Enamel-safe tooth bleach and method for use

[0002] A. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to the field of dental bleaches and dental bleaching. More particularly, the invention relates to viscous dental bleaches which may be placed into a tray or otherwise held against a patient's teeth in order to cause a lightening, whitening and stain removal effect without damaging the enamel of the patient's teeth.

[0004] B. Description of Related Art

[0005] The ability to whiten both vital and non-vital teeth with peroxides has been known for well over 40 years. By nature, the human race is very diversified genetically as to tooth shape and color. The color of teeth within the human race usually ranges from whites, blacks, greys, browns and yellows. Environment, nutrition, medication and diet can affect tooth color. Some foods such as blueberries, cranberries, coffee and tea can significantly alter a persons tooth color from its original state. Other habits like smoking or chewing of tobacco can darken a person's teeth over a period of time. Tetracycline and other medications can have a darkening or graying effect on teeth. Children born to women who ingested tetracycline during pregnancy often have permanently stained teeth. Tetracycline staining may come in definite unsightly bands on the teeth.

[0006] A desire among the populace for bright white teeth has increased as economic stature and standards of living have improved. In developing and developed nations, social standing, personal relations and career opportunities can be positively or negatively influenced by the appearance of one's teeth. Generally, it is preferred to have white teeth rather than to have dark teeth. Since whiter teeth are generally more desirable, many materials have been devised to whiten an individual's teeth by chemical means.

[0007] The most commonly accepted chemicals used in teeth whitening today are peroxides. Peroxides are known in the art as oxidizing agents and are highly reactive. Organic molecules that reflect specific wavelengths of light back to our eyes are usually very complex molecules. We usually call these colorful substances dyes and pigments. Oxidation of these organic dyes and pigments usually destroys their ability to absorb light and therefore renders them white. For example, the paper industry uses hydrogen peroxide to bleach brown wood pulp to white wood pulp.

[0008] Peroxides are preferred as a teeth whitener, because they are generally deemed safe from a physiological standpoint as compared to other oxidizing agents. The peroxides of choice for teeth whitening are: hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, sodium perborate, and sodium percarbonate. When these peroxides are in appropriate contact with teeth they will usually oxidize both internal and external organic stains, rendering the teeth whiter. In contrast, inorganic stains are usually not effected by peroxides. Individuals with predisposed inorganic stains usually will not experience a whitening effect with the application of peroxides. However, the majority of the world's human population will experience a whitening effect through the application of peroxides to teeth.

[0009] Since the use of peroxides has been generally accepted for use in teeth whitening, a multitude of methods for applying peroxides have been devised. One method of application is to paint a peroxide in water solution directly on the teeth. A problem with water solutions of peroxides is that they are too thin or runny. This causes them to run off of the teeth due to the force of gravity and run onto the soft tissues of the mouth. High concentrations of peroxides are painfully irritating to soft tissue, causing serious discomfort to a patient. The method of painting a water solution of peroxide on a person's teeth is usually an “in-office” procedure, because of the inherent difficulties associated with patients applying it to their own teeth. In most cases the patients lips are painfully retracted during the entire treatment, and the patient is confined to sitting in the dental chair. The danger of the peroxide solution running off the teeth and contacting soft tissue is always present when peroxide and water bleaching solutions are used.

[0010] Patient comfort during the bleaching treatment may be improved by shortening the time of bleaching. In general there are three ways to bleach teeth faster. The first is to increase the concentration of the peroxide. The second is to increase the pH of the peroxide with a basic substance. Basic substances such as sodium hydroxide will destabalize peroxide solutions, therefore making the peroxide more reactive so that it carries out its whitening effect more quickly. The third way to bleach teeth more quickly is to speed up the reaction process by heating the peroxide solution. Heat accelerates almost all chemical reactions, including bleaching. In order to reduce bleaching treatment time, any one or combination of the above methods can be implemented or augmented.

[0011] There are physiological problems associated with speeding up the bleaching process, however. First, as peroxide concentration in the bleach is increased, the bleach is more irritating to soft tissues. Second, as the pH level is increased in the bleach, the bleach becomes more caustic to soft tissue. Third, as temperature of the bleach is increased, the bleaching process is more likely to burn soft tissue or even kill teeth.

[0012] The runniness of aqueous peroxide solutions and the problems associated with accelerating the bleaching process incentivized the dental care provider to isolate soft tissues from the dental bleach. This can be accomplished by methods known in the dental profession such as use of a rubber dam. First, the patients lips are painfully retracted, followed by placing a pre-punched rubber sheet or dam over each individual tooth. Placing a rubber dam on each tooth is slow and does not guarantee a perfect seal against leakage of the peroxide solution onto soft tissue. In order to satisfy patient demand for rapid and complete bleaching of teeth, the dental practitioner must increase risk to the patient by use of more concentrated bleaches. In order to treat teeth with a bleach that would essentially be non-irritating to soft tissues would take 2-5 full days of bleaching to see significant improvement in whitening. A patient would be very uncomfortable sitting in a dental chair with their cheeks retracted for that period of time, and the cost of such treatment would be prohibitive.

[0013] Recognition of these inherent problems associated with the “paint-on” method of bleaching with aqueous peroxides brought about significant improvements in the art of tooth bleaching. The improvements came by adding viscosity-building chemicals to the peroxide solutions. By increasing the viscosity of bleaching solutions, the ability of the bleach to flow, run or drip decreased. Substances such as glycerin, high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, fumed silica, high molecular weight polypropylene glycol, xanthan gum, hydroxy propyl cellulose and carbomer (marketed under the trade name CARBOPOL®), have generally been used to increase the viscosity of peroxide solutions.

[0014] In order to also reduce the detrimental effects of bleaching gels coming into contact with soft tissues, the pH of the peroxide solution was adjusted to around pH=7. When concentration of peroxide was reduced, patients were required to keep the bleaching gel in contact with their teeth for a longer period of time in order to achieve the desired whitening result. This consideration was addressed by use of a dental tray which holds the bleach in contact with teeth, but which prevents the bleach from flowing away from the teeth to contact soft tissues. Use of a dental tray permits the bleach to remain in intimate contact with teeth for long periods of time without requiring the patient to sit in a dental chair with retracted cheeks. When a dental tray is used to accommodate long periods of exposure of bleach to teeth, lower concentrations of peroxides in bleach may also be used, therefore reducing risk to soft tissue. A dental tray is an arch-shaped container which holds the bleaching material against the teeth. The dental tray also acts as a barrier against dilution of the bleach by saliva and the eventual swallowing of the bleaching material in a short period of time.

[0015] The viscosity-building material used in almost all bleaching gels today is carbomer (CARBOPOL®), manufactured by B.F. Goodrich. CARBOPOLO® is a modified poly acrylic acid hydrophilic polymer, capable of forming viscous gels at concentrations above as little as 5% by weight. CARBOPOL® is the material of choice for current bleach manufactures because it thickens peroxide solutions to a point where they will not run out of a dental tray or away from the teeth to soft tissue areas. This allows the bleach to stay in contact with the teeth for extended periods of time and protects soft tissues. The use of a dental tray and a viscous bleach allows a low concentration bleach to effectively whiten a persons teeth over a 1-2 week period of time with minimal risk to the patient. CARBOPOL® is generally the only material of choice that delivers the required high viscosity properties for a 4-8 hour bleaching period.

[0016] Fumed silica is an alternative thickening agent but it is considered a poor choice for use in dentistry. Fumed silica is not soluble in peroxide solutions, therefore it only suspends in the solution. At higher loadings of silica, peroxide solutions turn into a putty instead of a viscous gel. A putty suffers from not being able to flow freely around the teeth to adequately bleach them. Silica also absorbs peroxide solutions, thus binding up the peroxide so that it is not available for bleaching. Silica can also act disadvantageously as a wick to peroxide solutions. Silica-thickened bleaches dry up very quickly when placed on the teeth, and it is well known that dry peroxides do not bleach. It is therefore generally concluded that silica is a poor choice as a thickener for tray bleaching.

[0017] There are other natural gums that could also be considered as a thickener for tray bleaching. Materials such as xanthan gum, pectin, guar gum and hydroxy propyl cellulose have been considered in the past. Natural gums are also poor materials of choice for use as thickeners in dental bleaching, although they are used widely in the food industry as thickeners. Natural gums at low concentrations are adequate for thickening bleaches that are still runny and able to drip when poured. Natural gums at high concentrations tend to turn into gelatinous masses. Gelatin does not flow and tends to clump together, thus limiting its ability to adequately flow around the teeth to effectively bleach. For this reason it is not used as the sole thickener in viscous bleaches. It has generally been concluded by the industry that natural gums are not desirable for use in tray bleaching.

[0018] Other thickening agents used in the dental industry are high molecular weight water soluble waxes, such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. Water soluble waxes are not used as the sole thickener for peroxide solutions, however, because they do not thicken adequately. At high loadings of water soluble waxes, bleaches are still runny and maintain no gel-type properties. Bleaches made from water soluble waxes are not highly viscous and can easily escape out of the tray. It is generally known that water soluble waxes used to thicken peroxide solutions are not desirable for tray bleaching.

[0019] Considering the shortcomings of the various thickeners, CARBOPOL® remained the best compromise as a thickener for tray bleaching in the prior art. CARBOPOL® has more or less the desired thickening properties to deliver a viscous bleaching gel. For this reason it is widely used as the thickener of choice in almost all currently marketed available tray bleaching materials.

[0020] CARBOPOL®, though popular, has shortcomings as well. CARBOPOL® is a cross-linked poly acrylic acid. A poly acrylic acid has the structure —CH₂CH(CO₂H)—. When CARBOPOLO® is dispersed in water, the resulting mixture becomes acidic. Acidic substances have the ability to remove cations from inorganic matrixes to form a salt. The enamel that covers the outer portion of human teeth is composed of calcium hydroxy apatite. Calcium hydroxy apatite is a crystalline material similar to bone ceramic. Acidic substances like vinegar or lemons can remove enamel by forming a salt with the calcium in our enamel. It is well known in the dental industry that individuals who suck on lemons can literally etch large portions of enamel off their teeth.

[0021] Similarly, CARBOPOL® is a long chain of repeating acids, and when dispersed in an aqueous solution, it can acidically remove calcium from teeth and therefore remove tooth enamel. Since CARBOPOL® bleaches are intended for long-term bleaching regimes, keeping the bleach in contact with the tooth for more than just a few minutes, they can also be expected to remove enamel during these extended bleaching sessions. It is accepted in the dental industry that the removal of layers of enamel is harmful to an individuals dental health and can lead to mottling (wearing away) of the teeth.

[0022] Manufacturers of dental bleach containing CARBOPOL® use bases to raise the pH of the bleaching material. The bases of choice generally have been sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and triethanol amine. Bases are used to raise the pH of the dental bleach to less acidic levels to reduce removal of enamel by acidic etching. Since CARBOPOL® is known to be more stable in acidic ranges, almost all manufacturers of tray bleaching systems adjust their CARBOPOL® bleaches to a pH range of 5.5-6.5. The lower the pH of the bleach, the more enamel is removed by acidic etching. Long term bleaching only lengthens out the acidic etching process. Even a bleach pH of 6.0 can remove tooth enamel during bleaching.

[0023] Additionally, it is difficult to achieve consistent pH from batch to batch of dental bleach. Because of the variations in the average molecular weight of CARBOPOL®, specially tailored quantities of base must be added to separate batches to attain a constant pH level in the dental bleach product. But it is a common practice for manufacturers to add a standard amount of base to each batch of bleach, resulting in pH variability from batch to batch. This variability will always exist even if the manufacturer intends his bleach to be at pH 7.

[0024] Another problem in using CARBOPOL® is that it has long chains of poly acrylic acid that sometimes fold around themselves to form a ball. When this happens, the inner protected parts of the CARBOPOL® chain wet at a much slower rate than the outer parts of the chain. This means that the pH of the CARBOPOL® and hence the dental bleach will vary with the total wetting time. Consequently, CARBOPOL® bleaches may have a different pH at one week after manufacture than on the day of manufacture. The only way to rectify this problem is for the dental bleach manufacturer to keep the CARBOPOL® bleach in storage for a period of time to allow pH stabilization, followed by a final pH adjustment. Such a practice is not economical. All these factors make it extremely difficult to manufacture CARBOPOL® dental bleach that has a consistent pH level both from batch to batch and over time.

[0025] Acidic etching, as explained above, is not the only cause of calcium being removed from tooth enamel. Organic acids can also remove cations by the process of chelation. Carboxylic acids have an affinity to form a salt with cations. This affinity for cations varies by the type of cations. For example, a carboxylic acid can form a salt with an element in the alkaline family, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium. The affinity to form an ionoic bond with an alkaline element is moderate. This we know because most organic acid-alkaline salts will ionize (dissolve) in water. However, the affinity of a carboxylic acid to an alkaline earth element such as beryllium, magnesium or calcium are much stronger. The affinity of an alkaline earth element to an organic acid is very strong, because most organic acid-alkaline earth salts do not ionize in water. Organic acids therefore have a higher affinity to bind with calcium than they do to sodium or potassium. This same principle is used during crown cementation with glass ionomer cements. Crown cementation is achieved because the poly acrylic acid (whether neutralized or un-neutralized) reacts with the alkaline earth cations of the ion leaching glass. Thus, organic acids initially neutralized with sodium hydroxide to form a sodium salt, would switch to a calcium salt if calcium hydroxide were added to the mixture.

[0026] CARBOPOL® dispersed into water cannot be neutralized by calcium hydroxide without precipitating the polymer. Therefore, there are no CARBOPOL® bleaches neutralized with calcium hydroxide. Almost all CARBOPOL® bleaches are pH adjusted with sodium or potassium hydroxide.

[0027] There is a constant battle going on between the alkaline salts of CARBOPOL® and the calcium of the enamel. The carboxylic acid-alkaline salts of the CARBOPOL® have a higher binding power for the calcium of the enamel. Therefore, through the process of chelation, calcium is constantly being removed from the tooth enamel by CARBOPOL® based bleaches.

[0028] Although CARBOPOL® is very effective in creating viscous gels for tray bleaching of teeth, its side effects in acid etching of tooth enamel and chelation are damaging to the very teeth that it is desired to restore to a more aesthetic condition. Information concerning the detrimental effects of prior art dental bleaches on tooth enamel can be found in the following articles: (i) Perdigao, J., et al., “Ultra-Morphological Study of the Interaction of Dental Adhesives with Carbamide Peroxide-Bleached Enamel”, American Journal of Dentistry, vol. II, No. 6, pp. 291-301, December 1998; (ii) Pinheirojunior, E.C., et al., “In Vitro Action of Various Carbamide Peroxide Gel Bleaching Agents on the Microhardness of Human Enamel”, Braz. Dent. J., 7(2): 75-79 (1996); (iii) Shannon, et al., “Characterization of Enamel Exposed to 10% Carbamide Peroxide Bleaching Agents”, Quintessence International, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 39-44 (1993); (iv) Bitter, N., “A Scanning Electron Microscope Study of the Long-Term Effect of Bleaching Agents on the Enamel Surface In Vivo”, General Dentistry, pp. 84-88, (January-February 1998)

[0029] The prior art shows a need for dental bleach and a method for its use that includes a thickener or gelling agent that does not attack or react with tooth enamel.

[0030] It is an object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a dental bleach that has a sufficient viscosity to be used in tray bleaching but which does not attack or react with tooth enamel.

[0031] It is an object of some embodiments of the invention to provide methods for using a dental bleach which does not attack or react with tooth enamel.

[0032] It is an object of the invention to provide a dental bleach that has a tendency to lighten, whiten and remove stains and oxidize complex organic molecules from the teeth.

[0033] It is an object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a single or double barrel syringe containing the invented dental bleach.

[0034] Further objects of the invention will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the specification and appended drawings.

[0035] FIG. 1 depicts the chemical structure of polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

[0036] FIG. 2 depicts a series of steps that can be performed to bleach teeth using a one part bleaching system of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts placing a one part bleach into a bleaching tray for use in bleaching teeth.

[0038] FIG. 4 depicts a series of steps that can be performed to bleach teeth using a two part bleaching system of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 5 depicts placing a two part bleach into a bleaching tray for use in bleaching teeth.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a substantially flat strip of material having rounded corners.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, disclosing the flat strip of FIG. 6 coated with a tooth whitening substance.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along section line 8—8 of FIG. 7, disclosing an example of the flat strip having a thickness less than that of the substance coated thereon.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing shallow pockets in the strip of material, which act as reservoirs for additional substance coated on the strip.

[0044] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing adjacent teeth having the strip of material of the present invention conforming thereto and adhesively attached to the teeth by means of a substance located between the teeth and the strip of material.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a tooth and adjoining soft tissue, taken along section line 11—11 of FIG. 10, disclosing the strip of the present invention conforming to and adhesively attached to the tooth by means of the substance located between the tooth and the strip of material.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 10, showing a strip of material of the present invention conforming to the teeth and the adjoining soft tissue and adhesively attached to both sides of the teeth by means of the substance located between the teeth and the strip of material.

[0047] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevation view, taken along section line 13—13 of FIG. 12, showing the strip of material of the present invention conforming to both the tooth and the adjoining soft tissue and adhesively attached to both sides of the tooth by means of the substance located between the tooth and the strip of material.

[0048] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, disclosing the flat strip coated with a tooth whitening substance of FIG. 7 with a release liner.

[0049] FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, taken along section line 15—15 of FIG. 14, showing a release liner attached to the strip of material by the substance on the strip of material.

[0050] A. Materials for Use in Dental Bleach

[0051] A preferred dental bleach may have several components including a bleaching agent, a basic agent, a thickening agent, a flavoring agent, a desensitizing agent, and others. At a minimum, a dental bleach of the invention will include a bleaching agent, a liquid component, and a thickening agent, but in alternative embodiments of the invention, other ingredients may be included such as those already listed.

[0052] 1. Bleaching Agent Suitable bleaching agents of the invention will include any material capable of releasing an oxidizing agent such as free radical oxygen ions for contacting teeth and removing stains therefrom via an oxidation process. Most preferred bleaching agents at this time are peroxides, including but not limited to hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, sodium perborate, and sodium percarbonate. Other peroxides and other oxidizing agents and bleaching agents may be utilized in addition to or in substitution of these materials.

[0053] 2. Thickening Agent

[0054] Preferred dental bleaches will include a thickening agent in order to avoid runoff of the dental bleach and consequent contact with sensitive soft tissues, and in order to keep the bleach in contact with teeth. A suitable thickening agent will serve to increase viscosity of the dental bleach while avoiding substantial interference with the release of oxygen ions from the bleaching agent or the contact of those oxygen ions with teeth to be bleached. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the thickening agent used will include polyvinylpyrrolidone. FIG. 1 depicts the chemical structure of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Polyvinylpyrrolidone is also referred to as “povidone”.

[0055] Polyvinylpyrrolidone has the advantage of serving as a thickening agent or gelling agent while failing to: (i) interfere with release of oxygen ions from the bleaching agent or contact of those oxygen ions to the teeth to bleached, (ii) chemically etch tooth enamel, (iii) remove calcium from tooth enamel by chelation, and (iii) solidify the dental bleach.

[0056] Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a tertiary amide based polymer. It contains no organic acid in its structure and therefore cannot acid etch or chelate teeth. Polyvinylpyrrolidone based bleaches are enamel safe and therefore will present a significant improvement over the prior art. Polyvinylpyrrolidone is easily dispersed into water to make highly viscous gels for tray bleaching at around 5-40% by weight. Polyvinylpyrrolidone may also be considered a tackifying agent because the increased viscosity of dental bleach that it produces has a sticky or tacky feel enabling it to adhere to teeth for the time required to carry out the bleaching process.

[0057] The most desirable molecular weights for the thickener used in the bleach is from about 90,000-1,500,000. Molecular weight may be determined by light scattering methods, size exclusion chromatography and other methods. Thickeners with a molecular weight outside that range can be used as well, as illustrated by the examples. As a general rule, the lower the molecular weight of the polyvinylpyrrolidone used, the more polyvinylpyrrolidone that is required to achieve the desired thickening.

[0058] 3. Liquid Component

[0059] In its raw form, polyvinylpyrrolidone is a white powder. In order to form a gel useful in a dental bleach, a liquid component must be added to it. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, suitable liquid components of the gel include water, glycerin, propylene glycol, liquid polyethylene glycol, liquid propylene glycol, ethanol, and other suitable liquid components. Any of the liquid components can be used singly or in combination.

[0060] 4. Basic Substance

[0061] In some embodiments of the invention, it will be desirable to include a basic substance in the dental bleach. Use of a basic substance can destabilize the bleaching agent such as a peroxide, facilitating release of oxygen ions for dental bleaching. This is particularly desirable if a two part bleaching system is utilized such as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 and as described in their accompanying text. A list of basic substance which may be used in the invention includes sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and triethanol amine.

[0062] 5. Flavoring Agent

[0063] In some embodiments of the invention, it may be desired to add flavorings or sweeteners to the dental bleach. Examples of appropriate sweeteners include phenyl alanine, sodium saccharin, mannitol, fructose, sorbitol, xylitol and the like. Flavorings which may be used include mint, wintergreen, spearmint, berry, lemon, lime, and the like.

[0064] 6. Desensitizing Agent

[0065] Even when they have not been exposed to caustic prior art dental bleaches, some patients experience chronic sensitivity of the teeth and gums. This sensitivity may be alleviated in part by including a desensitizing agent in the dental bleach so that the patient will not experience discomfort or develop apprehension during the bleaching process. Examples of desensitizing agents include fluouride, potassium nitrate, sodium citrate, aloe vera and the like.

[0066] 7. Other Components

[0067] As desired, other components may be included in the bleach as well, including anticariogenic agents and antimicrobial agents which are already known in dentistry.

[0068] 8. Examples of the Invented Dental Bleach

[0069] The following are some sample compositions of the invented dental bleach. These compositions, variations of them, or other compositions of a dental bleach using a bleaching agent and a polyvinylpyrrolidone thickening agent are all within the scope of the invention. Weight percentages provided indicate the presence of a component as its percentage of the total resulting bleach.

[0070] In some preferred embodiments of the invention, percentages of various components can vary as follows:

[0071] Other ranges of components of dental bleach are possible as well.

[0072] Preferably the pH ranges of the mixed gel will be in the range of 5 to 8, and more preferably in the range of 4 to 10. Other pH ranges are possible.

[0073] Optimally, a completed dental bleach of the invention will be a viscous gel that is thick enough that it does not drip out of a syringe of the size typically used in clinical or home dental bleaching where the syringe has a tip aperture that measures from about 2 mm to about 10 mm in diameter. Dental bleaches of other viscosities may be made according to the invention as well.

[0074] B. Methods for Performing Dental Bleaching

[0075] Referring to FIG. 2, a method for performing dental bleaching of a patient's teeth is depicted. First, a dental bleach containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is obtained or created 201 such as by utilizing one of the formulas above. A patient or dental practitioner of patient would likely obtain a dental bleach in a dispenser ready to use as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5. Second, the dental bleach is placed into a dental tray 202. The bleach should be spread evenly in the tray and should be of sufficient quantity to cover the exterior surfaces of all teeth. Preferably, the dental tray will be of a design that does not exert any or much mechanical pressure on a patient's teeth or gums. Third, the dental tray containing bleach is placed onto the teeth to be bleached, causing the bleach to contact teeth 203. A combination of suction created by placing the tray onto the teeth plus the viscosity of the dental bleach serve to hold the dental tray in place on the teeth during bleaching. Next, optionally, the dental bleach can be exposed to light or heat in order to accelerate release of its oxidizing agent such as oxygen ions 204. Heat will accelerate any chemical reaction including the reactions of dental bleaching. Some practitioners may use a light to create heat. Some lights that can be used include halogen bulb lights, xenon bulb lights, plasma arc bulb lights, ion gas lasers, semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes. Regardless of whether light or heat is used, next, the dental bleach will release an oxidizing agent 205 such as oxidizing ions. The oxidizing agent, when in contact with teeth, will bleach and lighten, whiten or remove stains from the teeth 206. The time that is required for steps 205 and 206 varies, but 1 to 8 hours is common. Shorter and longer times are possible. By utilizing more basic substance or applying heat or a light to the dental bleach, these steps may be accelerated. Alternatively, by using a stronger concentration of bleaching agent, these steps may be accelerated. Next, the dental tray is removed 207 and the teeth are rinsed 208. This sequence may be performed once in a dental practitioner's office if a strong bleaching agent is used. Or it may be performed several times by a patient in his or her own home. Patients will typically perform the bleaching steps once per day for a couple of weeks, optionally followed by a maintenance regimen.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3 placement of dental bleach 305 into a dental tray 303, and placing the dental tray 303 onto a patient's teeth 301 is depicted. The dental tray 303 has an arch 304 matching the arch of the patient's teeth for containing the dental bleach 305 and keeping it in close contact with the patient's teeth 301 while not placing it against a significant amount of soft tissue 302. If high concentration peroxides are used for bleaching, then a dental dam, rubber protector or fluid light-cured acrylic barrier may be used to keep the dental bleach from contacting soft tissues. Generally, at a concentration of greater than 15% hydrogen peroxide or greater than 40% carbamide peroxide, some type of additional soft tissue protector is desired. The dental tray may be flexible or rigid, and may be made from a suitable material such as plastic or rubber. The tray can be formed in a dental lab to cause it to precisely conform to a patient's teeth, it can be a universal tray such that one size fits all, or it can be a tray that a patient molds himself such as by heating the tray in hot water and then pressing his teeth into it.

[0077] A single chamber syringe 307 is provided having a chamber 307acontaining dental bleach. A plunger 307bis used to expel a desired quantity of dental bleach 305 from the syringe tip 307c. Preferably, the pH of the dental bleach 305 within the syringe will not exceed pH=7, or the bleaching agent mayl become destabilized prior to use.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 4, another method for performing dental bleaching of a patient's teeth is depicted. This method is intended when a two part dental bleach is utilized. First, a two part dental bleach containing polyvinylpyrrolidone is obtained or created 401 such as by utilizing one of the formulas above. A patient or dental practitioner of patient would likely obtain a dental bleach in a dispenser ready to use as depicted in FIG. 5. Note that the syringe has two barrels for the two parts of the dental bleach. The components of the two part dental bleach must be mixed for use 402. Second, the mixed two part dental bleach is placed into a dental tray 403. Third, the dental tray containing bleach is place onto teeth to be bleached, causing the bleach to contact teeth 404. Next, optionally, the dental bleach can be exposed to light or heat in order to accelerate release of its oxidizing agent such as oxygen ions 405. Regardless of whether light or heat is used, next, the dental bleach will release an oxidizing agent 406 such as oxygen ions. The oxidizing agent, when in contact with teeth, will bleach and lighten, whiten or remove stains from the teeth 407. Next, the dental tray is removed 408 and the teeth are rinsed 409.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 5, use of a dental bleach dispenser 507 such as a double barrel syringe is depicted. The double barrel syringe 507 has a first chamber 507aand a second chamber 507b. Preferably, both chambers will be of equal volume for ease of determining the final mixture of the dental bleach, although double barrel syringes with two chambers of unequal volumes can be used as well. Likewise, multi-chamber syringes may be used for multi-component bleaches. The two chambers 507aand 507bwill also preferably contain gels of approximately equal viscosities for ease and efficiency of mixing. Preferably, the first chamber 507awill contain an oxidizing agent such as a peroxide in a concentration such that when the two components of the bleach are mixed from the two chambers, the resulting bleach 505 has the desired concentration of bleaching agent. The chamber 507acontaining the bleaching agent 507awill preferably have a pH=7 or less for stability of the bleaching agent. The contents of the second chamber 507bwill include a basic substance and will have a pH in the range of about 7 to 12. However, the second chamber 507bwill typically not include a bleaching agent. The remainder of the components of the dental bleach will preferably be equally present in both chambers or the syringe, although other pre-dispensing mixes are possible.

[0080] As the plunger 507dof the dental bleach dispenser 507 is depressed, the contents of the first chamber 507aand the second chamber 507bare forced through a mixing tip 507cwhere they are mixed. This mixing contacts the basic substance with the bleaching agent. As the basic substance will tend to destabilize the bleaching agent, the bleaching agent will make oxygen ions more efficiently. The pH of the resulting mixed dental bleach 505 will preferably be greater than the pH of the dental bleach dispensed from the syringe of FIG. 3.

[0081] The mixed bleach 505 is placed into the arch 504 of a dental tray 503, and the dental tray 503 is placed over teeth 501. The bleach 505 with destabilized bleaching agent will release large quantities of oxidizing agent quickly to perform a rapid and thorough bleaching of the teeth 501. The dental tray 503 serves to retain the bleach 505 on the teeth 501 and to keep the bleach 505 away from most soft tissue 502.

[0082] The abbreviation “cm”, as used herein, means centimeter. The abbreviation “mm”, as used herein, means millimeter.

[0083] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is generally indicated as 1010. Embodiment 1010 represents a delivery system for a tooth whitening substance. Delivery system 1010 has a strip of material 1012, which is initially substantially flat, preferably with rounded comers.

[0084] Applied or coated onto strip of material 1012 is a tooth whitening substance 1014. Preferably, substance 1014 is homogeneous, uniformly and continuously coated onto strip of material 1012, as shown in FIG. 8. However, substance 1014 may alternatively be a laminate or separated layers of components, an amorphous mixture of components, separate stripes or spots or other patterns of different components, or a combination of these structures including a continuous coating of oral care substance 1014 along a longitudinal axis of a portion of strip of material 1012.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment, a strip of material 1012 may have shallow pockets 18 formed therein. When substance 1014 is coated on a substance-coated side of strip of material 1012, additional substance 1014 fills shallow pockets 1018 to provide reservoirs of additional substance 1014.

[0086] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a delivery system 1024 of the present invention applied to a plurality of adjacent teeth and the surface of a tooth. Embedded in adjacent soft tissue 1020 is a plurality of adjacent teeth 1022. Adjacent soft tissue is herein defined as soft tissue surfaces surrounding the tooth structure including: papilla, marginal gingiva, gingival sulculus, inter dental gingiva, gingival gum structure on lingual and buccal surfaces up to and including muco-gingival junction and the pallet.

[0087] In both FIGS. 10 and 11, delivery system 1024 represents strip of material 1012 and substance 1014, with substance 14 on the side of strip of material 1012 facing adjacent teeth 1022. Substance 1014 may be pre-applied to strip of material 1012 or applied to strip of material 1012 by the delivery system user. In either case, strip of material 1012 has a thickness and flexural stiffness which enable it to conform to the contoured surfaces of adjacent teeth 1022 and to adjacent soft tissue 1020. The strip of flexible material has sufficient flexibility to form a curved shape around a plurality of adjacent teeth. The strip of material is also readily conformable to tooth surfaces and to the interstitial tooth spaces without permanent deformation when the delivery system is applied. The delivery system is applied without significant pressure.

[0088] FIGS. 12 and 13 show delivery system 1024 of the present invention applied to both front and rear surfaces of a plurality of adjacent teeth 1022 as well as to adjacent soft tissue 20 located by the front surfaces of the teeth. Delivery system 1024 represents strip of material 1012 and substance 1014, with substance 1014 on the side of strip of material 1012 facing adjacent teeth.

[0089] FIGS. 14 and 15 shows an optional release liner 1027. Release liner 1027 is attached to strip of material 1012 by substance 1014. Substance 1014 is on the side of strip of material 1012 facing release liner 1027. This side is applied to the tooth surface once release liner 1027 is removed.

[0090] The strip of material serves as a protective barrier to substantially prevent saliva contacting the tooth whitening substance and leaching and/or erosion of the tooth whitening substance from the surface of the teeth by the wearer's lips, tongue, and other soft tissue. In order for an active in tooth whitening substance to act upon the surface of tooth over an extended period of time, from several minutes to several hours, it is important to minimize such leaching and/or erosion. The term “act upon” is herein defined as bringing about a desired change. For example, if the substance is a tooth whitener, it bleaches color bodies to bring about whitening.

[0091] The strip of material may comprise materials such as polymers, natural and synthetic wovens, non-wovens, foil, paper, rubber, and combinations thereof. The strip of material may be a single layer of material or a laminate of more than one layer. Generally, the strip of material is substantially water impermeable. The material may be any type of polymer that meets the required flexural rigidity and is compatible with tooth whitening actives, such as peroxide. The material may comprise a single polymer or a mixtures of polymers. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, ethylvinylacetate, ethylvinyl alcohol, polyesters such as Mylar® manufactured by DuPont, fluoroplastics such as Teflons® manufactured by DuPont, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the material is polyethylene. The strip of material is generally less than about 1 mm thick, preferably less than about 0.05 mm thick, and more preferably from about 0.001 to about 0.03 mm thick. A polyethylene strip of material is preferably less than about 0.1 mm thick and more preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.02 mm thick.

[0092] Preferably, the shape of the strip of material is any shape that has rounded comers. “Rounded comers” is defined as not having any sharp angles or points. The conformable strip of material is preferably of a size that individually fits the row of teeth desired to be bleached. Generally, this is the front 6-8 teeth of the upper or lower rows of teeth that are visible when the wearer is smiling. Optionally, the strip of material may fit the entire upper or lower rows of teeth when positioned against the teeth. The size of the strip of material depends upon many factors, including the number of teeth to be bleached, the size of the teeth, and personal preference of the wearer. In general, the length of the strip of material is from about 2 cm to about 12 cm and preferably from about 4 cm to about 9 cm. The width of the strip of material will also depend upon many factors, including whether or not the strip of material wraps around the teeth and covers both surfaces of the tooth. In a general application, the width of the strip of material is from about 0.5 cm to about 4 cm and preferably from about 1 to about 2 cm.

[0093] The strip of material may contain shallow pockets. When the substance is coated on a substance-coated side of strip of material, additional substance fills shallow pockets to provide reservoirs of additional substance. Additionally, the shallow pockets help to provide a texture to the delivery system. The film will preferably have an array of shallow pockets. Generally, the shallow pockets are approximately 0.4 mm across and 0.1 mm deep. When shallow pockets are included in the strip of material and substances are applied to it in various thicknesses, the overall thickness of the delivery system is generally less than about 1 mm. Preferably, the overall thickness is less than about 0.5 mm.

[0094] Flexural stiffness is a material property that is a function of a combination of strip thickness, width, and material modulus of elasticity. This test is a method for measuring the rigidity of polyolefin film and sheeting. It determines the resistance to flexure of a sample by using a strain gauge affixed to the end of a horizontal beam. The opposite end of the beam presses across a strip of the sample to force a portion of the strip into a vertical groove in a horizontal platform upon which the sample rests. A microammeter, wired to the strain gauge is calibrated in grams of deflection force. The rigidity of the sample is read directly from the microammeter and expressed as grams per centimeter of sample strip width. In the present invention, the strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less than about 5 grams/cm as measured on a Handle-O-Meter, model #211-300, available from Thwing-Albert Instrument Co. of Philadelphia, Pa., as per test method ASTM D2923-95. Preferably, the strip of material has a flexural stiffness less than about 4 grams/cm, more preferably less than about 3 grams/cm, and most preferably from about 0.1 grams/cm to about 1 grams/cm. Preferably, the flexural stiffness of the strip of material is substantially constant and does not significantly change during normal use. For example, the strip of material does not need to be hydrated for the strip to achieve the low flexural stiffness in the above-specified ranges.

[0095] This relatively low stiffness enables the strip of material to drape over the contoured surfaces of teeth with very little force being exerted; that is, conformity to the curvature of the wearer's mouth and gaps between adjacent teeth is maintained because there is little residual force within strip of material to cause it to return to its substantially flat shape. The flexibility of the strip enables the strip of material to contact adjoining soft tissue over an extended period of time without physical irritation. The strip of material does not require pressure forming it against the teeth.

[0096] The strip of material is held in place on a plurality of adjacent teeth by adhesive attachment provided by the substance. The viscosity and general tackiness of the substance cause the strip of material to be adhesively attached to a plurality of adjacent teeth without substantial slippage under the potential friction from the lips, tongue, and other soft tissue rubbing against the strip of material during mouth movements associated with talking, drinking, etc. However, this adhesion to the teeth is low enough to allow the delivery system to be easily removed by the wearer by peeling off the strip of material using one's finger or fingernail. The delivery system is easily removable from the surfaces of the teeth without the use of an instrument, a chemical solvent, or undue friction. Chemical solvents include any organic solvents commonly used in oral care products such as alcohol and other safe solvents such as water, which could be used to dilute the gelling agent. Undue friction is described as any type of rubbing with one's finger or a soft implement, such as cotton balls, swabs, or gauze pads.

[0097] A peel force of from about 1 gram to about 50 grams for a 1.5 cm strip width (approximately 17 grams/cm) is all that is required. Preferably, the peel force is from about 5 grams to about 40 grams and more preferably from about 10 grams to about 30 grams. The low peel force is desired for consumer handling purposes. The low peel force is possible because of the non-aggressive nature of a gel substance. Only when the flexural stiffness of the strip is low can the adhesion of the substance also be low. The adhesion of a stiffer strip would have to be greater in proportion to the strip stiffness in order to prevent the strip from returning to its flat condition and pulling away from the contoured surface of a plurality of teeth.

[0098] The strip of material may be formed by several of the film making processes known in the art. Preferably, a strip of material made of polyethylene is made by a blown process or a cast process. Processes, such as extrusion and other processes that do not affect the flexural rigidity of the strip of material, are also feasible. Additionally, the substance may be incorporated onto the strip during the processing of the strip. The substance may be a laminate on the strip.

[0099] While the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the inventions as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

[0100] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.