Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
  • A61Q11/00—Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/02—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K8/0241—Containing particulates characterized by their shape and/or structure
  • A61K8/025—Explicitly spheroidal or spherical shape
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
  • A61K8/30—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds
  • A61K8/40—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds containing nitrogen
  • A61K8/43—Guanidines
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
  • A61K8/72—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K8/81—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • A61K8/8105—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • A61K8/8117—Homopolymers or copolymers of aromatic olefines, e.g. polystyrene; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K2800/00—Properties of cosmetic compositions or active ingredients thereof or formulation aids used therein and process related aspects
  • A61K2800/40—Chemical, physico-chemical or functional or structural properties of particular ingredients
  • A61K2800/41—Particular ingredients further characterized by their size
  • A61K2800/412—Microsized, i.e. having sizes between 0.1 and 100 microns
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K2800/00—Properties of cosmetic compositions or active ingredients thereof or formulation aids used therein and process related aspects
  • A61K2800/40—Chemical, physico-chemical or functional or structural properties of particular ingredients
  • A61K2800/60—Particulates further characterized by their structure or composition
  • A61K2800/65—Characterized by the composition of the particulate/core
  • A61K2800/654—The particulate/core comprising macromolecular material

Definitions

• the invention relates to desensitizing teeth.
• the dentin layer in a tooth generally contains channels, or tubules, extending from the pulpal surface to the peripheral surface located interior to the enamel and cementum. Exposure of these tubules in the dentin may occur through the loss of enamel and/or gingival recession accompanied by a loss of cementum. It has been theorized that these exposed tubules are in part responsible for the hypersensitivity to external stimuli, such as hot or cold fluids, or applied mechanical pressures often exhibited by teeth.
• Patent No. 3,689,636 describes desensitizing teeth with solutions of chloride salts. Rosenthal, U.S. Patent No. 3,122,483, describes desensitizing teeth with strontium ions.
• Scheller U.S. Patent Nos. 4,634,589 and 4,710,372, describe a dentifrice containing apatite particles for treating hypersensitive teeth. It is known that dentifrices may include particles which thicken or color the dentifrice, or which make the dentifrice abrasive. For example, in Scheller '589 and '372, the apatite particles are included in the dentifrice to roughen the surface of the teeth. See also, Thuersson et al., U.S. Patent No.
• a composition for desensitizing a hypersensitive tooth comprising an effective amount of charged polymeric particles.
• the invention features a method of desensitizing a hypersensitive tooth by applying an effective amount of charged polymeric particles to the surface of the tooth.
• Charged means that the particles have an average surface charge density of at least 0.5 ⁇ C/cm 2 (microcoulomb per square centimeter) as measured by conductiometric titration.
• the invention features a method of treating a hypersensitive tooth that has exposed tubules in the dentin layer of the tooth.
• the method includes applying a sufficient amount of charged polymeric particles to the surface of the tooth to block the tubules.
• the preferred particles have an average size of between 0.01 micron to 3 microns, more preferably between 0.2 micron to 0.6 micron, and an average surface charge density of greater than 4 ⁇ C/cm 2 .
• the more preferred particles are microspheres, such as the polystyrene microspheres.
• the more preferred particles optionally, may have an antimicrobial (e.g., chlorhexidine) an analgesic compound (e.g. barbital) , or other therapeutic substance (e.g. anti-calculus agent or anti- caries agent) , adsorbed on their surface.
• the surface of the hypersensitive tooth is polished, and a dispersion of the particles is applied to the polished surface for at least one minute.
• a preferred method of applying the particles is by brushing the teeth with a toothbrush having bristles which include the particles.
• the invention features a method of treating hypersensitive teeth by applying charged polymeric microspheres to the surface of the tooth.
• the invention features a dentifrice including charged polymeric microspheres.
• the invention provides an effective, straightforward way to desensitize teeth. ithout being bound to any theory, it is believed that the invention is effective at least in part because the charged particles cling to the surface of the teeth, blocking the tubules, and making it more difficult for external stimuli like hot or cold temperatures to affect the nerve in the pulp. When some of the particles blocking the tubules eventually wash out of the tubules, they are easily replenished by an additional application of particles.
• Fig. l is an electron micrograph of a dentin surface prior to exposure to the particles of the invention.
• Fig. 2 is an electron micrograph of the surface of Fig. 1 after exposure to the particles of the invention.
• the charged particles preferably have an average diameter of less than 0.6 micron. Larger particles may not fit as well in the dentin tubules.
• the more preferred particles are positively charged polystyrene microspheres having an average diameter of about 0.5 micron.
• the microspheres were supplied by Interfacial Dynamics Corp. of Portland, Oregon (Catalog No. 10-43-57) . It is believed that to provide the benefits of the invention a sufficient quantity of charged particles should be applied to the surface of a hypersensitive region of the tooth so that the charged particles clog the exposed tubules in the dentin.
• This application can be performed in a variety of ways; for example, the tooth surface can be washed with a concentrated aqueous dispersion of the particles. Generally, the more concentrated the dispersion of particles, the less time the surface of the tooth needs to be washed. The following are examples of typical procedures that can be used to apply the particles.
• the tooth surface initially is polished.
• the surface is then exposed to an aqueous dispersion of the more preferred microspheres (1.6 X 10 10 particles/ml, pH 4) .
• a preferred dispersion is formed by diluting 916 ⁇ l of the preferred microsphere dispersion (Catalog No. 10-43-57, Interfacial Dynamics) to a volume of 40 ml with water which has been filtered, double distilled, and adjusted to pH 4.
• the dispersion is then agitated against the tooth surface for 5 minutes.
• the surface is exposed to a pressurized jet of the aqueous dispersion e.g., at a pressure of about 30 psi for about 20 seconds, or the surface is brushed with bristles that are saturated with microspheres, for 3 minutes.
• a pressurized jet of the aqueous dispersion e.g., at a pressure of about 30 psi for about 20 seconds, or the surface is brushed with bristles that are saturated with microspheres, for 3 minutes.
• Figs 1 and 2 show the dentin surface, before and after, respectively, a 5 minute exposure to a latex particle dispersion of 0.489 ⁇ m positively charged polystyrene microspheres. Prior to exposure to the dispersion, the exposed tubules in the dentin are empty; after exposure they are substantially filled with the particles present in the dispersion. (Figs. 1 and 2 were both taken at 5000x magnification.)
• An alternative procedure for applying the particles to the tooth is to soak a cotton pellet with an aqueous dispersion of the particles, and then rub the cotton pellet over the polished surface of the tooth, preferably for one minute or less.
• microspheres can be included in a dentifrice (toothpaste) or a mouthwash; when the dentifrice or mouthwash contacts the surface of a tooth the microspheres will fill in the tubules.
• a dentifrice teethpaste
• a mouthwash it may be applied under pressure, using any commercially available water-jet appliance.
• the microspheres can also be applied, for example, by including them on the bristles of toothbrushes or on dental floss.
• the particles may have an antimicrobial, analgesic or other therapeutic substance adsorbed on their surface. These particles provide both a desensitization benefit of this invention and an anti- icrobial benefit or other benefit provided by the therapeutic agent selected.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Birds (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)
• Dental Preparations (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (3)

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Citations (4)

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• 1992
  • 1992-01-14 US US07/820,348 patent/US5211939A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1993
  • 1993-01-12 CA CA002127870A patent/CA2127870C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-01-12 ZA ZA93196A patent/ZA93196B/xx unknown
  • 1993-01-12 AU AU34694/93A patent/AU3469493A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-01-12 DE DE69332835T patent/DE69332835T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-01-12 WO PCT/US1993/000239 patent/WO1993013748A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1993-01-12 EP EP93903426A patent/EP0726756B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1993-01-13 MX MX9300160A patent/MX9300160A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1993-01-14 CN CN93101735A patent/CN1049112C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (4)

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