Dental Prophy Paste Humectant Composition for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Professional dental prophy pastes dry out quickly due to low packaging quantity and non-vapor-tight packaging, leading to premature drying and water absorption, which affects their consistency and effectiveness in cleaning both natural and artificial tooth surfaces without scratching restoration materials.
Innovation Solution
A dental prophy paste composition with 1-30 wt.% water, 25-70 wt.% humectant, 25-60 wt.% abrasive, and 0.05-2 wt.% surfactant, specifically using kaolin as the primary abrasive, which maintains a smooth consistency and prevents drying or water absorption, allowing for efficient and gentle cleaning of both natural and artificial surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If prophy paste is packaged in small single-use quantities (1.5-2g), then it is convenient for professional use and hygiene, but it dries out quickly and has limited shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the paste by incorporating specific humectants (glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol) and viscosity-increasing agents (carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan gum) to modify the paste's physical properties, enabling it to maintain stability and resist drying out in small packaged quantities
2Ease of manufacture
If packaging materials are not completely vapor-tight to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the paste absorbs water from environment and deliquesces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of environmental moisture into a beneficial one by using hygroscopic humectants that actively absorb water vapor from the air to maintain paste viscosity and prevent drying out, thereby allowing the use of less expensive non-vapor-tight packaging
Solution Approach 2:
The paste composition is modified by adding specific humectants and thickening agents that change the rheological properties, enabling the paste to maintain its consistency even when exposed to environmental humidity through non-vapor-tight packaging
3Productivity
If stronger abrasives are used to remove stains effectively, then cleaning action improves, but restoration materials get scratched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of local quality by selecting abrasive particles with specific local characteristics - using amorphous silica with controlled particle size distribution (D10, D50, D90 values) and surface properties that provide sufficient cleaning action on stained surfaces while being gentle enough not to scratch softer restoration materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the abrasive by using amorphous silica with specific particle size ranges and surface treatments, optimizing the balance between cleaning effectiveness and protection of restoration materials from scratching
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 paste remains stable and effective for longer periods without drying out or becoming watered down, enabling quick and gentle cleaning of tooth surfaces without scratching restoration materials, even when not packaged vapor-tightly, and can be stored unpackaged for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
the pastes according to the invention contain 25 to 70 wt.-%, preferably 30 to 60 wt.-% and particularly preferably 30 to 50 wt.-% at least one humectant
Implementation Method 2
Prophy pastes contain abrasives, such as for example amorphous silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite powder, pumice powder
Implementation Method 3
The polishing and cleaning pastes used for this resemble the usual toothpastes in their composition
Implementation Method 4
0.05 to 2 wt.-%, preferably 0.07 to 0.5 wt.-% and particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.2 wt.-% of at least one surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
Dental polishing and cleaning paste for professional tooth cleaning, which contains 1 to 30 wt.-% water, 25 to 70 wt.-% at least one humectant, 25 to 60 wt.-% at least one abrasive and 0.05 to 2 wt.-% at least one surfactant, in each case relative to the total mass of the polishing and cleaning paste.