Mouthpiece-type toothbrush

Abstract

This mouthpiece-type toothbrush includes a mouthpiece part 20 and a cover part 30. Brush bristles 42 are provided on the inner surface of the mouthpiece part 20. The cover part 30 is provided so as to face an outer surface of the mouthpiece part 20 opposite an inner surface on which the brush bristles 42 are provided, and the cover part is joined to the mouthpiece part 20. The cover part 30 is formed to be a mesh.

Description

Mouthpiece-type toothbrush CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-102913, filed on June 26, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to mouthpiece-type toothbrushes.

[0003] A conventional toothbrush is described in Patent Document 1 below. This toothbrush has a brush base and a handle. The brush base has a plurality of holes into which brush bristles are embedded. The brush base and the handle are connected to each other via a neck.

[0004] JP 2018-198795 A

[0005] When brushing teeth using the toothbrush described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to move the grip while placing the brush on the teeth. With this toothbrushing method, the brushing effect is not achieved on parts of the teeth that are not properly brushed. In particular, it is difficult to brush the periodontal pockets that exist between the teeth and gums, making brushing these areas often difficult. Plaque in areas that are not properly brushed is a major factor in the development of periodontal disease, caries, and the like.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mouthpiece-type toothbrush that enables more appropriate brushing, and a method for manufacturing a mouthpiece-type toothbrush.

[0007] A mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a mouthpiece-type toothbrush that is attached to at least one of the upper and lower jaw dentitions and includes a mouthpiece portion and a cover portion. Brush bristles are provided on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion. The cover portion is provided facing the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion opposite the inner surface on which the bristles are provided, and is joined to the mouthpiece portion. The cover portion is formed in a mesh shape.

[0008] With this configuration, when the user bites down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush, the mouthpiece portion elastically deforms, making it easier for the brush bristles to be inserted into, for example, periodontal pockets, allowing for more appropriate brushing.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the cross-sectional structure along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment as viewed from the bottom wall portion. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the cross-sectional structure along line V-V in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure of the main body of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional structure of a protrusion of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing an enlarged structure of the surface of the brush sheet of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the cross-sectional structure of the brush sheet of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the cover of the first embodiment. FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) are cross-sectional views schematically showing an example of the operation of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. FIG. 13 (A) to (C) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. FIG. 14 (A) to (C) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional structure of a protrusion of a modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the planar structure of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush of the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure along line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure along line XIX-XIX in FIG. 17. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the second embodiment. FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically showing an example of 3D data of dental impressions and bite registration of the second embodiment. FIGS. 22 (A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the second embodiment. Fig. 23 (A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing a part of the manufacturing process of the mouthpiece of the second embodiment. Fig. 24 is a diagram schematically showing an example of 3D data of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush for the upper jaw and the lower jaw of the second embodiment. Fig. 25 (A) and (B) are perspective views schematically showing the perspective structure of a mouthpiece of another embodiment.FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing an example of 3D data of mouthpiece-type toothbrushes for the upper and lower jaws according to another embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush will be described with reference to the drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0011] First Embodiment First, the configuration of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to a first embodiment will be described.

[0012] (Configuration of Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush) Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 shown in Fig. 1 is used by being attached to the dentition of the upper or lower jaw. The dash-dotted line m10 shown in Fig. 1 indicates the eruption (arrangement) direction of the teeth to which the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is attached. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 comprises a mouthpiece portion 20, a cover portion 30, and a brush sheet 40.

[0013] The mouthpiece 20 is made of an elastic resin or the like. The mouthpiece 20 is manufactured by creating a mold for the mouthpiece 20 from 3D data of the dentition obtained by scanning the user's upper or lower jaw using an intraoral 3D scan or the like, and then vacuum-pressing resin onto the mold. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the perspective structure of the mouthpiece 20. As shown in Figure 3, the mouthpiece 20 includes a main body 21 and a hook 22.

[0014] The main body 21 has a bottom wall 210 and side walls 211 and 212. The side walls 211 and 212 are curved in a semicircular shape along the tooth eruption direction (tooth arrangement direction) m10. The side walls 211 and 212 are disposed opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10. The bottom wall 210 is provided to connect the lower portions of the side walls 211 and 212. With this structure, the cross section of the main body 21 perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10 is formed in a concave shape. When the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is attached to the dentition, the side wall 211 is positioned to face the front surfaces of the teeth and gums, while the side wall 212 is positioned to face the back surfaces of the teeth and gums. Hereinafter, the side wall portion 211 will be referred to as the “front side wall portion 211,” and the side wall portion 212 will be referred to as the “rear side wall portion 212.” In this embodiment, the front side wall portion 211 is an example of a third side wall portion, and the rear side wall portion 212 is an example of a fourth side wall portion.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main body 21 as viewed from the bottom wall 210. As shown in Fig. 4, an uneven structure 210a is formed on the bottom wall 210. The uneven structure 210a has uneven shapes formed corresponding to the shapes and arrangement of each tooth constituting the dental row.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3 , a plurality of hook portions 22 are provided in each of regions A11 to A16, which are surrounded by two-dot chain lines, on the side walls 211 and 212 of the mouthpiece 20. The plurality of hook portions 22 form the structure of the hook side of the hook-and-loop fastener, in other words, the structure of the A-side of the hook-and-loop fastener. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure taken along line V-V in FIG. 3 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 , region A11 is provided on the inner surface of the upper portion of the front side wall 211. The same is true for regions A12 and A13. Region A14 is provided on the inner surface of the upper portion of the rear side wall 212. The same is true for regions A15 and A16. As shown in FIG. 3 , regions A11 and A13 are provided at both ends of the front side wall 211 in the tooth eruption direction m10, and region A12 is provided in the center of the front side wall 211 in the tooth eruption direction m10. Furthermore, the regions A14 and A16 are provided at both ends of the rear side wall portion 212 in the tooth eruption direction m10, and the region A15 is provided at the center of the rear side wall portion 212 in the tooth eruption direction m10.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional structure of the area A11 and the surrounding area of ​​the main body portion 21. As shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of hook portions 22 are formed to protrude from the inner surface of the front side wall portion 211 of the main body portion 21. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the enlarged structure of the hook portions 22. As shown in Fig. 7, the hook portions 22 have protrusions 220 and arm portions 221. In this embodiment, the hook portions 22 are an example of second engagement portions.

[0018] The protruding portion 220 is formed so as to protrude from the inner surface of the front side wall portion 211 of the main body portion 21. The protruding portion 220 has a central portion that is narrower than the other portions, that is, a constricted portion 220a.

[0019] The arm 221 is formed to extend laterally from the tip of the protrusion 220, more specifically, in a direction parallel to the inner surface of the front side wall 211 of the main body 21. The tip of the arm 221 is bent toward the front side wall 211 of the main body 21.

[0020] Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the enlarged structure of the surface of the brush sheet 40. As shown in Figure 8, the brush sheet 40 is a knitted sheet member. The brush sheet 40 is made of nylon or polyester. A plurality of brush bristles 42 are formed to protrude from the surface 41 of the brush sheet 40.

[0021] FIG. 9 shows the cross-sectional structure of the brush sheet 40. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of loop portions 44 are formed in a loop shape on the bottom surface 43 of the brush sheet 40, opposite the surface 41. The plurality of loop portions 44 realize the structure of the loop side of the hook-and-loop fastener, in other words, the structure of the B-side of the hook-and-loop fastener. By pressing the brush sheet 40 against the mouthpiece portion 20 so that the plurality of loop portions 44 come into contact with the hook portions 22 shown in FIG. 6, the brush sheet 40 can be detachably attached to the mouthpiece portion 20. In other words, the brush sheet 40 is replaceable in the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the loop portions 44 are an example of a first engagement portion.

[0022] The cover portion 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is made of the same material as the main body portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. However, the cover portion 30 may be made of a different material from the main body portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. Like the mouthpiece portion 20, the cover portion 30 is manufactured by creating a mold for the cover portion 30 from 3D data of the user's dentition and vacuum-pressing a resin onto the mold. As shown in Figure 2, the cross section of the cover portion 30 perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10 is formed in a concave shape. The cover portion 30 has a bottom wall portion 310 and a pair of side wall portions 311, 312 formed so as to stand upright from both ends of the bottom wall portion 310.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the oblique structure of the cover portion 30 as seen from the bottom wall portion 310 side. As shown in FIG. 10, a concave-convex structure 310a is formed on the bottom wall portion 310. The concave-convex structure 310a has concave-convex shapes corresponding to the shape and arrangement of each tooth constituting the dentition. The concave-convex shape of the concave-convex structure 310a formed on the cover portion 30 is larger than the concave-convex shape of the concave-convex structure 210a formed on the main body portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20. Note that the concave-convex structure 310a does not necessarily have to be provided on the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30. For example, the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30 may be flat or curved.

[0024] 2 , the cover portion 30 is joined to the mouthpiece portion 20 by, for example, heat compression bonding, adhesive, or the like. Specifically, the tip of the front side wall portion 311 of the cover portion 30 and the tip of the front side wall portion 211 of the main body portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20 are joined to each other via a joint 50. Furthermore, the tip of the rear side wall portion 312 of the cover portion 30 and the tip of the rear side wall portion 212 of the main body portion 21 of the mouthpiece portion 20 are joined to each other via a joint 51.

[0025] An internal space Sa is formed between the outer surface of the main body 21 of the mouthpiece 20 and the inner surface of the cover 30. The internal space Sa is connected to the external space Sb of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 through a minute gap G formed at the joints 50, 51. Therefore, air present in the internal space Sa can escape to the external space Sb through the gap G at the joints 50, 51.

[0026] The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment is attached to the user's upper jaw dentition 60, as shown in Fig. 11(A), for example. At this time, the top surface (crown) 61 of the dentition 60 faces the bottom wall 210 of the mouthpiece 20, and the front surface 62 and back surface 63 of the dentition 60 face the front sidewall 211 and rear sidewall 212 of the mouthpiece 20, respectively. When the user moves their upper and lower jaws up and down in this state to bite the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, air present in the internal space Sa between the mouthpiece 20 and the cover 30 escapes to the external space Sb through the gap G between the joints 50, 51, causing the mouthpiece 20 and the cover 30 to elastically deform. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11(B), the mouthpiece 20 and the cover 30 elastically deform, for example, so that the bottom wall 210 of the mouthpiece 20 and the bottom wall 310 of the cover 30 approach each other. As the user repeatedly bites down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 alternates between the state shown in Fig. 11(A) and the state shown in Fig. 11(B). As a result, the bristles 42 of the brush sheet 40 provided on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 repeatedly move relative to the top surface 61, front surface 62, and back surface 63 of the dentition 60, causing the bristles 42 to brush the top surface 61, front surface 62, and back surface 63 of the dentition 60.

[0027] 11(B), when the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30 are deformed, the front side wall portion 211 and the rear side wall portion 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the front side wall portion 311 and the rear side wall portion 312 of the cover portion 30 are elastically deformed so as to collapse inward, and the bristles 42 of the brush sheet 40 are inserted into the periodontal pocket, etc. This allows the bristles 42 to be properly applied to the periodontal pocket, etc.

[0028] (Method of Manufacturing Mouthpiece) Next, a method of manufacturing the mouthpiece portion 20 of this embodiment, particularly a method of manufacturing the hook portion 22, will be described.

[0029] When manufacturing the mouthpiece 20, after manufacturing the main body 21, a process is carried out to form the hook 22 on the manufactured main body 21. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of this hook forming process.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 12 , in the hook formation process, a silicon mold is formed by transferring the base structure of the hook portion from a base member to silicon (step S10). Specifically, a base member 70 as shown in FIG. 13A is first prepared. Any material can be used as the base member 70 as long as it has a base structure 71 of the hook portion that is the same as or similar to the hook portion 22 as shown in FIG. 7 . For example, the hook side material of an existing hook-and-loop fastener can be used as the base member 70. After preparing the base member 70 as shown in FIG. 7A , silicon 80 is applied to the base member 70 as shown in FIG. 7B , and the silicon 80 is tightly adhered to the base member 70 using a vacuum device or the like. The silicon 80 is then hardened, thereby transferring the base structures 71 of the multiple hook portions to the silicon 80. Next, the silicon 80 is peeled off from the base member 70 to form a silicon mold 90 as shown in FIG. 7C . A plurality of recesses 91 corresponding to the base structures 71 of the plurality of hook portions are formed in the silicon mold 90. In this embodiment, the silicon 80 is an example of a transfer material, and the silicon mold 90 is an example of a transfer mold.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 12 , after forming a silicon mold 90 (step S10), a first molded product is formed using the silicon mold 90 (step S11). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 (A), a resin member 100 is applied to the silicon mold 90. The resin member 100 has UV-curable properties and is formed from a resin that is the same as or similar to the resin that constitutes the main body portion 21. In this embodiment, the resin member 100 is an example of a first resin member. Next, UV light 130 or the like is used to irradiate the resin member 100 with UV light to cure the resin member 100, thereby transferring the multiple recesses 91 of the silicon mold 90 to the resin member 100. Next, the silicon mold 90 is peeled off from the resin member 100 to form a first molded product 110 as shown in FIG. 14 (B). Multiple hook portions 22 are formed on the first molded product 110.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 12 , after the first molded product 110 is molded (step S11), the first molded product 110 is bonded to the main body 21 (step S12). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 (C), a sheet-like resin member 120 is sandwiched between the inner surface of the main body 21 and the first molded product 110. Like the resin member 100, the resin member 120 has ultraviolet curing properties and is formed from a resin that is the same as or similar to the resin that constitutes the main body 21. In this embodiment, the resin member 120 is an example of a second resin member. Next, with the resin member 120 sandwiched between the main body 21 and the first molded product 110, ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the resin member 120 using an ultraviolet light 130 or the like to cure the resin member 120, thereby bonding the main body 21 and the first molded product 110 via the resin member 120. At this time, the main body 21, the first molded product 110, and the resin member 120 are integrated because they are made of the same or similar materials. By performing this bonding process of the first molded product 110 on the areas A11 to A16 of the main body 21 shown in Figure 3, the hook portion 22 can be formed on the mouthpiece 20.

[0033] (Functions and Effects of Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush 10 of First Embodiment) As described above, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment includes a mouthpiece portion 20 and a brush sheet 40. The brush sheet 40 has a plurality of brush bristles 42 on its surface 41, and a plurality of loop portions 44 on its bottom surface 43 opposite the surface 41. The mouthpiece portion 20 is attached to the rows of teeth on the upper or lower jaw. The mouthpiece portion 20 includes a main body portion 21 and a plurality of hook portions 22. The main body portion 21 has a concave cross section perpendicular to the tooth eruption direction m10. The plurality of hook portions 22 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the main body portion 21. The plurality of loop portions 44 of the brush sheet 40 and the plurality of hook portions 22 of the mouthpiece portion 20 engage with each other, thereby detachably attaching the brush sheet 40 to the mouthpiece portion 20.

[0034] According to this configuration, for example, when the brush sheet 40 deteriorates, the deteriorated brush sheet 40 can be removed from the mouthpiece portion 20, and a new brush sheet 40 can be attached to the mouthpiece portion 20. Therefore, the mouthpiece portion 20 can be used repeatedly, which reduces the impact on the environment.

[0035] The hook portion 22 has a protrusion 220 and an arm portion 221. The protrusion 220 is formed so as to protrude from the inner surface of the main body portion 21. The arm portion 221 is formed so as to extend laterally from the tip of the protrusion 220. The tip of the arm portion 221 is bent toward the inner surface of the main body portion 21. The protrusion 220 has a constricted portion 220a formed so that its central portion is thinner than the other portions.

[0036] According to this configuration, the hook portion 22 has a structure that allows the loop portion 44 of the brush sheet 40 to easily engage with it, making it easy to attach the brush sheet 40 to the mouthpiece portion 20.

[0037] The plurality of hook portions 22 are provided on a part of the inner surface of the upper part of the front side wall portion 211 and on a part of the inner surface of the upper part of the rear side wall portion 212. Specifically, the plurality of hook portions 22 are provided on both ends and the center of the front side wall portion 211 in the tooth eruption direction m10 and on both ends and the center of the rear side wall portion 212 in the tooth eruption direction m10.

[0038] When the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is attached to the teeth of the upper or lower jaw, the upper parts of the front sidewall 211 and the rear sidewall 212 are positioned opposite the gums. Therefore, the inner surfaces of the upper parts of the front sidewall 211 and the rear sidewall 212 generally have less irregularities than the parts facing the teeth. As a result, by forming the hook portions 22 on the inner surface of a portion of the upper part of the front sidewall 211 and the inner surface of a portion of the upper part of the rear sidewall 212, the hook portions 22 can be provided in a portion of the mouthpiece 20 with less irregularities. This makes it easier for the loop portions 44 of the brush sheet 40 to engage with the hook portions 22, making it easier to attach the brush sheet 40 to the mouthpiece 20.

[0039] (Modifications) Next, modifications of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the embodiment will be described.

[0040] The shape of the hook portion 22 of the mouthpiece portion 20 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in Figure 15, the hook portion 22 may have a structure including a protruding portion 220 and a spherical portion 222. The spherical portion 222 is formed at the tip of the protruding portion 220. Even when the hook portion 22 has such a structure, the loop portion 44 of the brush sheet 40 can easily engage with the hook portion 22, making it easy to attach the brush sheet 40 to the mouthpiece portion 20.

[0041] Second Embodiment Next, the configuration of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the second embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment.

[0042] (Configuration of mouthpiece-type toothbrush) As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment differs from the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment in that it does not use a brush sheet 40 and in that the mouthpiece portion 20, cover portion 30, and brush bristles 42 are integrally formed using a 3D printer.

[0043] Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure taken along line XVIII-XVIII in Figure 17. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure taken along line XIX-XIX in Figure 17. As shown in Figures 18 and 19, a plurality of brush bristles 42 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20. The brush bristles 42 are formed to extend upright from the inner surfaces of the bottom wall portion 210 and side wall portions 211 and 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20. In this embodiment, the side wall portion 211 is an example of a third side wall portion, the side wall portion 212 is an example of a fourth side wall portion, and the bottom wall portion 210 is an example of a second bottom wall portion.

[0044] 18 and 19 , the side walls 311, 312 of the cover unit 30 are formed in a mesh shape. The bottom wall 310 of the cover unit 30 is formed in a non-mesh shape. The bottom surface 310b of the bottom wall 310 of the cover unit 30 is formed in a flat shape. The bottom surface 310b of the bottom wall 310 of the cover unit 30 is the surface that contacts the flat surface of the base of the 3D printer when the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is formed using a 3D printer. In this embodiment, the front side wall 311 is an example of a first side wall, the rear side wall 312 is an example of a second side wall, and the bottom wall 310 is an example of a first bottom wall.

[0045] 18 and 19 , a three-dimensional mesh-shaped member 400 is embedded in the internal space Sa of the cover portion 30. Hereinafter, this member 400 will be referred to as the "mesh member 400." The mesh member 400 is disposed throughout the internal space Sa from one end to the other end of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 in the tooth eruption direction m10.

[0046] (Method of Manufacturing Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush) Next, a method of manufacturing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment will be described.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 20 , when manufacturing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, first, the user's upper and lower jaw dentition is scanned at a dental clinic or the like using an intraoral 3D scanner or the like to obtain 3D data D10 of dental profiles and bite registration, which is information on the three-dimensional external shape of the dentition (step S20). FIG. 21 shows an example of the 3D data D10 of dental profiles and bite registration. Note that, instead of intraoral 3D scanning, a method using an impression material or the like may be used to obtain the 3D data D10 of dental profiles and bite registration. When using an impression material, a mold for the dental profiles and bite registration is obtained using the impression material, and then a model mold for the dental profiles and bite registration is formed from the impression material, and the 3D data D10 of the dental profiles and bite registration is created from the model mold.

[0048] After obtaining the 3D data D10 of the dental profile and bite registration in this manner, steps S21 to S27 shown in Figure 20 are executed to create 3D data D11 and D12 of mouthpiece-type toothbrushes corresponding to the upper and lower jaws, respectively, from the 3D data D10 of the dental profile and bite registration by software.

[0049] For example, when creating 3D data D11 for the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 for the upper jaw, first, 3D data D20, D21 for the upper and lower jaw dentition are created based on the 3D data D10 of the tooth profile and bite registration as shown in Figure 21, and arranged in accordance with the actual bite (step S21). Next, 3D data for the portion where the brush bristles 42 will be provided, i.e., 3D data for the bottom wall 210 and side wall portions 211, 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20, is created based on the dentition data D20, D21 created in step S21 (step S22). Next, 3D data for the bite portion, i.e., 3D data for the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30, is created in the middle portion of the 3D data D20, D21 for the upper and lower jaw dentition (step S23).

[0050] Next, 3D data for a member connecting the 3D data for the bottom wall 210 and side wall 211, 212 of the mouthpiece 20 created in step S22 and the 3D data for the bottom wall 310 of the cover 30 created in step S23, i.e., 3D data for the side wall 311, 312 of the cover 30, is created (step S24). At the time of step S24, the creation of the 3D data for the mouthpiece 20 and the cover 30 having the internal space Sa as shown in Figure 22(A) is completed. At this time, no mesh has been formed in the 3D data for the side wall 311, 312 of the cover 30.

[0051] Next, as shown in FIG. 22(B), 3D data for the mesh member 400 is created to fill the internal space Sa (step S25 in FIG. 20). Next, as shown in FIG. 23(A), the 3D data for the side wall portions 311, 312 of the cover portion 30 is formed into a mesh shape (step S26 in FIG. 20). Next, as shown in FIG. 23(B), 3D data for the brush bristles 42 is created on the inner surfaces of the bottom wall portion 210 and the side wall portions 211, 212 of the mouthpiece portion 20 (step S27 in FIG. 20). The 3D data for the brush bristles 42 are formed with any length and angle. The angle of the brush bristles 42 is set so that they extend upward relative to the bottom surface 310b of the bottom wall portion 310 of the cover portion 30, in other words, relative to the base plane of the 3D printer.

[0052] Upon completion of step S27, the creation of the 3D data D11 of the upper jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 on the software is completed. Next, as shown in Fig. 20, it is determined whether the creation of the 3D data D11, D12 of the upper and lower jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 is completed (step S28). For example, if the creation of the 3D data D12 of the lower jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 is not completed (step S28: NO), the process returns to step S21, and steps S21 to S27 are repeated to create the 3D data D12 of the lower jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10.

[0053] Thereafter, once the creation of the 3D data D11, D12 for the mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 for the upper and lower jaws as shown in Fig. 24 is complete (step 28 in Fig. 20: YES), the mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 for the upper and lower jaws are modeled using a 3D printer (step S29 in Fig. 20), and the modeled mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 for the upper and lower jaws are subjected to post-processing such as support removal, cleaning, and secondary curing (step S30). This completes the manufacture of the mouthpiece-type toothbrushes 10 for the upper and lower jaws.

[0054] (Functions and Effects of Mouthpiece-Type Toothbrush 10 of Second Embodiment) The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of this embodiment comprises a mouthpiece portion 20 and a cover portion 30. Brush bristles 42 are provided on the inner surface of the mouthpiece portion 20. The cover portion 30 is provided facing the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion 20 opposite the inner surface on which the brush bristles 42 are provided, and is joined to the mouthpiece portion 20. Side wall portions 311, 312 of the cover portion 30 are formed in a mesh pattern.

[0055] With this configuration, when the user bites down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, the mouthpiece portion 20 elastically deforms, making it easier for the brush bristles 42 to be inserted into, for example, periodontal pockets, allowing for more appropriate brushing. Even if water, saliva, or the like enters the internal space Sa of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, the water, saliva, or the like is expelled from the internal space Sa to the outside through the mesh portions of the side walls 311 and 312. This improves drainage, allowing the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 to remain clean.

[0056] A hollow structure is formed between the mouthpiece portion 20 and the cover portion 30. A mesh member 400 is embedded in the hollow structure.

[0057] This configuration improves the strength of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10. Furthermore, when the user bites down on the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 and the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 elastically deforms, the Fin Ray effect causes the mouthpiece portion 20 to deform inward toward the user's dentition, making it easier for the brush bristles 42 to be inserted further into, for example, periodontal pockets. This allows for more appropriate brushing.

[0058] Other Embodiments The present disclosure is not limited to the above specific examples.

[0059] For example, as shown in Fig. 25(A), the plurality of hook portions 22 in the first embodiment may be provided on the entire inner surface of the upper portion of the front side wall portion 211 and the entire inner surface of the upper portion of the rear side wall portion 212. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 25(B), the plurality of hook portions 22 may be provided on the entire inner surface of the main body portion 21.

[0060] In the above first embodiment, an example was described in which silicon 80 was used as a transfer material when manufacturing the mouthpiece part 20, but any material other than silicon 80 can be used as the transfer material. The same applies to the silicon mold 90 as a transfer mold.

[0061] The mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 does not have to have the cover portion 30. In other words, the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 may be composed of the mouthpiece portion 20 and the brush sheet 40.

[0062] The hook portion 22 may be joined to the main body portion 21 by adhesive or the like. In other words, the hook portion 22 does not have to be provided integrally with the main body portion 21.

[0063] The mouthpiece portion 20 may be provided with a loop portion 44 instead of the hook portion 22. The brush sheet 40 may be provided with a hook portion 22 instead of the loop portion 44. In this case, the hook portion 22 is an example of a first engaging portion, and the loop portion 44 is an example of a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion provided on the brush sheet 40 and the second engaging portion provided on the mouthpiece portion 20 may have structures different from the loop portion 44 and the hook portion 22, respectively, as long as they are capable of engaging with each other.

[0064] In the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the second embodiment, the bottom wall 310 of the cover 30 may be formed in a mesh shape. This can further improve the drainage properties of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10, thereby further improving the cleanliness of the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10.

[0065] In the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10 of the second embodiment, the internal space Sa does not necessarily have to be provided with the mesh member 400. Furthermore, the shapes of the mesh formed in the cover portion 30 of the second embodiment and the shape of the mesh member 440 shown in Figures 17 to 19 are merely examples, and the structure and direction of these meshes can be changed as appropriate.

[0066] In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 26, gripping portions 500 and 501 may be provided on the upper jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10a and the lower jaw mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10b, respectively. The gripping portions 500 and 501 are portions for the user to hold with fingers or the like when inserting the mouthpiece-type toothbrush 10a or 10b into the mouth.

[0067] Design modifications made by a person skilled in the art to the above specific examples as appropriate are also included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they comprise the features of the present disclosure. The elements of each of the above specific examples, as well as their arrangement, conditions, shape, etc., are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of each of the above specific examples can be combined as appropriate as long as no technical contradictions arise.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece-type toothbrush that is attached to at least one of the upper and lower jaw dentition, comprising: a mouthpiece portion with brush bristles on its inner surface; and a cover portion that is attached to the mouthpiece portion and faces the outer surface of the mouthpiece portion opposite the inner surface on which the brush bristles are provided, the cover portion being formed in a mesh pattern.

2. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion that are formed in a crescent shape curved along the direction of tooth eruption and arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption, and a first bottom wall portion that is provided to connect the lower parts of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, and at least one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion is formed in a mesh shape.

3. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion has a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion that are formed in a crescent shape curved along the direction of tooth eruption and arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption, and a first bottom wall portion that is provided to connect the lower parts of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, and the first bottom wall portion is formed in a mesh shape.

4. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion are integrally formed.

5. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a hollow structure is formed between the mouthpiece portion and the cover portion, and a mesh-like member is embedded in the hollow structure.

6. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the mouthpiece portion, the cover portion, and the mesh-like member are integrally formed.

7. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises: a main body having a concave cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the direction of tooth eruption; and a brush sheet having a plurality of brush bristles on its surface and removably attached to the main body.

8. A mouthpiece-type toothbrush as described in claim 7, wherein a plurality of first engagement portions are formed on the bottom surface of the brush sheet opposite the surface, and a plurality of second engagement portions are formed on the inner surface of the main body portion, and the brush sheet is detachably attached to the mouthpiece portion by the plurality of first engagement portions of the brush sheet and the plurality of second engagement portions of the mouthpiece portion engaging with each other.

9. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein the first engagement portion is a loop portion formed in a loop shape, and the second engagement portion is a hook portion with which the loop portion can engage.

10. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the hook portion has a protrusion formed to protrude from the inner surface of the main body portion and an arm portion formed to extend laterally from the tip of the protrusion, the tip of the arm portion being bent toward the inner surface of the main body portion.

11. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the protruding portion has a constricted portion in which the central portion is thinner than the other portions.

12. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the hook portion has a protruding portion formed to protrude from the inner surface of the main body portion, and a spherical portion formed at the tip of the protruding portion.

13. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the main body portion has a third side wall portion and a fourth side wall portion that are formed in a crescent shape curved along the eruption direction and arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the eruption direction, and a second bottom wall portion that is provided to connect the lower parts of the third side wall portion and the fourth side wall portion, and wherein a plurality of the hook portions are provided on the inner surface of the upper part of the third side wall portion and the inner surface of the upper part of the fourth side wall portion.

14. The mouthpiece-type toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece portion, the cover portion, and the brush bristles are formed using a 3D printer.

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