Tooth Bleaching Adduct pH Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tooth-bleaching gels face challenges in maintaining stability and effectiveness at high pH levels, as hydrogen peroxide is unstable under alkaline conditions, limiting the release of active bleaching agents.
Innovation Solution
A tooth-bleaching composition is formulated using a specific adduct of hydrogen peroxide, urea, and alkali metal polyphosphate, which exhibits a significant pH rise upon dilution, ensuring the release of additional active peroxide ions for enhanced whitening performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide is used at high pH levels to enhance bleaching activity, then the release of active peroxide ions is improved, but the stability of hydrogen peroxide deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by formulating the bleaching composition with a buffer system (sodium fluoride, sodium phosphate, or borax) before use. This buffer is pre-configured to maintain pH stability during storage and only activates to release additional peroxide ions when diluted with saliva in the oral cavity, thus preparing the system in advance to resolve the stability-effectiveness contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by designing a composition where pH is not fixed but dynamically adjusts upon dilution. The buffer system changes the pH parameter from a stable, lower value during storage to a higher, more effective value during use, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability at high pH and effectiveness at high pH
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pH of the bleaching gel is maintained at constant levels, then the formulation stability is improved, but the release of active peroxide ions upon dilution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static pH maintenance approach into a dynamic pH-responsive system. The buffer components are incorporated to create a composition that dynamically adjusts its pH upon dilution with saliva, enabling controlled release of active peroxide ions while maintaining stability in the concentrated form
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses buffer substances (sodium fluoride, sodium phosphate, or borax) as intermediaries that mediate between the stable concentrated formulation and the active diluted state. These intermediaries absorb excess protons or hydroxide ions during dilution, facilitating the pH rise that triggers peroxide ion release without compromising formulation stability
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 achieves superior tooth whitening by maintaining a stable and increased pH upon dilution, releasing more active peroxide ions and outperforming prior art formulations with modest pH rises.
Implementation Method 1
the pH of an aqueous solution of the adduct or combination or preparation appears to increase upon dilution to a significant extent
Implementation Method 2
hydrogen peroxide dissociates as a reversible reaction thus:- H2O2 = H+
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tooth bleaching preparation comprising an adduct formulated from starting materials comprising peroxide, urea and an alkali metal polyphosphate, the adduct being provided in the preparation in aqueous conditions and the preparation having a pH in aqueous solution which rises on dilution of the solution.