Apparatus and method for treating infected tooth using ionophoresis

Abstract

Apparatus and method for treating a tooth infected by a pathogen. The apparatus comprises at least one adjustable electric voltage generator for generating an direct current, an applicator device having a first pole and a second pole, the first pole being formed as a needle so as to penetrate into a canal of the infected tooth and the second pole being brought into direct contact with a zone of a body of a patient having the infected tooth and an electric circuit for maintaining the direct current constant while an impedance of the at least one adjustable electric voltage generator varies, the impedance being determined by the zone of the body of the patient where the direct current passes. The method for treating a tooth infected by a pathogen comprises applying an direct current into a canal of the infected tooth and maintaining the direct current constant during a duration of an application of the direct current to the infected tooth.

Description

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of Swiss Patent Application No. CH 2000 0499 / 00, filed on Mar. 16, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilization or treatment, using ionophoresis, of the canals of a tooth infected by pathogens. The present invention relates to a method for sterilization or treatment, using ionophoresis, of the canals of a tooth infected by pathogens.[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information[0005] The principle of treating an infected tooth using ionophoresis is known. See P. D. Bernard, "Rapid and Radical Treatment of the Pulpa Tissues and Periapical Affections Using the New Methods of lonophoresis and of Dia-dynamic Therapy" (ll trattamento rapido e radicale delle gengive pulpari e delle affezioni periapicali mediante l nuovi metodi di ionoforesi e die terapia diadi-namica)...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention provides an apparatus for sterilizing a tooth using ionophoresis and provides optimum characteristics for obtaining the sterilizing effect within the shortest possible time and eliminates the disadvantages of other devices. In other apparatus, it has been found that the applied electric current is varied and that there are variations in the circuit impedance Z. The variation in the impedance in a circuit in which one of the poles directly contacts the skin of the patient has many causes, the main one being the variation in humidity of the skin tissue caused by sweating.

[0014] The apparatus and method of the present invention have advantages over other apparatus and methods, namely, the speed of the treatment, the reduction of risks owing to the reduced voltage of the applied current and the ability to control the treatment free from the influence of uncontrollable parameters, such as sweat secretion of the patient, the degree of humidity of the air in the surrounding room, etc.

Problems solved by technology

Rather, the publications give some general indications which do not provide anything other than a general knowledge concerning the formation of "OH" ions penetrating the "aberrant" canals of the teeth.

However, if this same 5 volt ac voltage is applied to a direct current of 3 or 4 milliamps, its action upon the sensitivity predominates, and becomes intolerable with a direct current intensity of 5 milliamps.

Thus, FR 916843 does not teach the use of ionophoresis as a therapeutic method for treating a tooth infected with a pathogen and does not teach an apparatus suitable for implementing the inventive therapeutic method.

This mechanism of anaesthesia does not yield satisfactory results.

The variations in the impedance of the circuit are likely caused by physiologic effects, which are uncontrollable and are foreseeable by the operator.

These variations greatly impair the constancy of the current applied, thus rendering control of the working method difficult and endangering the good result of the treatment.

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