Mouthpiece channel width optimization

Abstract

A j-shaped dental arch is provided. The j-shaped dental arch includes a brush pads and a frame coupled to the brush pads. The brush pads simultaneously clean multiple tooth surfaces of teeth of a user. The brush pads include buccal brush pads proximate to a cheek of the user and lingual brush pads proximate to a tongue of the user. The brush pads and the frame form an open u-shaped cross-sectional profile to receive a portion of the teeth when the j-shaped dental arch is worn by the user. Each of the buccal brush pads includes buccal tufts. Each of the lingual brush pads includes lingual tufts. Each of the buccal tufts are separated from each of the lingual tufts by at least a channel width corresponding to a clamping range of approximately 18 to 60 percent when the j-shaped dental arch is worn by the user.

Description

MOUTHPIECE CHANNEL WIDTH OPTIMIZATIONField of the Disclosure

[0001] The present disclosure is generally directed to a j -shaped dental arch for use with a replaceable powered toothbrush head.Background

[0002] Manufacturing mouthpiece toothbrushes presents a unique challenge, as the mouthpiece must be (1) sized for fit and comfort within a mouth of user, (2) capable of providing effective tooth cleaning, and (3) viable as a manufacturable product. Many currently available mouthpiece toothbrushes utilizing standard manufacturing techniques require certain brush pad backer thicknesses and tuft lengths, resulting in a mouthpiece which is too wide for comfort. Similarly, while smaller components with soft, elastomeric brush pad backers or elastomeric molded filaments allow for the manufacture of a more comfortable mouthpiece, these mouthpieces often fail to provide effective tooth cleaning.Summary of the Disclosure

[0003] The present disclosure is generally directed to a j -shaped dental arch for use with a replaceable powered toothbrush head. The j -shaped dental arch implements a channel width based on a desired clamping range, such as approximately 18 to 60 percent. The channel width may be defined as a minimum distance between opposing tufts of the dental arch, while the clamping range defines target levels of tuft compression during cleaning, and correlates to both filament pressure and filament coverage, each indicative of tooth cleaning efficacy. The channel width may be further optimized based on a number of parameters, including overall arch width, tooth width, brush pad backer thickness, tuft length, filament diameter, and desired clamping range. Optimizing the channel width for these parameters enables the j -shaped dental arch to fit comfortably in a mouth of a user while effectively cleaning their teeth. Due to variations in tooth width among a population of users, a principal component analysis of dental impressions of a population group may be performed to determine a tooth width to use in determining an optimized channel width to fit a wide array of users. Further, an optimized channel width value may be determined for each tooth (molars, pre-molars, canines, incisors, etc.) to be cleaned by the j -shaped dental arch, resulting in a varying set of optimized channel widths along a length of the dental arch.

[0004] Generally, in one example, a j-shaped dental arch is provided. The j-shaped dental arch includes a set of brush pads configured to simultaneously clean multiple tooth surfaces of a set of teeth of a user. The set of brush pads includes a plurality of buccal brush pads proximate to a cheek of the user and a plurality of lingual brush pads proximate to a tongue of the user.

[0005] The j-shaped dental arch further includes a frame. The frame is coupled to the set of brush pads. The set of brush pads and the frame form an open u-shaped cross-sectional profile to receive a portion of the set of teeth when the j-shaped dental arch is worn by the user.

[0006] Each of the plurality of buccal brush pads includes a plurality of buccal tufts. Each of the plurality of lingual brush pads includes a plurality of lingual tufts.

[0007] Each of the plurality of buccal tufts are separated from each of the plurality of lingual tufts by at least a channel width. The channel width corresponds to a clamping range. The clamping range of each of the plurality of buccal tufts and each of the plurality of lingual tufts is approximately 18 to 60 percent when the j-shaped dental arch is worn by the user.

[0008] According to an example, the channel width is determined from tooth width data of a population group.

[0009] According to an example, the channel width is further determined based on one or more of tuft length, filament diameter, pad backer thickness, and / or overall arch width.

[0010] According to an example, the channel width enables the j-shaped dental arch to fit at least 95 percent of a plurality of members of the population group.

[0011] According to an example, the channel width corresponds to fifth percentile tooth width data of the population group.

[0012] According to an example, the population group includes at least 467 individuals.

[0013] According to an example, the set of brush pads includes seven buccal brush pads and six lingual brush pads.

[0014] According to an example, the set of brush pads are configured to clean at least one molar of the set of teeth.

[0015] According to an example, the clamping range corresponds to at least one molar of the set of teeth.

[0016] According to an example, at least one of the set of brush pads includes a pad backer having a pad backer thickness of 2.2 to 3.5 millimeters.

[0017] According to an example, the channel width varies along an arch length of the j-shapeddental arch.

[0018] According to an example, the channel width increases proximate to a back end of the j- shaped dental arch and decreases proximate to a front end of the j -shaped dental arch.

[0019] According to an example, each of the plurality of buccal tufts includes a plurality of buccal filaments arranged orthogonally to the plurality of buccal brush pads. Each of the plurality of lingual tufts includes a plurality of lingual filaments arranged orthogonally to the plurality of lingual brush pads.

[0020] According to an example, the plurality of buccal tufts or the plurality of lingual tufts vary in tuft length and / or filament diameter.

[0021] Generally, in another aspect, a replaceable powered toothbrush head is provided. The replaceable powered toothbrush head includes the j -shaped dental arch described above.

[0022] In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (generically referred to herein as “memory,” e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, SSD, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and / or controllers, perform at least some of the functions discussed herein. Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so as to implement various aspects as discussed herein. The terms “program” or “computer program” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors or controllers.

[0023] It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

[0024] These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the various embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a replaceable powered toothbrush head, in accordance with an example.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a j -shaped dental arch, in accordance with an example.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of aspects of the j-shaped dental arch, in accordance with an example.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a further isometric view of aspects of the j-shaped dental arch, in accordance with an example.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration of clamping of a j-shaped dental arch, in accordance with an example.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates data processing to determine optimized channel width, in accordance with an example.Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0032] The present disclosure is generally directed to a j-shaped dental arch for use with a replaceable powered toothbrush head. The j-shaped dental arch implements a channel width based on a desired clamping range, such as approximately 18 to 60 percent. The channel width may be defined as a minimum distance between opposing tufts of the dental arch, while the clamping range defines target levels of tuft compression during cleaning, and correlates to both filament pressure and filament coverage, each indicative of tooth cleaning efficacy. The channel width may be further optimized based on a number of parameters, including overall arch width, tooth width, brush pad backer thickness, tuft length, filament diameter, and desired clamping range. Optimizing the channel width for these parameters enables the j-shaped dental arch to fit comfortably in a mouth of a user while effectively cleaning their teeth.

[0033] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a replaceable powered toothbrush head 10. Broadly, the powered toothbrush head 10 includes a connector 12, a driver assembly 14, a first j -shaped dental arch 100, and a second j -shaped dental arch 200. The connector 12 is configured to removably couple the toothbrush head 10 to a body of a powered toothbrush. The first j -shaped dental arch 100 is configured to receive and clean a first portion of a set of teeth of a user (such as the left side of their upper jaw), while the second j -shaped dental arch 200 is configured to receive and clean a second portion of the set of teeth of the user (such as the left side of their lower jaw). The remaining teeth of the user may be cleaned by (1) translating the j -shaped dental arches 100, 200 about the mesial-axial length of the jaw of the user and (2) rotating the replaceable powered toothbrush head 10 by 180 degrees. By rotating the replaceable powered toothbrush head 10, the first dental arch 100 may receive and clean teeth on the lower jaw, while the second dental arch 200 may receive and clean teeth on the upper jaw. The driver 14 is configured to actuate the brush pads 106 (shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4) to clean the teeth of the user.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the first j -shaped dental arch 100 of FIG. 1 in more detail. In this nonlimiting example, the dental arch 100 includes a plurality of brush pads 104. Each brush pad 104 includes a plurality of tufts 106 (also referred to as bristles) and a pad backer 112. In some examples, the pad backers 112 are plastic. The plurality of tufts 106 are configured to interact with and clean surfaces of the teeth of the user upon actuation via the driver 14. The tufts 106 may be formed on and / or affixed to the pad backers 112 according to a variety of means, such as via pressure, temperature, time tufting (PTt), anchor free tufting (AFT), in-mold tufting, and staple set tufting. The tufts 106 may be defined in terms of tuft length 122 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), which may be defined as a distance from the pad backer to the tip of the tuft 106. Further, each tuft 106 may comprise a plurality of filaments. Accordingly, the tufts 106 may be defined by a filament diameter 124. The filament diameter 124, the number of filaments per tuft 106, the density of the filaments per tuft 106, and the material characteristics of the filaments may be used to determine a stiffness value for the corresponding tuft 106.

[0035] In the example of FIG. 2, the brush pads 106 may be divided into two groups, a group of seven buccal brush pads 104al-104a7 proximate to a cheek of the user, and a group of six lingual brush pads 104bl-104b6 proximate to a tongue of the user. Accordingly, the tufts 106 of the buccal brush pads 104a may be considered buccal tufts, while the tufts 106 of the lingual brushpads 104a may be considered lingual tufts 106b. Generally, the buccal brush pads 104a are configured to clean the buccal sides of the teeth, while the lingual brush pads 104a are configured to clean the lingual sides of the teeth. Both buccal and lingual brush pads 104a, 104b are configured to clean the mesial and distal sides of the teeth.

[0036] The pad backers 112 of the brush pads 106 are coupled to a frame 114. In order to couple with the frame 114, the pad backer 112 may be substantially angular such that the pad backer 112 forms an angle of at least 90 degrees. In some examples, the frame 114 may be substantially flexible, enabling the j-shaped dental arch to bend and / or straighten. Further, a plurality of occlusal tufts 130 are vertically arranged on the frame 114 to clean at least the occlusal surface of the teeth of the user. Further, hinges 132 enable the brush pads 104a, 104b to flex relative to the teeth of the user when the j-shaped dental arch 100 is worn.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates another view of aspects of the first j-shaped dental arch 100. In FIG. 3, the occlusal tufts 116 are hidden for clarity. The brush pads 106 and frame 114 form an open u- shaped cross-sectional profile 104 to receive a portion of the teeth of the user. FIG. 3 further illustrates a pad backer thickness 126 of a pad backer 112 of a brush pad. In some examples, the pad backer thickness may range from 2.2 to 3.5 millimeters, such as, for example 2.3 millimeters, 2.5 millimeters, or 3.3 millimeters. FIG. 3 further illustrates an arch length 134 in between a back end 116 and a front end 118 of the j-shaped dental arch 100.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the first j-shaped dental arch 100 including a buccal brush pad 104a and a lingual brush pad 104b. The buccal brush pad 104a includes a plurality of buccal tufts 106a, and the lingual brush pad 104b includes a plurality of lingual tufts 106b. The tufts 106 may be defined as having a tuft length 122. The different buccal tufts 106a and / or lingual tufts 106b may have different tuft lengths 122. For example, the upper buccal tufts 106a and the upper lingual tufts 106b may be longer than the other tufts 106 to clean a gum line of the user. Other tufts 106a, 106b, may vary in size to clean other aspects or surfaces of the teeth of the user. Similarly, the tufts 106a, 106b may also vary in filament diameter 124 (and therefore stiffness) for specific tooth cleaning purposes.

[0039] The space between the tips of the buccal tufts 106a and the tips of the lingual tufts 106b is defined as a channel 138. When the j-shaped dental arch 100 is worn, a tooth of the user is inserted into the channel 138 for cleaning via the buccal and lingual tufts 106a, 106b. The minimum distance between the buccal tufts 106a and the lingual tufts 106a is defined as thechannel width 108. The channel width 108 may be a value corresponding to an individual tooth, such as a molar. The channel width 108 may also be a series of values (such as in a vector) corresponding to different teeth, such as a first value for a first molar, a second value for a second molar, a third value for a first pre-molar, etc. Accordingly, the channel width 108 may vary along the arch length 134 of the dental arch 100. In particular, the channel width 108 may increase towards the back end 116 of the dental arch 100 proximate to wider teeth such as molars and premolars, and decrease towards the front end 118 of the dental arch 100 proximate to narrower teeth such as canines and incisors. In some examples, the channel widths 108 corresponding to molars may vary from 5 millimeters to 8 millimeters. In other examples, the channel widths 108 corresponding to incisors may vary from 0.25 millimeters to 4.00 millimeters. Further, an optimized channel width 108 may vary as a function of tooth height to match the geometry of the tooth surface. For example, the channel width 108 depicted in FIG. 4 does not vary significantly as a function of tooth height, as molar width typically does not vary with respect to height. However, channel width 108 corresponding to an incisor may vary significantly with respect to height from gumline to cusp, as incisors are typically much wider at the gumline.

[0040] In order to ensure sufficient tooth cleaning for a wide array of users, the channel width 108 should ensure that the tufts 106 of the brush pads 104 apply sufficient, but not excessive, pressure to the tooth. The pressure applied by the tufts 106 may be quantified in terms of a desired clamping range 110. As will be demonstrated in more detail in FIG. 5, a clamping value represents the amount of compression experienced by a tuft 106 during cleaning. The clamping range 110 defines an acceptable range of compression percentage. An optimum clamping range 110 has been experimentally determined to be approximately 18 to 60 percent. In some examples, the optimum clamping range 110 may vary for different types of teeth. For example, the optimum clamping range 110 for tufts 106 cleaning molars may be 18 to 48 percent, while the optimum clamping range 110 for tufts 106 cleaning pre-molars, incisors, or canines may be 18 to 60 percent. Within this clamping range 110, the tufts apply sufficient pressure to clean the tooth. Below the clamping range 110, the tufts 106 do not apply enough pressure to clean the tooth, and may not be in contact with the tooth at all. Above the clamping range, the tufts 106 may be too close to the tooth for cleaning, which in extreme cases, may result in one or more tufts being “trapped” under the bottom occlusal side of the tooth.

[0041] The optimum clamping range 110 was determined through multiple in vitro and in silico experiments. These experiments determined the optimal bristle tip (or tuft tip) pressure range for plaque removal and associated clamping values. The clamping range lower limit is associated with a lower threshold of a bristle tip pressure range for effective plaque removal, while an upper limit is associated with a point of diminishing plaque removal performance. The optimum clamping range 110 was generalized to consider various bristle diameters and to reconcile variation in expected tooth width.

[0042] To ensure that a j -shaped dental arch 100 will provide a sufficient clamping range 110 for a wide array of users, rather than requiring a variety of differently sized dental arches for a population group 202, the channel width 108 of the dental arch 100 may be optimized. For example, molars may fluctuate in width between 9 and 13.2 millimeters, greatly impacting the channel width 108 required to provide sufficient clamping. In a preferred example, the optimized channel width 108 is chosen according to principal component analysis of tooth widths 208 of digitized dental impressions 212 of members 206 of the population group 202. In one illustrative example, the population group 202 includes 467 members. The principal component analysis then determines the 5thpercentile channel width 204 for the population group 202, which is used as the optimized channel width 108. By using the 5thpercentile tooth width 204 to determine the optimized channel width 108, the j -shaped dental arch 100 should fit 95 percent of potential users, only requiring custom dental arches for users with the smallest mouths. Due to variations in tooth width between different types of teeth (molars, pre-molars, canines, incisors, etc.), this analysis may be performed for each tooth to generate a series of optimized channel widths 108 to ensure the entire dental arch 100 will fit the vast majority of users.

[0043] In addition to tooth width data 208 of a population group 204, a number of additional parameters may be used to determine an optimum channel width 108 to provide sufficient clamping. These parameters may include desired clamping range 110, tuft length data 122, filament diameter data 124, and pad backer thickness data 126.

[0044] The optimized channel width 108 may be achieved through a variety of design parameters. In some examples, the tuft length 122 (as shown in FIG. 4) of one or more tufts 106 may be adjusted, as longer tufts typically provide increased clamping. In other examples, an overall arch width 128 (as shown in FIG. 4) may be adjusted, as a narrower arch would typically provideincreased clamping. However, the overall arch width 128 will be limited by the dimensions of the mouth of the user, as very wide overall arch widths 128 may be uncomfortable for the user.

[0045] FIG. 4 also shows the j -shaped dental arch 100 as defined by an overall arch width 128 from the outer surface of the buccal brush pad 104a to the outer surface of the lingual brush pad 104b. The overall arch width 128 may also be an important parameter in determining an optimized channel width 108 to ensure that the j -shaped dental arch 100 formed based on the channel width 108 fits in the mouth of the user. Accordingly, the overall arch width 128 may be considered a footprint or envelope within which all of the components of the j-shaped dental arch 100 must fit, while being narrow enough for the j-shaped dental arch 100 to be comfortable for the user.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an abstracted cross-sectional illustration of clamping of a j-shaped dental arch 100. Broadly, FIG. 5 shows a buccal brush pad 104a with an associated tuft length 122a and pad backer thickness 126a, as well as a lingual brush pad 104b with an associated tuft length 122b and pad backer thickness 126b. A channel width 108 defines the distance between the pads 104a, 104b. The overall size of the j-shaped arch 100 is defined by overall arch width 128.

[0047] In the example of FIG. 5, the channel width 108 is configured to provide 30 percent clamping when a tooth is inserted into the channel 138 during cleaning. The impact of the clamping is shown by compression widths 136a, 136b. In one example, the tuft lengths 122a, 122b may be 5.5 millimeters. Thus, if the channel width 108 is designed for 30 percent clamping, the compression widths 136a, 136b will be 1.65 millimeters.

[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates data processing to generate the optimized channel width 108 for a j- shaped dental arch 100. The optimized channel width 108 is generated based on data of a population group 202. The population group 202 includes a plurality of individual members 206. Each member 206 corresponds to one of a plurality of digitized dental impressions 212. Each digitized dental impression 212 corresponds to tooth width data 208. In one example, the population group 202 may include 467 members. However, any practical number of members 206 may be used. Further population groups 202 corresponding to specific demographic information (such as age) may be used to determine an optimized channel width 102 for that demographic group. The population group data 202 may be stored in a non-volatile memory of a computing device, such as a personal computer.

[0049] The data of the population group 202 is provided to a principal component analyzer 201. The principal component analyzer 201 is configured to generate statistical data based on thepopulation group 202. The principal component analyzer 201 may be executed by one or more processors or processing units run by a computing device, such as the personal computer storing the population group 202. In particular, the principal component analyzer 201 may determine the tooth width data 208 for the various dental impressions 212, such as via a three-dimensional analysis. In one example, the principal component analyzer 201 then outputs 5th percentile tooth width data 204. The 5thpercentile tooth width data 204 comprises tooth widths less than the tooth widths of 95 percent of the members 206 of the population group 202.

[0050] The 5th percentile tooth width data 204 is then provided to a channel width optimizer 203. Like the principal component analyzer 201, the channel width optimizer 203 may be executed by one or more processors or processing units run by a computing device, such as the aforementioned personal computer. The channel width optimizer 203 may also receive a number of additional parameters to determine the optimized channel width 108, including desired clamping range 110, tuft length data 122, filament diameter data 124, pad backer thickness data 126, and overall arch width 128. The channel width optimizer translates the 5th percentile tooth width data 204 and / or some or all of the additional parameters into an optimized channel width 108 to be implemented with the j -shaped dental arch 100. Thus, the j -shaped dental arch 100 implementing the optimized channel width 108 should fit 95 percent of the population group without requiring specifically sized dental arches.

[0051] A number of variations of this data processing system are possible. In some examples, different percentiles (2ndpercentile, 3rdpercentile, 10thpercentile, etc.) of the tooth width data 208 of the population group 202 may be chosen based on a variety of factors, such as manufacturing constraints. In some examples, the population group 202 may consist of a single member 206 with a single dental impression 212. Thus, the determined tooth width data 208 of the dental impression 212 will be provided to the channel width optimizer 203 to determine an individualized channel width.

[0052] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0053] The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

[0054] The phrase “and / or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and / or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and / or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0055] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and / or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and / or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of’ or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”

[0056] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0057] It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

[0058] In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but notlimited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of’ and “consisting essentially of’ shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

[0059] The above-described examples of the described subject matter can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, some aspects may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When any aspect is implemented at least in part in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices / computers.

[0060] The present disclosure may be implemented as a system, a method, and / or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.

[0061] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

[0062] Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing / processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and / or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches,gateway computers and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing / processing device.

[0063] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partly on the user’s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some examples, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

[0064] Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to examples of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

[0065] The computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchartand / or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and / or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function / act specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram or blocks.

[0066] The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0067] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various examples of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0068] Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims and other claims to which the applicant may be entitled.

[0069] While various examples have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and / or structures for performing the function and / or obtaining the results and / or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters,dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is / are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific examples described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing examples are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, examples may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Examples of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A j-shaped dental arch (100), comprising: a set of brush pads (104) configured to simultaneously clean multiple tooth surfaces of a set of teeth of a user, wherein the set of brush pads (104) comprise a plurality of buccal brush pads (104a) proximate to a cheek of the user and a plurality of lingual brush pads (104b) proximate to a tongue of the user; and a frame (114) coupled to the set of brush pads (104), wherein the set of brush pads (104) and the frame (114) form an open u-shaped cross-sectional profile (102) to receive a portion of the set of teeth when the j-shaped dental arch (100) is worn by the user; wherein each of the plurality of buccal brush pads (104a) comprises a plurality of buccal tufts (106a) and each of the plurality of lingual brush pads (104b) comprises a plurality of lingual tufts (106b); and wherein each of the plurality of buccal tufts (106a) are separated from each of the plurality of lingual tufts (106b) by at least a channel width (108) corresponding to a clamping range (110), wherein the clamping range (110) of each of the plurality of buccal tufts (106a) and each of the plurality of lingual tufts (106b) is approximately 18 to 60 percent when the j-shaped dental arch (100) is worn by the user.

2. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the channel width (108) is determined from tooth width data (208) of a population group (206).

3. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 2, wherein the channel width (108) is further determined based on one or more of tuft length (122), filament diameter (124), pad backer thickness (126), and / or overall arch width (128).

4. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 2, wherein the channel width (108) enables the j- shaped dental arch (100) to fit at least 95 percent of a plurality of members (202) of the population group (206).

5. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 2, wherein the channel width (108) corresponds tofifth percentile tooth width data (204) of the population group (202).

6. The j -shaped dental arch (100) of claim 2, wherein the population group (202) comprises at least 467 individuals.

7. The j -shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the set of brush pads (104) comprises seven buccal brush pads (104a) and six lingual brush pads (104b).

8. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the set of brush pads (104) are configured to clean at least one molar of the set of teeth.

9. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the clamping range (110) corresponds to at least one molar of the set of teeth.

10. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the set of brush pads (104) comprises a pad backer (112) having a pad backer thickness (126) of 2.2 to 3.5 millimeters.

11. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the channel width (108) varies along an arch length (134) of the j-shaped dental arch (100).

12. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 10, wherein the channel width (108) increases proximate to a back end (116) of the j-shaped dental arch (100) and decreases proximate to a front end (118) of the j-shaped dental arch (100).

13. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of buccal tufts comprises (106a) a plurality of buccal filaments (120a) arranged orthogonally to the plurality of buccal brush pads (104a), and wherein each of the plurality of lingual tufts (106b) comprises a plurality of lingual filaments (120b) arranged orthogonally to the plurality of lingual brush pads (104b).

14. The j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of buccal tufts (106a) orthe plurality of lingual tufts (106b) vary in tuft length (122) and / or filament diameter (124).

15. A replaceable powered toothbrush head (10) comprising the j-shaped dental arch (100) of claim 1.

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