Stable Dental Varnish Composition pH Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluoride varnish compositions in dentistry lack stability and shelf life, leading to solid formation and plugging of syringe brush applicator tips, and are aesthetically unappealing due to opacity and grittiness.
Innovation Solution
A stable dental varnish composition is formulated with a solvent, resin component (partially neutralized acidic hydrogenated wood rosin), and acidifying component, maintaining pH above 5 and below 5 respectively, to prevent solid formation and maintain translucency, along with an organo phosphoric acid for enhanced adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If fluoride varnish composition is stored for extended periods, then shelf life is improved, but solids form and plug syringe brush applicator tips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the pH of the carrier solution to be between 2.0 and 4.0, and by controlling the water content to be less than 10% by weight. These parameter adjustments prevent premature reaction and solid formation during storage, thereby extending shelf life while maintaining reliability of the applicator tip.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material approach by combining a resin carrier with specific fluoride compounds (such as sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, or lithium fluoride) in a controlled formulation. This composite structure maintains stability during storage while ensuring the fluoride remains soluble and does not precipitate to form plugging solids.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If fluoride varnish composition is stored for extended periods, then shelf life is improved, but translucency is reduced and composition becomes hazy or white
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains translucency by controlling the pH parameter between 2.0 and 4.0 and limiting water content to less than 10% by weight. These parameter controls prevent the chemical reactions that cause hazing or whitening, allowing the composition to remain translucent throughout its extended shelf life.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional fluoride varnish is applied using brush dipping method, then application is achieved, but procedure is cumbersome and potentially messy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fluoride varnish from the conventional brush-dipping container and transfers it into a syringe with a narrow gauge tip (25 gauge or smaller). This extraction allows for more precise and controlled application, eliminating the messiness and cumbersome nature of repeated dipping and painting operations.
4Manufacturing precision
If narrow gauge syringe brush applicator tip is used, then precision is improved, but brush tip plugging occurs due to solid formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling pH between 2.0 and 4.0 and water content below 10% by weight to prevent solid formation. This ensures that the fluoride varnish remains in a soluble, non-gritty state, allowing narrow gauge syringe brush applicator tips (25 gauge or smaller) to function without plugging while maintaining their precision advantages.
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 remains stable for at least 3 months without plugging syringe tips, retains translucency, and provides effective fluoride treatment with enhanced adhesion to teeth surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The resin component comprises an acidic hydrogenated wood rosin that has been at least partially neutralized to raise its pH to above 5. The acidifying component comprises at least organic or inorganic acid that lowers the pH of the liquid or gel carrier to below 5.
Implementation Method 2
The dental varnish composition may further comprise an organo phosphoric acid having at least one alkyl group. The organo phosphoric acid can be useful to increase adhesion of the varnish composition to a tooth surface.
Implementation Method 3
existing fluoride compositions have lacked sufficient stability and shelf life to remain as a stable gel over time during storage and prior to use. As a result, they can become gritty over time, which causes plugging of the brush tip
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Fluoride varnish compositions for temporary application and adhesion to a person's teeth include a carrier that remains stable and translucent during storage. The compositions include a carrier comprising a stable and translucent resin and a fluoride ion source (e.g., a fluoride salt such as sodium fluoride) dispersed within the carrier so as to provide biologically available fluoride ions to teeth being treated. The carrier resists formation of solids that can plug a 25 gauge or smaller syringe brush applicator tip. The compositions may also include an adhesion promoting agent comprising an alkyl phosphoric acid. The composition adheres only temporarily to tooth tissue (e.g., for a period of at least about 4 minutes, but not more than about 1 year), after which the composition spontaneously wears away as a natural result of the action of the tongue, saliva and/or other factors.