Dental device for providing oral cleaning

Abstract

A dental device for providing oral cleaning is provided. The dental apparatus includes a mouthpiece for receiving teeth of a subject. The mouthpiece includes a scrubbing portion for receiving a first set of teeth of a subject, the scrubbing portion including a plurality of scrubbing elements for providing oral cleaning. Further, the mouthpiece comprises a light processing portion for receiving a second set of teeth of the subject, the light processing portion comprising a light emitter for providing light processing. The scrubbing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged such that, in use, the scrubbing element is arranged outside the light path between the light emitter and the second set of teeth of the subject.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a dental device for providing improved oral cleaning. BACKGROUND

[0002] An oral piece toothbrush is a toothbrush that can be used "hands-free". The oral piece toothbrush comprises an oral piece for receiving the teeth of a user and a plurality of cleaning elements. The cleaning elements are drivable to brush the teeth of the user when the oral piece is received in the mouth of the user.

[0003] In the field of oral health care, it is known that regular brushing of the teeth can improve oral hygiene. In addition, light therapy can also improve oral health. Light therapy has a variety of benefits, such as an antimicrobial effect of the light therapy, an anti-inflammatory effect of the light therapy, stain removal provided by the light therapy, and support of tooth whitening. For each of these, a light treatment time of at least several tens of seconds or even minutes is required. A device for providing oral cleaning by light therapy generally comprises a light source. In order to achieve effective oral cleaning, the light from the light source should illuminate the teeth and / or gums of the user without significant attenuation. Therefore, dental devices for providing light treatment are typically dedicated to this specific purpose.

[0004] It is desirable to provide convenient and effective oral health care.

[0005] CN112220573B describes a U-shaped plaque detection toothbrush comprising a wireless charging base, wherein the detector body is arranged on the wireless charging base.

[0006] KR101944672B1 describes an oral piece toothbrush. The oral piece toothbrush comprises a body portion having a recess formed to insert a first tooth and a second tooth.

[0007] WO2017 / 094004A1 describes a self-propelled dental device comprising a body portion having an inner surface formed to cover a top surface and a side surface of at least one portion of a tooth at one of the jaws located in a jaw bone. SUMMARY

[0008] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0009] According to an example of an aspect of the invention, there is provided a dental device for providing oral cleaning, the dental device comprising:

[0010] an oral piece for receiving teeth of a subject, the oral piece comprising:

[0011] a brushing portion for receiving a first set of teeth of a subject, the brushing portion comprising a plurality of brushing elements for providing oral cleaning; and

[0012] a light treatment portion for receiving a second set of teeth of a subject, the light treatment portion comprising a light emitter for providing light treatment;

[0013] wherein the brushing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged such that, in use, the brushing element is arranged out of a light path between the light emitter and the second set of teeth of the subject; and

[0014] Characterized in that the dental equipment further comprises:

[0015] A connector, wherein the connector operably attaches the brushing portion and the light treatment portion together, and wherein the brushing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged to receive teeth associated with the same jaw.

[0016] The brushing element is arranged so that light from the light emitter can illuminate the second set of teeth of the subject without being interrupted by the brushing element. Thus, the dental device can be used to achieve convenient and effective oral cleaning. The brushing element can be disposed only in the brushing portion and not in the light treatment portion. Similarly, the light emitter can be disposed only in the light treatment portion and not in the brushing portion.

[0017] The first set of teeth includes different teeth than the second set of teeth.

[0018] For example, the brushing portion may be arranged to treat the teeth on the left side of the user's jaw, while the light treatment portion is arranged to treat the teeth on the right side of the user's jaw.

[0019] Furthermore, the connector can releasably attach the brush portion and light treatment. This can help improve the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the device.

[0020] The brushing portion and the light treatment portion can be attached to each other only via a connector. Alternatively, the brushing portion and the light treatment portion can each be attached to another entity via a connector (e.g., they can be attached to a handle). In addition to receiving the first set of teeth of the subject, the brushing portion can also receive the subject's gums (i.e., the tissue surrounding the roots of the first set of teeth). In addition to receiving the second set of teeth of the subject, the light treatment portion can also receive the subject's gums (i.e., the tissue surrounding the roots of the second set of teeth).

[0021] The light emitter may be a light source, or a device arranged to receive light from a light source outside the light processing portion and emit the received light.

[0022] The oral piece may include an arcuate portion for receiving a subset of the subject's teeth, wherein the arcuate portion includes a flexible material body such that the arcuate portion is deformable, the arcuate portion having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the arcuate portion is formed to receive a subset of the subject's teeth associated with a first jaw, and in the second configuration, the arcuate portion is formed to receive a second subset of the subject's teeth associated with the first jaw.

[0023] The first subset of teeth includes different teeth than the second subset of teeth.The shape of the body of the arcuate portion in the second configuration can mirror the shape of the body in the first configuration to allow the subject to use the same portion on teeth associated with different sides of the subject's jaw.

[0024] The tooth cleaning elements may include bristles.

[0025] The light emitter may be configured to emit light at a wavelength for providing oral care.

[0026] The light emitter may be configured to emit light at wavelengths used to provide oral cleaning and / or other types of oral care, such as whitening and / or anti-inflammatory treatments.

[0027] The dental device may further comprise mounting means for mounting the mouthpiece to the drive handle.

[0028] The dental device may also include a power source coupled to the light emitter.

[0029] The power supply can be electrically coupled to the light source of the light emitter. The power supply can be integrated into the drive handle. Alternatively, the power supply can be external to the drive handle.

[0030] The dental device may further comprise an attachment member for removably attaching the power source to the mouthpiece, wherein the attachment member is arranged to attach the power source to the mouthpiece.

[0031] The dental apparatus may further comprise a transducer arrangement for moving the brushing element and a switch arrangement operatively coupled to the power source, the transducer arrangement and the light emitter to independently power the transducer arrangement and the light emitter.

[0032] The light emitter may comprise a light source arranged in the light processing portion, and preferably, wherein the light source comprises an LED array.

[0033] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 illustrates a partial view of an example of a dental apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 Pictured Figure 1 A dental device comprising a light treatment portion;

[0037] FIG3 illustrates another example of a dental apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates another example of a dental apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dental device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0042] The present invention provides a dental device for providing oral cleaning. The dental device includes an oral piece for receiving the teeth of a subject. The oral piece includes a brushing portion for receiving a first set of the teeth of the subject. The brushing portion includes a plurality of brushing elements for providing oral cleaning. The oral piece also includes a light treatment portion for receiving a second set of the teeth of the subject. The light treatment portion includes a light emitter for providing light treatment. The brushing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged so that, in use, the brushing elements are arranged outside the light path from the light emitter to the second set of the teeth of the subject. That is, the brushing elements are arranged so that light from the light emitter can illuminate the second set of the teeth of the subject without being interrupted by the brushing elements.

[0043] Figure 1A partial view of an example embodiment of a dental device 1 according to the present application is illustrated. The mouthpiece 3 comprises two arched (e.g. J-shaped) tooth receiving portions - a first tooth receiving portion 5 for receiving the right-hand side upper quadrant of a user's teeth (and the left-hand side lower quadrant), and a second tooth receiving portion 7 for receiving the left-hand side upper quadrant of a user's teeth (and the right-hand side lower quadrant). The first and second tooth receiving portions are mounted to a handle 9 by mounting means 6. Each of the first and second tooth receiving portions 5, 7 comprises a channel. Brushing elements 11 (e.g. bristles) are attached to the walls of the channel. In use, a user inserts their teeth into the channel so that the brushing elements can brush the user's teeth. Because each of the arched portions receives only a subset of either the upper or lower teeth, they are compact, can support convenient and comfortable cleaning. The first and second tooth receiving portions 5, 7 are mounted back-to-back to the handle 9. When the mouthpiece is inserted into a user's mouth, the right-hand side upper quadrant and the right-hand side lower quadrant can be cleaned simultaneously (alternatively, the left-hand side upper quadrant and the left-hand side lower quadrant can be cleaned simultaneously).

[0044] As Figure 2 illustrated, the mouthpiece 3 also comprises a third tooth receiving portion 13 which is attachable to the dental device 1 via a connector 15. The third tooth receiving portion 13 is arched (e.g. J-shaped) and comprises an array of light emitting elements 17 for illuminating a user's teeth to provide oral care by light treatment. In use, when the mouthpiece is inserted into a user's mouth, the third tooth receiving portion 13 is attached (directly or indirectly) to the first and second tooth receiving portions 5, 7 by the connector 15.

[0045] The first tooth receiving portion 5 and the third tooth receiving portion 13 receive teeth associated with the same jaw bone (upper or lower). The second tooth receiving portion receives teeth associated with the opposite jaw bone.

[0046] In some embodiments, the third tooth receiving portion 13 is double-sided (i.e. it is shaped to receive teeth from both jaw bones simultaneously). Thus, the third tooth receiving portion can comprise light emitting means on both sides.

[0047] The inventors have recognised that providing a dental device which combines brushing with light treatment can provide a convenient method of achieving effective oral cleaning. In particular, the ability to use the same mouthpiece for both brushing and light treatment enables a user to benefit from the additional advantages that light application can provide whilst brushing is taking place (simultaneously).

[0048] Furthermore, the inventors have recognized that one difficulty in providing combined brushing and light treatment is that oral care treatment products (e.g., toothpaste) and brushing elements can block the light path for light application, compromising the effectiveness / efficiency of the treatment. In particular, toothpaste foam is both scattering and absorptive. Both the scattering and absorption of light emitted by a light emitter reduces light transmittance, making a layer of toothpaste foam (e.g., a 1 mm thick layer of toothpaste foam) effectively impermeable to light from a light emitter typically used for oral care treatments. This can compromise the effectiveness of the light treatment, to the point where the potential benefits of the light treatment are completely lost.

[0049] Furthermore, the blocking effect of toothpaste is not evenly distributed. Some areas will be covered with a thick layer, while other areas will be only sparsely covered. Due to the brushing movement, the spread of toothpaste changes dynamically.

[0050] The inventors have recognized that by providing a device in which the light emitter is not blocked by brushing elements, reliable and effective treatment can be performed. Furthermore, reducing / avoiding blockage of the light emitter by oral care products (e.g., toothpaste) promotes reliable and effective treatment. By providing a device in which the brushing elements are arranged so that they do not interrupt the light from the light emitter from irradiating the second set of teeth of the subject, the reliability and effectiveness of the treatment can be improved.

[0051] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the device shown, the mouthpiece 3 includes a first tooth receiving portion 5 and a second tooth receiving portion 7, each of which includes a brushing element 11 for providing oral cleaning. The mouthpiece 3 also includes a third tooth receiving portion 13, which includes a light emitter for providing light treatment. The first tooth receiving portion 5, the second tooth receiving portion 7 and the third tooth receiving portion 13 are arranged so that, in use, the brushing element is arranged outside the light path from the light emitter to the tooth received by the third tooth receiving portion 13. In particular, the brushing element is only provided in the brushing portion, and the light emitter is only provided in the light treatment portion.

[0052] Furthermore, because the portion of the device providing light treatment is positioned on the opposite side of the user's mouth from the portion providing treatment by brushing, a minimal amount of oral treatment product (e.g., toothpaste) will be present in the light path of the light emitter, facilitating better control of the treatment. This arrangement enhances the predictability of the light dose delivered during treatment. Furthermore, this arrangement can increase the light intensity at the subject's teeth and / or gums (achieving the same treatment effect with a relatively shorter treatment time).

[0053] Providing a releasable attachment of the third tooth receiving portion 13 to the rest of the dental device provides improved flexibility for the user. In particular, if desired, the user can choose to attach the light treatment portion to the rest of the oral piece, allowing the user to choose to wear the third tooth receiving portion 13 depending on whether light treatment is needed. This helps to improve the user's comfort and convenience. In addition, the light treatment portion typically has a longer lifespan than the portion including the brushing element (for example, it may need to be replaced every three months). Enabling the light treatment portion to be detachable from the brushing portion provides a more sustainable device.

[0054] It will be understood that the third tooth receiving portion 13 can be attached to the rest of the dental device 1 in any suitable manner, so long as the attachment does not block light from the light emitting element from reaching the second set of teeth. As described above, the attachment is releasable. For example, the third tooth receiving portion 13 can be clipped onto the first receiving portion or attached by a snap connection. In addition to providing a physical attachment of the third tooth receiving portion 13 to the rest of the dental device 1, the connector 15 can provide an electrical connection and / or a light-conducting connection. For example, in embodiments where the light source is located outside the third tooth receiving portion (e.g., the light source is integrated into the handle), the connector can provide a light-conducting connection between the light source and the light-emitting element.

[0055] The dental device may include a power supply. The power supply may be operably arranged to move a brushing element during use to brush a user's teeth and to power a light emitter. In some embodiments, the dental device includes a transducer device for moving the brushing element. The power supply is operably coupled to the transducer device and the light emitter via a switching device. The switching device is configured to independently power the transducer device and the light emitter, allowing a subject to use only the brushing portion, only the light treatment portion, or a combination of the brushing portion and the light treatment portion.

[0056] The power supply may be provided in the handle 9 and connected to the mouthpiece via a stem. In embodiments where the power supply is provided in the handle, a connector may provide an electrical connection between the third tooth receiving part and the power supply.

[0057] Alternatively, the power source can be configured to power the light emitter independently of the brushing element. For example, the dental device 1 can include a battery (not shown) embedded in the third tooth receiving portion. This can facilitate convenient charging of the light treatment portion (i.e., independent of charging of the brushing portion(s)).

[0058] In either case, the power supply is configured to allow the light emitter to be activated (turned on and off) independently of the brushing element. In this way, the user has the flexibility to provide both light treatment and brushing at each use, or to provide one of the two without the other. For example, when the light treatment portion has its own integrated battery, the dental device can include a dedicated activation member that is operably coupled to the power supply and the light emitter to activate the light emitter. The activation member can be arranged on the surface of the tooth receiving portion that contacts the tooth (the "occlusal surface") during use to facilitate activation.

[0059] FIG3 shows another embodiment of a dental device 31. The dental device 31 has a Figure 1 and Figure 2 The dental device 31 is similar in structure to the dental device shown, however, the manner in which the tooth receiving portion is connected to the rest of the dental device is different. The oral piece 33 includes a first tooth receiving portion 35 and a second tooth receiving portion 37, each of which includes a brushing element for providing oral cleaning. The first tooth receiving portion 35 and the second tooth receiving portion 37 are mounted to a mounting portion 32, which is attached to a handle 34. The handle 34 includes a power source that is operably coupled to a transducer device for moving the brushing element (thereby brushing the user's teeth). The dental device 31 also includes a third tooth receiving portion 39 that can be attached to the mounting portion 32. The third tooth receiving portion 39 includes a light emitter for providing light treatment. The power source is also configured to supply power to the light emitter.

[0060] As shown in the figure, the dental equipment can be configured in a variety of different configurations. Figure 3A In the embodiment, both the first tooth receiving portion 35 and the second tooth receiving portion 37 include brushing elements and are mounted on the handle 34 so that, in use, each tooth receiving portion 35, 37 can receive a tooth (different tooth receiving portions receiving teeth from different sections of the user's mouth). Figure 3B As shown, the second tooth receiving portion is removably attached to the mounting portion 32. Thus, it can be removed and replaced by the third tooth receiving portion 39 (as shown in FIG. Figure 3C ). The third tooth receiving portion 39 includes a light emitter comprising an array of light emitting elements.

[0061] With this arrangement, during use, teeth received in the brushing portion of the mouthpiece (the first tooth receiving portion 35 and / or the second tooth receiving portion 37 - depending on which tooth receiving portion is attached to the mounting portion 32) are brushed. Figure 3C In the configuration shown, a tooth received in a light-treated portion (third tooth-receiving portion 39) on the opposing jaw is light-treated.

[0062] Additionally or alternatively, the first tooth receiving portion and the second tooth receiving portion may each be removably attached to the mounting portion 32. Thus, the first tooth receiving portion 35 may be removed and replaced by the third tooth receiving portion 39.

[0063] For each quadrant of the user's mouth, a specific configuration of either the first tooth-receiving portion or the second and third tooth-receiving portions is used. The user must change configurations multiple times to achieve comprehensive oral cleaning (by brushing) and comprehensive oral treatment (by light treatment). For example, both sides can be treated with the same configuration, and then the user can switch the brushing and light treatment portions to treat the other two quadrants.

[0064] In one example, the dental device 31 is used to Figure 3C 39, and the teeth on the lower right side of the user's jaw are initially treated with the brushing portion 35. After treating these areas, the user moves the device to the other side of their mouth and treats the teeth on the upper left side of the user's jaw with the brushing portion 35 and the teeth on the lower left side of the user's jaw with the light-treating portion 39. Once completed, the user replaces the brushing portion 35 with a light-treating portion (not shown) similar in shape to the first tooth-receiving portion 35, and replaces the light-treating portion 39 with the second tooth-receiving portion 37.

[0065] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dental device 1 includes a tooth-receiving portion that includes a brushing element and a tooth-receiving portion that includes a light emitter. Each tooth-receiving portion is flexible enough to be used on either side of the user's mouth. For example, if the mouthpiece is J-shaped, the mouthpiece can be bent to form a mirrored J-shaped configuration. This can avoid the need to reconfigure the dental device to achieve comprehensive oral cleaning and treatment.

[0066] Figure 4 Shown is a front view of another embodiment of a dental device 41. Dental device 41 includes a "C-shaped" (eg, semicircular) mouthpiece 43. The mouthpiece is double-sided - it has tooth receiving portions on both sides (front and back) of the mouthpiece.

[0067] Figure 5A Shown Figure 4 The front of a mouthpiece 43 of a dental device is shown, the mouthpiece comprising a brushing portion 44. The brushing portion comprises a recess for receiving the teeth of a user and a plurality of brushing elements arranged inside the recess.

[0068] Figure 5BThe rear side of the mouthpiece 43 is shown, opposite the front side. The rear side of the mouthpiece 43 comprises a light treatment portion 45. The light treatment portion comprises a recess for receiving the user's teeth and a light emitter 47 arranged inside the recess. The light emitter comprises an array of light emitting elements 49 configured to emit light adapted to provide an oral care treatment. With such a device, the dental device 41 can be used to brush the teeth belonging to one jaw bone (e.g. the upper jaw bone) while treating the area (teeth, gums) of the user's mouth corresponding to the other jaw bone (e.g. the lower jaw bone). With such a device, the light path between the teeth received in the tooth receiving recess of the brushing portion is not obstructed by the brushing elements. Moreover, as the oral treatment product is typically used in conjunction with the tooth brushing portion of the device, the amount of oral treatment product present in the tooth receiving recess of the light treatment portion is small.

[0069] In some embodiments, the dental device comprises a transducer arrangement for moving the brushing elements and comprises a switching arrangement operably coupled to the power supply, the transducer arrangement and the light emitter to independently power the transducer arrangement and the light emitter.

[0070] It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the light emitter is a light source. In some other embodiments, the light emitter is a device (e.g. a light guide) arranged to receive light from a light source external to the light treatment portion and to emit the received light. In those embodiments, the light source can for example be incorporated in the handle.

[0071] It will be appreciated that although the light emitter is described as a light source comprising an array of light emitting elements, alternative light emitters can be provided. For example, in some embodiments, the device comprises a laser and the light emitter comprises a structure for guiding light from the handle to the light treatment portion such that the light is emitted at the light treatment portion.

[0072] It will be appreciated that although in Figure 1 the channel is shown as being formed by a continuous body, the channel need not have this particular form. In some embodiments, the channel can comprise a discontinuous body. That is, the wall of the channel can comprise a plurality of fingers separated by gaps.

[0073] The connector can provide a mechanical connection (e.g. a snap fit), or it can provide the connection in a different way (e.g. magnetically).

[0074] In some embodiments, the mounting arrangement comprises a single mounting for mounting the mouthpiece to the handle. In some other embodiments, the mounting arrangement comprises a dedicated mounting portion for each tooth receiving portion. For example, the mounting arrangement can comprise a brushing portion mounting portion for mounting the brushing portion to the device and a light treatment mounting portion for mounting the light treatment portion to the device.

[0075] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding this description that follows, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings and the appended claims. In the claims, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0076] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0077] If the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or specification it should be taken as equivalent to the term "configured to", and vice versa. If the term "means" is used in the claims or specification it should be taken as equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0078] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A dental device for providing oral cleaning, the dental device (1) comprising: An oral cavity (3), the oral cavity being used to receive the teeth of a subject, the oral cavity comprising: a brushing portion (5, 7) for receiving a first set of teeth of the subject, the brushing portion comprising a plurality of brushing elements (11) for providing oral cleaning; and a light treatment portion (13) for receiving a second set of teeth of the subject, the light treatment portion comprising a light emitter (17) for providing light treatment; wherein the brushing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged such that, in use, the brushing element is arranged out of a light path between the light emitter and the second set of teeth of the subject; and Characterized in that the dental equipment further comprises: A connector, wherein the connector operably attaches the brushing portion and the light treatment portion together, and wherein the brushing portion and the light treatment portion are arranged to receive teeth associated with the same jaw.

2. A dental device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oral piece includes an arcuate portion for receiving a subset of the subject's teeth, wherein the arcuate portion includes a flexible material body so that the arcuate portion can be deformed, and the arcuate portion has a first configuration and a second configuration, in which in the first configuration, the arcuate portion is formed to receive a subset of the subject's teeth associated with a first jaw, and in the second configuration, the arcuate portion is formed to receive a second subset of the subject's teeth associated with the first jaw.

3. The dental device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brushing elements comprise bristles.

4. The dental device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light emitter is configured to emit light at a wavelength for providing oral care.

5. Dental apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising mounting means for mounting the mouthpiece to a drive handle.

6. The dental apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a power supply coupled to the light emitter.

7. The dental device of claim 6, further comprising an attachment member for removably attaching the power source to the mouthpiece, wherein the attachment member is arranged to attach the power source to the mouthpiece.

8. The dental apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a transducer device for moving the brushing element and comprising a switch device operably coupled to the power supply, the transducer device and the light emitter to independently power the transducer device and the light emitter.

9. The dental device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light emitter comprises a light source arranged in the light treatment portion, and preferably wherein the light source comprises an array of LEDs.

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