Low Viscosity Tooth Whitening Composition with Light Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tooth whitening and dental cleaning procedures are time-consuming and often result in low compliance due to lengthy chairside appointments, and existing tooth whitening compositions with high viscosities have limited penetration into tooth enamel and dentin, restricting effective whitening during dental prophylaxis.
Innovation Solution
A method and composition that allow simultaneous tooth cleaning and whitening by using low viscosity oxidizing agents with high penetration coefficients, combined with conditioning and sealing compositions, and the application of light or heat energy to enhance penetration and effectiveness, reducing the overall procedure time to less than 90 minutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high concentration hydrogen peroxide (above 15% by weight) is used for effective tooth whitening, then whitening effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase and require professional monitoring and isolation of soft tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of hydrogen peroxide from high (above 15%) to low (below 10%, preferably 1-5%), fundamentally altering the safety profile while maintaining whitening effectiveness through extended contact time and enhanced penetration mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary actions including tooth surface conditioning with acids or chelating agents to remove pellicle and open enamel porosities, followed by application of a hydrophobic barrier to prevent saliva dilution, thereby enabling low concentration peroxide to achieve effective whitening without professional monitoring
2Stability of the object's composition
If high viscosity oxidizing compositions are used for tooth whitening, then composition stability is improved, but penetration into tooth enamel and dentin is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter from high to low, transforming the composition into a fluid that can rapidly penetrate tooth structures while maintaining stability through controlled application and hydrophobic barrier protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent opens enamel porosities through preliminary acid or chelating agent treatment, creating pathways that enable low viscosity oxidizing agents to penetrate deeply into enamel and dentin at accelerated rates
3Loss of time
If simultaneous tooth cleaning and whitening is performed, then overall procedure time is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating multiple procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges tooth cleaning and whitening procedures into a single simultaneous treatment protocol, where scaling and peroxide application occur together, reducing total appointment time from separate two-hour sessions to a single coordinated procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary hydrophobic barrier coating to teeth before both cleaning and whitening procedures, preventing saliva dilution throughout the combined treatment and eliminating the need for repeated applications during the procedure
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
This approach enables rapid and effective tooth whitening during dental cleaning, improving patient compliance and oral health by shortening appointment times and enhancing the penetration of whitening agents into tooth structures, while also reducing bacterial loads through pathogen attenuation.
Implementation Method 1
fluids and other materials in contact with the enamel surface can influence fluid movement through tooth enamel and dentin with concentration gradients and/or capillary action
Implementation Method 2
fluids and other materials in contact with the enamel surface can influence fluid movement through tooth enamel and dentin with concentration gradients and/or capillary action
Implementation Method 3
Optionally, light or heat energy may be applied in conjunction with these strong oxidizing compositions, in order to accelerate the process beyond that which is possible using just the compositions on then own
Implementation Method 4
Optionally, light or heat energy may be applied in conjunction with these strong oxidizing compositions, in order to accelerate the process beyond that which is possible using just the compositions on then own
Implementation Method 5
a healthy looking smile has become representative of one's level of personal grooming, and even social status, with straight, white and well shaped teeth being promoted in advertising and by cosmetic dentists as an integral part of one's self-image
Data Source
AI summary
A tooth whitening method applies a light transmitting oxidizing composition to teeth in an oral cavity, after which a hand-held LED light source with a light transmitting lens and a cup forming a chamber having an open end is moved over the teeth so that the cup distributes the oxidizing composition while the teeth are exposed to light transmitted through the lens. This not only ensures intimate contact of the teeth with the oxidizing composition, but also maintains a more or less constant spacing between the light source and the tooth surfaces for optimum results. A sealant is then applied to the teeth to resist moisture contamination of the oxidizing composition.