Aligner Oral Care Hydrogel for Gum Protection and Mouthfeel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral care compositions are inadequate for addressing issues such as gum irritation, bacterial proliferation, and inflammatory responses caused by aligner splints, and they do not provide long-lasting benefits or improved mouthfeel.
Innovation Solution
An oral care composition comprising hyaluronic acid, a water-insoluble polymer, and anti-inflammatory components like catechins, with a specific viscosity range, designed to be applied to both gum tissue and aligner splints, promoting gum health and improving mouthfeel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional rinse-off oral hygiene products are used, then they provide temporary cleaning, but they do not provide long-lasting protection or improved mouthfeel for aligner wearers
Solution Approach 1:
The composition is applied to the aligner splint surface before the user wears the splint, creating a protective layer in advance. This preliminary action allows the active ingredients (catechins, hyaluronic acid, zinc salts) to be already present on the splint surface when it contacts the gums and teeth, providing immediate and prolonged protection throughout the wearing period
Solution Approach 2:
The composition forms a continuous protective film on the aligner splint surface that releases active ingredients over time. The hydrogel matrix provides sustained release of catechins, hyaluronic acid, and zinc salts, ensuring continuous anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and tissue-regenerating action throughout the period when the splint is worn, rather than providing only temporary cleaning
2Productivity
If aligner splints are worn for long periods, then orthodontic harmonization is achieved, but gum irritation, gingival recession, and bacterial proliferation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The composition applies anti-inflammatory (catechins, hyaluronic acid) and antimicrobial (zinc salts, catechins) agents to the aligner splint surface in advance, creating a protective barrier that counteracts the harmful effects of prolonged splint contact with gum tissue. This preliminary anti-action prevents irritation and bacterial proliferation before they can occur during splint wearing
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogel composition acts as an intermediary layer between the aligner splint and the gum tissue. It contains active ingredients that mediate the interaction by providing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial protection, reducing direct contact irritation while maintaining the necessary splint-gum interface for orthodontic treatment
3Reliability
If high concentrations of hyaluronic acid are used, then gum health and mouthfeel are improved, but the composition becomes too viscous for practical application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the hyaluronic acid concentration parameter to a specific range (0.1-5% w/w) that balances viscosity and effectiveness. Within this range, the composition achieves sufficient gum health benefits and mouthfeel improvement while maintaining manageable viscosity for practical application and distribution onto aligner splints
4Object-generated harmful factors
If triclosan is used as an antimicrobial agent, then bacterial growth is inhibited, but contact dermatitis and allergic reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces triclosan with alternative antimicrobial agents (zinc salts, catechins) that provide effective bacterial inhibition without the harmful side effects. These alternative agents are applied in controlled amounts to the aligner splint surface, providing sufficient antimicrobial protection while being safer for prolonged contact with oral tissues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the antimicrobial agent from triclosan to zinc salts and catechins, which have different mechanisms of action and safety profiles. This substitution maintains bacterial proliferation inhibition while eliminating the risk of contact dermatitis and allergic reactions associated with triclosan
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively reduces inflammation, prevents bacterial growth, and enhances gum health and mouthfeel for aligner splint users by providing a prolonged presence and adhesive properties.
Implementation Method 1
The oral care composition is designed to be applied to both gum tissue and aligner splints, promoting gum health and improving mouthfeel by providing a prolonged presence and adhesive properties
Implementation Method 2
The composition effectively reduces inflammation, prevents bacterial growth, and enhances gum health and mouthfeel for aligner splint users by providing a prolonged presence and adhesive properties
Implementation Method 3
An oral care composition comprising hyaluronic acid, a water-insoluble polymer, and anti-inflammatory components like catechins
Implementation Method 4
The composition effectively reduces inflammation, prevents bacterial growth, and enhances gum health
Data Source
AI summary
The invention refers to novel oral care compositions and their uses.