface. In addition, the poorer the fitting means, the greater the amount of bleach gel lost to the gums, into the oral cavity, and eventually into the digestive tract. Conventional tools, such as professionally managed out-of-office programs, require the user to clean and reuse the equipment. General tools do not fit well with each user, so they take up more volume in the mouth than the right equipment, which limits the conversation in social life more.

Attempts to remedy some of the problems with commercial tools are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,575,654, issued Nov. 19, 1996 to Fontnote. Fontnote discloses a moldable dental instrument that contains a pre-measured amount of drug or bleach and is prepackaged to fit a wide range of dental arches of various sizes. In use, the dental appliance is removed from the package, aligned parallel to the edge of the tooth, and then pressed over the tooth in the direction of the periodontal tissue until it covers the surface of the tooth.

Another solution is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,310,563 to Curtis et al. On May 10, 1994. Curtis et al. Disclose a putty-like material that is press molded against a tooth. It is maintained by mechanical fastening and friction with the bottom cutting surface. The composition comprises an active agent.

Another method is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,425,953 to Syntob et al. On June 20, 1995. Syntob et al. Disclose a liquid polymer composition for whitening teeth. The liquid polymer composition is applied to the teeth to form a film. Other references that disclose the use of membranes in the oral cavity include US Pat. No. 4,713,243, issued to Schraldi et al. On December 15, 1987, and US Pat. No. 2,835,628, issued to Schaefer on May 20, 1958.

There is a need for a low cost, commercial delivery system that has the desired fit for the smallest volume of tooth whitening material and that contacts in conformity with the unique tooth surface and tooth gap space for rapid delivery of the active agent in the whitening material. There is also a need for a delivery system in which the batch operation of many users does not require any particularly good contact. There is also a need for a small volume of active agent container member that allows the wearer to use the system without interfering with the wearer's speech or appearance during social conversation. There is also a need for a container member that protects the tooth whitening material from eroding by contact of the inner mouth surface with saliva.

Overview of the devise

In the practice of the present invention, strip material is applied to a plurality of adjacent teeth by the wearer. The side of the strip that is in contact with the tooth is covered with a tooth whitening material. The whitening material is preferably a viscous state such as a gel to not only provide the active agent but also to provide viscosity between the strip material and the tooth surface to hold the strip material in place. The deformable strip material is preferably sized to fit each of 6-8 front teeth in the upper row or lower row when positioned in contact with the teeth. As a soft deformable material, the strip comes into contact with the wearer's gums without causing physical interference. The strip material can be easily fitted to the teeth by lightly pressing against the teeth and / or gently sucking through the gaps between the teeth by the wearer. When the delivery system is positioned in contact with a tooth, it can be easily matched and deformed according to the tooth shape without permanent deformation. The strip material is easily removed after use by the wearer peeling it off. Preferably, each successive treatment uses a new strip material.

Because the tooth whitening material is a relatively thin coating, it is less bulky than the material contained in the rigid container that is fitted or otherwise. Thus, the whitening material is not consumed, is rarely involuntary and is not intended to be used to stimulate the oral surface. Preferably, the strip material and the whitening material are virtually unrecognizable when acting substantially transparent.

The delivery system also includes a tooth whitening material coated on the strip material. When the delivery system is located on the surface of the tooth, the whitening material is in contact with the tooth surface to provide an active agent to that surface. The whitening material also provides a tacky adhesion between the surface of the tooth and the strip material to support the delivery system for a time sufficient to allow the active agent to act on the surface of the tooth. The whitening material is preferably in the form of a gel which is substantially uniformly and continuously coated on the strip material.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for delivering a whitening material to the surface of a tooth comprises coating the whitening material to a deformable strip material. Thereafter the deformable strip material is brought into contact with the surface of the tooth without permanent deformation of the strip material. The whitening material provides the active agent to the surface of the tooth and also provides an adhesive adhesion between the surface of the tooth and the strip material to hold the delivery system in place for a sufficient time for the active agent to act on the surface of the tooth.

The abbreviation "cm" means centimeters, and the abbreviation "mm" means millimeters.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Reference numeral 10 in the embodiment denotes a delivery system of the tooth whitening material. Reference numeral 10 of the embodiment is provided with strip material 12 which is substantially flat from the beginning and preferably rounded in corners.

The tooth whitening material 14 is applied or coated on the strip material 12. Preferably, the whitening material 14 is homogeneous and is uniformly and continuously coated on the strip material 12 as shown in FIG. However, the whitening material 14 may alternatively oral protect along the longitudinal axis of the laminate, components of the separating layer, amorphous mixture components, separated stripe or spots or other patterns of components, or portions of the strip material 12. It can be a combination structure of the above structure comprising a continuous coating of material (14).

As shown in FIG. 4, a shallow pocket 18 may be formed in the strip material 12 of another embodiment. In the case where the whitening material 14 is coated on the whitening material coating side of the strip material 12, the additional whitening material 14 is filled in the shallow pockets 18 forming the reservoir of the additional whitening material 14.

5 and 6 show the delivery system 24 of the present invention applied to a plurality of adjacent teeth and tooth surfaces. Stuck in adjacent soft tissue 20 are a number of adjacent teeth 22. Adjacent soft tissue is defined here as the soft tissue surface surrounding the tooth structure, papilla, marginal gingiva, gingival sulculus, inter dental gingiva, muco-gingival connection. -gingival junction) and gingival structures on the tongue and cheek surface up to and including the pallet.

5 and 6, the delivery system 24 is represented by a strip material 12 and a whitening material 14, with the whitening material 14 on the side of the strip material 12 abutting the teeth 22. . The whitening material 14 may be precoated with the strip material 12 or with the strip material by the delivery system user. In either case, the strip material 12 has a bending stiffness and a thickness that allow it to conform and deform along the contour surface of the adjacent teeth 22 and the adjacent soft tissue 20. The flexible strip material has sufficient flexibility and forms a curved shape around a plurality of adjacent teeth. In addition, when the delivery system is applied, the strip material can be easily deformed to coincide with the tooth surface and the interstices of the tooth without permanent deformation.

7 and 8 show the delivery system 24 of the present invention applied to the soft tissue 20 of the front of the tooth as well as the front and back of both sides of the plurality of adjacent teeth 22. The delivery system 24 is represented by the strip material 12 and the whitening material 14, and the whitening material 14 on the side of the strip material 12 is in contact with the teeth 22.

9 and 10 show an optional release liner 27. The release liner 27 is attached to the strip material 12 by the whitening material 14. The whitening material 14 is on the side of the strip material 12 opposite the release liner 27. The side is applied to the tooth surface as soon as the release liner 27 is removed.

Strip material

The strip material acts as a protective barrier to prevent saliva from contacting and dissolving the tooth whitening material and / or substantially preventing the tooth whitening material from eroding from the surface of the tooth by the user's lips, tongue, and other soft tissues. For the activity of the tooth whitening material acting on the surface of the tooth over a period of several minutes to several hours, it is important to minimize the above dissolution and / or erosion. By "acting" is defined as causing the desired change. For example, if the whitening material is a tooth whitening material, it causes whitening in the colored body.

(듀퐁사 제조) 등의 폴리에스테르, Teflon

(듀퐁사 제조) 등의 플루오로플라스틱 (fluoroplastic), 및 그것들의 혼합물을 포함하며 그것에 한정되지 않는다. 바람직하게는, 그 재료는 폴리에틸렌이다. 스트립재의 두께는 일반적으로 약 1 mm 미만이며, 바람직하게는 약 0.05 mm 미만이며, 더욱 바람직하게는 약 0.001 mm 내지 약 0.03 mm 이다. 폴리에틸렌 스트립재의 두께는 바람직하게는 0.1 mm 미만이며 더욱 바람직하게는 약 0.005 내지 약 0.02 mm 이다.The strip material consists of materials such as polymers, natural and synthetic fabrics, nonwovens, foils, paper, rubber, and combinations thereof. The strip material may be a single layer material or one or more layers of laminate. In general, the strip material is substantially water impermeable. The material may be any kind of polymer that satisfies the required flexural stiffness and is compatible with tooth whitening activators such as peroxides. The material may consist of a single polymer or a mixture of polymers. Suitable polymers include polyethylene, ethylvinylacetate, ethylvinyl alcohol, Mylar

Polyester, Teflon, etc. (made by Dupont)

Fluoroplastics such as (manufactured by DuPont), and mixtures thereof, but are not limited thereto. Preferably, the material is polyethylene. The thickness of the strip material is generally less than about 1 mm, preferably less than about 0.05 mm, more preferably from about 0.001 mm to about 0.03 mm. The thickness of the polyethylene strip material is preferably less than 0.1 mm and more preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.02 mm.

Preferably, the shape of the strip material is any shape with rounded corners. "Round corners" are defined as the absence of sharp angles or points. The size of the strip material that can be deformed to match the shape of the tooth is preferably a size that fits individually to the tooth rows to be bleached. Typically, the rows are 6-8 incisors of the upper row or lower row seen when the wearer smiles. Optionally, the strip material can fit the entire upper row or lower row of teeth when positioned in contact with the teeth. The size of the strip is determined by a number of factors including the number of teeth to be bleached, the size of the teeth and the personal preference of the wearer. Generally, the length of the strip material is about 2 cm to about 12 cm, preferably about 4 cm to about 9 cm. The width of the strip depends on a number of factors, including whether the strip wraps around the teeth or not, and covers both sides of the teeth. In typical applications, the strip material has a width of about 0.5 cm to about 4 cm and preferably about 1 cm to about 2 cm.

The strip material may have a shallow pocket. If the whitening material is coated on the whitening material coating side of the strip material, the additional whitening material is filled in the shallow pockets forming the reservoir of the additional whitening material. In addition, the shallow pockets provide texture to the delivery system. The membrane preferably has a shallow pocket of rows. Generally, the shallow pocket has a diameter of about 0.4 mm and a depth of about 0.1 mm. When shallow pockets are included in the strip, the whitening material can be applied in various thicknesses, and the overall thickness of the delivery system is generally less than about 1 mm. Preferably, the total thickness is less than about 0.5 mm.

Flexural stiffness is a material property that is a function of the thickness, width, and elastic modulus combination of the strips. Its test is a method of measuring the stiffness of polyolefin membranes and sheets. A strain gauge fixed to the end of the horizontal beam is used to determine the bending resistance of the sample. The opposite end of the beam is pressed against the strip sample, pushing a portion of the strip into the vertical groove of the horizontal platform on which the sample is placed. The microammeter wound on the strain gauge is measured in grams of deflection force. The stiffness of the sample is read directly from the microarmmeter and expressed as grams per centimeter of sample strip width. In the present invention, the strip material is "Thwing-Albert Instrument Co." of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It has a flexural stiffness of less than 5 g / cm when measured according to Test Method ASTM D2923-95 in "Handle-O-Meter" Model # 211-300 available from. Preferably, the flexural rigidity of the strip material is less than about 4 g / cm, more preferably less than about 3 g / cm, most preferably from about 0.1 g / cm to about 1 g / cm. Preferably, the flexural stiffness of the strip material is substantially constant and does not change significantly during normal use. For example, the strip material does not need to hydrate the strip in order to obtain low flexural stiffness in the above specific range.

Such relatively low stiffness allows the strip to cover the contour of the tooth even with very little force. In other words, the residual force in the strap material to return to the original flat shape is small so that the conformity according to the curvature of the wearer's mouth and the gap between adjacent teeth is maintained. The flexibility of the strip allows the strip material to contact adjacent soft tissue without physical stimulation for a long time. The strip material does not need to pressurize it against the tooth.

The strip material is held in place on a plurality of adjacent teeth by the sticky attachment provided by the whitening material. The viscosity and general viscosity of the whitening material allows the strip material to be adhesively attached to multiple adjacent teeth during the movement of the mouth with respect to conversation, drinking, etc., without substantial slipping under potential friction from the lips, tongue, and other soft tissues rubbing the strip material. do. However, the adhesion to such teeth is low enough that the delivery system can be easily removed by peeling off the strip using the wearer's fingers or nails. The delivery system can be easily removed from the surface of the tooth without the use of tools, chemical solvents, or excessive friction. Chemical solvents include safe solvents such as water that can be used to dilute organic solvents such as alcohols and gelling agents commonly used in oral care products. The aforementioned excessive friction is any form of rubbing using a user's finger or a soft tool such as a cotton ball, cotton swab, gauze pad or the like.

A peel force of about 1 g to about 50 g is required per strip width (about 17 g / cm) of 1.5 cm. Preferably, the peel force is from about 5 g to about 40 g, more preferably from about 10 g to about 30 g. Low peel force is required for the processing operation of the consumer. Low peel force is possible due to the non-aggregating nature of the gel material. The adhesion of the whitening material can also be low only if the flexural rigidity of the strip is low. The adhesion of the hard strip must be large in proportion to the strip stiffness to prevent the strip from returning to its flat state and to prevent it from falling off the contours of many teeth.

The strip material can be formed by several film production methods of known techniques. Preferably, the strip material made of polyethylene can be produced by blowing or casting. Extrusion and other methods are also possible because they do not affect the flexural stiffness of the strip material. In addition, the whitening material can be incorporated into the strip during the stripping process. The whitening material may be a laminate on a strip.

Whitening substance

A tooth whitening material is a composition, compound, or mixture that can cause the desired change in appearance and / or structure of the contact surface. Examples of structural and appearance changes include, but are not limited to, whitening, bleaching, stain removal, plaque removal, tartar removal. Preferably, the active agent is for whitening the tooth surface.

The content of the whitening material applied to the strip or tooth depends on the size and capacity of the strip, the active agent concentration, and the desired benefits. Generally, less than about 1 g of the whitening material is required, and preferably about 0.05 g to about 0.5 g, more preferably about 0.1 g to 0.4 g of the whitening material is used. The content of whitening material per square centimeter is less than about 0.2 g / cm 2, preferably from about 0.005 g / cm 2 to about 0.1 g / cm 2, more preferably from about 0.01 g / cm 2 to 0.04 g / cm 2.

The whitening material of the present invention may be in the form of a viscous liquid, paste, gel, solution, or other suitable form that can provide sufficient adhesion, and the whitening material in gel form is preferred. The whitening material has a viscosity of about 200 to about 1,000,000 cps at low shear rates (less than 1 / second). Preferably, the viscosity is about 100,000 to about 800,000 cps, more preferably about 400,000 to about 600,000 cps.

Suitable active agents for whitening include any material that can remove bleaching or staining and be safely used in the oral cavity. Suitable active agents for whitening are selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxides, and combinations thereof. Suitable peroxide compounds include hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, carbamide peroxide, and mixtures thereof. Most preferred is carbamide peroxide. Suitable chlorite metals include calcium chlorite, barium chlorite, magnesium chlorite, lithium chlorite, sodium chlorite, and potassium chlorite. Additional whitening agents can be hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide. Preferred chlorite is sodium chlorite.

The tooth whitening active agent is present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 40% by weight of the whitening material. When the peroxide compound is selected as the activator, the peroxide compound has a hydrogen peroxide content such as about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably about 0.5% to about 10%, more preferably about 1% to about 7% of the weight of the whitening material. Must be provided. To deliver this amount of hydrogen peroxide, a peroxide compound, such as carbamide peroxide, is present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 30%, preferably from about 3% to about 20% by weight of the whitening material.

Active agents are generally contained in aqueous gels. The gel is a high viscosity matrix formed from known gelling agents. These gelling agents are safe for oral use, do not readily dissolve in saliva, and do not react or are inactive with the oral therapeutic compounds introduced therein. Generally, the gelling agent is a swellable polymer. In addition, gels formed with such gelling agents provide sufficient adhesive adhesion of the membrane material to specific areas of the mouth. The amount of gelling agent for forming the gel composition is about 0.1% to about 15%, preferably 1% to 10%, more preferably about 2% to about 8%, most preferably about 4% of the weight of the whitening material. To about 7%.

Suitable gelling agents useful in the present invention include carboxypolymethylene, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxypropyl cellulose, poloxamer, carrageenan, veegum, carboxyvinyl; Natural rubber such as gum karaya, xanthan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, and mixtures thereof. Preferred gelling agents for use in the present invention are carboxypolymethylene under the trade name "Carbopole" obtained from "BF Goodrich Company", particularly preferred carbopols are carbopol 934, 940, 941, 956 and mixtures thereof Among them, carbopol 956 is particularly preferred. Carboxypolymethylenes are weakly acidic vinylpolymers with active carboxyl groups. Typical concentrations of various carboxypolymethylene resins in water according to the manufacturer are less than about 2%. However, by preparing a supersaturated carboxypolymethylene composition having an absolute concentration in the specific range described above, an appropriate high viscosity oral gel composition can be prepared.

Concentrated carboxypolymethylene gels have a number of important properties in addition to high viscosity. Sufficient sufficient carboxypolymethylene is added to the oral gel composition to provide high viscosity, which requires a significant amount of saliva or water to lower the viscosity to the extent that it can be diluted and lost by saliva. In addition, the concentrated carboxypolymethylene composition has a characteristic adhesiveness or adhesion to hold and seal the strip material against the oral surface of the object to which the strip material is to be fixed, especially the tooth, but too much carboxy which makes the insertion and recovery of the strip material difficult. Care should be taken to avoid polymethylene.

Water is present in the gel composition as described below. The water used in the present invention should preferably be deionized and free of organic impurities. The water is about 0.1% to 95%, preferably about 5% to about 90%, more preferably about 10% to about 80% of the weight of the whitening material. This amount of water includes free water added in addition to the amount introduced with other substances.

In addition, pH adjusters may be added to optimize the storage capacity of the gel and make it a stable whitening material for oral tissue. These pH adjusting agents or buffers are any materials suitable for adjusting the pH of the material. Suitable materials include sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium stannate, triethanolamine, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium citrate, and mixtures thereof. The pH adjusting agent is added in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the gel composition to about 4.5 to about 11, preferably about 5 to about 8.5, more preferably about 5.5 to about 7. Generally, the pH adjuster is present in an amount from about 0.01% to about 15%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the whitening material.

Although the gel described above provides sufficient adhesion, additional gelling agents can be added to help the active agent adhere to the tissues of the oral cavity. Suitable gelling agents include polymers with limited water solubility as well as polymers that lack water solubility. These polymers deposit thin films on both soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity when saliva is mixed with instant compositions. Adhesives with suitably defined water solubility include hydroxy ethyl or propyl cellulose. Adhesives lacking in water solubility include ethyl cellulose and polyox resins. Another possible adhesive suitable for use as an instant composition is polyvinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of 50,000 to 300,000. Another possible composition suitable for use in the instant composition is a mixture of Gantrez and a semisynthetic water soluble polymer carboxymethyl cellulose.

Additional carrier materials may be added to the whitening materials described above. The carrier material may be a humectant. Suitable wetting agents include glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and other edible polyhydric alcohols. Wetting agents are generally present in amounts of about 10% to about 95%, preferably about 20% to about 80%, more preferably about 50% to about 70% by weight of the whitening material. In addition to the gel materials described above, a number of other ingredients can be added to the whitening material. Additional ingredients include, but are not limited to, flavorants, sweeteners, xylitol, whitening agents, colorants, and chelants such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. These additional components can also be used in place of the foregoing compounds.

Release liner

등의 폴리에스테르, 플 루오로폴리머, 또는 다른 비접착형 물질로 피복될 수 있다. 바람직한 릴리스 라이너는 3M 에서 제조한 Scotchpak

이다. 릴리스 라이너는 스트립재와 실질적으로 동일한 크기와 형상으로 절단될 수도 있고, 릴리스 라이너는 스트립으로부터 물질을 분리하는데 접근이 용이한 수단을 제공하기 위하여 스트립재보다 더 크게 절단될 수도 있다. 릴리스 라이너는, 스트립이 구부러지는 경우 균열이 가는 취성제, 또는 복수 조각으로된 재료나 자국난 재료로 형성될 수 있다. 다른 방식으로, 릴리스 라이너는 통상적인 접착 스트립 붕대형 구조와 같이 2 개가 중첩된 조각으로 될 수 있다. 릴리스제로서 적절한 재료의 추가 설명은 "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 제 4 판, 볼륨 21, pp.207-218" 에 기재되어 있으며, 여기에서 참고자료로서 인용된다.The release liner can be made of any material that has affinity for the whitening agent that is lower than the affinity that the whitening material has to itself and the affinity that the whitening material has to the strip material. The release liner preferably consists of rigid plate material such as polyethylene, paper, polyester, or other material, and is coated with a non-stick material. Release Liner Material is Wax, Silicone, Teflon

It may be coated with polyester, fluoropolymer, or other non-adhesive material. Preferred release liners are Scotchpak from 3M

to be. The release liner may be cut into substantially the same size and shape as the strip material, and the release liner may be cut larger than the strip material to provide an accessible means of separating material from the strip. The release liner may be formed of a brittle agent that cracks when the strip is bent, or a plural piece of material or a flaky material. Alternatively, the release liner may be in two overlapping pieces, such as a conventional adhesive strip bandage structure. Further description of suitable materials as release agents is described in "Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Edition, Volume 21, pp. 207-218", which is incorporated herein by reference.

(Example)

The strip material is preferably a piece of polyethylene film of 0.013 mm thickness. The membrane preferably has rows of shallow pockets, typically the diameter of the pocket is 0.4 mm and the depth is 0.1 mm. Strip material is "Thwing-Albert Instrument Co." in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It has a flexural stiffness of about 0.6 g / cm, as measured by Test Method ASTM D2923-95, in "Handle-O-Meter" Model # 211-300, available from.

An example of a tooth whitening material is a gel mixed with 70% glycerin, 5% carboxypolymethylene, 10% carbamide peroxide, and 15% water adjusted to pH 6.5 using sodium hydroxide.

Another example of a tooth whitening gel is to mix 8% carboxypolymethylene in about 84% water, add 4% sodium hydroxide and a sufficient amount of sodium bicarbonate to bring the pH to about 10, and 3.75% There is a gel that is dissolved in sodium chlorite and mixed until homogeneous.

 56% glycerin, 6% carboxypolymethylene, 10% carbamide peroxide, and 24% water were added, and 4% sodium hydroxide (50% solution) was added to adjust the pH and homogenized. There is gel mixed until.

There is a gel mixed with 68% glycerin, 6% carboxypolymethylene, 22% carbamide peroxide, and 4% sodium hydroxide (50% solution) until homogeneous.

There is a gel mixed with 25% glycerin, 69.7% water, 2% xanthan rubber, 3% carboxymethylcellulose, and 0.3% carbamide peroxide and mixed until uniform.

There is a gel mixed with 24% poloxamer, 20% glycerin, 46% polyethylene glycol, and 10% carbamide peroxide and mixed until homogeneous.

Commercially available tooth whitening materials such as "Opalescence" and "Nu-Pro Gold" are also possible with the delivery system of the present invention.

(How to use)

In the practice of the present invention, the wearer abuts the strip material against a plurality of adjacent teeth. The side of the material that is in contact with the tooth is covered with a tooth whitening material and the whitening material is preferably viscous to provide adhesion between the strip and the tooth surface to keep the strip in place for an extended period of time. . The strip material can be easily fitted to the teeth by lightly pressing against the teeth and / or gently sucking through the gaps between the teeth by the wearer. The strip material is easily removed by the wearer peeling it off. Preferably, each successive treatment uses a new strip material.

There is no need to prepare the tooth surface before applying the delivery system. For example, the wearer may or may not rinse or brush his or her mouth prior to applying the delivery system. It is not necessary to dry the surface of the tooth or to make it excessively wet with saliva or water before applying the strip material.

Preferably, the strip material and the whitening material are substantially transparent and are hardly recognized after wearing. The thin delivery system allows the high temperature inside the wearer's mouth to be thermally conducted to the typically cold tooth through the strip to accelerate the rate of diffusion of the active material onto the tooth surface.

진공 파르브스카라 음영 가이드 (Vacuum Farbskala Shade Guide ) 에 의해서 측정될 때 1-4 음영 가이드 개선의 미백효과를 달성하기 위하여 실시된다. Preferably, the wearer wears the delivery system of the present invention to the teeth for about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes, preferably about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes per day. Generally, this is done once a day for about 7 to 28 days. The total time and number of days depends on several factors, including the degree of bleaching desired, the wearer's teeth, and the desired initial or maintenance bleaching. Bleaching is VITA LUMIN, product of "VITA Zahnfabrik" of Bad Sachkingen, Germany

Measured by vacuum Farbskala Shade Guide, it is carried out to achieve a whitening effect of 1-4 shade guide improvement.

When the wearer removes the strip from the tooth, there may be residual whitening material on the tooth surface. Tooth whitening material has affinity for the membrane and itself, so there is not much such residue. If the residue is present, it can be easily removed by brushing or rinsing.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications within the scope of the present invention are intended to be included in the appended claims. .

Claims (40)

A tooth whitening material delivery device comprising a strip material and a tooth whitening material applied on the strip material, wherein the strip material has sufficient flexibility to form a curved shape on a plurality of adjacent teeth, and is easily changed according to the tooth surface and the tooth gap space. A tooth whitening material delivery device that can be deformed in conformity and has a thickness of more than 0 mm and less than 1 mm. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexural stiffness measured on the Handle-O-Meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 5 g / cm. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexural stiffness measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 4 g / cm. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexural stiffness measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 3 g / cm. The device of claim 1, wherein the tooth whitener material is substantially flat at first. delete The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the overall thickness is greater than 0 mm and less than 0.5 mm. delete The device of claim 1, wherein the strip material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, natural and synthetic fabrics, nonwovens, foils, paper, rubber, and combinations thereof. 10. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 9, wherein the strip material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, ethyl vinyl acetate, ethyl vinyl alcohol, polyester, and combinations thereof. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 10, wherein the strip material comprises a polyethylene film. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap material is a laminate. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the strip material is water impermeable. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the strip material has a thickness of 0.013 mm. The device of claim 1, wherein the strip material is rectangular in shape. The device of claim 1, wherein the strip material covers the entire row teeth. 17. A tooth whitening material delivery device as defined in claim 16, wherein the strip covers six to eight teeth. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the strip material has a length of 2 to 12 cm. The device of claim 1, wherein the strip material has a width of 0.5 to 4 cm. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexural stiffness of the strip material measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 0.6 g / cm. A tooth whitening material delivery device comprising a strip material and a tooth whitening material applied on the strip material, wherein the strip material has sufficient flexibility to form a curved shape on a plurality of adjacent teeth, the delivery device having a front surface of the tooth ( A tooth whitening material delivery device in contact with the front surface, surrounding the incisal edge of the teeth, and in contact with the back surface of the tooth. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device of claim 21, wherein the flexural stiffness measured at the Handle-O-Meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 5 g / cm. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device of claim 21, wherein the flexural stiffness measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 4 g / cm. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device of claim 21, wherein the flexural stiffness measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 3 g / cm. The device of claim 21, wherein the tooth whitener material is substantially flat at first. delete 22. A tooth whitening material delivery device as defined in claim 21, wherein the total thickness is greater than 0 mm and less than 0.5 mm. delete 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the strip material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, natural and synthetic fabrics, nonwovens, foils, paper, rubber, and combinations thereof. 30. The tooth whitening material delivery device of Claim 29, wherein the strip material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, ethylvinylacetate, ethylvinylalcohol, polyester, and combinations thereof. 31. The tooth whitening material delivery device of Claim 30, wherein the strip material comprises a polyethylene film. 22. A tooth whitening material delivery device as defined in claim 21, wherein the strap material is a laminate. 22. A tooth whitening material delivery device according to Claim 21 wherein the strip material is water impermeable. 22. A tooth whitening material delivery device according to Claim 21, wherein the strip material has a thickness of 0.013 mm. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 21, wherein the strip material is rectangular in shape. 22. A tooth whitening material delivery device as defined in claim 21, wherein the strip covers the entire row teeth. 37. A tooth whitening material delivery device as defined in claim 36, wherein the strip material covers six to eight teeth. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 21, wherein the strip material has a length of 2 to 12 cm. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device according to claim 21, wherein the strip material has a width of 0.5 to 4 cm. 22. The tooth whitening material delivery device of Claim 21, wherein the flexural stiffness of the strip material measured on the handle-o-meter is greater than 0 g / cm and less than 0.6 g / cm.

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