Apparatus for simultaneous illumination of teeth

Abstract

An arrangement, for use in whitening a patient's teeth includes an arched surface and an array of light-generating devices, for example, light emitting diodes positioned on the arched surface. The light-generating devices are arranged to form a relatively uniform field of light in a particular range of wavelengths, and further arranged to focus the generated light in an overlapping manner onto a patient's teeth when the mouthpiece is properly positioned relative to the patient's face. The proper positioning is aided by a number of light sources, in the visible range, that shine on the patient's face in a predetermined manner when the mouthpiece is properly positioned. To remove whatever heat is generated at the surface of the patient's teeth in the course of the procedure, the mouthpiece includes air passages between the light emitting devices, and a fan that draws air away from the patient's face.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 958,058, filed Oct. 4, 2004, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 641,646, filed Aug. 18, 2000, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 158,499 filed Oct. 8, 1999, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 233,793, filed Jan. 19, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,319, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 074,708, filed Feb. 13, 1998, and U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 075,222, filed Feb. 19, 1998. All of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference to the fullest extent permitted by law.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of cosmetically improving and altering the appearance of teeth, and more particularly, to apparatus that is employed in light-activated bleaching of teeth. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Wh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] The present invention encompasses methods for whitening teeth, wherein a stained tooth surface is contacted with (i) a tooth whitening composition that is transparent to photoactive light and (ii) a photosensitive agent that is responsive to the wavelengths of light that are transmitted through the whitening composition and, after contacting with the composition and agent, the tooth is exposed to a biologically safe and effective level of photoactinic light in order to enhance the ability of the oxidizing compound in the whitening composition to effect rapid tooth whitening.

[0021] Also disclosed and contemplated within the scope of this invention are methods for whitening teeth, wherein a stained tooth surface is contacted with an oxidizing compound that is transparent to the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by tooth stain chromogens, and then exposing the treated tooth to a biologically safe and effective level of those same wavelengths of light in order to effect rapid tooth whitening.

[0023] An improvement in the art is achieved with an arrangement where a tooth whitening composition is applied to a patient's teeth and where a mouthpiece that is placed in a position outside of a patient' mouth includes means for generating a light that is adapted to be simultaneously applied to all of the patient's teeth and to, thereby, accelerate the tooth whitening process.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, due to the presence of chromogenic (color-causing) substances in food, beverages, tobacco, and salivary fluid, in addition to internal sources such as blood, amalgam restoratives, and antibiotics such as tetracycline, teeth become almost invariably discolored in the absence of intervention.

Intrinsic tooth staining is generally more intractable and difficult to remove than extrinsic tooth staining.

Prolonged exposure of teeth to bleaching compositions, as practiced at present, has a number of adverse effects in addition to that of tooth sensitivity.

Theoretically, such tooth whitening strategies have the advantage of yielding faster results and better overall patient satisfaction; however, due to the high concentration of oxidizing agents contained in these so called “in-office” compositions, they can be hazardous to the patient and practitioner alike if not handled with care.

The disclosed method suffers from two serious drawbacks: (1) ultraviolet light can be hazardous to the patient and practitioner alike and (2) infrared light may cause irreversible pulpitis if not handled with care.

However, this device does not uniformly illuminate all sixteen central teeth in the front upper and lower arches because of the curvature of the dentition.

This potentially gives rise to uneven results.

In addition, the Union Broach device generates a great deal of heat which is both uncomfortable for the patient and potentially damaging to the teeth.

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