Light-Activated Tooth Whitening Composition for Shorter Contact Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tooth whitening methods require prolonged contact time of bleaching agents with teeth, which is inconvenient and can cause sensitivity, necessitating a method to reduce contact time without compromising whitening effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A tooth whitening method involving a pretreatment step where a whitening composition is activated with light before contact with teeth, followed by a combined contact and non-contact time period to achieve the same whitening results in a reduced overall time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact time between bleaching agents and teeth is increased to improve whitening effectiveness, then the whitening result is improved, but the treatment time increases and sensitivity risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-activating the bleaching agent with light exposure before applying it to the teeth. This activation step prepares the bleaching agent in advance, allowing it to work more efficiently during the actual contact period with the teeth, thereby reducing the required contact time while maintaining whitening effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of the bleaching agent by exposing it to light, which activates or enhances its bleaching capability. This parameter change in the bleaching agent's reactivity allows for shorter contact time to achieve the same whitening effect, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and time.
2Reliability
If the concentration of bleaching agent is increased to improve whitening effectiveness, then the whitening result is improved, but the risk of sensitivity and harmful effects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the activation state of the bleaching agent through light exposure, which enhances its effectiveness without requiring an increase in concentration. This allows the use of lower concentrations to achieve the same whitening effect, thereby reducing sensitivity and harmful effects while maintaining effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the penetration ability of bleaching agents is improved to enhance whitening effectiveness, then intrinsic stains are removed better, but the contact time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-activating the bleaching agent with light before application to the teeth. This preparation enhances the agent's penetration ability in advance, allowing it to effectively reach intrinsic stains during a shorter contact period, thus resolving the contradiction between penetration ability and contact time.
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 method reduces the time teeth are in contact with the whitening composition while maintaining or enhancing whitening efficacy, addressing user convenience and sensitivity concerns.
Implementation Method 1
activating an electromagnetic radiation (i.e., illumination) source to emit light onto the tooth whitening composition
Implementation Method 2
Intrinsic stains are accessible through bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide that can penetrate the surface of the enamel
Data Source
AI summary
A method of whitening teeth that decreases the amount of time that the whitening composition is in contact with the teeth. Specifically, by pretreating the whitening composition with light before contacting the teeth with the whitening composition, the amount of time that the whitening composition needs to be in contact with the teeth can be reduced. In one aspect, the method may include dispensing a tooth whitening composition from a reservoir device into a channel of a mouth tray; activating an electromagnetic radiation source to emit light onto the tooth whitening composition in the channel of the mouth tray for a first period of time to pretreat the tooth whitening composition; and inserting the mouth tray into the oral cavity of the user so that the user's teeth are in contact with the tooth whitening composition in the channel for a second period of time to whiten the teeth.